Passing The Baton - Guest Blog by David Waddell

I never ran track. I possess an incredible amount of slowness. A few years ago, I watched a videotape a church member made for my son in which the church’s father and son softball team was playing. There were several men in the church with sons who were juniors or seniors in high school. Since I was the recreation minister, I put this group together for a team in the church sponsored men’s slow pitch softball league.

In the video, I get up to the plate for my at-bat and hit the ball down the right-field line. Then the footage presents me running to first base. I reluctantly use the word running because it appeared to be in slow motion. I asked my son if I ran that slowly. His comment was, “I think the tape makes it appear faster than reality.”

While I am not good at racing on a track, I am quite the fan of watching human beings that possess great speed. One race I enjoy, in particular, is the relays. Speed is one component of the relay race, but equally of importance is the transfer of the baton from one runner to the next. Teams win relay races not only on the speed of the runners but also on the efficiency of passing the baton from one runner to the next.

Successful transfers are beautiful in any setting. On March 4, 1797, George Washington handed the “leadership baton” of United States to the new president, John Adams. For the first time in political history, power had transferred without the death of the former leader or a violent overthrow. The story goes that, after the inauguration, John Adams was waiting for George Washington to exit the room first. The former president reminded Mr. Adams that he was now a regular citizen and that Mr. Adams, as president, should exit the room first. Mr. Washington had control over his ego enough to let the new man shine, as he should in his new position. Our nation celebrates that this transfer has occurred on a regular basis since that day.

In Deuteronomy 34, we read about the death of Moses, and Joshua becoming the leader of the Israelites. God chose Joshua to take Moses’s place and to lead the people into their new home. The transfer was smooth because Moses had “laid his hands on Joshua” signifying to the people that he would be their new leader.

In the first two chapters of 1 Kings, we read the story of King David handing the throne to his son Solomon. This transfer was a much more peaceful transfer than we see with some of the following kings of Israel and Judah, where murder caused the exchange of the “baton.”

Someone else previously held every position of leadership I have held. Each predecessor left the job peacefully to take on positions in other places. The transfer of leadership was smooth because there was no overthrow or death involved. When I departed my leadership position from the last two churches I served, both churches promoted my associate minister of recreation into the lead position for the ministry. The one in Springfield continues to serve in ministry at a church in nearby Ozark, Missouri. The leader in Germantown Baptist assumed the role in 2003 and remains in that position to this day. Most churches have similar records of peaceful transfers in ministry leadership positions as God calls one person away from a particular place and calls another one into that situation.

Four months ago, I witnessed yet another transfer of power. Greg Linville, who had served as the Executive Director of the Church Sports and Recreation Ministers Association since 1992 is stepping aside to work with different aspects of sports, recreation, and fitness leadership. A search team researched possible leaders and found a man, David Mabry, to step in and assume the reigns of this vital parachurch ministry. In September of last year, I observed a group of men and women, all leaders in sport, fitness, and recreation ministries praying over the new leader and asking God to give wisdom and guidance for the new leader. The one supporting the new leader the most was the outgoing leader, Greg Linville.

I am grateful these two men have kept their egos under control, and both have allowed themselves to let the other shine in the gifts God gave them. In that I am friends with both men, I am grateful that the transfer of power did not result in one of them murdering the other. Please pray for this year of transition and these two amazing leaders in sports, recreation, and fitness ministries.

What baton are you handing off or receiving?
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David Waddell is a Local Church Sport, Rec & Fitness Ministry Veteran and currently is a Professor at Ole Miss!  His two books are available through CSRM and are highly recommended.  David also serves on CSRM's Board of Trustees and Executive Committee and will be a presenter at this year's REACHgathering.