Emerging leaders

Every once in a while I get discouraged with the "progress" of the emerging church. I hope you will forgive me, but as a "baby boomer" I have a tendency to be interested in things like goals, results, strategies and plans. I used to develop real estate and you can't do that without all of the above. So, I think about where the "movement" is "moving." I notice that the leaders are getting older and I wonder about whether older folks like me will get out of the way of the younger folks so that they can, in turn, lead their children into an authentic expression of Christianity for the third millenium. Just when I start to get too cynical, God has a way of showing me that "all is not lost." I recently attended a Vineyard "Healing" Conference. Now, I haven't had much use for the Vineyard leadership since they kicked some friends of mine out of their "association" for being unwilling to sign a licensing agreement for the use of the Vineyard name. I had begun to despair that Vineyard leadership was just a bunch of aging boomers trying to make sure their health insurance stays intact. But....on the second day of the conference God shined his light on an "emerging" leader and whispered, "See, I am raising up the next generation of apostolic leaders for the Vineyard." Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Rogier Bos, the founding editor of Next-Wave. He is planting a church in Rotterdam. He is truly one of the next generation of emerging leaders in Europe. I recently finished reading Organic Church by Neil Cole. I've read a number of books on church growth, leadership and church planting. But this book said some things in practical and inspirational ways that gave me some fresh insight on how God wants to extend His Kingdom in our neighborhoods and communities. So, okay God, I will try to curb my natural tendency toward cynicism, continue to shine your light and blessing on the next generation of leaders for your church...