By Eunice Chua
“Hold the baton firmly and don’t let go!” were the words that echoed across the running track during my first relay race as a student. This experience remains etched in my memory - the pent-up anticipation as I prepared to receive the baton, the excitement as I gripped it tightly, and the determination to pass the baton on.
The Christian discipleship journey is like a relay race. As we journey on as disciples of Christ, we are called to make disciples. There has been much emphasis on discipleship and having an intergenerational church, especially with the last two youth weekends on “Discipling the Generations” and “Intergenerational Unity”, and the recent church camp on “Celebrating the Generations”. Yet, intergenerational discipleship is not a one-off event but an ongoing process. Just like how runners receive and pass the baton on to their teammates, we are called to pass on this biblical truth to others who will, in turn, disciple others. Every disciple’s responsibility is to “entrust (the gospel) to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).
There is a hymn written by Kurt Kaiser called “Pass It On” with a verse that goes:
It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on
Although simple, this hymn encapsulates the essence of the Great Commission. It is because we have received God’s grace and mercy and accepted him as our Lord and Saviour that leads to our response to live out His commands to share the gospel with others. We are called to pass on the gospel, make disciples of all nations, and guard our faith. As this baton of faith moves from hand to hand, it leaves an impact on the lives it touches and ignites the hearts of those who receive it.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What a privilege and responsibility we have in carrying this baton of faith! As we “pass it on”, let us ignite this passion for Christ within others. May this passion spread like wildfire, engulfing hearts and minds with the transforming power of God's love. Each seemingly small act of discipleship has the potential to create a ripple effect down the line.
This responsibility is not without its challenges. Speaking as a youth leader in Teenacity, I make mistakes and fall short of being a good role model. On the other hand, as a younger Christian to my parents and older mentors, I sometimes find myself resistant to their seemingly old-fashioned (but wise!) guidance.
In discipling others and as disciples ourselves, we all need to remind ourselves of God’s love and strive towards living out our faith. As a church, we could be more humble and teachable to Christians both older and younger than us. Additionally, we should reflect if we have been good role models to younger Christians around us. Let us not be spectators toward the relay race of faith, but instead, be humble recipients of the baton while being intentional and courageous enough to pass it on to the next generation.
Thank you Eunice for your well thought out and thought provoking pastoral page.
We often hear about passing the baton as in a race. But I would like to give a different picture of running the race passing the baton as a church. Someone holds the baton but he does not run alone but in a group. And when he passes the baton on to someone else in the group he still continues running in that group. Some might drop out but others might drop in...running together and the one holding the baton, does not run alone. Just my thot and hope.