There is a bit of a discussion of such on the Church of God FB page, but I wanted to make it more personal and ask in what way did you realize it was time to move on?I know we’d all like to say that God specifically told us to move on, but I find that most of the time when God tells someone something…the circumstances have been telling them the same thing for a good while. It’s kind of like saying We hated it there, the people didn’t like us, nothing was happening…and then God told us to move! (SMILE).
I think you summed it up well. Very seldom do we feel the Spirit leading us to leave when all is well. I tend to think God, in His sovereignty, sometimes allows circumstances to move us along. I can honestly say there are times when I felt I left too soon, and times I felt I stayed too long. Ultimately God is in control. Having said that, I do have a few principles I adhere to. Number one, I never give in to a militant minority. If I feel like I’m leading the majority of the congregation, I will not allow a few disgruntled rebels to make me leave my post. As a pastor, you should have a finger on the pulse of the congregation. Consequently, if I feel the majority of the congregation has an opposing focus or vision, it may be time to go.
A Friend of Mine
I knew 2 years prior to doing so
I hesitated even posting this because it seems gold ole OTCP always has something to say which usually shows his true colors…..Anyway, we knew it was coming when we concluded our merger with Tim Oldfield and the Potters House. Once it was all complete, I looked at my wife and said, this was not for us, it was for the church. This merger was to protect the church as God moves us out. Four years later, we were released. We knew it was coming. We started to see that happening. This was a placed we called home since we were kids. Some of the folk knew us as children and never saw us any different as adults. So, it became harder each passing year to lead. I knew that if the church was going to survive, we needed to leave and new leadership arrive. So, I was able to take a 6 week transitional period and pass the church on to my best friend, Bob Wilson. I have to say, it was the most peaceful and kind transition I have ever witnessed. By the time the 6 weeks rolled to an end, the church was more than ready to make the switch. We celebrated the new pastor together and was able to hand over the keys to the building in our last service. As he spoke to the crowd as the new pastor, we quietly left the building________________
God spoke to us. We didn’t hate where we were at my previous pastorate, and nobody hated us, so far as we know. We just knew it was time for us to move on. Within a few months of prayerfully seeking the Lord for specific direction, God opened the door, confirming His direction supernaturally, undeniably.
When the men of the church says pastor we would like to meet with you then tells you they think you need to leave and no one disagrees you pray while the wife packs________________Recorded Sermons @ http://www.pastorwiley.com