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Should I Stay Or Should I Go?—4
Sometimes you love where you are and what you do, but God just does something that defies logic.
Just when you least expect it, God might apparently disrupt an otherwise productive ministry and lead you to take a bold step of faith into the unknown. When He does, have the courage to follow His voice.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If you wake up comfortable but can do ministry without any faith, God may speak to you and ask you do something that will prove His faithfulness.
If God speaks to you and calls you out, it is time to move.
Visit 
Just over 2 years ago I left the security of good church position to plant a church, with no money and no people. God has provided both and it has been the best experience of my life. Thank you God for moving me on. What an amazing adventure.
Brandon- I’m right there with you. That seems to be where God has me in the middle of right now. At least God seems to be putting me right in the middle of a team. Check out http://www.elevate-church.com
My wife and I left our church in december and last week, we begun a new church. At this moment, we have only 2 members (she and I). God called us to get out of the boat and walk on water and even we get really really scared sometimes (most of the time we’re just scared), words like this (pastor’s and brandon’s) fills us with faith and courage. Thank you!
Peace!
Chejoo, Praying for your church plant this morning!
Brandon and Ryan, I celebrate with you guys God’s goodness as He honored your steps of faith!
Thanks for writing this whole series. I was hit with this, “If you wake up comfortable but can do ministry without any faith, God may speak to you and ask you do something that will prove His faithfulness.”. Thank you for allowing me to wrestle with all of this for The Kingdom’s sake.
What if you missed that opportunity? Does God pass by twice? From experience, the fear of the chance you are taking is NOT as painful as the REGRET of never trying.
To be honest this would be scary. It’s comfortable where I’m at. That’s not to say I need to leave, want to leave, or even feel the slightest inkling from the Lord. But just to think about stepping out into the unknown sounds exciting and scary all rapped up into one. If God ever calls me to leave I hope I wont let it get to the point of bumping heads or discomfort. Hopefully it will be by his still small voice.
I have always thought you never leave but instead you go on to the next thing and the by product of that is leaving. I see so many people quit stuff with out something to turn too.
Matt you’re right on about not leaving without the next thing lined up. Craig mentioned that on yesterday’s blog. I would agree that typically one of the sure signs that one should leave a current ministry situation is when the door for another is opened.
Hey JeffB,
A wise man (Steven Furtik) once said, “It’s better for you to act too slowly, than to quickly when it comes to God’s plans.”
If you missed the opportunity, pray about it. If you feel you have to repent, then repent, and keep your eyes open. Sometimes missed opportunities are lessons in themselves.
Pastor Craig, thankyou very very much! We hope to be used here in Guatemala and that God reach those that no church is reaching at this moment! Our church name is H3O (better than earthly water, jeje).
JeffB: For my experience, God does come twice. I remember a preaching (i think was pastor craig) on the Jonah’s passage that says that God came to Jonah a second time, and that the hebrew word used there means “again and again and again and again…”. And, well, let’s remember that God came to Jonah “again” to call him to ministry.
Craig,
God called us to move and I didn’t want to. Last year I told God I wasn’t moving my family again. Then we faced a financial situation that I didn’t have a choice. Finally I literally wrote out a check to “God” that said “whatever.” When I did God opened up a new ministry. I know we were suppose to move to our new ministry opportunity but it is still tough because we can’t sell our house in another state.
Chejoo,
We moved to the Toronto area after a very fruitful time of pastoral work in Raleigh NC, but when we arrived we didn’t know a soul. God has worked and we are experiencing things we only ever dreamed possible. We had to take the leap to see Him work…you have the done the same and I know God will reward that! God bless you and your family.
Craig: WOW! Hit me hard will you? I know you have these planned ahead of time but this one hit, especially after my response yesterday. I told my wife I am open to God’s leading but I sure want to make sure it is His.
jeje: admire your step of faith.
Nyxll: the old adage is true: God is seldom early but never late. Steven is right on the money.
