1. Trust is the foundation of every handover
Whether we’re talking about handing over to a single successor or about a model in which several leaders share responsibility, trust forms the foundation. Older leaders need the courage to trust that the next generation is ready, and to give them room to make decisions.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there must be no fear of the next generation. Many leaders hesitate to hand over responsibility because they’re afraid of losing their position or their influence. But that’s the wrong way of thinking. If we trust the next generation and encourage them, we can achieve far more than if we keep everything in our own hands. Another important principle is that as a senior leader you have to know when it’s time to let go. You mustn’t hold on too long. The handover process shouldn’t become a power struggle, but a relay handoff in which both sides work together. (Johannes Justus, leader of the Elim Network)
Lesson for older leaders: Trust the next generation, even when they make mistakes. Trust builds a bridge on which growth and change are possible. It takes humility to let go, but that is exactly where the key to a successful handover lies.
Lesson for younger leaders: Become a trustworthy leader by not only adopting the church’s values but embodying them. Show your mentors that in you they have someone they can hand the baton to with a clear conscience.
2. Recognizing the right moment and letting go
Johannes Justus spoke openly about the pain and challenge of letting go: There were many moments when I asked myself whether I was really ready to let go. Especially when I saw things being done differently from what I was used to. That isn’t always easy. A painful moment was when God spoke to me and said, “If you don’t give me the church, I will take it away from you.” That was a very hard moment for me. I wanted to see the fruit of my work, finish the building we had planned. But God made it clear to me that it isn’t my church; it’s his church. And if I wasn’t willing to let go, I would lose the church. That hit me hard, but it also helped me to really let go and pass on the baton.
This moment illustrates the urgency of recognizing the right time for the handover. Hesitating or holding on can complicate the handover process and even destroy it. The moment a leader passes the baton shouldn’t be determined by outside pressure, but by the willingness to trust God in this process.
Lesson for older leaders: It takes sensitivity to God’s leading to recognize the moment when you have to pass the baton. Johannes put it aptly: “The handover process shouldn’t become a power struggle.” Instead, it should be a natural continuation of God’s vision.
Lesson for younger leaders: Be ready to accept the responsibility when the time comes. It can feel intimidating, but God has called and equipped you too.
3. Taking on new roles
The role of a leader is never a position of power, but always a position of service. Both Johannes and Pastor How reminded us that the focus has to be on making the next generation successful, not on putting our own success first.
Lesson for older leaders: Develop the heart of a servant. Your job in the handover is to build the stage for others as a mentor and supporter. Johannes said: “I no longer have to do everything myself; I can encourage the young leaders and help them fulfill their tasks. That also gives me the freedom to do new things and take on new challenges that I might not have been able to tackle before. I’ve learned that in God’s kingdom it isn’t only about visible leadership, but also about invisible service in the background. That has given me a new perspective on my ministry.”
Lesson for younger leaders: Be patient with yourself. Take time for the handover process and for finding your role. Michael Mierich put it this way: “Sometimes it really does feel like I’m walking on water. But I’ve learned to trust God and be patient. I know he knows the right time, and I’ve accepted that it’s a process. It isn’t easy, but I know it’s worth being faithful.”
4. Building a team of leaders
Pastor How brought a new perspective into the handover process by speaking not just of one person taking over the baton, but of a team of leaders moving forward together: “I find that the image of the baton isn’t complete. In a relay race, the first runner stops running before the next one starts. That means there is only ever one runner on the track at a time. But in the church we need more than one leader running. We need a team that runs at the same time. That’s why I prefer the image of several runners on the track together. In our church we aren’t a single senior pastor handing over the baton; we are a team of senior pastors who carry responsibility at the same time. Each of us has our own role and our own gifts, and together we can achieve far more than one person alone.”
Lesson for older leaders: Think about how you can build a leadership team that carries responsibility together. This takes the pressure off a single successor and creates a team that works together.
Lesson for younger leaders: Be ready to work in a team. Even if you are the designated successor, that doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. Use the strengths of the others and create an environment in which shared leadership is encouraged.
5. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut
One of the most encouraging and at the same time most challenging lessons from the panel came from Pastor How when he said: “Sometimes it’s best to just keep your mouth shut.” As an older leader, it can be hard to stay quiet when you see the younger generation making decisions differently than you would. But that is exactly part of the growth process. Pastor How explained: “Sometimes I sit in the service and think, the music isn’t to my taste. But the young people love it, and it works. So I let them do it.”
Lesson for older leaders: It’s important to step back and give the younger leaders the freedom to make their own decisions, even if that means they make mistakes. These mistakes are learning opportunities, and as long as the fundamental values and principles remain intact, it’s crucial not to hinder the development of the new leaders.
Yes, it’s really important that we as the older generation don’t constantly intervene. If the young leaders have the same values and the same foundation as we do, then we can trust them. Of course they will sometimes do things differently than we would. But that’s okay. We mustn’t forget that we too had our own time to learn and grow. Now their time has come, and we have to give them the room to carry this responsibility. (Pastor How, Heart of God Church, Singapore)
Lesson for younger leaders: Be grateful for the freedom you are given, and use it wisely. Even when you make mistakes, use them as a chance to learn and grow. Be humble enough to acknowledge your weaknesses and accept correction.
6. Recognizing the Holy Spirit as the guide in the process
An essential aspect that ran through the whole discussion was dependence on the Holy Spirit in every phase of the handover process. Pastor How said: “Without the Holy Spirit it will be hard to preserve unity.” This dependence on God’s leading helps both older and younger leaders make the right decisions at the right time.
Lesson for both generations: Trust the Holy Spirit. No matter how good your structures or plans are, in the end it is the Holy Spirit who has to guide the process. Take time to pray with and for each other and to seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
My message to the next generation is: be bold and trust that God has called you. There will always be challenges and uncertainties, but you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, and he will guide you. Have the courage to go new ways and to reach your full potential. And don’t forget: it isn’t about you, it’s about the kingdom of God. If you carry that in your heart, God will bless you and grant you success. (Pastor How)
English version: September 2026
