If we only do one thing this year...

2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

These verses have been running through my head since June. At National Area Director training, we studied the book of 2 Timothy. While it's always a treat to study scripture with InterVarsity staff, this study felt like a reminder of one of the core InterVarsity values that drives me: student leadership development. 

In 2 Timothy, Paul reminders Timothy of his legacy of faith which starts with Timothy's grandmother Lois and then his mother Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5) Paul reminds Timothy of the things that Paul himself passed onto Timothy: "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim. 1:6). 

And what is Timothy to do with this legacy? He is to entrust it to others who are qualified to pass it on.

My job as an area director is to pass leadership on-- from staff to student leaders, from student leaders to student members. I am always looking to entrust God's good gifts to reliable people who will then entrust it to others.

I felt like once this job description clicked in my brain, all the other strategic planning fell into place. I always need to be thinking how to pass on what we do to the next generation. I always need to ask how to lead and teach in ways that others can replicate. Nothing in this job is about me, building a program or structure that I can run or feel successful in doing. I build with eyes to give away.

To that end, I've asked my staff to have one primary focus in the next year: develop student leaders who will find and develop two others. 

I sometimes stop and laugh at myself because I feel like I have the same job description now as I did when I was an intern with Intervarsity almost 15 years ago. And yet, that's also what I love-- the ministry we do isn't magic. It doesn't take a special personality or years of training. Instead, we "entrust to reliable people who will teach others."

Thank you Paul for the constant reminder of the lessons of ministry. Thank you to my fellow new ADs for the scripture study.

To God be the glory.