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“A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT”:

A CASE FOR A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS

Presented at Chicago UBF (November 23, 2007)

Dr. Paul Hong

Toledo UBF

University of Toledo

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Order of Presentation

[1] Introduction

[2] “I will not leave you”(2 Kgs 2:1-8). Table 1: Four Patterns of Succession (Old Testament)

[3] “The double portion of your spirit”(2 Kgs 2:9-12) Table 2: Elijah and Elisha

[4] “The spirit of Elijah on Elisha”(2 Kgs 2:13-25) Table 3: Full-time Prophets and Full-time Professionals

[5] Spiritual Growth for Life Table 4: Elements of Growth

[6] Succession in UBF Context: Pioneering College Campuses A Case for young generation of leaders: Succession in Campus Ministries

[7] Our Strategic Needs: Strategic Needs: (1) Full-time staff ; (2) Full-time Ph.D. Professor/Staff

[8] Conclusion: Questions and Answers

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[1] Introduction

When they had crossed Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. (2 Kgs 2:9)

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[1] Introduction

Within ten years or so, the first generation of leaders will pass their baton to the next generation of leaders.

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2 Kings 2 is chosen primarily because of the main idea:

“a new generation should be better than the old—at least with a double portion of spirit”

[1] Introduction

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[2] “I will not leave you” (2:1-8).

Elijah and Elisha is an example of effective succession in the Bible

7http://kids.christiansunite.com/Bible_Stories/Bible_Story_048.shtml

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Elijah’s Contest on Mount Carmel

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Chariot of Fire, Elisha Watches Elijah atheism.about.com

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Truths about Succession

[1] Succession is according to God’s sovereignty and grace (1 Kgs 19:19-20)

[2] People are in the mainline if they know God and they serve God’s purpose

[3] Both old and new generations share their due responsibilities for godly succession; “We reap what we sow” (Gal 6:8)

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[3] “The double portion of your spirit” (9-12)

Elisha wanted Elijah’s spirit.

He asked neither position nor status.

He boldly sought the source of real greatness—the double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

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Table 2: Elijah and Elisha

Elijah Elisha

MissionA lonely voice A disciple maker

CharacterFighter Builder

Style Confrontations Counsels

StrengthsPassion Wisdom

ScopeIsrael The world

Note: In terms of scale of visible accomplishment, Elisha is greater than Elijah. However, in the Bible Elijah is positioned ahead of Elisha in terms of impact and real greatness. Elijah’s legacy as the pioneering prophet is greater than Elisha’s achievements.

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[4] “The spirit of Elijah on Elisha” (9-12)

How did Elisha become a mighty prophet?

(1) As a full-time prophet Elisha wrestled with his people’s problems. (2) Elisha depended on God for prophetic insight and problem solving power.

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Table 3:Full-time prophets and full-time professionals

Full-time Prophets Full-Time Professionals

Elisha (2Kgs 2-13) General Naaman(2 Kgs 5);

Jehoash (2Kgs 13)

Samuel David

Ezra Nehemiah

Isaiah and Jeremiah Daniel and Esther

Elizabeth and Zechariah Simeon and Anna

Full-time Staff Shepherds

(UBF)

Full-time Professional Shepherds

(UBF)

Note: The above distinction is to suggest that such specialization is recognized in the Bible. However, in biblical and church history, rigid walls of separation between full-time prophets and full-time professionals have not always been maintained. Many churches (particularly in the early pioneering periods and in the contexts of cross-cultural mission engagements) have adapted to integrate both aspects as needed.

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[5] Spiritual Growth for Life

• Godly succession is not merely about transfer of power or position.

• Godly succession is about passing God’s promises and commands (i.e., faith and mission) to the next generation.

• Godly succession requires sound spiritual growth for life.

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Table 4: Elements of Growth

Dimension

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd PeriodBiblical

IllustrationPersonal Faith

God’s Purpose

Kingdom of God

FocusIdentity

(Self)

Mission

(Boundary)

Hope

(Eternity)Moses vs.

Uzziah

Nature of Competency

Personal Capacity

Network Capacity

Successor Capacity

Samuel vs. Samson

Measure of Success

Character Influence LegacyJoseph vs.

Saul

Key

Questions“Who Am I?” “What Do I Do?”

“What is this all about?”

Solomon’s Questions

(Ecclesiastes

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Key Idea:

1. Approach this life journey from a wholesome perspective.

2. In life there are different time periods.

in each time period we need to: (1) know our focus, (2) define the

nature of competency; (3) meaningful measure of success in life.

Dimension

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd PeriodBiblical

IllustrationPersonal Faith

God’s Purpose

Kingdom of God

Focus Identity Boundary HopeMoses vs.

Uzziah

Nature of Competency

Personal Capacity

Network Capacity

Successor Capacity

Samuel vs. Samson

Measure of Success

Character Influence LegacyJoseph vs.

Saul

Key

Questions“Who Am I?”

“What Do I Do?”

“What is this all about?”

Solomon’s Questions

(Ecclesiastes)

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Pioneering College Campuses

[1] Many 1st Generation of UBF leaders received God’s calling during

their college years.

[2] They have served for world mission in the context of college

campuses around the world.

Experiencing God through College Life and Beyond!

Discovering Meaning, Purpose and Passion through life of mission !

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Pioneering College Campuses

[1] A new generation of UBF leaders receive their education in

colleges and grow up in the context of school/college

ministries.

[2] Will they pioneer World Campuses in their generation?

Experiencing God through their College Life and Beyond!

Discovering Meaning, Purpose and Passion through life of mission !

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Why US College Campuses?

In spite of increasing troubles**, US Universities still lead the world.

Sources of major Influences that shape the future:

College Campuses!!

