30/05/2026
PASTORS THAT RECEIVE BUT NEVER RELEASE MEMBERS
One of the greatest lessons ministry has taught me is this: people come, and people go.
No matter how anointed, gifted, or sincere a servant of God may be, ministry will always experience a constant flow of arrivals and departures. New people will join, others will leave. The earlier a pastor embraces this reality, the healthier their ministry and emotional well-being will be.
Unfortunately, many ministers have mastered the art of receiving people but have never learned the grace of releasing them.
When attendance is growing and seats are filling up, there is excitement, celebration, and thanksgiving. But the moment people decide to leave, emotions begin to change. Suspicion creeps in. Some start imagining that someone has infiltrated the congregation and released a "divisive tear gas" among the members.
Yet the greatest example in Scripture tells a different story.
Even Jesus Christ Himself was deserted by those who were closer to him.
These were not casual attendees. They were disciples who had walked with Him, listened to His teachings, witnessed His miracles, and participated in His ministry. Yet there came a day when many of them decided they could no longer continue.
The Bible records:
"From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." (John 6:66)
Notice the emphasis. Not one disciple. Not a handful. Many disciples.
Pastor, if Jesus—the Son of the Living God—experienced people leaving Him, what makes us think we possess a greater grace to keep around those who have already decided to move on?
What amazes me even more is Christ's response. He did not panic. He did not manipulate. He did not curse anyone. He did not launch a campaign to discredit those who had left.
Instead, He calmly turned to the twelve and asked:"Do you also want to go away?" (John 6:67)
What confidence. What maturity. What security.
Jesus understood a principle that many ministers have yet to learn: people belong to God before they belong to any church.
Every healthy lake has both an inlet and an outlet. Water that only receives but never releases eventually becomes stagnant. The same is true for ministry. If a church is to remain healthy, vibrant, and fresh, it must learn to release as graciously as it receives.
Sadly, I have heard troubling stories of ministers who curse members for leaving their churches. Then, when misfortune later strikes those individuals, they celebrate as though heaven has vindicated them.
"You see? They left my covering."
"Grace departed from them when they left me."
"They have finally started seeing dust."
What a tragedy when a servant of God finds satisfaction in another person's pain.
Imagine celebrating because someone lost a business, lost employment, or is going through a difficult season simply because they no longer attend your church. Such attitudes reveal more insecurity than spirituality.
Even worse, these statements are often intended to intimidate those who remain.
The unspoken message becomes:
"Leave if you dare."
As a result, people stay—not because they are genuinely convinced of the vision—but because they are terrified of the consequences of leaving.
That is not spiritual fatherhood. That is emotional captivity.
Servants of God, do not become like bitter ex-lovers who cannot move on.
If someone feels led to worship elsewhere, bless them.
If their season under your leadership has ended, release them.
If God is writing a different chapter in their journey, do not fight the Author.
The harder you cling to people whose season has expired, the more likely familiarity will replace honour. And as Scripture and experience both teach us, familiarity often breeds contempt.
For the sake of your growth, your peace of mind, your health, and the health of the church, learn the beautiful ministry of release.Receive people with open arms.Serve them faithfully.Love them sincerely.
And when the time comes, release them graciously.
Always remember the words of Scripture:
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us..." (1 John 2:19)
Above all, never forget the true purpose of ministry.
We do not gather people unto ourselves.We gather people unto Christ.
Jesus said:
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (John 12:32)
The goal has never been to make people dependent on us. The goal is to make them devoted to Him.
The Church is not our bride.The Church belongs to Jesus Christ.
He is its Owner.He is its Protector.He is its Sustainer.
So why lose sleep over what belongs to Him?
Why develop ulcers over another man's bride?
Our assignment is simple: preach the Gospel faithfully, shepherd God's people diligently, pray for them earnestly, and bless them generously.
The results belong to God.
And while many ministers are obsessed with counting souls, few remember that every soul counted will one day be accounted for.
Scripture warns:
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48)
The true weight of ministry is not found in how many people sit under your leadership, but in how faithfully you steward those whom God entrusted to your care.
May God give us the grace to welcome without pride, shepherd without control, and release without bitterness.
For in the end, the Church belongs to Christ, the souls belong to Christ, and the glory belongs to Christ alone.