Written by: Web Team
We recently gave you the opportunity ask our president, Wess, any questions you like. We’re publishing his transcribed answers one day at a time. If you want to catch up, here’s the background skinny.
- Do you have any personal goals or goals for the organization that you care to share? (Lisa Miles)
- First, I want to see Compassion double in size in the next six years. Based on our recent growth, I believe it is pretty safe to predict that this organization will move from 1 million children to 2 million children in the course of the next six years.
- Second, I want our Leadership Development Program, which I think is pure gold, to grow from our current count of 1,800 university students to 10,000 university students before I go. We already have that many qualified students, but we just need the money to put them through college.
- Third, I want the alumni associations to expand. If we were to gather Compassion’s kids together, there would be standing room only in the biggest stadiums, and I can’t wait for the day when we actually do that! Everybody in the stadium would be a Compassion child or a Compassion graduate worshiping together. I would love to have that in place in the near future.
- Fourth, I want to wisely choose my successor. We have great leaders in this ministry and when the time is right I want to get out of the way and let the next generation lead. I need God to orchestrate this and direct me to that person.
- Lastly, I want to finish well. When my time serving Compassion is finally done, I want to walk out of here a man of God, overjoyed but humbled. I am deeply passionate about walking closely with my Lord in such a way that when the time comes I will leave this place “well.”
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June 1st, 2008 at 7:12 am
Two million children in six years? Wow. I suspect another “tsunami” of applicants to the Advocates Network may be ahead! We knew God had something in mind, when He doubled the Network (in the past 8 months), didn’t we?
June 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Wow, Can you imagine a stadium full of sponsored children, grown up! What a testimony. I think of the verse: “Hereby shall they know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” I’d love to be at that stadium.
Kees
June 1st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Wes, you mentioned the end of your time serving Compassion several times in this post. As a follow up question, is there a time line for choosing your successor and handing over your role as president?
June 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
You probably noticed in my earlier comments that I mentioned my desire to “finish well” when the time comes for me to retire. This is something that has been on my heart and mind quite a lot lately, not necessarily because I’m eager to retire but because I understand the importance of having a good succession plan in place.
Our former president, Wally Erickson, did a wonderful job of mentoring me and preparing me to lead Compassion’s ministry and I want to have a good plan in place for my successor as well.
I believe that in order to have success in the transition of leadership, an organization must have a good succession plan. There is not yet a firm timeline or plan in place for choosing my successor… aside from my prayers for God’s direction in this important decision!
However, based on my age it’s only logical that I start thinking in that direction in order to eventually hand over the reigns of leadership successfully. I hope that you’ll join your prayers with mine in this. I’m confident the Lord knows who will lead Compassion’s next generation and I want to be sensitive to His timing and leading in that very important decision.