There are and will continue to be opportunities for pastors in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. The key is HONOR.

You must allow yourself to be corrected, mentored, and learn the art of submission. Personally, I have many mentors. Many people assume I was just trained by my father, but that is far from the truth. I have many mentors, but four specifically have the most influence over my ministry. In other words, four have permission to speak into my life, both positively and negatively.

One of the saddest relationships in the Bible is that of David and Saul. David needed a father and mentor in his life, but Saul chose resentment over succession. This led to mental health issues and death. Saul was overcome with jealousy of young David’s anointing, so instead of cultivating David’s calling, he resented it.

1 Samuel 18:8-12

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

The pastors my age who are leading all have two things in common; They honor those who have gone before them and they submit to Godly mentors. Most people say they want to be led until the leader brings correction.

Here is a synopsis of some of the feedback I have been given in the last 15 years that could have caused me to rebel or quit.

You have an inferiority complex.
Stop trying to prove yourself in every message.
Finish Seminary and study to show yourself approved unto God.
Be proactive, not reactive.
You are too melancholy. The measure of a man is how little it takes to discourage him.
Be on time (15 minutes early) and be faithful in the small things.
Be yourself.
Make prayer a priority.
Lose weight.
Practice what you preach.

I had to make a decision many years ago to allow myself to be broken, rebuilt, and mentored. Every God-called person says they want to get better and longs for a mentor, but most take honest feedback as criticism. They choose stubbornness so they can be a victim and blame their lack of growth on others. I believe there will be more younger pastors when younger leaders learn the art of submission and honor.

Furthermore, elder ministry leaders (pastors) who refuse to promote, mentor, and give their time to the next generation will not finish well, but finish in shame. If you’ve been in ministry twenty years or longer, you should be mentoring the next generation. If you aren’t mentoring someone, you need to check your motives. Success is never about what you accomplished in your prime, but rather what was accomplished after you stepped away. True success is about what happened after your time ended.

Who are you discipling? Who are you raising up to carry the baton when you are gone?

It’s time the generations come together and for God’s church to embrace the future God has promised her.

Joel 2:28

"It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”

Are you ready for it?