Amanda Wells Ministries

The Challenge of Leadership in 2009.

I have a problem. As I minister in the nations I am seeing the dishonouring of the older leaders in the Body of Christ. Almost every 'older in years' leader, that I have spoken to recently, have been asked to step aside to let a young gun come and take over what the older leader spent years building!

You see I take issue with this. Why you ask? Because in 5 /10 years that leader who asked an older leader to step aside will be old himself. Where do we end this? Is there an answer? Years ago we had all the 30 year olds preaching that 40 was ancient and to move aside if you were over 40. Problem is most of those 30 year old preachers have now hit 50 and now it seems 60 is the golden age for shoving a pastor off his turf!

I believe there is an anointing of recognition God will bless you with when you make a ‘place’ for another! When we recognise and affirm each other’s call and partner with each others destiny! As we recognise each other and we release each other, then we all get the benefit of the extended radius of authority of the kingdom.

Results of Removing Father's

1) Last year was horrendous for the Body of Christ! I believe when we started removing the elder 'father's' from the Body of Christ we removed the table set before us. A table is a place to eat and be nourished, we need to eat off the right table. He prepares a table before us.

We need to be careful whose table we sit at!! If the family table is removed then the children have to find their own food with devastating results. Third world countries attest to this!

Hungry people will eat anything unless they have a family table!

Jesus said those who hunger & thirst after righteousness will be filled - RIGHTEOUSNESS means HONESTY, INTEGRITY & MORALITY. Survivors of disasters often become so hungry they eat each others flesh. When we start to eat each others flesh example, Jealousy, backbiting, envy etc, we begin to realise our hunger has taken us to the wrong table.

When we take away mum and dad as the providers of the family food, then the kid's eat take out! They become lazy and obese, have heart problems etc. Same in church, remove the family table and the kids run here and there picking at any food and end up with 'heart' problems. Not generational curses etc, just a wrong table!

It will no longer do to say a man has an unclean life but his fruit is OK! God is saying if the tree is bad then so is the fruit! We need to teach the younger ones about their future not their past. Jewish children know from a young age their generational blessings, those of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, BUT if we remove Abraham we end up with a distorted future!

2) 1 Peter 2 v 17 - Honour ALL people.

A Jew learns as a child to honour his elders. Why does the Body of Christ despise theirs?

The other day I found this Scripture and I believe it is a warning for the Body of Christ.

LAMENTATIONS 5 v 14

When the older men no longer sit in the city gates the young men don't sing and dance

The elders sat at the gates of the City. They watched who came in or out, they protected and sheltered. They gave the younger wisdom/ discernment. When we remove the older men in the Body of Christ from the Gates or Doors of the church, we remove the PRESENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST FROM THE HOUSE.

Singing and dancing represents His presence and worship. If we remove the elders from their posts we will remove the Presence of God and Worship from the House and the next generation. You can't have one without the other. We may have slick music, etc but if the elders are no longer at the Gates and fathers removed from the house then we will have a business and not His Glorious Church!

I love what Josh McDowell says in his book, Last Christian Generation, "The issue here is that the majority of our young people lack a relationship with spiritual mentors who are models of Christ likeness, and these youth are building their faith and lives on a false foundation, a distorted view of who Christ is, why he came to earth, and what the Bible and truth really are."

Conversely, many older adults feel disconnected from succeeding generations and seem ready to cut the cord altogether in the mis-belief that they are no longer needed or even wanted. It's one of the gravest mistakes facing the modern-day Church. A dangerous spiritual blindside. It is time that we step up to our privilege and responsibility; time for the Church to "engage the culture and to provide transformational leadership for life's second-half!"

Besides, the next generation deserves to place its hand on the helm of the Church. But young leaders steering through uncharted waters are wise to draw knowledge and wisdom from 'older captains' who've been there before. And 'older captains' are wise to let the young steer the ship without abandoning them to the task altogether.

Responsibility for the future of the Church is as much in the hands of the elders as it is in any others. Not 'old elders' with spirits that are dulled, eyes that are dim and ways that are set; but rather 'new elders' with spirits rekindled, vision that is clear, and an eagerness to adventure with Jesus. These are the future of the Church. The new elders. These 'new elders' are us!

I believe its time that we stopped disconnecting people because of age but the older Captains help guide the ship with the younger ones. I believe whether you are young or old that today is the day you embraced your call once again, and decided that you are the future of the emerging church. Whether you are 20 or 80 if you are still passionate and visionary then arise.

Timothy needed Paul.

Joshua needed Moses.

Ruth needed Naomi.

The Bible is full of these stories and testimonies, yet why is the church purging herself from hers?