How to Retire from Ministry

2 WHY RETIRE AND WHEN?

“Things always change. You can count on that.” Charles Thomas, my husband

When you and I set out to pastor a church, teach a class, serve the homeless, be a missionary, or respond to the call of the Lord in some other form of ministry, we aim to do it with a sense of commitment to serve God as a disciple of Jesus and with anticipation for what is ahead. It is so rewarding to be a part of Jesus’ team, serving him under his direction and making progress for the Kingdom, isn’t it? We know the Lord orders our steps and prepares the way, so each day and each encounter are both purposeful and exciting. What joy we experience in helping people with their needs and especially to finding Christ as their Savior. Oh yes, there are times when things don’t go as we planned, but we learn that those times are a part of life too. Later, for some of us many years later, a day comes when what we have been doing must change. Remember this truth: things change. Nothing stays the same forever. Put that phrase in your pocket and remember it. Change is a part of your life. One change may be someone asking you to stop what you are doing and come and help in a new ministry, one that is exciting to you. Or you may unexpectedly just get a nudge from the Lord to try serving somewhere else. Then again, your vision may have changed, and you see the Lord has a new plan for you. Whatever the change is, consider, pray, and then decide. Sometimes the answer is simply why not? One pastor who had planted a church told me he was advised not to retire as pastor at age sixty-five but not to fail to retire when he was seventy. He is heeding that advice now, after turning seventy. His new position is to help the incoming pastor until he is settled in. After that time ends, he will leave and begin strengthening two other ministries he has helped in the past. Another pastor heard the call of the Lord four different times to go to a specific church and serve. After the fourth, very clear call, he went. Soon he knew it was exactly where the Lord wanted him to be. Yes, change is a part of everything and certainly a part of our life. At a certain time we call it retirement. The change we call retirement comes in all kinds of flavors. We can retire from one ministry and then go to another one. We can retire from full-time to part-time. We can retire from paid to volunteer. Whatever our situation when we sense God’s nudge to get going, our task is to allow the Lord to change our direction and give us new challenges and different ways to serve him. Retirement from any kind of ministry basically is fulfilling the Lord’s orders in one assignment and then moving on to the next. When we feel that nudge, we probably have done all the Lord wanted us to in one area, and he has someone else ready to take it to the next level or to continue that ministry in a new way. Sometimes there is joy in leaving, and sometimes there is pain. Sometimes we may feel like we are not finished yet, not ready to leave. When the nudge comes, however, we know it in our soul. Yes, things change. And yes, the Lord has something new ahead for us. Look at Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t finish the job of telling everyone about Almighty God. There was a time for him to be here on the earth as a man, and then there was a time for him to leave. “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4), he said to his heavenly Father when the time for his change came. Yes, there is certainly a time to see the change the Lord has for you; however, there is never a time to quit serving the Lord in some way. If you are feeling the nudge to end your current ministry assignment and move to something new, take some time right now to consider what you did in the past as well as what you are doing right now. Remember that things change, but he always has his plans for you. Do not be afraid to seek out what he has ahead for you. Hold on to the hand of the Lord, and move forward with his guidance.