In response to my recent blog about Equipping the Next Generation, Keith Jennings asked me:
Nigel, what do you hear these prospective next generation leaders asking? What are they hungry to learn? What challenges do they say lie ahead for them?
So I've found some down-time on the road with Third Day, and come up with these thoughts- more about what I see and perceive rather than what young leaders have actually articulated:
1. COMMITMENT ISSUES- it seems that the current generation have a problem committing. Whether that be to a life-partner, a job, a cause, and particularly to a church. It's almost as if they are so wary of commitment, and so used to seeing older people hurt by commitment breakdown, that the next generation of leaders are afraid to jump into a relationship full-on and forever.
2. VIRTUAL INTIMACY- today's emerging leaders are used to having 'friends' by the bucket-load on facebook and a long list of email addresses and phone numbers, but can often resort to 'virtual' online connectivity rather than real in-depth friendship and relationship. Social networking isn't always as 'social' as it appears. Next generation leaders easily slip into 'the worship time' of contemporary songs, but need to avoid the mistake of believing that intimacy with the Lord can be achieved through 30 minutes of worship on a Sunday.
3. BIBLICAL ILLITERACY- I was recently at a meeting of UK Christian leaders where 2 heads of Bible Colleges admitted that the lack of Bible knowledge from their new students each year was frightening. It's never been easier to own a Bible, to find a Bible reading plan, and to have a Bible app. on your computer or phone-yet for all their passion and enthusiasm, many next generation leaders are not reading their Bible with much meaning or depth.
4. CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY- the challenge of being 'in the world but not of the world' is perhaps more difficult now than it ever has been. I marvel at the way many young people are able to engage in society, to maintain friendships with non-believers, without compromising their faith in Jesus. In a constantly changing landscape, next generation leaders must be helped to discern what is culturally acceptable and what is not-even more than that, they must be equipped and enabled to shape culture themselves.
5. LEADERSHIP TRANSITION- next generation leaders (whether they realize it or not) embrace a post-modern leadership dynamic, but are mostly operating within churches or structures that still feature more of a modern leadership style. So I'm teaching the next-generation one paradigm but they may still have to struggle on in an 'old school' situation. In case you don't know what I'm going on about, here's what I mean:
|
Modern Leadership Mindset
|
Postmodern Leadership Mindset
|
|
Presentation
|
Participation
|
|
Excellence
|
Authenticity
|
|
Performance
|
Realness
|
|
Does it make sense?
|
Was it a good experience?
|
|
Rationality
|
Mystery/Transcendence
|
|
Planning
|
Preparedness
|
|
Program
|
Relationship
|
|
Abstract
|
Concrete
|
|
Consecutive/Linear
|
Concurrent/Layered
|