** USA has been very slowly losing its dominance in the world in terms of economic production indicators (e.g., Gross Domestic Product, trade balance, budget deficit) and other standard of living indicators (e.g., standard of living, health care quality, social infrastructure).

27Source: http://www.webometrics.info/Top_100_by_Country.html

28Source: http://www.webometrics.info/Top_1000_by_Country.html

Top 1,000 by Country

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30Source: http://www.webometrics.info/Top_1000_by_Continent.html

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Why US College Campuses?

[2] Pioneer US campuses for God’s purpose of world salvation

US Colleges are still a primary instrument

for interacting and impacting the world.

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Why US College Campuses?

[3] Need for Full-time Staff and Full-time Professional shepherds

Full-time staff shepherds are mentors, trainers, mothers and fathers of prayer.

They train and prepare young people for the life of full-time professional shepherds!

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[6] Succession in UBF Context:

Why US College Campuses?

[3] Need for Full-time Staff and Full-time Professional shepherds

Godly parents can pray with the spirit of full-time staff shepherds to raise up their children for God’s purpose.

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[7] Our Strategic Need(1):

[1] Full-time staff leaders: Godly (Disciplined devotion to the ministry of God’s word and prayers) Capable (Proven spiritual authority and experiences) Influential (Effective leadership that serve and lead the larger body of Christ)

Clear sense of priorities in

(1)selection, (2) training and education (3) field work experiences of full-time staff

leaders worldwide.

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Case for Full-time Staff Leaders

Responsible stewardship for large scale, global ministry requires full-time staff leaders

Sustained growth requires full-time staff leaders

Quality and depth of coordination requires full-time staff leaders

Quality program development requires full-time staff leaders

Global impact on students, scholars and leaders requires full-time staff leaders.

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Process for Full-time Staff Leaders

Spiritual disciplines and authority Serving heart and physical, mental and spiritual labor

power College/graduate education and Fieldwork training Integrative capacity of scholar, shepherd and

administrator

“Sustainable strengths and depth of ministries depend on

the quality of full-time staff leaders.”

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[7] Our Strategic Need(2):

[1] Full-time professional leaders: Godly (practice spiritual disciplines)

Healthy (balance personal growth, family, work and ministry needs) Effective (integrate multiple roles)

Clear understanding of (1) Needs , (2) processes (3) impact

of full-time professional leaders worldwide.

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Case for Full-time Professional Leaders

Effective bridge with professionalism and dedication. Integration of work and ministries. Set examples in real life struggles for mission. Global network and engagement. Life-long service for the kingdom of God.

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Case for Full-time Ph.D. Professor/Staff

Life-long learning and growth Life-long engagement with campus ministries Global network and engagement Global impact on students, scholars and leaders. Life-long education and training of leaders beyond retirement

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A shortage of business faculty with doctoral degrees has troubled academia for more than a decade, and although universities have deftly adjusted to keep teaching and research alive, the dearth of Ph.D.s in the marketplace eventually

could undermine businesses' ability to compete.The number of business doctorates awarded in 1994-95 was 1,327, according to the 2002 "Management Education at Risk" report by the Association to Advance

Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

The most recent figures available show that the number of business/management doctorates produced annually was 1,168 in 2005, a

decrease of about 12 percent from the 1995 figure, according to Daniel R. LeClair, vice president and chief knowledge officer with the AACSB.

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Process for Ph.D. Professor/Staff

Course work Doctoral Dissertation Research and teaching Global engagement

“Getting a Ph.D. is earning an opportunity to engage in research, teaching and service for life”

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Preparation of Ph.D. Professor/Staff

Humble and hardworking spirit Humble and hardworking spirit Humble and hardworking spirit

The primary mark of UBF Ph.D. staff/professor shepherds

is humility before God.

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UBF USA/Canada Ph.D. Staff(Ph.D. earned; Current Mission) – Not a complete

list--• Dr. Joseph Schafer (Harvard U; Penn State)• Dr. Jim Rabchuck (UIC; Western Illinois University)• Dr. Noah Rhee (Michigan State: UMKC)• Dr. Moses Noah (Georgia Tech: Drexel University)• Dr. David Lemmon (U of Cincinnati; Penn State) • Dr. Mark Yoon (North Eastern: Boston University)• Dr. Joe Wert (U of Cincinnati; IUSE)• Dr. Steve Haga (University of Maryland; Taiwan U)• Dr. Rebekah Kim (UCLA; Pepperdine University)• Dr. Tom Kalapos (Case Western Reserve; Naval Laboratory)• Dr. Henry Kim (University of Chicago; University of Toronto)• Dr. Daniel Lee (U of Pittsburg; Shippensburg U)• Dr. Henry Park (UIC; Ohio State University)• Dr. Helen Rarick (UIC: Loyola University)• Dr. Abraham Nahm (University of Toledo; University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire)• Dr. Paul Hong (University of Toledo; University of Toledo)• Dr. Mark Yoo (University of Toledo; Virginia State University)• Dr. Abraham Kim (Oregon State University; University of Minnesota)• Dr. Isaac Baek (Texas A & M)

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[8] Conclusion

[1] God continues the work of succession because he is our God and the God of our descendants after us (Gen 17:8; Lk 1:55)

[2] Succession that pleases God is that a new generation of leaders may inherit the double portion of the spirit (i.e., devotion, power and influence) of the pioneering generation (2 Kgs 2:9).

[3] For such godly succession, we pray, plan and work together just as God is always at his work. (John 5:17, 17:20, 26).

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Questions and Answers

• For further discussion and questions, please contact:

Dr. Paul Hong Professor Information Operations and Technology Management University of Toledo Paul.Hong@Utoledo.Edu

http://homepages.utoledo.edu/phong/