No success without a succession plan

There’s no success without succession. In the church and in ministry, there must be a succession plan, otherwise the church will die. In 2 Timothy 2:1, we find four generations mentioned as a model for ensuring the sustainability of the church. The Apostle Paul (1), who has trained Timothy (2), instructs him to entrust the gospel to faithful people (3) who will be able to teach others as well (4).

All of us have a responsibility to entrust the good news of Jesus to others who will pass it on to others as well. This is the biblical imperative that has stood the test of time: Intentionally passing on the gospel in a form that can be received, applied and then passed on to others as well.

For our church to be biblical, faithful and sustainable, this must be central to our strategy. But the key for this, as emphasised in 2 Timothy, is to rely on God’s power and love, rekindling and fanning into flame God’s gift. It involves being strong in the grace of Christ, being intentional about our ministry amidst all the distractions and complexities of life today. It involves remembering the great heritage of faith we are part of, but looking forward in mission because God’s Word is not chained.

​What is our succession plan here at All Souls? I’m not aware of one for our current context. That is why we are seeking to develop a Mission Action Plan.