Both Jesus and Paul show us how to pass the baton of faith to other people. No matter who we are, we can follow their example and imitate the things they did.

To pass a baton to someone else, we must first invite them to run with us. This first step, called here "Embrace for the race," involves caring and calling. You care about them and tell them you want to be part of their life. And you call them to become the person God made them to be.

Next, you live your faith - run your race - beside them as best you can. At times you trip. Sometimes you fall. So do they. But you probably learn and teach the most in those periods of failure, as you help each other get up again and keep running. This step, called "Set the pace," requires time, teaching, training, testing, trusting and trying again.

The last step, "Release with grace," can be the hardest of all. We begin face-to-face and we run side-by-side, but this is with our front to their back, as they go on without us. And as in a physical relay race, it is the most exciting and most perilous moment of all.

It has two elements: entrust and encourage. Entrust says, "Here, take this from me and run with it!" Encourage says, "I believe in you. I'll be watching. You can do it!"

Jesus made the handoff when he said, "I am going now...As the father sent me, so now I send you...Go, teach all that I have commanded you...I am with you always, even to the end of the age...I will not leave you alone. I give you my Spirit."

Paul's message to Timothy was similar: "I've run my race...now you fight the good fight...run your race...Guard the deposit entrusted to you - with the help of the Holy Spirit."

A good handoff in a relay race is one graceful movement. The runners bobble or drop the baton if they let go either too soon or too late. Smooth transitions are vital, but very hard to do. Churches planting other churches, and people passing their ministries to others, know this. Even good leaders often find it hard to let go. One can run well but then still fumble the handoff.

But the kingdom of God is not ours to control. Healthy disciples know that their work belongs to the Lord (Psalm 127:1). We must give others the freedom to make mistakes. One of life's greatest joys is seeing those in whom we have invested our lives soar without us. But it cannot happen if we hold tight and refuse to release.

Say to them, "We wish we could stay with you, but your future is between you and God. We believe in you and are ready to help and applaud." Watch their skill increase as you release.

The Italian word for a baton is testimone, the same word as for a person's testimony or witness.

We release, but we do not walk away. We watch those we love and pray and follow their flight as long as we can, knowing that they carry our witness with them.

Gary and Jennifer Williams
Florence Bible School
Italy