Equipping the Next Generation of Leaders

Leadership training and mentorship is an important art that starts at home. It is critical that we prepare for the transfer of power, wisdom and legacy by pouring into our children so they become solid adults.

Today my youngest son, Nathan, left for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. This US Marine Corps training program is supposed to be one of the toughest boot camps in the world. I was proud to see my baby boy begin to cross the threshold of manhood, but I was sad to see him leave. Nate is my buddy and I enjoy his company. I wasn’t so concerned about the physical training that he will have to endure because he’s always been an outstanding athlete. I am concerned and prayerful about the very real possibility that he could end up on the front lines in Afghanistan or Iraq.

In my our pivitol father-son conversation I did my best to prepare him mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for what would undoubtedly be one of the greatest challenges of his lifetime. I told him that I was proud of him that he had made this decision to serve in the military, especially while our nation is at war. It was a tough, yet warm, conversation that I had with Nate as I prayed for double of my anointing to be transferred to him and officially handed him the baton of manhood.

I reminded him of Joshua 1:1-9 where God told the new leader of the nation of Israel that his father figure, Moses, was dead. While I am very much alive and kickin’, Nate, like Joshua, was being separated from his mentor. I charged him with drawing on everything that I had taught him growing up as he would need to develop the same Godly warrior spirit that Joshua had. The two words that stuck out in the passage of Scripture were “courage” and “strength”. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to press onward in the face of danger and difficulty in spite of fear. Nate smiled as I gave him the best fatherly advice I could give him. While I was wondering about his smirk, he chimed in that the motto of the Marine Corps is honor, courage and commitment. I, too, began to smile as I realized that the Holy Spirit guided me to the right Word for him as I echoed that ancient text for a modern circumstance. I further reminded my departing warrior that the Word says that he must “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Mediate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you proser and succeed in all you do.” (Josh. 1:8)

Just like a Marine prepares for battle through training, strategy and weaponry we must prepare for the battles in our lives. We must remember to lock and load the Word of God. Is is the ammunition that we will need daily to succeed in every battle. Without it, we remain unarmed in a hostile world. Make sure you are equipping the next generation of leaders in your life with the Word. For the battles that they will inevitably face in their lives, will require courage, strength and a skillful command of God’s Word.

With my son Nate

Advertisement