How to leave a Legacy that Impacts Others

Football season is right around the corner. With start of a new season coming soon, it got me thinking about last year’s Super Bowl. In particular it got me thinking of the legacy of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Will they be remembered as the best of all time or will they be remembered as great but with some “suspicious” behavior that made them great? The same goes with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. I do not doubt for one bit that they will get in the Hall of Fame…eventually, but their legacy is tainted by steroids. While legal “proof” isn’t there, very many people believe they did steroids and that helped their careers in a very big way. Their legacies are tainted.

In the same way, we all have legacies we are leaving behind. Whether you stay at one Church your entire career or not, you will always leave behind a legacy. What kind of legacy will you are leaving behind?

Over the course of my ministry career, I’ve worked at 4 total Churches and 1 Para-Church organization (Young Life). At one of the last churches I worked at we had a lot of success. However, the ending of my tenure there was not smooth or great in many ways. There was a lot of bad blood and ill feelings in many ways as I felt very slighted considering the 7.5 years of my life that I put into helping students hear about Christ and grow in their relationship with Christ.

A few years ago I ran into my former boss and Senior Pastor from that Church. While we ended on less than ideal terms, we had a very good conversation. Over the course of our conversation he said one to me really stood out. He told me that after all those years since I’ve been gone (9 years) and over three student ministers later, they’ve never been able to replace me and the ministry environment I helped to create while I was at that Church.

I say all this not as boasting that I was a great leader. It’s simply a reflection that I left a lasting impact on the staff, the students and people at my previous Church.

So, as I reflect, I want to encourage you to reflect as well. What kind of legacy are you leaving behind? How do you leave behind that legacy?

• Focus on your job. This sounds obvious but not everyone does this. We get distracted by “side hustle” that, while important and necessary at times, can prevent us from our calling and mission. The more you can stay focused on your work and doing it with excellence seeking God’s leading, the more effective you can be.
• Give it your all. In ministry there tends to be a work-a-holic nature where we work so much, often sacrificing our families and friends for our calling. While this is not good to do, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is not giving it your all. When you are working give 100% to your job so that those you are working with and for will know you gave it your all and worked hard.
• Respect and honor others. No one likes an egotistical leader or someone who doesn’t value others. Whether you think you can pretend to respect and honor others, they will only be fooled so long. Whether it is staffers, volunteers or those you are ministering to, people  will know what type of person you really are over time.

Conclusion

You are going to leave a legacy at every ministry you are involved in. It could be a negative legacy where all they remember is the difficulties you and your ministry caused. Or, it could be a positive one where, long after you have moved one, they are telling stories of impact you and your time there had. The choice is yours. What kind of legacy will you leave? I pray it is a great one.

What do you think? How have you left a legacy that impacts others? Share your thoughts or experiences below or on social media using #ymsidekick when you post. 

Want to learn digital tools to expand your reach in ministry? Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group!