A Life and Ministry Update
I gave what I’m calling my “eventual resignation” at my church yesterday, meaning that I expect to be done as the church’s Lead Pastor within a year or so.
I gave what I’m calling my “eventual resignation” at my church yesterday, meaning that I expect to be done as the church’s Lead Pastor within a year or so. Below is a video of the statement I delivered yesterday and the written statement is below the video.
Introduction
This morning, I have an extra announcement to make. This is not an announcement of my immediate resignation; I am not giving my “two weeks’ notice” but I am giving you notice that I will be resigning from my position as your Lead Pastor in the not-too-distant future.
God has been at work in me over the last two to three months, calling me to and then confirming a vision to begin a new ministry that I believe he has been preparing me for. I've come to the point now where I firmly believe that God will call me away from being your Lead Pastor and together with the Elder Team, we decided it was time that I share this with you.
Summer Journey
I've always said to you - both in sermons and in private conversations - that when you or I hear a clear call from God, we should step out in faith and embark on that journey. That’s what I’m doing right now. I do not know exactly what’s next, but I am confident that there is something next that will require that I no longer serve you as a pastor in this church. God has given me new marching orders and they are in a direction that will lead me out of this place to a new place.
Normally a pastor would have everything arranged and have a clear timeline before he makes an announcement like this, but I've chosen not to do things that way. I have several reasons for this. One reason is that I don’t want to put the church in the tough spot of very suddenly being without a Lead Pastor. Another reason is that while I know generally what God is calling me to do next, I do not yet have all the specifics so I need time to discover what those specifics are.
It became clear to me over the summer that God has gifted me with experiences, both difficult and enjoyable, that have equipped me to enter into the often complicated lives of other pastors. The breadth of knowledge and experience I have gained as I have served here over the last 15 years has shaped me into a man who can enter into the hardships of others and encourage them.
I've begun putting into place the foundational pieces of a new ministry called The Shepherd’s Refuge. This will be a ministry of a pastor ministering to other pastors. I have several hopes as I explore and eventually embark on this ministry:
First, I hope that we can be partners in it. I hope that as this takes shape you will see it as an extension of this church, something that was birthed here and grew out of my experiences among you.
Second, my hope for this ministry is that the church in Ontario (and maybe beyond Ontario) will be positively impacted as I deploy my gifts as a help to other pastors and churches.
Now What?
AEMMC will obviously always hold a special place in my heart. We’ve been together for 15 years and some of you have been here that whole time. Others have come more recently and it has been my joy to know and serve all of you.
So what will happen in the meantime between this day and my eventual departure? Well, first, we'll have a chance to say goodbye. I won’t be gone two weeks from now or even two months from now as far as I can tell, but as the Lord leads, I will follow. So we'll have a chance to say a long goodbye.
We'll also have a chance to continue to work together. I plan to continue to prepare well to preach and interact with you. Together we have found the Word of God increasingly precious and as we have applied the knowledge of God, we have gained wisdom and insight together.
I pray none of that is contingent on my presence; I hope that will all continue whether or not I am here.
Closing
I'm sure you will have some reactions and questions. Feel free to ask questions. Send me an email. Shoot me a text or WhatsApp message. Come and talk to me in person.
I'd like to think that I've prepared you well for this eventuality by consistently directing your attention to Jesus and to God’s Word and by reminding you often that we don’t write our own tickets in life, we listen for God’s call and answer obediently.
I’d like you to know how invigorating it is to take a step of faith this big! All of this is leading to something that didn’t previously exist. It was a call that I had no idea God was going to make and he was already preparing and confirming not only in my heart but the hearts of those who know me well. And that has been an experience that has increased my faith and my trust in his faithfulness.
The news I'm sharing with you today contains a degree of uncertainty. Anne Marie and I would appreciate your prayers as we walk in a direction where there are some big unknowns. But we also want you to be assured that we are confident that God is with us and that he is directing our path. I hope that today and in the coming days and months and years you will be able to say the same.
Pastor Michael
So that’s the big announcement! God is at work in surprising ways and I am looking forward to all that he will do with great excitement. If you share my excitement or know someone who might, below are several calls to action that you can consider.
Are you a pastor who finds himself in a state of depletion, not knowing where to turn? Let’s talk. You can reach me by email at michael@theshepherdsrefuge.com or by clicking the button below.
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If you’re reading this and you’re not a pastor, would you please consider sharing this post with a pastor you know?
Are you part of a church or business that might be in a position to make a significant ongoing financial contribution? Shoot me a message at michael@theshepherdsrefuge.com and let’s chat.
Michael Krahn is a Pastor, the husband of Anne Marie, and the father of Madeleine, Olivia, and Sophia. You can connect with Michael on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.