Recruiting the next generation

Finding the troublesome ones?

We have recently been having some discussions within the EU regarding how soon people should 'step-up' into leadership positions. And what types of people are fit for service.

So, who would you chose to replace yourself in whatever ministry you are involved with? Would you chose the person who is most like you - to carry on your legacy? What about the person in your home group who leads most like you?

Would you ever chose the ones who cause trouble? Here's a quote I stumbled across from TC Hammond. He says,

"If a young man has anything to offer he'll be a bit troublesome"

Ahh, if only I'd found that about a decade ago! Now that I'm a bit older and suggesting younger men and women for ministry it struck me that it is often easy to chose the person who will not rock the boat, and one who will carry on the ministry in the same way that it's been running.

Perhaps we would do well to sometimes chose the person who might cause a bit of trouble - because it may be good for the gospel. And it might just show them that they are well suited for ministry.

But how troublesome a person to choose?