© 2023 Philip M Spence
One of the greatest issues of our time is succession. Megachurches, ministries, and apostolic networks across the world are facing this challenge as the pioneer, senior leader, or apostle ages.
All of us desire to leave a legacy, and the hunt is on to find those who will carry our mission into the next generation and beyond. This need for succession, in order to leave a legacy, is mostly spoken of regarding ministry organisations and their need to appoint a lead person for the future.
However, the body of Christ is the family of God. As sons of our Father in Heaven, we function as His family on the earth. The body of Christ is unique in this aspect, as there is no other grouping of people, ideology, or movement in the earth that is such a family.
In a family, the name is carried forward generationally by the sons. This is the picture of God’s family. The mature sons of God honour their Heavenly Father and advance His name, and His business (the Kingdom), from generation to generation.
In my family I have three sons, and they are my successors. They have their own families and life endeavours and yet they carry our family name. Together they are passionate about ensuring the future of our family. In a family, succession does not have to be limited to a single successor. Allow me to explain.
Jesus was the greatest pioneer that has been known on earth. He brought the Kingdom of Heaven to this planet and established it in His generation. Jesus did not appoint one successor for such great achievement to continue. Instead, He poured Himself into twelve men who became His successors. They carried His legacy to various parts of the globe. This strategy ensured that what He began has spread, and still triumphs in the world today, many generations later.
Jesus was also the embodiment of the five-fold ministry. He was an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher. He did not appoint a successor who would have to embody all five of these graces and functions. Instead, He chose to multiply Himself in His body through five types of people who together are to continue what He established.
The apostle Paul did not leave a successor. However, he fathered great apostolic and prophetic men and women such as Luke, Timothy, Silas, Titus, Artimus, Erastus, Tychicus, Zenas, Apollos, Epaphroditus, Gaius, Tychicus, and more.
Paul sent many of these people to be apostolic leaders over the church of great cities and their regions. Instead of trying to raise up someone to fill his position, Paul developed many sons who, in the latter stage of his life, were deployed to succeed him. In this way, Paul ensured that what he had accomplished would continue generationally.
In our time of megachurches with multiple campuses, succession may look very different from finding one replacement for the senior leader. It may be that we adopt the succession plan of Christ and Paul. Perhaps the sons of the family, otherwise known as campus pastors, may lead their own ‘families’ into the next generation. Then one family could become many families and form a great ‘clan’.
Multifaceted ministries and apostolic networks may also benefit greatly by considering this succession model. In my network I have spiritual sons in many countries. These nations are in four distinct regions of the world. I am not looking for one successor for my organisation or ministry. I am observing the emergence of regional leaders who carry my DNA and will eventually continue the work I have established in their region of the world.
If God gives a successor who steps into the pioneer’s position, that is wonderful. However, this is not always the case, and if it is our only model, great pressure can come to bear on the pioneer to find a replacement, and on the successor to carry the previous leader’s mantle.
Perhaps succession would be more effective and productive generationally, if we approach it from a family perspective, where we recognise that multiple successors does not lessen the legacy, but instead provides opportunity for its multiplication.
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Phil Spence is an author, speaker, mentor and musician. He leads Enlarj, a relational apostolic network influencing more than 20 nations. He oversees School of the Kingdom in many of these nations. Phil is internationally recognised as an apostle. Phil may be contacted via phil@enlarj.com
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