One of the hardest parts of pastoral ministry is watching people walk away from your Church.

The reasons vary widely. Some families relocate for work or to be closer to loved ones. Others face declining health that makes attendance difficult. Some experience a crisis that shakes their faith to its foundation. And then some move on because of differences in leadership style, community culture, or unmet expectations.

When people leave for personal reasons, it feels like a rejection of me or my ministry. It is a bitter pill I struggle to swallow. Doubt creeps in. I replay conversations and sermons, wondering what I could have done differently. The wound goes deep, and the scar lingers.

But here’s what I’ve learned through the ache: every time someone leaves because of a misalignment in vision or approach, God brings others who are perfectly aligned with where He’s leading us. People arrive who share our passion, embrace our mission, and strengthen our community in ways I couldn’t have orchestrated.

Letting people leave is painful, but it’s also an act of trust in God’s sovereignty and in His unique plan for each person’s spiritual journey. They need a community that fits where God is taking them, and we need people who are called to labor alongside us in this specific harvest field.

The hurt is real, and I don’t dismiss it. But I’m learning to hold the pain with open hands, to bless those who go, and to keep my eyes fixed on the One who called me to this work. He is faithful to build His Church, even when it doesn’t look the way I expected.

So I release them with a prayer, trust God with the outcome, and continue serving Him with the people He’s entrusted to my care today.