When it’s Time to Go—GO!

The internet is ablaze with the recent decision by Pastor Pete Wilson to step down from the pulpit from a church he founded 14 years ago. The church, Cross Point Church in Nashville, has been a phenomenal success. It has grown at an astronomical rate with a current attendance of over 7,000 people. It has impacted the lives of countless multitudes for the cause of Christ. People seem beside themselves why Pastor Wilson would just walk away? Many are wringing their hands worried about Cross Point’s future without Pastor Wilson leading it.

From a true pastor and ministry leader’s standpoint, Pastor Wilson did the admirable and right thing. By his own admission, he is tired, broken and desperately in need of rest. He has been going full-steam ahead for over 14 years for the church and is now convinced in his spirit that if he should continue on the same path, he would become a hindrance rather than a continued help for the church. Pastor Wilson rightfully attributes everything that Cross Point has become to God. He was merely the vessel God used for the season to take it to where it is today. God has someone else prepared to step in and take it the next step.

Pastor Wilson admitted he had been “leading on empty” for some time and he said: “Leaders who lead on empty don’t lead well.” As a student of church growth and church planting, I am constantly observing the ebbs and flows of churches across America. My heart breaks every time another church falters, fails and closes the doors as I am certain God’s does as well. He loves His church. It was His idea and plan from the beginning.

I have seen the effects a pastor can have upon a church when he continues to lead on empty. When his anointing has departed, when the Spirit is leading him elsewhere, when he has simply become too old to continue to lead full-steam ahead, when he needs to just step back and take a breather—the church suffers! I have witnessed churches fall from greatness because a pastor has outlived God’s plan for him in that particular ministry.

Too many pastors become comfortable in the salary, the job, the position; so, in disobedience to the leading of the Spirit they refuse to do what is right and step aside choosing rather to continue down the path of slow destruction. The church suffers. The numbers begin to fall. Strife grows among the members. People get hurt, some leave to never return to a church again. The church soon becomes the laughing-stock of the community. Too often, we credit Satan with what has happened when the real problem started in the heart of the pastor.

I love true men of God. I love pastors to love their congregations. I love the church. It is my intense love for God first and His church second that motivates me to urge pastors away from becoming too comfortable, away from considering themselves the only thing holding the church together, away from believing that the church will fall apart if they were to leave, away from the idea that this is “my church” and I am not going anywhere, regardless of what happens.

Pastor Wilson is great man of God and his decision to resign was motivated by his love first for God and secondly for the Lord’s church. He clearly understands that Cross Point Church is the Lord’s church and that in his current state of physical duress, the church would suffer should he continue to attempt to lead them. He loved that church too much to allow that to happen. He knew the only answer was to step aside and simply let God be God over the church so it may continue to flourish for the sake of God’s kingdom.

The church board recognized the situation and though I am certain they were extremely saddened by his decision, they understood his heart and his love for them and the church. They recognized that the church must march on and did not attempt to sway Pastor Wilson’s decision.

Pastor Wilson left the comfort of his church, his salary, his position and stepped out into the unknown in search of a season of relief knowing God would be with him. I have no doubt God has carried this out in order to begin preparing Pastor Wilson to undertake another ministry endeavor that will flourish greatly in building up and enlarging the kingdom of God. Pastor Wilson has simply obeyed God’s direction for his life.

I have never personally met Pastor Wilson (I do hope to someday), but I am praying for he and his family. I am praying that God’s Spirit will greatly encourage, lift up and strengthen them as He prepares and equips them to further the kingdom of God in another work.

I pray also for pastors across America who are hanging on to something they should’ve released a long time ago. The Spirit has departed from their ministry and the repercussions are reverberating across the church that is suffering. Too these I say, the time to go has come, quit hanging on. Let God have His church back so He may work through the next individual He has groomed and prepared to step in and lead.