The Next Billionaires
I was reading an article in Newsweek magazine (May 21, 2007) about a company called Y Combinator. It is a group that gives seed money to fledgling start-ups and sends the generally young geeks to Silicon Valley for three months of intensive entrepreneuring. They get access to the best venture capitalists to pitch their wares and get connected with the start-up culture/ethic.
The part I thought was interesting was an observation by tech investor Mike Maples:
It’s several weeks into the program, and Maples is in a Palo Alto, Calif., coffeehouse for a meeting… He sees a lot of people barely out of their teens. The old wisdom for investors in start-ups said you needed an experienced hand as a CEO. The Valley’s new wisdom: don’t fund anyone over 30. The average age of a Y Combinator founder is 25.
This quote jumped out at me since it illustrates a similar element as our U40 group. Maples and the Y combinators recognize that the world, and hence the rules have shifted substantially. It is a tacit acknowledgment that, at least in technology start-ups, you don’t go with the “normal” formula.
I don’t think the Christian faith has had rules change radically over the last two thousand years, but the environment/culture/times we are in is radically different. Our mission to this new environment/culture/time requires us to become conversant with the language of today. This may require new ministry start-ups with under 30 year olds at the helm.
It is always good to bring fresh ideas, research, and technology to bring much needed change to the church. The church is rooted and grounded in traditions that do not easily give way to new ideas that impact the way church is done. Perhaps that is why new churches grow much faster than existing ones.
If somehow, new leaders can emerge, show respect and honor those who have paid the price for previous era, and then start new expressions, not in “reaction” to the older but complementary to it. This seems to be the idea behind Proverbs… from Proverbs Chapter 1:2-5.
2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Clearly the older, experienced and seasoned leader needs to build healthy relationships with those who are ready to bring their ideas and intelligence to lead the church into the future. Hopefully, the young leader wants the same thing. It all boils down to respect. My hope is we can encourage the ongoing conversation between the bright young leaders and the seasoned experienced leaders with respect and courage to try new things.
Mike, thank you for the response. I can’t agree more. My sense is that the respect needs to move in both directions. We must recognize that God has uniquely called people to serve in their unique time and culture. To insist that one must do “it” a certain way, would be wrong, regardless of what group is doing the insisting.
Furthermore, to attach a judgment of “irrelevance” or “rebellion” is not only short-sighted, but plays directly in the hands of Satan and his desire to divide us. We need to avoid this.
I think respect can only come as we journey together and develop relationships of trust.