Passing the Baton

Relay races are won and lost because of how the baton is passed from one runner to the next. It isn't only the speed and endurance of the athletes that matter but how well they pass the baton between each other. 

People worldwide will watch the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, from July 26 through August 11. Athletes from almost every nation will gather to compete for gold in various categories of sporting competitions. Track and field will feature relay races and passing the baton will be critical to their success.

Discipleship is the work of fully devoted followers of Christ. It is the process of a follower of Christ taking a person from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity so that person can repeat the process. The goal is spiritual transformation. The result is a change in character and conduct.

She was a tiny village girl with no memories of her birth parents as AIDS robbed them of their lives. As a teenager, she ran away from a hopeless, lonely, loveless, and abusive environment to the capital city of Kampala. The initial result was mostly a location change. But it was also where she heard a Gospel song played over and over on her phone giving birth to the thought that the song would change someone's life. Out of a state of depression and desperation, she whispered a prayer to God, "Make me what you want me."

In less than two weeks the Lord connected me to this spiritual infant and the process of discipleship began.

More than 10 years have passed since that day I encountered that tiny village girl named Rebecca. Those years have been filled with unimaginable opportunities, miracles, and spiritual transformation. Rebecca became, not a fan, but a fully devoted follower of Christ committed to His Lordship and making others devoted followers of Christ. Jesus is the hero of her story.

Discipleship is intended to be transgenerational. It is passed from one generation to another. It is time for me to pass the baton of leadership to Rebecca. She is mature in Christ. She is passionately in love with Jesus. Rebecca has a clear understanding of who Jesus is and who He has made her to be. She is ready to be released and receive the responsibilities of Executive Director of Next Generation Ministries (NGM).

Developing a ministry organization was the farthest thing from my mind when I went to Uganda on a short-term mission in 2001. When Pam and I moved there in 2005 I had no intention of founding and directing an organization. But, the ways of God are not our ways. NGM is a registered not-for-profit organization in the United States and a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Uganda. I have run the race as best I could since those early days. Now it is time for me to pass the baton to Rebecca.

God uses relationships to accomplish His will and purpose ... on so many levels. I am forever grateful for all of the people who believed in me, trusted me, prayed for me, advised me, and financially supported me and the work of NGM through the years. Many, if not all, of those people will develop and build a relationship with Rebecca and give her the support she will need.