You spoke to me today. In 2000 I was in my 3rd year pastoring a church. We had tripled in size and built a new building. The Lord gave me a new direction. I chose it over a divorce. They included these new priorities for my life:
1. God—Personal Time Daily
2. Family—Relationship with wife, then kids
3. Job—This supports my first ministry, MY FAMILY
4. Ministry—Currently teaching a FUSE
5. Recreation
Nyxll: Thanks for the encouragement. I really needed it. I live in the N.C. are so i know Elevation and Pator Furtick (admiration). God used you to give me hope, thanks.
Chejoo: Thanks to you as well. I am making myself ready(obedience) for the next opportunity.
I am so blessed to be where I am now because last summer I submitted to whatever God wanted of me and His plan was to move us far away from family and friends in Iowa to minister to children in Tennessee. Here is my encouragement to those who are where I was just a few months ago…The blessings of obedience FAR outweigh the fear of the unknown!
Jarret: Lots of thankyous! Is so encouraging to hear what God has done with other people that dared to believe Him and follow His lead!
:)
My wife and I were in this exact position. It was hard to convince my former pastor that the only reason I was moving from the SF Bay Area to Myrtle Beach, SC was that God was calling. We left a great church, with great people, financial stability, etc. to start over, try to raise support, and join a church plant. We threw logic out the window but now we feel like we are in the palm of God’s hand.
This is the hardest to explain to people as you leave. They always think there is some underlying reason, except for those who know you best.
My pastor once told me, “There is only one option: God’s will.” There is no place better than that - regardless of what we leave behind. Thanks for this post, Craig!
This is the place that brings the most fear and peace… Which one will you make the most of….
What a great week of topics…thanks Craig!
Living Life Large
This is a powerful post in light of where I am at currently. I am in a position that I have been doing God’s work without any faith and now I am stepping because of nudge in the right direction by a friend and see the Lord’s handy work all through it!
Pray for me as my and my family’s life changes drastically in a new adventure in the Christ.
I’m experiencing growth and success in my present church, however, I feel god beginning to call me out. This is crazy that I am reading this blog today. Just today I got an e-mail from one of my members and on the memo it said “New Door!” I don’t want to leave, however, Craig your message today hit home. My vision is bigger than this church could handle. God is unexpectedly disrupting my productive ministry. The only question I have is…. to where????
I am very grateful for the way you all are encouraging each other! I love this blog community so much.
Jim, thanks for asking for prayer for your family. Got you covered today…
Yeah…
the other end of the equation is that directions from God are like marching orders in the army… you keep doing your orders until directed otherwise from the chain of command….
So if there is ever a question about which direction to go… keep doing what God told you to do last.
If you are doing nothing, wait for instructions.
I love this blog community too! I recently told a friend of mine that I have grown so much reading the thoughts and hearts of God’s people on here. And the subject is almost always perfectly timed. I read something not long ago “I’m walking with God even though I’m not sure where He’s taking me.” I think that applies to a lot of you on here, and I admire you for your faith! It’s awesome to know that you’re following Him wherever!
As I continue searching, watching, praying, looking, and now reading about what I should do next, I am amazed that through all the questions and hardship, God is getting me to the place where I can no longer do this myself, but instead, have to cling to the One who raises the dead (2 Cor 1.9). It’s funny when you think about it. I can whine like my 3 year old, but in fact, I could never have anything better than Him.
Struck by my selfishness….
I love this Church (capital c).
JeffB said it best: “the fear of the chance you are taking is NOT as painful as the REGRET of never trying”. I would add that “the thrill of following Jesus is not from this earth”.
Peace and grace to all of you!
