Author Gavin Ortlund Leaving Pastorate To Become Full-Time Theology YouTuber

Gavin Ortlund
Screengrab via YouTube / @Truth Unites

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Author and theologian Gavin Ortlund has announced that he will resign his pastorate at First Baptist Church in Ojai, California, to pursue ministry as a full-time YouTuber. 

Ortlund announced his upcoming transition in a video posted to his Truth Unites YouTube channel, which has more than 47,000 subscribers. 

While Ortlund said that “there’s a heaviness and sadness” associated with saying farewell to his California church family, he expressed that the move is “an ‘all the stars aligning’ opportunity.”

Truth Unites, which “exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth,” will be merging with Renewal Ministries, the teaching ministry started by Ortlund’s late grandfather, Ray Ortlund Sr., and which is now led by his father and mother, Ray Ortlund Jr. and his wife Jani. 

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Ortlund will also serve as theologian-in-residence at Immanuel Church in Nashville, a congregation that his father founded and where his father serves as lead pastor. 

Ortlund will conclude his time as pastor of First Baptist Ojai in mid-December. 

In his announcement, Ortlund explained that he began his YouTube channel three years ago in the hope of helping address the religious decline in America, something that has become “the greatest passion” of his vocational life. 

While he expressed his love for pastoring, Ortlund explained that the growth of Truth Unites over the past year has made it difficult for him to faithfully fulfill all of his ministry responsibilities while also maintaining a healthy family life. 

“It’s been a busy three years. We’ve had two more children in that time period; we have five kids now. I’m a full-time pastor, and I’m doing all these different kinds of things. And I love them all, so I’ve been able to kind of try to navigate things,” Ortlund said. “Over the last year or so, it’s ratcheted up to one level further of busyness. And so that is a part of this.” 

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“This change allows me to focus a little more,” Ortlund continued, “and not feel like I’m doing five different things all at once.”

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Dale Chamberlain
Dale Chamberlain (M.Div) is Content Manager for ChurchLeaders. With experience in pastoral ministry as well as the corporate marketing world, he is also an author and podcaster who is passionate about helping people tackle ancient truths in everyday settings. Dale lives in Southern California with his wife Tamara and their three sons.

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