It’s Time

Recently I announced my plans to resign as lead pastor of Harvest Community Church. It's time for a new season for our church and for me.

This comes at a time when our church is doing very well. Good morale, momentum, and unity are a few of the indicators of the health we are enjoying. We have many gifted and dedicated leaders who are fully engaged in their relationship with Jesus and the mission God has given our church. Our financial condition is sound and improving.

And I am doing well. I have energy, vision, and passion to teach, lead, and care for people. In the last few months I have found a new level of vitality in my preaching that has both surprised and encouraged me.

So if things are going so well, why move on? There are actually several reasons.

I am in my 35th year of being the lead pastor. I never dreamed I would stay in this position this long. I have seen God’s faithfulness in times of joy and challenge. But I also sense that his grace for this role is ending. I’m finding the daily responsibilities and accompanying challenges a little more daunting than in the past.

It’s time for younger leadership. This is crucial to the future of our church. Our church was started largely by my generation, and we need to be more engaged with and transition to the next generation if our church is to thrive and continue to reach our culture and world. We need the innovation and connections a younger leader can bring.

For these reasons our elders and overseers are working on a transition plan to bring on someone in their 30’s to early 40’s. While we do not have an obvious successor either inside or outside the church, we are confident God will direct us to the right person. We also do not have a firm timeline, but we are actively moving ahead with the process.

Ronda and I are not planning to move away or take the leadership of another church. We will continue to participate in the life and ministry of our church. Also, I hope to expand my role in caring for other churches while getting more involved in our local community. I’m interested in utilizing my teaching and leadership skills through employment opportunities that arise. To better position myself for this next season of my life, I am pursuing a master’s degree. Who knew that I would be back in school at my age?

Initially, the prospect of leaving something I gave so much of my life to was difficult. But now I am getting excited about what this change will bring to me and our church. The timing just seems right even if there are some big blanks that need to get filled in.

If you want to hear more about this transition, listen to the Sunday sermon in which I described this new season and announced my coming resignation.  You can find it at http://hccgoshen.org/multimedia-archive/seasons-life-of-a-church-2/.  Also on our website you will  find two other sermons that followed this one that offer more description to this season we are in.

And feel free to join the conversation by talking with me or any of our elders. Ask a question, share a concern, or simply get more information.

Please pray for us and our church. Our announcements and explanations to the church have been very well received. We have a great church family. And a great big God.