Here are two realities:
Reality 1: The United States is one of the largest mission fields in the world.
Reality 2: Large numbers of pastor-leaders (spouse-leaders and lay-leaders too!) will retire in the next 3… or 5… or 7 years. They’re all flying toward a landing pattern transition. (Or they’ve already landed.)
The popular view is that this bunch at this stage typically represents:
- less effectiveness,
- less vision,
- less passion about Kingdom enterprise.
Because they’re in the landing pattern. Even though most of this bunch possess:
- great wisdom,
- deep faith,
- significant relationships in their congregations.
None of these should be allowed to be conscripted to the less effective, less vision, less passion landing pattern assumption. I would propose to you that it’s begging to be leveraged for the discipling of leaders for this large mission field and the rebirthing of vibrant communities of faith.
So, younger leaders! Here’s my ask:
If you’re seeing what I’m seeing? You need to LEAD UP (age wise) and speak a bigger vision into some of these folks! You need to:
- Get across the table from a couple of them.
- Look ‘em square in the eye like a poker player that won’t be bluffed.
- Shove this blog across the table at them and say:
I think this is you! You need to be thinking more, more, more in this mission field and not buying into the less, less, less.
OR if it’s YOU in the 3…5…7 year (or less) landing pattern…
It might be an even harder leadership challenge to look yourself in the mirror and refuse to blink and admit that it’s time to retool for a next season (even into retirement) that could be surprisingly refreshing, energizing and fruitful!
It’s far from an emerging trend—yet!—but right now I can think of at least 7 or 8 pastors (and most times their spouses) looking to land in retirement in a few years charting new flight plans and:
- Discipling “Christian consumers” toward mobilized “mission producers.”
- Altering congregational trajectories.
- Exercising simple hospitality with friendship and food in community where the Word of God is given permission to birth faith and change lives.
They’re FOCUSED and having fun.
And here’s what’s crazy: There are people half this crowd’s age who would give their left arm for what they possess:
- Peace,
- Wholeness with God,
- Relationships that work,
- …and a somewhat unflappable confidence in the face of hardship.
But they have no plans to sit in front of a pulpit to find it!
Blogging begets bluntness here.
To the “landing pattern” crowd! You won’t get there by yourselves. You just won’t be able to make the jump by yourself. You grew up with missionaries going to New Guinea or somewhere far! You won’t make the jump. You’ll get stuck in the pit. You’ll quit.
I know.
It’s like being a fruitful Daniel in Babylon after Judah.
…and you’ll wring your hands. Wish it were different. And as a result you’ll squander what might be your largest legacy in helping the Church set sail toward a new season of great mission vibrancy.
This is simple. It’s just not easy. If it were easy you’d already be doing it.
Finally, to the younger leaders! Got a “landing pattern” pastor or some others OR you’re in the landing pattern “crowd” yourself and you need to look yourself in the mirror?
- Look at Discipleship to Missional Community.
- Let Raechel know you’re thinking about PLI. No commitment. Just thinking.
- Pray this week. And come back next week for part 2.
Seriously. I believe there’s a land flowing with milk and mission field honey if you don’t let the giants scare you away first!