God has done this to me several times .and not only did it seem strange but everyone around me thought I was totally crazy. My first church position in my early 20’s at a church of 3000, fruitful and I loved it. I resigned out of obedience with no future plan. Within a short amount of time I was offered a position in SD and God said yes. 9 years later after one of the most fruitful and exciting ministries you can imagine God called me into the unknown again. After that God openned up a pastoral position with John Mazwell at Skyline Wesleyan. I’m so glad I was obedient…met my wonderful husband there! Change is difficult for me when it involves relationships but when I am obedient God blesses my socks off as I live it out.Ephesians 3:20
The perfect example that this your post is so true Craig, is Dr. Mark Rutland. I am a current student at Southeastern University, and I’m sure as you know, he has resigned from SEU to become the new president at Oral Roberts Univeristy.
As he addressed the student body in chapel, he explained that he was experiencing just what this post said; that he was completely happy here at SEU and that although his “ministry” was going perfectly, God has the right to call us elsewhere.
Thank you for this post and for the investment that you’ve made at our school!
Tiffany, You are right about Dr. Rutland. I was sad to hear he is leaving SE, but know he has sought God. I love your school and hope to meet you in person next time I’m there.
My family and I followed a call across the country, literally, left a growing ministry because we felt God saying we were done. After a year, the position did not work out, but my spouse has found the opportunity we have always prayed for. Although we felt the move was because of the ministry I was leading, it turned out it was for our family. I feel lost sometimes because i can’t control the passion I have for kids to cross the line of faith, but I am serving Him in a fantastic church patiently waiting for God to reveal what I am to do next.
I’m in the midst of this myself. God spoke to me last fall about leaving the amazing church I’ve been on staff with for several years (growing, building a new facility, financially stable church, etc) and move to Chicago to serve at a church there. I really wrestled like crazy with this and to be honest it still scares the snot out of me! We’re trying to sell our house here in Texas and working in Chicago and it’s wild. However, exactly as you said, I knew God was really calling us to take a giant step of faith. It’s been great so far and scary but in the good kind of way! Praying for all of you as you take similar journeys!
My husband and I are at what I feel like is a standstill. We are waiting to hear from God. We currently are in the process of making a HUGE decision on where to move and work, and very sad to have to leave Lifechurch OKC this summer (Our hearts feel called to start a network church/Can we do it?decisions?). Even though we our moving we know that Lifechurch is a part of us and will go where ever we go, but we also feel a very strong to desire to share Lifechruch with others. Anxiety is setting in. Nyxell:“It’s better for you to act too slowly, than to quickly when it comes to God’s plans.” I feel like its too slow! Reading your stories of stepping out and trusting God is a real support, thank you. My family and I could really use some prayer right now. Craig you always speak right into our lives! Thank you!
Craig,
I’ve been here for 3 years and recently it has been a struggle to be where I am. I’m praying to figure out what God has for me…here or somewhere else. Thanks
Craig, I just experienced this. Thanks for your insights. Say a prayer, I’m just starting in a new role.
I love reading your stuff. Thanks for blogging and interacting with your community here. We need both you and Bobby!
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
Craig,
struggling through this right now. its making me have a hard time with every aspect of life. thanks for the encouragement. I’d love to chat with you for a few minute on my particular situation.
Craig,
1st off, we showed your english bible message at our church on the last Sunday in December and it was really well recieved. Thanks to your team for puting together such a great resource.
2nd, talk about a dead match on your thoughts and my current situation; I just walked away from a fairly comfy worship arts position to start U.S. operations for http://www.hungryforlife.org, an organization with some unique approaches to partnering churches in the developed world with churches in the developing world, addressing spiritual poverty by attacking physical poverty. I am in the process of raising support AND an operating budget for this organization in the states…totally out of my element but unable to deny the passion God has ignited in me over this, which is truly a worship issue. Thanks for your wise words that serve to confirm my own actions, however crazy they may seem to others and even to me at times. The kingdom of God is upside down and defies human logic regularly!
-Mike Bell, National Director, Hungry For Life U.S.
https://www.bellhouse5.com
http://www.hungryforlife.org