“Your Hands are Tied”

Sometimes it is not easy to discern God’s voice and His will, especially in leaving one’s place of ministry and launching into the unknown as far as my future is concerned. In fact, last April nine months ago I almost resigned abruptly and I had good reasons in doing so but I thought I just hanged on for a while longer for the ewes of the lambs, the little ones who just happened to be about 40 plus children who turned up for Sunday school in early April 2025.

I do not teach the kids but I hope my sermons help the parents and grand parents, many single mothers whose husbands don't attend church but regularly drive their wives and children to church. 

But it was a relief that I had made my decision last night as I called together 4 deacons (two men and two women) and two elders who were present. 

It has taken three months since I spoke with the leading elder in mid October and waited in vain for his response to my concerns and we had another long chat on 21st Nov (or thereabouts) and I told him that it is better I go and to postpone the leaders’ retreat in early December. 

He persuaded me to stay and made several promises and assurances to allay my concerns and again there was only silence until last night as I handed my letters to the three most senior leaders in the room with a promise that on Sunday I shall give a copy of the same letter to every member of the church council. 

We spent about 25 minutes talking over several matters related to my letter and I told the six leaders gathered that my last Sunday in church would be the last Sunday of February 2026 and I will take my annual leave after that and thus concludes my pastorate here.

Parting ways is never easy but it has dragged on long enough (3 months) with no response and no church council meeting called during that time which is a breach of our constitution that provides for the local church council to meet at least once in two months. 

I felt a sense of sadness whenever I had woken up during the night at 2am and then at 3.30am and I got up for quiet time at 4.30am just now. Now what is left is just preaching according to the schedule agreed upon and there are five more sermons to go starting with tomorrow’s Sunday service.