That's what you should do. You've just found out the man leading your flock is leaving. Not for any reason other than a change in his life has brought him to move onto another situation in ministry.
Once you catch your breath, pray.
Thank God for his and his wife's service to your church and the community.
Pray that God will prepare his new congregation to accept and love him as you did, maybe even more!
Pray for protection for him, his wife and his family, so he will not be distracted from the work ahead of him. (Hint: You should have already been praying this one while he was serving your church!)
Pray that God is already stirring the heart of the man who will replace your pastor.
Pray that the man's family will be open to coming to Long Island and embrace your congregation, as well as your community.
Pray for the selection committee to have an open heart to God's leading to the man He wants to lead your congregation.
Pray that your church family's hearts will be prepared to accept and love the new pastor as much, if not more than the one who is leaving.
Pray for your church to remain steadfast as the process plays out.
Then, pray, that you can used by God in all of this in a way that glorifies Him!Then thank God that He has everything, including this in His sovereign control!
