Training the Next Generation of Church Leaders

I’m thankful to serve at a church that cares about training the next generation of church leaders and calls church members to exercise their gifts in fresh initiatives. In a November newsletter, Tim Keller writes about how this dynamic is receiving fresh bloom at Redeemer. Below is an excerpt. Read the whole thing.

Redeemer has been blessed. Every week I see or hear reports of things happening at Redeemer I never thought I’d live to see. I’m especially referring to the numbers of new believers and the creative ways they are engaging the city. Yet, perhaps unavoidably, Redeemer has become more staff and program-driven as our church has grown and the ministries have become complex and large. As a result, the church has grown into an institution dependent on small cadre of highly-skilled leaders, and especially me. In a ‘movement,’ everyone is united by a clear vision, and therefore everyone sacrifices, feels responsible for the church’s goals, and initiates ministry.

But in a traditional institution only a minority of people sacrifice and serve, while a large percentage of people come mainly to receive the spiritual goods and services provided. This then increases the church’s dependence on the smaller number of leaders. Is there anything to be done? Yes there is.