As I read the headlines in recent days, I’m reminded about how vulnerable our legacies may be. It’s challenging to see ministries that once had a huge impact finding themselves marginalized or on the verge of extinction.
I started to think about some of the similarities that appear to be consistent in these stories. Like the “check engine” light in your car, these may be warning signs that your legacy is at risk:
- You are talking about leadership, but you’re not being intentional about leadership development. Attending (or speaking at) conferences and reading (or writing) leadership books is not enough. Is there a path in place to help young, gifted leaders grow and gain responsibility and authority over time?
- Your success rests on the shoulders of one personality. As I get older, I become more and more convinced that God designed us to be in community and for ministry to be accomplished in teams. That includes leading the ministry. Is there any one person who would put your organization at risk if they left for an extended period of time?
- You begin making decisions based on past success rather than present reality. Rarely do organizations spend themselves into a turnaround. If your ministry isn’t having the same impact it experienced in the past, are you addressing leadership, vision, or strategy gaps, or are you trying to buy a better future?
- You avoid the truth about the health of your organization. It’s one of the risks of never considering “the numbers.” If you ignore or explain away trends over time, how in the world will you know if what you’re doing is actually working?
- You would rather close your doors than make uncomfortable changes. It truly amazes me. I routinely see churches holding on to practices that aren’t prescribed in Scripture even if it jeopardizes their very existence. Except for rare instances, personal preferences almost always trump ministry impact. Are you avoiding changes that might make your church uncomfortable?
- You invest more effort in public perception than in private integrity. It doesn’t matter how gifted the leader or how God-ordained the vision or how effective the strategy — in the end, our personal and relational health will make or break our legacy. Are your disciplines and priorities in your personal life establishing the foundation for future ministry impact?
One generation of ministry doesn’t make a legacy. What are you doing to prepare the next generation for continued impact?
