The final piece of this “priority of the priorities” trio is clear: respect the past, but don’t get trapped in it. Over the last two posts, we explored the first three Ministry Priorities under the banner: MAKING THE MAIN THINGS, THE MAIN THINGS.
- Priority #1 – A Movement of Worshippers: First, we keep the Lord as our first, ongoing, and last focus in ALL we do.
- Priority #2 – Object-Focused Ministry: Next, we stay grounded in what truly matters. This focus sharpens decisions and directs our path.
- Priority #3 – Respecting, Not Captured by the Past: Finally, we honour our heritage while refusing to let it hold us back.
Honour the BB Legacy and Respect the Past
“There is a time for everything … a time to plant and a time to uproot … a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build … a time to keep and a time to throw away.”
Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)
To begin, we honour the BB legacy. We celebrate faithful leaders, rich traditions, and the countless lives shaped over 140+ years. However, we must not confuse heritage with destination.
Too often, in meetings or discussions about change, someone says, “That’s not how we do it.” At first, the words sound safe, but in reality, they chain us to yesterday. Consequently, they lock us into methods that no longer fit the world—or the boys—we serve today.
Therefore, we must break that mindset. Respect the past, but refuse to be captured by it. Instead, ask hard questions. Embrace change. Pursue Spirit-led innovation, even when it stretches your comfort zone. After all, nostalgia doesn’t build the future. Faithfulness means letting go of what once worked to make space for what God is doing now.
Stewards, Not Curators
As a result, this priority demands courage. Act as stewards of our legacy, not curators of a museum. Move forward with reverence, but also with readiness. Furthermore, adapt. Grow. Lead a new generation into a vibrant, Christ-centred future.
Reflection
So then, ask yourself: Do I honour BB’s legacy while staying open to Spirit-led innovation, or do I cling to traditions that no longer serve today’s boys?
The Foundation
Ultimately, these first three ministry priorities—A Movement of Worshippers, Object-Focused Ministry, and Respecting, Not Captured by the Past—aren’t abstract ideas. On the contrary, they are practical. They are spiritual. They are essential if we want to remain faithful in this new season.
Therefore, let’s recommit to the heart of BB’s mission: live lives of worship, stay focused on our God-given Object, and respect the past without being held back by it. These foundations build a ministry that is both faithful and fruitful—one that continues to shape boys into young men of character, purpose, and Christlikeness.
Let’s keep the main things, the main things!
(Next time: we’ll dive into the next five Ministry Priorities, focused on Action-Focused Leadership.) Ministry Priorities, focused on Action-Focused Leadership.)
Jason Knight
President – BBQLD