1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3
April 22, 2007
Dear Friends,
On a Sunday morning in November 2003, I preached as your candidate for Senior Pastor. That Sunday evening we enjoyed a fabulous prayer experience, and you voted to call me as your Senior Pastor with a 99.5% vote.
On that day I spoke from Acts 13 to challenge Grace Church to an extraordinary experience of prayer, an experience based on the biblical example of those first century believers for whom prayer was the catalyst for launching the New Testament missions thrust.
Providentially, I now use that same passage to share my heart with you about the Lord's redirection in my life. In Acts 13:1-2 the leadership was fasting and worshiping when the Lord spoke to them with these words, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." With that command the Lord moved the two primary leaders of the church from a pastoral status to missionary status.
Today, with the full and loving support of my family and the Grace Church elders, I am announcing my transition from the role of Senior Pastor of Grace Church to that of a missionary. This is not the end of our relationship by any means - but it does signal a change in our relationship. It is as if the Holy Spirit has said to us, "Separate to Me Daniel Henderson for the work to which I have called him."
The work to which the Lord is calling me is a full-time ministry to pastors and churches across our country and around the globe. My passion continues to grow for igniting renewal through pastors' conferences and prayer events, for helping hurting leaders, and for raising up a new generation of praying pastors for our nation. Of course, much prayer and counsel have gone into this decision. I have come to believe this is providential for this time in my life - as the Lord is redirecting my focus. Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
I will never forget when one of the members of the search committee described my calling to Grace as a "hand in a glove." In the sovereignty of God, I believe that statement was absolutely true for this past season. I had thought the glove was a 15 to 20 year glove, but it turns out to be a 3 ½ to 4 year glove. Yet I know God called me here - and I hope it has been a blessing to you. I know that you have been an incredible blessing to me and my family.
In the last 3 ½ years I feel the Lord has done a deep work of renewal in our hearts, created greater health and unity among the church staff, brought hundreds of people to faith, and helped us make strong progress in paying off the debts of the past. All of these are victories for His glory.
Because you have been so gracious and supportive, this decision has been very, very difficult. In fact, it has been the most agonizing decision I have ever made in my life - even more than leaving California to come here. The reasons for the agony are many:
- It is a huge step to leave the Senior Pastor role.
- The risk of launching out in faith to build a part-time activity into a full-time ministry and high-impact organization.
- Leaving the rich blessings I currently enjoy here at Grace. . .
- The finest, most mature and godly team of elders I have ever worked with
- An incredibly supportive and skilled staff
- Many dear friends here in the church
- The joy of so many new people whom the Lord has drawn to the church in recent years
- My firm belief that Grace has a very bright and high-impact future - a future any pastor would love to share with you.
But the Lord is calling me, and I must obey. I love you too much to give you less than my best - your future is too important for you to have less than the best.
As we all look ahead to the next chapter, I am reminded of something a wise mentor told me some years ago: "The only performance that counts is the last one." You have my pledge that, as far as I am concerned, we will finish this chapter well and positively through a healthy pastoral transition. I will give 100% of my prayers and efforts to that end.
Of course, it is absolutely essential right now that we all give our best in prayer, financial support, positive involvement, and faithful perseverance. Whether you have been here 50 years or 5 weeks, if God has called you to Grace Church (and God calls us to a CHURCH, not a pastor) then this church needs your faithful involvement.
Pray for the elders and staff. Come around the leadership and encourage them in practical ways. Be here next week for a fantastic Spring Missions Festival Sunday - and keep your eyes on THAT mission to which God has called us. Stay engaged in ministry - or start engaging in a fresh way - and this could be the very best season Grace has ever known.
As I diligently pray for you, the staff, and the elders, I ask you for your prayers for my family as we enter into a season of transition. Pray for the sale of our home, the details of getting moved, and the challenges of starting over and raising support for a whole new adventure of full-time ministry.
Starting Tuesday, Rosemary and I will be getting away for a week of rest, reflection, and prayer - getting re-energized for this next season here at Grace and in our lives and calling.
God willing, this decision and the unfolding ministry will ignite the heart of the American church, restore and revive countless leaders, and call our nation to prayer. I genuinely hope that in the years to come you will know the joy of feeling that you played an absolutely vital role in this work. May we all bear fruit for His glory through this vision.
I close with this reminder: the first Sunday I preached here as your pastor, I told you "I am not the 4th member of the Trinity." That is obvious, of course - but that declaration was intended to focus us away from placing our expectation in any earthly leader. Christ uses leadership, but He is the focus of all of our hope, our expectation, and the key to our future. Press on to love, know, and serve Christ. He is the head of the church, the cornerstone of the church, the builder of the church - and He is here in a powerful way, working among you. He is ready to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" (not just in a pastor - in all of us). And so to HIM be glory in the church, by Christ Jesus - world without end - AMEN.
In His Care,
Daniel Henderson, Senior Pastor