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

The Apostle Paul was a church planting pastor. As a church planter, the Lord brought together and raised up a number of congregations under Paul’s pioneering leadership. As a pastor, Paul served as a shepherd to those congregations, though usually not for a startlingly short time. Two congregations in which he stayed markedly longer were Corinth (probably for around 18 months), and Ephesus for three years.

How long should a pastor stay in one place shepherding the same congregation? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are some variables that may cause a pastor to have tenures of various lengths.

Gifting. God gifts and calls some men to plant several churches over the course of their ministries. These men will usually stay at the newborn church until a more long term pastor takes over. This often takes two to five years. As a uniquely gifted Apostle, Paul was frequently off to plan another church much quicker, but his example is not normative. Church planting missionaries almost always aim to move on to plant another church as quickly as each new church is established.

Autobiographically: In 1985, when the Lord raised up Grace Bible Church of Moorpark (originally Shiloh Community Church) Frances and I didn’t think we would serve here long term. We had thoughts of leaving to plant another church in nearby Fillmore after 18-24 months. We are still here after 37.5 years! That reminds me of Proverbs 19:21 “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” Plans are great, but write them in pencil, not in ink!