30 days ago, I resigned as Lead and founding pastor of Hebron World Church and subsequently the church is being dissolved. Yes, after 5 years of service, sacrifice and dedication, I felt God's release. Over the past weeks, I have pondered much! During the past 3 months there has been a lot of death and henceforth a lot of grieving. I will be blogging more about my transition later on but I really wish to share my heart. I share this for every pastor and serious disciple of Christ.
(1) Sheep bite and it hurts! As a shepherd our task is to equip and prepare the saints to be disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. Change and transformation is exactly that -Change! It is a shifting, a stretching and a launch into the unknown. When people aren't willing to change, they resist and defend. They bite! Ouch and does it hurt! In my 43 years of living, it includes being an entrepreneur, a hotel manager, an executive pastor and a lead pastor. I have learned this: you can't take people where they do not want to go and they will fight you tooth and nail to stay where they are.
(2) When people show you who they are believe them. Maya Angelou is given credit for this quote but as pastors we have the propensity to believe the best in everyone and totally discount every unction that the spirit gives us that this person or people is not going to change...at all! We desire to see the good side in all things and in all people. What I have learned is go with your gut and do what the spirit leads you to do. If they don't want to change or attach to your God given vision then keep it moving! Which leads into my third lesson learned...
(3) Know when enough is enough. Again as a type A, aggressive, tenacious, never give up leader, we will fight until the end. Now many will argue that you just can't quit or stop until you have exhausted every means and resource available to you even if it means jeopardizing or sacrificing your family and relationships. We take the dogmatic position that I am a winner and nothing can stop me in the name of Jesus! Some of us even entertain the idea that we would be a failure and heaven forbid carry the burden of the infamous "what will people say or think?" Once you have gone through enough hell by yourself it really does not matter what anyone else say or think. Where were they when you were in the press of your life? What I realized in the waning moments of 2011 is that it is okay to say enough is enough. I hear some of you asking, “Okay, Charles when is enough enough?” After you have fasted, prayed, and sought counsel and nothing changes and actually get worst. As in the scene from the Titanic when the ship was going down and the orchestra continued to play as people were sliding by them to their death. That’s when you know, it’s enough! When attendance decline so much that the ministry cannot make it financial obligations, you may start considering is this enough. Matthew 10:14 really blessed me...when you have done all you can and those around you still do not believe! Dust off your feet and move on.
(4) God will never leave you or forsake you - for real! As a pastor and follower of Jesus Christ when you go through challenging times, Hebrews 13:5 will sustain you. Many pastors quote this but yet have the opportunity to really experience it! I was in a conversation with a mentor who has been in ministry for over 30 years and I was sharing the difficulty the church was having meeting its financial obligation. He looked at me and said, “I do not know how you keep your sanity. I have always led in situations where our bills were paid and payroll was met. I mean there may have been a time or two where we had to go into reserves but never a Sunday to Sunday situation.” I responded, “You are kidding me!” He replied, “Nope!” Some situations and circumstances, God set up just for you. So after all the "I got your backers" are gone even your closest friends, mentors and confidants think you have lost your mind. I find great solace in knowing that God has never left me nor has He forsaken me.
Over the past month, the most heart-warming and encouraging things for me have been the subtle emails from people who were members or regular attenders that read, " I met God under your watch! My relationship with Him is closer and more meaningful. I came into this relationship with God while at Hebron and I am forever grateful! Your ministry is not in vain pastor, if you came for anyone, it was for me!" I have realized that all is not in vain and just maybe God has planted you to touch just one. It’s okay! Just do what He sent you to do and be cognizant to the fact that God may end the season sooner than you think.
In 5 years, over 400 people came to know the Lord at Hebron, 100's of baptisms and over 3,000 people feed. We were a safe haven, a sanctuary and a place where you could experience the love of Christ! I am at peace and extremely excited about what God has in store for us next. 2012 is a year of order and restoration. As I transition from being a lead pastor and launch out to share my story of life as a church starter versus a church planter, I am trusting in God now more than ever! I don’t know what He has in store but I do have the peace of knowing that God is guiding every step of my life and I trust HIM! Do you?
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