As I have reflected on the book "Who Stole My Church?", I wonder how many pastors are out there trying to implement change in traditional churches in order to follow the mission God has given to each body of believers?
Being transparent, I knew coming to Riverside that God was going to have to change A LOT OF THINGS to make Riverside Church relevant in the world we live in. I told the pastor search committee don't bring me in if you don't want major change. In fact, the pastor search committee was down to 2 choices for their pastor, me and an older guy (in my mind probably past his prime) that would have probably delivered the status quo. The choice was clear for the committee, bring me in is a choice for change. Bring the other guy in is a choice for the same. The rest is history.
I came in as pastor and was accessing Riverside from top to bottom. Then hurricane Katrina hit and changed everything. We went from a country club ministry to an emergency room ministry with one named storm. Changes were happening minute by minute instead of over long periods of time. Riverside was being reshaped by adapting to an ever changing situation.
When things began to get to a new normal, many wanted Riverside to go back to exactly the way it had been. We could never go back. God had changed my heart and the heart of this church to minister in fresh and exciting ways. There was no going back. God was leading us in a new direction.
Whenever you have people and change, you have conflict. This was (and is) also true at Riverside Church. When a new pastor is preparing to come, change sounds good... in fact, it sounds good until YOU have to change something that is near and dear (or just comfortable) to you. Then change gets hard.
I have no regrets, absolutely none. I am not perfect but have followed God's leadership with respect to leading the body of believers at Riverside. God has a great plan for Riverside. God has given us a great mission and vision.
We have lost some people along the way and have also gained some folks. God is moving in fresh and exciting ways if we will just let go of stuff that doesn't mean anything and follow God. How about you?
