INTRODUCTION

Dear Friend,

The spiritual principles shared in this course are based on a biblical process of multiplication by handing over leadership from one generation to the next called Sacrificial Succession. We use these spiritual principles to select, train and monitor national pioneers who are serving a particular nation or people group by evangelising and discipling them, sacrificing leadership for them and sustaining them as leaders.

We are doing this in partnership with like-minded national intercessors and churches, who help oversee the national pioneers and the churches they plant. Together we have seen thousands of nationals from Muslim and Buddhist backgrounds baptised and hundreds become successors.

As we have been blessed by this gift from the Lord, we want to share it with you and help you apply for the glory of Christ and his Church.

Sacrificial Succession is based on three core spiritual principles: Serve, Sacrifice and Sustain, that are drawn from Bible characters and the personal testimonies of our sacrificial colleagues in the field. This course is enriched by the testimonies of these great witnesses who serve, sacrifice for and sustain successors to this day. The three main stages of a sacrificial succession and the roles required of sacrificial leaders are to: Serve Successors (Matthew 20:16), Sacrifice Leadership (Matthew 20:28) and Sustain Successors (John 14:26).

These three main qualities of sacrificial succession form the three sections of this course: Serve, Sacrifice and Sustain. In Section 1, Serve, the first lesson shares these three qualities through scripture and testimonies from the field. The next lesson combines these three qualities to explain what is required in a sacrificial succession by studying Matthew 20:1-28. Then, Lesson 3 applies these spiritual principles to the selection of sacrificial successors by focusing on choosing pioneering rather than pastoral people to start new work.

Section 2, Sacrifice, starts by focusing on the sacrifice of leadership by predecessor for successor and the need for mutual humility in this vital handover of leadership. Lesson 5 goes on to explain the importance of each of these three stages in a transition: pre-succession period, the succession event and post-succession period, along with the need for at least three generations of leader: Predecessor, Successor and Disciple to be involved for a sacrificial succession to be successful.

The third section, Sustain, explains in Lesson 6 the two most important roles of a Sustainer, that of an advocate for successors who also keeps them accountable to the principles of sacrificial succession. Finally, in Lesson 7, each of the main qualities of Servant, Sacrificer and Sustainer are practically drawn together to explain how a sacrificial leader can be the catalyst for a sacrificial succession. An assessment at the end of the course tests learner knowledge of the biblical principles foundational to sacrificial succession and their applied understanding of sacrificial succession through a succession audit questionnaire and role-playing activity where learners interview each other as candidate successors.

My prayer for you as you undertake these lessons is that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you the timeless truths of sacrificial succession and help you apply these sacrificial principles into your life and leadership. I am here to help you.

Blessings,

Paul Rattray – Impact-a-Nation Manager