3. A Season of Healing
Sometimes staff members leave in order to “take a break” and focus on some physical, or emotional, or relational health issues. Sometimes it is a personal health issue and sometimes it is to care for a family member. Either way, we applaud people for making a wise and healthy decision. Work should never be at the expense of your health.
4. A Sense of Greater Calling
I have said repeatedly, “You don’t judge the strength of a church on its seating capacity but by its sending capacity.” As a purpose driven church, our goal is to “Bring them in, Build them up, Train them and Send them out!” This is true for both staff and members. It has never been our goal to selfishly cling to all the talent God raises up in this church. We want to share it.
Over the years we’ve had many staff be trained at Saddleback and then sent out to plant new churches, and to help existing churches—as pastors, staff members of other churches, missionaries, Christian organization workers, consultants to other churches, seminary teachers and even as volunteers in smaller churches who could not afford staff.
My dad used to tell me, “Your first ministry is never your greatest ministry. It is always preparation for what God will eventually do through you.” After nearly 30 years in ministry, I have found this principle to always be true. If someone is at their first church, don’t be surprised if God moves them eventually.
5. And Sometimes It’s Private
On rare occasions, people leave staff for PRIVATE reasons. In those cases, it is my commitment to protect the privacy of those individuals. So sometimes we don’t publicize the reason the staff member has chosen to leave.
Regardless of the reason people leave, your response should always be the same: gratitude for the time God allowed them to serve, along with prayers and best wishes that God will continue to use them in the future.
