Transitioning the Church and Moving It Forward

A Possible Misunderstanding

Years before we made a ministry transition, I had heard a great illustration about church transition from a pastor I trust. It felt so warm and comforting and made so much sense to me. The illustration he used was that of a relay race.

Handoff image

I still agree with this pastor. However, little did I know that it would feel more like a relay race combined with a steeplechase (to continue with the track and field analogy)

Steeplechase Image

I think the bottom line is that anytime there is transition, there is change.

Not everyone likes change - Some find it extremely exciting!

Pull Up Images

Rapids at Jinja Image

Wherever there is the confluence of 2 flows, there is bound to be a current and possible rapids.

We can try to fight the currents, or we can navigate them with wisdom.

Navigation is a Learned Skill:

3 Ways to Navigate Treacherous Waters

Trial and Error

What’s the difference between Wisdom & Experience (Wisdom is having all your fingers)

Find a Master Navigator to teach you

Hokule’a Image

Hokule’a navigator Nainoa Thompson studied Polynesian Wayfinding under master navigator Mau Piailug from Micronesia

- “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding”

3. Let Jesus guide you as the Good Shepherd. ()

Moving Forward:

Get a Young Volunteer

One thing I learned while I was wrestling competitively is that:

Wherever the head goes, the body will follow

Forward is completely dependent upon the direction you’re facing.

Sign Images

If we can effectively change the direction we are facing, moving forward is not that difficult.

As Pastor David Cannistraci counseled me with great wisdom, “Try to turn the tomato truck without spilling all the tomatoes!”

Driving Image

When changing direction, it is important to not drive erratically -

This takes confidence in the vision & that you are doing the will of God. Otherwise, we will try to shift quickly again in order to “create results” & our congregation is likely to get “carsick”

We must look down the road instead of driving while looking immediately in front of us.

Proverbs 29:18 NET

18 When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!

Smoothness is important for the comfort and confidence of the sheep when changing direction.

This takes confidence in the vision & the knowledge that you are doing the will of God.

Otherwise, we will try to shift quickly again in order to “create results” & our congregation is likely to get “carsick”

A Biblical Transition Timeline:

Leviticus 19:23–25 NKJV

23 ‘When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord. 25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.

A Change of direction often comes with a change of fruit

Fruit Image

but that means a change of seed & time to grow.

We made sure to plant seeds of change in year 1, we had been allowing fruit from the seeds that my parents had sown to continue to grow, we are in year 4 now and seeing some fruit grow from the seeds we planted in year 1. We are excited for what the harvest will be like starting next year.

Hebrews 10:36 NKJV

36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

5 Years of patience can feel like an eternity, but

Habakkuk 2:3 AMP

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.

Just One Thing:

Sow the seeds of vision & change, have patience, the fruit will come.