Congregations seeking to transform intentionally identify, develop, and deploy the next generation of leaders. People with leadership ability want to lead. They want their spiritual gifts, strengths, and preferences recognized. They want open doors through which they can walk to express leadership. If these are not present, they may go elsewhere.
This strategy must start early in the life of congregations and be hard-wired into their culture. The challenge for too many congregations is that they do not initiate this strategy until the prospect pool of potential next generation leaders is practically depleted or has turned their passion in another direction.