An account of a senior pastor who passed away after finding that a close companion had departed to found a new church, taking a large portion of the congregation with him, was recently shared on Facebook by Evangelist Mike Bamiloye.
This episode highlights a common problem among ministry leaders: their intense reactions to companions' departures sometimes mask deeper anxieties regarding their leadership and calling. In another story, Bamiloye related, a senior pastor was about to commission his assistant to the ministry by praying over him, but the assistant had already begun his own church.
A large number of church employees and choir members had also secretly transferred to the new congregation, leaving the senior pastor in the dark. Once upon a time, there was a Man of God who, upon learning that his close ministry companion had left him to found another church, fainted, as he told the story. Anguish over a man's departure shouldn't make you pass out.
Even though he had no idea that his assistant had already begun his church, another man of God had just finished praying for him to commission him for his future ministry. It was the Associate Pastor's church where several of the church workers and half of the choir had returned unannounced to their former positions, much to the surprise of the Senior Pastor.
The Senior Pastor was taken aback, paralysed with amazement, and fell to his knees on the altar when he heard the news from the pulpit after appointing the Associate Pastor. It was a long time before he got over the shock. Jesus turned to the twelve and questioned if they also desired to depart when many of His followers fled due to His harsh teachings.