How To Serve Your Pastor After He Leaves
If you’ve been part of a church for any length of time, I’m certain that you have had to say good bye to one of your Pastors. It is one of the hardest things to do, you grow to love your spiritual leader and no one wants them to move away or step down. But change is inevitable wherever you go, including the House of God.
It is said that the average Pastor will stay at a church for an average of 3.6 years. (LifeWay Research 2011) I’m happy to say that we far surpassed that in our terms of Ministry as full time Pastors. No matter the number of years served or no matter the circumstances, losing your Pastor is not easy. And can I say, since I’ve been on the other end of things, it is NOT easy for a Pastor to leave their congregation.
For years, your Pastor invested his life, time and emotions in your church. He cried with you when you buried a loved one. He rejoiced with you as you said “I do.” He rushed to the hospital to be the first to hold your bundle of joy. He prayed with you for your son to come home. He stayed up all night at the hospital with you, he was late to supper because you had a question about the Bible, he filled your car up when your funds were short. He served you well because he truly cared.
Leaving a congregation is not something a Pastor entertains lightly. From experience, I can tell you that such a decision comes only after extensive praying, fasting and seeking God’s timing. So what can YOU do if your Pastor leaves your church? I pray that the following will help you when that day (year) comes.
1. Love your Pastor and treat him well
Transitions are not easy on people. Please don’t give the “silent treatment” during this difficult transition. Ask how you can help them and speak kindly of your Pastor and his family in your community. Encourage them and most importantly, pray for them.
2. Celebrate the victories
It’s ok to throw a farewell party, but celebrate (don’t eulogize) what God has done during your Pastors tenure. Every Pastor wants (needs) to know that something they said or did made a difference in someone’s life.
3. Stay connected
For goodness sake, don’t unfriend him on social media and from time to time, check in with him and see how he is doing. Remember him on his birthday and at Christmas. Just because he isn’t your Pastor any longer doesn’t mean you stop caring. He hasn’t stopped.
4. Don’t jump to the wrong conclusions
Often times, a change in staff may mean there were issues at hand. While a good number of Pastors resign out of hurt, burnout or some other difficulty, not all resignations come with bad blood. In fact, don’t jump to the conclusion that there must be something wrong if your Pastor resigns. Sometimes God’s plan doesn’t always make sense to us but His plan is always perfect and many Pastors leave when things are actually going good. Not because they want to but because God has a different plan.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58 It says:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Whether you are a Pastor, or you are between Pastors at your church, I pray that today’s devotion will be an encouragement to you as we all encourage one another as we labor for the Lord.
BLESSINGS. Laurie
@copyright2018 laurieadams
A great word from the pastor’s view. Thank you.
Great message, Laurie. Our church went through a tough time when our first pastor left the congregation. It took several years to have a new permanent pastor. The change however was a good one at the end.