When it comes to church planting, it's not uncommon for many of the voices to have a youthful sound and focus. Future generations and young people rightly should be significant contributors and a focus of any church planting ministry, but what about Caleb's voice. You will recall that it was only Joshua and Caleb, among the spies that Moses sent into the Promised Land, who were bold enough to encourage Israel to enter the territory despite the presence of strong adversarial nations. Israel's fearful disobedience in not entering the Promised Land at that time led to the infamous 40 years of wilderness wandering and the eventual deaths of all of the spies except Joshua and Caleb. After the 40 years of wandering, Israel entered the Promised Land and after 5 years of war, they began the process of dividing the lands among the various tribes. It is at this point that we hear Caleb's voice:

Joshua 14:6-14
Hebron Given to Caleb
6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'
10 "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."
13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD , the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

Does Caleb's courageous voice appeal to you? Can you imagine the effect that his example had on the younger generation gathered to divide the land? Here was leadership coming from an individual of advanced age, with substantial experience and a total commitment to the Lord and his provision despite the overwhelming strength of the enemies of Israel and the fear of his Israelite brothers and sisters.

Caleb's life of faithfulness and obedience, like the lives of Abraham and Sarah can be a model for many today to give leadership to God's mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Through years of maturity and experience, and not in spite of those factors, God is calling many to lead at this particular moment in history. In Christ's body, the church, there are no unnecessary parts and for some of the more "experienced" parts of the body, this is the moment for which you have been prepared. If you raise your voice with Caleb's and effectively cry out, "Give me this mountain!," by joining God in proclaiming the Gospel, you will be helping to shape the future for generations to come in a way that will stand for eternity.