When Leaders Leave

One of the hardest things in life to do is say goodbye. Even when we know it’s coming it’s difficult.  However, when we don’t see it coming, it can send us reeling.  On August 1st, 2012 I did not expect to hear Pastor Moore tell us that he and Sis. Moore were resigning. I have been to plenty of business meetings over the years at Abundant Faith, but I have never seen the wind knocked out of an audience like I did at that business meeting.  As the shock wore off and reality/sadness took it’s place, it was only natural to begin to ask questions.  Pastor Moore even mentioned humanity’s need for answers in his letter as he made it clear that they were leaving for one reason, and that was because it was the will of God.

However, even though the question of why our Pastor has resigned was addressed it still doesn’t stop us from asking questions.  In the immediate aftermath of the business meeting, there are three questions that people asked me and I asked myself.

Why are they leaving after only 2 years as pastor?
Where does this leave our church?
Where does this leave me?

While I can not confess to know the answers to all of those questions, I can say that we are not the first people to have a leader leave.  As I always try to do, I looked to God’s word for an example of leaders leaving and what happened after God removed them.

I thought of Daniel leading Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. At the beginning of Daniel, it’s Daniel who makes a stand and his three fellow captives followed his lead.  There is no debate that Daniel was their leader.  However, on the day of the fiery furnace, Daniel was nowhere to be found. Where was Daniel on that day? The answer, right where God wanted him. God removed Daniel from the equation and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped up to the plate and an entire nation got to see the true God!

I thought of Elijah and Elisha. Scholars believe that Elisha served under Elijah for six years before he was taken up in a chariot of fire. No doubt six years hardly seemed like enough time to Elisha. I am sure if he had a vote, he would have told God to leave Elijah with him for a while longer.  However, Elisha didn’t have a choice. All he could do was pick up the mantle, and move on.  Of course, he went on to do twice as many miracles as his leader.

I thought of the disciples with Jesus for only 3 ½ years. I know they didn’t want Him to go and didn’t understand what was happening at the time of His crucifixion. However, His departure paved the way for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost that is still going on today!

In all three of these incidents, when God removed a leader, it was instantly followed by those left behind stepping up and taking on leadership themselves. We are all certainly battling the feelings of sadness, confusion, shock, and even anger.  What we must not forget is that God is in this, and what makes the Moore’s tremendous leaders is their ability to hear and obey the voice of God.

Finally, let us also remember that God would not have called them away if we were not ready to face the fiery furnace, pick up the mantle, and pray down the Holy Ghost!