Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:28-31

We began last time considering how long a pastor should stay in one place shepherding the same congregation. We said there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The first consideration we wrote of is Gifting. Some men are called and gifted by God to plant churches, and these usually stay on 2-5 years.

Most pastors are not called by God to be church planters. How long should they stay in on church? Again, there is no magic answer.

New opportunities or the search for greener grass? Pastors sometimes leave a church for reasons that may or may not be good. Leaving a smaller church to pastor a larger church may be God’s will. Those who do this need to be sure that are being led by the Lord rather than by the desire for more people and a “more prestigious position.”

Sometimes pastors leave because either they are tired of the church, or the church is tired of them. Again, this may be an indicator that both pastor and congregation need a change. But there are times when both parties need to learn to adapt to each other. Hopefully, we do not bolt from our marriages at the first sign of disaffection! Neither should we from our churches!

Autobiographically: There was a time (in the days of Shiloh Community Church) that I was being interviewed for a pastorate in another church (ironically it was smaller!). I was unhappy where I was and there were many here who were unhappy with me. I was counseled by a seasoned pastor to answer one question: “Are you running to something or away from something?” The answer to that question caused me to decline the other position. I needed to stay, deny myself, work hard, and wait on the Lord. The last nearly two decades have proven that (with the aid of godly counsel) I discerned God’s will accurately and made the wise choice!