Saturday, January 14, 2012

Passing the Torch

Today was the Passing the Torch service here in Ireland. It was wonderful, emotional, and well executed. The ceremony, which took three hours was held in a packed church and person after person spoke of the impact that Christ had made on them through the ministry of Gary & Wilma Davidson. I looked around and I realized that everyone there was in Christ or in fellowship with one another because of them.

What happened today was huge on two fronts. One, the Assembly of God of Ireland is now completely organized and run by Irish leaders. Second, Gary set a pattern that we can all benefit from with his involvement in planned succession. This event happened today, but it has been years in coming. Too often our leaders lead effectively for years and then announce their leaving without warning. The organization then forms a selection committee and goes to work, but the progress stalls. Many times division hinders what had been moving forward. At one time it seemed fashionable or even "spiritual" to leave this way. It seemed that the leader then prided himself on how much the organization suffered after his leaving. But what happened today is true Kingdom building philosophy. Gary's legacy will only be enhanced by the upward climb of the AGI since he has invested all these years in the lives of the leaders, pouring into them and raising them up for such a time as this. If the AGI grows at a greater rate now than it did while he held the reins, it speaks positively to the quality of leadership that Gary developed during his time at the helm. I know that his greatest joy would be to see the AGI become a force for the work of God at higher levels and doing things for God he never dreamed of.

That's the way to leave. Would that we could all have this mindset in leadership. Congratulations, and God bless you, Gary & Wilma!

No comments: