WHEN TRANSITIONS GO RIGHT
PLANNING
AHEAD FOR
TRANSITION
By Andy Butcher
GARY DUNAHOO AND KEVIN LEWIS WERE
VERY INTENTIONAL IN HOW THEIR LEADERSHIP
TRANSITION WOULD PLAY OUT. Gary Dunahoo Kevin Lewis
R
unning a relay race isn’t just about doing
your lap well; it’s making sure you pass
the baton so the next athlete gets to do their
best, too. Long concerned to see the next
generation released in leadership, Gary Dunahoo
had that critical hand-off in mind from his first
meeting with Kevin Lewis, whom he felt God
wanted to take on Lighthouse Church (Newbury
Park Foursquare Church) in Newbury Park, Calif.
Outwardly, the
transition saw the
two men go from
lead pastor (Gary)
and assisting
minister (Kevin) to
senior pastor and lead
pastor, and finally teaching pastor and senior
pastor, over a two-year period. Behind the
scenes, however, Kevin—whose selection was
confirmed and endorsed by church and
Want to learn more from Gary Dunahoo
and Kevin Lewis on how to set your church
up for future transition? Read an insightful
Q+A at foursquare.tools/FLmag.
Gary notes that, in addition to identifying
the right person for the role, it is vital that
any transition is communicated well to the
church, to ensure it is well received.
district leaders—had been given leadership
freedom and responsibility early on, but without
the pressure of it being generally known.
The Lighthouse “switch,” as it was dubbed
in a local newspaper report that noted Kevin’s
“tattoos and decidedly millennial vibe,” not
only has modeled solid principles for effective
transition, but also has underscored the
importance of handling the practicalities
well. Gary notes
that, in addition
to identifying the
right person for the
role, it is vital that
any transition is
communicated well
to the church, to ensure it is well received.
When the time came to announce the final
transfer, Gary could point to the ways Kevin
had already been leading, further cementing
the church’s confidence in the decision to
name a then 30-year-old to the position. And
it’s been a winning hand-off: In the year since
Gary stepped aside to pursue life and career
coaching, Lighthouse has continued to grow
under Kevin’s oversight.
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FOURSQUARE Leader