Passing the Baton: Part III

In this series, we’re identifying lessons we can learn from Jesus on passing the baton to our next generation of leaders. Last time, we discussed Jesus’ commitment to pray all night to gain God’s insight on choosing His apostles.

Jesus could have been like many leaders by only selecting one person to train. Instead, in Luke 6 we read, “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called his disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles.”

Jesus didn’t choose one disciple; He chose twelve to train for the future. He cultivated a team of individuals who could properly accomplish their goals and support one another in their endeavors. One person could not have evangelized all of the nations the disciples did together, or led and ministered to the churches they did.

Churches, companies, and communities are not one-man shows. There may be a distinct leader, however, success requires a group or team to support one another and pursue their goals together. If you only choose one person to train, you may replace yourself, but will you sustain the organization longer term?

Questions for Reflection

• What specifically are the needs of your company? What areas need strengthening? Could your business benefit from additional positions?
• When you are looking for talent are you also looking for someone who works well with your team? How do your team members work together now? What could they benefit from?