“Movements are always sustained by the third generation. Visionary leaders can easily inspire a group of people to follow them. Sometimes those followers will take up the message and inspire others, but sometimes they don’t. And if they don’t, that new, revolutionary idea will die. It takes “grandchildren” for a movement to gain legs.” From the book A Multi-Site Church Roadtrip by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, Warren Bird.

I have been a pastor at North Park Community Church in London, Canada for the past 12+ years. During that time, beyond my work assigned to me as a pastor, I have come alongside about 16 guys over these years in a very intentional way. This has involved meeting with just two guys on a weekly basis for about two years. During this time we studied the bible, prayed, reflected on life, served together and in many ways became friends – the goal was that they would become active disciples of Jesus. It was also always my desire that these guys would not simply stop when I finished formally connecting with them but that they would in turn build into others guys as I had with them.

Now that I am more than 12 years into this experience in the same location, I have a unique opportunity to look back to truly see if what I have been doing is working – is the theory that I espoused to and worked hard at living out being shown to work itself out?

As the challenging quote above eludes to, it’s not simply that the guys I built into take on the work of discipling others, it must be demonstrated that the guys they built into also take up the cause and do the work.

It is with joy that I can honestly say that the 3^rd and now the 4^th generation are actually doing the work. That there are guys who really don’t know that I was the one who began something 12 years ago who have benefitted from its impact. That there are guys who believe that this is what they must do, that this is a calling that Jesus gave. That Matthew 28:18-20, as hard as it is to live out, is being lived out. That guys are coming alongside other guys, as Jesus came alongside a few men, and taking a few years to simply share what they know about reading the bible for life impact, and praying beyond themselves, and serving together for the betterment of our city and our local church.

Now I also want to be a realist, not all of the guys that I have come alongside are going strong. And not all of the guys that others have come alongside are engaging in this work either. We aren’t batting 1000, not even close. Yet the impact is growing. Men are stepping up to engage in the week in and week out work of meeting a couple other guys and showing them what it means to be a disciple. There is a movement happening as defined by the quote above. The 3^rd generation is taking hold of the baton and moving it forward. And for this I am excited.

Our church’s mission statement says that we will “inspire, support and mobilize”. How often do we want to continually be inspired, yet who wants to do the hard work of support that ultimately sees others mobilized as well. Let’s not sugar coat life-on-life discipleship – it is hard work. And yet, as one who is now looking back on 12+ years of work, I can honestly say that a movement has started. That he who began a good work is carrying it on to completion. That faithfulness to the cause is resulting in good fruit. That I’m actually sowing what I have been reaping – it is true what Jesus spoke of.

I don’t know how large this movement will grow to. I don’t know how much of a difference it will make and how much it will influence others to also take up the cause. And yet, it doesn’t matter. My call is to make disciples and to do what I can to motivate those I build into to also disciple others. What they do with it will be between them and God. I am simply called to faithfulness to what I believe Jesus instructed me to do. I am but a mustard seed. God can cause it to grow to whatever extent he will choose. I declare this day that I will continue to be faithful and will look forward with anticipation knowing that a movement, no matter how small, has begun.

For the kingdom.

On April 15, 2016 I turned 50 and drank my first cup of coffee – dark roast, black! I figured that it was time that I matured and acted my age, so drinking coffee seemed like the logical next step to let people know that I am now of age:)

Over the past year as I knew I was approaching my 50^th birthday I came to the realization that perhaps my best years were still ahead, that in my first 50 years I had done a lot of learning and that I’m now ready to take on some significant work. I started thinking about the next 30 years of my life and what I’d like to accomplish, that I shouldn’t be afraid to step out and try something new, to step into areas that perhaps I may have been avoiding, to never settle for mediocrity – even to try drinking coffee!

I believe that we all face these times in life. We think that we should step into something but then convince ourselves that perhaps it’s too late to try, and so we avoid. What I am talking of?

Perhaps you have thought that you’d love to connect with your neighbours, to create a deeper sense of community on your street or in your apartment, yet you’ve been there 10 years and you haven’t taken any risks, so perhaps the time has passed by, that it’s too late. Why think this way? How about this spring/summer, when everyone spends more time outside, to go over, begin a conversation, and take the next step in creating a deeper sense of community.

Perhaps among your friends you have wanted to go deeper in your journey of faith, to pray together, to serve together. Yet you’ve settled into routines and everyone knows what to expect and you don’t want to be the one to upset “the way things are”; after all, you’ve been friend for such a long time, what you have is good enough, isn’t it? Then why the nagging feeling that perhaps there could be more? Why not take the risk and go to a whole new level of engagement.

Perhaps your marriage is okay but nothing more. A little stale. You have your routines, you know what to expect, you’re both comfortable but not really all that excited about your relationship. Maybe it’s as good as it gets, after all, the emotions of “love” are for those dating and the newly married, but not while raising kids, and once they’re gone why not just keep living together without grand expectations of something exciting – don’t upset what you know you can expect. But maybe, just maybe, there is something more. But you know that it will take stepping out of the routines, taking a chance, maybe starting over, not with someone new, but with something new with the one you committed your life to years ago.

It’s never too late to start. It’s never too late to step out and take a chance. It’s never too late to set out on a new course.

That’s what spring is all about isn’t it? Newness of life. Plants come alive and blossom. Animals come out with their young. It is a new day, a new season, all about new life.

It can be the same for us, if we choose to step out of our routines. Yes it might feel uncomfortable. Yes it might involve some effort. And yet, it could be a new time for your life, something you never thought possible but only dreamed about. Why not let this spring be a new day for you, for your marriage, for your friendships, for your family, for your neighbourhood, for your workplace? Why can’t it start with you?

As followers of Christ and leaders of others on their journey of discipleship, we are called to bring life just as Christ brought life to us. It is our time, it is our season, let’s lead the way.

For the kingdom.