Transition and why it matters
America is going to have a transition after the election on Tuesday.
Someone new will be president, and their leadership will impact the direction of our country and beyond. Being able to vote is our civic duty to participate in democracy. People gave everything for us to have this right, and I hope everyone registered to vote does.
But this presidential transition speaks to all of us on a personal level.
Everyone goes through transitions in this life and one day, we will go through the final transition, eternity. What we do now impacts future generations and beyond. It matters and because it matters how we transition is massive!!
We should not wing it, but rather with thoughtfulness, care, and preparation be ready for it.
Life is full of transitions, and what we leave behind is real. From family, friends, school, church, jobs, homes, places, and efforts, something is left behind, and whether it’s good or bad, it will impact others.
Sadly too many people don’t prepare and end up fumbling through transitions leaving behind a mess. This unpreparedness impacts churches too.
It’s tragic when churches decline and age away and on top of that, don’t prepare for what’s next.
This result is why many churches end, a fight over power, stagnation, and splits. This is NOT what Jesus does for or intended for His people.
This is why someone has to know that transition matters and therefore be prepared for it.
King Hezekiah said these tragic words after God defeated his enemies, healed him, and extended his life.
“Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” Isaiah 39:8.
Notice he didn’t care about what would happen after his transition, including his sons being captured as slaves.
This lack of foresight helped doom God’s people and is an example for us today.
I believe it’s important that leaders know, it’s NOT about us. In Jesus, people don’t serve us, we serve them. We are servant leaders and since our role is temporary, we have to work in the present and think toward the future.
Healthy leaders want others to exceed them and as Pastors, want their churches to grow more after they transition.
Unhealthy leaders seem to be served and only think about NOW. Which in the end hurts them, God’s people, and the church. It ripples with a negative impact.
We must care enough to prepare for the transition and to know it matters.
So, how will you transition?
What will be left behind?
It’s good we ask ourselves this question and get ready NOW!
For churches, here are three ways to get ready for transitioning well.
1st – Reach young people.
We have to reach young people or the church will age out. God wants to move among young people, which means that pastors and church leaders must invest in them.
This shows itself in staffing, music, style of church, content, care, attention, effort, passion, moves of God, and being authentic.
Churches must be willing to do these things and realize, it’s about the present and the future.
Young people can’t be an afterthought and a group we tolerate. We need them NOW and when we empower them, they have ownership in what God is doing.
This is how young people discover callings, gifting, responsibilities, teamwork, love Jesus and love His people.
To do this they can’t be in a corner, they must included and have input.
Throughout scripture, God raised up young people. We must partner with Jesus and do the same right now!
2nd -Build a team.
Healthy pastors empower others and healthy churches have teams of people. This can’t be a one-person show. This has to be a team effort!
Church leaders are NOT supposed to do the work of the ministry. That’s right!! Check out what God said,
“11. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-12.
Notice the five ascension gifts mentioned in verse 11 are to empower God’s people to do the work of the ministry!!
This takes both the leaders to let go and the people to grab on! This is a BIG deal when it comes to transitioning well. There has to be a team of people that helps God’s people grow, be served well, and for the church to flourish and grow too.
Jesus had a team and we need one too! It’s time to build a team!
3rd – Have a plan to transition.
God is a planner! He is a genius and has a plan He’s working out right now. He doesn’t go off the money but rather has planned for the moment before. We are a part of His plan and how great it is to be with Jesus!
If God has a plan, so should we!
We can’t call being unplanned and unprepared spiritual and disorganized. God doesn’t do that and He’s not in it either.
When it comes to transition, we should plan ahead, and have a pathway to get there. When we think ahead we can then move backward and know what we should work on and who we should work with.
This directs us with clarity in raising up others and seeing who God will use after us. All of this and more can come from a plan and God moves in it.
I’ve heard pastors say, I’ll die preaching, or I’ll transition the church when I die, when I feel like it, I’ll transition, etc.
If that’s what you feel then go for it, but you must have a plan so when you go to Heaven, there’s not chaos in your wake.
Too many pastors don’t have a plan and too many churches suffer or even shut down because transition wasn’t done correctly.
We must think generational and want our efforts in this life to go on in greater waves past our lifetime.
This is how healthy leaders and the time is now to plan for Transition and to know it matters!!
Pray for your transition in whatever capacity it is and pray for America. The time is now for transition!
God is with you and the best is yet to come,
PD
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