I’m thankful I don’t face as daunting a task as Myers did—not because the person I’m replacing isn’t as extraordinary, but because of the remarkable inheritance he’s left behind and the way it’s being transferred. Lee Grady is one of the most distinct and respected voices in Christian journalism today. After serving Charisma for 17 years, he’s made my task of following in his footsteps extremely challenging. Yet one thing I love about Lee is that he’s never wanted me to trace his trail, but instead to blaze one for myself. As anyone close to him knows, Lee leads by empowering. He believes in handing over the necessary tools to let people run their own course, all while he offers them his unconditional support.
The church desperately needs more Lee Gradys right now. We need battle-proven generals who are willing to make way for and empower a new generation of passionate, Spirit-filled leaders. We need veterans with proven wisdom to help guide those eager to venture further.
But let me remind my fellow emergents of this two-sided coin: We may be blazing new trails, but we must not neglect the wisdom of the pioneers who came before us. Our success will be directly proportional to how well we listened to the voice of God speaking through our predecessors. If the church is to truly flourish in the next season, young and old must understand the need for intergenerational conversation, not monogenerational monologues.
This month Charisma highlights the Spirit-prompted generational transfer already in process—and shown in places such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the ongoing Empowered21 conversations will be celebrated April 8-10. We believe these pivotal multigenerational gatherings offer hope for all ages. Because as in this magazine’s transfer from one editor to the next, those involved understand that the state of the generational inheritance usually matters more than the individual inheritors.
Marcus Yoars is Charisma’s new editor.