Peter Maiden has some advice for Christians in leadership – be prepared to hand the reins over to someone else.

Preaching at the Keswick Convention this week, the international director of Operation Mobilisation reflected on the example set by the apostle Paul, who was always ready to pass the baton on to another leader.

He said that many Christians led with great enthusiasm and energy but failed at the point of handing over their ministry to a successor.

“When they can no longer do what they are doing, either the ministry falls apart or it goes through a huge crisis, losing valuable momentum, because transition preparations have never been considered,” he said.

“Sometimes we are so busy with the present that we give no time for tomorrow – another example of the urgent crowding out the important.”

The lack of preparation could be put down to busyness in some cases, but in other leaders, it reflects a “character flaw”, he said.

“I call it insecure leadership and it is so destructive. It happens when the leader’s position becomes confused with the leader’s identity - self-worth is wrapped up in position.”

He warned that such a situation could lead to an abuse of leadership.

“Any thought of losing your job cannot be countenanced. So if a younger person comes alongside you, with the leadership gifts to take over from you one day, that person is not considered to be a gift from God. That person is considered to be a threat that you must deal with.”

He admitted that there were no easy answers to the problem and that it was often not deliberate on the part of the leader.

“Nine times out of 10, Christian leaders who get involved in this kind of abusive leadership have no idea they are doing it.

“When they are approached, they are shocked and genuinely cannot see they are doing it – which makes the problem more difficult to deal with.”