A New Generation of Leaders Receives the Baton

LEADERSHIP

Soon after the death of his son, Sandy, in 1981, evangelist Leighton Ford became deeply interested in developing young Christian leaders. The Sandy Ford (memorial) Fund was established to help young leaders “run the race for the Lord,” said Ford, who chairs the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE).

Out of that fund and Ford’s vision came “Leadership ‘88,” an LCWE-spon-sored event held in Washington, D.C., the last week of June. More than 1,600 Christians ranging in age from 18 to 40 attended. The primary purpose was to equip young leaders, through instruction and inspiration, for the task of world evangelization. Another important purpose was to give emerging leaders the opportunity to build networks with one another. But organizers also wanted the event to serve as a symbolic “passing of the baton” to a new generation of leadership.

Ford acknowledged that many of the key evangelical leaders over the past four decades are “coming toward the closing years of their ministries.” He said a “transition in leadership [is] happening around the world.” In his keynote address, Ford told the story of how the prophet Elisha, before inheriting

Elijah’s mantle, requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Ford said, “My prayer for myself and you is a double portion … twice times the passion of the old generation [for evangelism].”

Leadership ‘88 chairman Glandion Carney challenged his contemporaries to take hold of the responsibilities before them. “Today we must take seriously our occupation as ministers of the gospel,” he said, “and put emphasis both on preaching the gospel and being instruments of [God’s] caring love in social action.”

Throughout the conference, speakers and workshop leaders stressed the Lausanne Committee’s dual commitment to evangelism and social responsibility. They discussed the problems of AIDS, homelessness, poverty, and racism, and how addressing these problems relates to the fulfilling of the Great Commission.

In an attempt to reflect the broadening scope of Christian leadership, conference organizers made a deliberate effort to include women and ethnic groups. They held special meetings around the country to hear the concerns and solicit the input of those who were not a part of the last generation of leadership. While the female and ethnic representation at Leadership ‘88 fell short of the hopes of some, the diversity achieved was widely regarded as a good sign for the future.

Prior to Leadership 88, some criticized the project as an effort to appoint a new set of Christian leaders. Ford addressed this concern at a press briefing, stating, “We’re not here to anoint leaders; God raises up leaders.” He added that the emphasis at the conference was on being “kingdom seekers” and not “empire builders.”

To that end, an entire day of the week-long event was devoted to a discussion of character and integrity. Main speakers and workshop leaders openly discussed the recent moral failings of church leaders and televangelists. They stressed the importance of holiness and accountability within the Christian community. Prison Fellowship’s Charles Colson said that the only institutions that can combat our society’s current “crisis of character” are the family and the church. “My friends,” said Colson, “it comes down to our doorstep.”

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