The Backlog pt.2: Philippines

Last year I had the opportunity to attend two gatherings in the Philippines in August that deeply marked me. The first was the Malachi Gathering, a meeting for 300 young leaders within YWAM. The second was Y Together , where over 4000 YWAMers from all over the world came together. Both events were an invitation to respond to the call for a next generation to rise up.

The Malachi gathering was a rallying cry for my generation to step up, not just as the “next generation,” but as leaders now. And in the process, I had a realization: I’m not the next generation anymore. I’m not the one being handed the torch — I’m one of the ones holding it, and it’s time to help pass it forward. That’s both exciting and sobering.

For so long I’ve thought of myself as one of the young ones still figuring it out, still growing. And for sure, I’m still growing. But these gatherings challenged me to recognize where I now stand — not only as a disciple, but as a discipler. Not just a receiver, but a giver. It’s time to walk alongside those who will go further and carry it longer than I ever will. And it’s time to keep showing up, even when it’s hard, to keep being faithful, and to not give up.

There was a lot of talk in those meetings about legacy, about passing on the DNA of YWAM to a generation that might never meet Loren Cunningham. That’s a big deal. Most movements lose momentum after the founder dies. Vision fades, and structure takes over. But Loren’s heart was always that Jesus would remain the leader of YWAM. And if that's true, then our responsibility is to keep listening to God, obeying, and not giving up. Those were the same values as the first pioneering generation.

One theme that kept coming up over and over was the fear of the Lord. Not in a “don’t sin” kind of way, but in the holy, weighty kind of way. A recognition that God is real, and close, and holy, and present. That the weight we carry in leadership must be matched by the depth of our surrender. That if we want to go far, we need intimacy, not just activity. That prayer can’t only happen at the end of meetings. That everything has to be fueled by intimacy, or it burns out fast.

There was this one moment that I keep coming back to: someone asked, “Are you willing to be disrupted by God?” And man… that question has stuck with me. Because I like planning, I like structure, I like knowing what’s next. But this season of stepping into deeper leadership has also meant making space for God to interrupt everything. To listen more. To lean into prayer before strategy. To make room for the next generation not just with words, but with my time, my presence, and my leadership.

I came back from those gatherings with a deeper conviction that I’m committed to staying. I’m committed to continuing. And I’m committed to raising up the young leaders around me. It’s interesting reflecting on this half a year after it happened, because there have been many times where I have wanted to give up. People work is hard work, and I’ve struggled a lot this last half year and I need to be reminded of these things.

I want to be the kind of leader who doesn’t just build things for my own name, but is the kind of leadership that leans on Jesus, listens to Him, and brings others along for the journey. Truly, when I think about the young people around me I feel hopeful. There is greater vision, greater hope for the future, a love for others unmatched, even though they are starting further back.

So I guess this is me saying yes again.

Yes to walking with Jesus in the long direction.
Yes to raising up leaders who will go further than I ever will.
Yes to prayer.
Yes to being disrupted.
Yes to carrying the legacy forward.

I don’t have it all figured out. But I’m here. And I’m in.
Let’s do this together