Things I’ve Had To Learn

Being a Lead Pastor has presented many unique challenges over the years that I’ve been leading at NewLife. There have been many times I’ve thought…"Wow, If I’d known that I don’t know if I would have ever agreed to do this.”

I remember early on seeing statistics that showed that 50% of the people who are there as the church begins would be gone as the church grew.

I remembered thinking…"No…surely not!” “Not us…our people are different…”

Umm…No! The lessons I’ve learned since have been hard…but real…

• You will lose people!
• Whenever you call for sacrifice…you will lose people! (See John 6)
• Whenever the church grows you will lose people!
• Whenever the church makes a major move you will lose people!
• Whenever things seem to be going well you will lose people.
• I don’t like it…but it’s true! I’ve seen it happen first hand.

I realize now that there isn’t a ministry on the planet that hasn’t had to deal with the painful reality that people leave…even when you feel like you are being completely obedient to God and doing what He says!

I guess it’s true what they say…“If people aren’t leaving then you are not leading!”