There is no Success Without Succession
By Ryan Dawson
This week, we have the privilege of investing in leaders as the Global Leadership Summit comes to Ottawa. Sequoia Community Church is excited to serve as the Host Church for the 2026 Global Leadership Summit this year, partnering with Life Centre Church as our venue for a day of learning, encouragement, and leadership development.
The GLS has shaped my own leadership over the years, and I love that it brings together compelling leaders and thinkers to help us grow in how we lead and serve others. Whether we lead at church, at work, at home, or in our community, we all have opportunities to influence others for good, and one of the most important investments we can make is to help others grow into the leaders God is calling them to become.
There is a leadership principle I have come to appreciate more over the years: There is no success without succession.
It is easy to measure success by what we accomplish, the goals we reach, or the ministries we build, but the true fruit of our leadership is also seen in the people we are developing and the faith we are passing on to the next generation. Healthy leadership is never simply about what we can accomplish in our lifetime; it is about preparing others to faithfully carry the mission forward.
This is the heart behind Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” — 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)
Paul is writing to a younger leader whom he has discipled, encouraged, and entrusted with the work of the Gospel. Knowing that his own time is limited, Paul calls Timothy to take what he has received and invest it in other trustworthy people who will be able to teach others as well.
There is a beautiful picture of multiplication in this verse. Paul invested in Timothy, Timothy was called to invest in faithful people, and those people would invest in others. The Gospel was never meant to stop with one person or one generation. We are called to receive the truth of Jesus, live it faithfully, and pass it on.
I love that Paul doesn't simply tell Timothy to find talented or impressive people. He calls him to invest in trustworthy people who will be able to pass the truth on to others. Character matters. Faithfulness matters. Leadership development is not just about filling positions; it is about helping people become more like Jesus so they can faithfully help others follow Him.
As a church family, this is part of our calling to be a Family of Servants on Mission. We want to be a church that equips and empowers people to participate in the mission of Jesus. That means creating opportunities for others to serve, giving emerging leaders room to grow, sharing responsibility, and sometimes allowing others to lead in ways that may look different from how we would do it ourselves.
Passing the baton isn't always easy. We can become comfortable being needed or convince ourselves that it is simply easier to do something ourselves. But leadership shaped by Jesus is not about protecting our place; it is about faithfully serving His purposes. Sometimes the most significant thing we can do is invite someone alongside us, encourage them, give them opportunities to grow, and eventually entrust them with greater responsibility.
And this isn't just a principle for pastors or ministry leaders. Parents pass on faith to their children. Coaches invest in their athletes. Teachers encourage students. Grandparents share wisdom with another generation. Every one of us has someone who could benefit from our encouragement, experience, prayers, and willingness to walk alongside them.
So as we invest in leaders this week at the Global Leadership Summit, I hope we will also ask ourselves a personal question: Who am I intentionally investing in so that they can grow and help others follow Jesus?
May we be a church that is faithful not only in the work God has given us today, but also in preparing others for the work He will entrust to them tomorrow. Because there is no success without succession, and the greatest legacy we can leave is not simply what we have built, but the people we have helped become faithful followers of Jesus who will continue to pass the baton.
Blessings, Ryan
This week, we have the privilege of investing in leaders as the Global Leadership Summit comes to Ottawa. Sequoia Community Church is excited to serve as the Host Church for the 2026 Global Leadership Summit this year, partnering with Life Centre Church as our venue for a day of learning, encouragement, and leadership development.
The GLS has shaped my own leadership over the years, and I love that it brings together compelling leaders and thinkers to help us grow in how we lead and serve others. Whether we lead at church, at work, at home, or in our community, we all have opportunities to influence others for good, and one of the most important investments we can make is to help others grow into the leaders God is calling them to become.
There is a leadership principle I have come to appreciate more over the years: There is no success without succession.
It is easy to measure success by what we accomplish, the goals we reach, or the ministries we build, but the true fruit of our leadership is also seen in the people we are developing and the faith we are passing on to the next generation. Healthy leadership is never simply about what we can accomplish in our lifetime; it is about preparing others to faithfully carry the mission forward.
This is the heart behind Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” — 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)
Paul is writing to a younger leader whom he has discipled, encouraged, and entrusted with the work of the Gospel. Knowing that his own time is limited, Paul calls Timothy to take what he has received and invest it in other trustworthy people who will be able to teach others as well.
There is a beautiful picture of multiplication in this verse. Paul invested in Timothy, Timothy was called to invest in faithful people, and those people would invest in others. The Gospel was never meant to stop with one person or one generation. We are called to receive the truth of Jesus, live it faithfully, and pass it on.
I love that Paul doesn't simply tell Timothy to find talented or impressive people. He calls him to invest in trustworthy people who will be able to pass the truth on to others. Character matters. Faithfulness matters. Leadership development is not just about filling positions; it is about helping people become more like Jesus so they can faithfully help others follow Him.
As a church family, this is part of our calling to be a Family of Servants on Mission. We want to be a church that equips and empowers people to participate in the mission of Jesus. That means creating opportunities for others to serve, giving emerging leaders room to grow, sharing responsibility, and sometimes allowing others to lead in ways that may look different from how we would do it ourselves.
Passing the baton isn't always easy. We can become comfortable being needed or convince ourselves that it is simply easier to do something ourselves. But leadership shaped by Jesus is not about protecting our place; it is about faithfully serving His purposes. Sometimes the most significant thing we can do is invite someone alongside us, encourage them, give them opportunities to grow, and eventually entrust them with greater responsibility.
And this isn't just a principle for pastors or ministry leaders. Parents pass on faith to their children. Coaches invest in their athletes. Teachers encourage students. Grandparents share wisdom with another generation. Every one of us has someone who could benefit from our encouragement, experience, prayers, and willingness to walk alongside them.
So as we invest in leaders this week at the Global Leadership Summit, I hope we will also ask ourselves a personal question: Who am I intentionally investing in so that they can grow and help others follow Jesus?
May we be a church that is faithful not only in the work God has given us today, but also in preparing others for the work He will entrust to them tomorrow. Because there is no success without succession, and the greatest legacy we can leave is not simply what we have built, but the people we have helped become faithful followers of Jesus who will continue to pass the baton.
Blessings, Ryan