After serving in our church for three and a half years, I began to sense a shift about two years in. At first, I tried to ignore it. I told myself that every church has its seasons and imperfections. But over time, the strife and division in the church became too difficult to overlook. I was not seeking perfection, only truth and accountability. When those began to erode [and impact my children], I knew it was time to listen to what the Lord was stirring in my spirit.
Leaving a church is not easy, especially when it has been part of your family’s rhythm for years. It had been the place where my children learned memory verses, sang songs of praise, and first began to understand what faith meant. Yet, I could not ignore the responsibility God placed on me as a parent. I want my children to see faith lived with integrity. I want them to know that following Jesus means seeking truth, even when it requires stepping away from what is familiar.
After nearly two decades in the military, my husband and I are no strangers to transition. We have learned how to adapt, serve, and move forward when assignments
change. Now, as we approach retirement, we sense God calling us to a different kind of obedience. This time, it is not about following orders but about building roots. For so long, service required mobility. Now, the Lord is inviting our family into stability, to plant deeply in a community where faith and purpose can grow together.
Leaving our church felt a lot like completing a deployment. You look back with gratitude for what you learned and the people you served beside, but you also know that lingering beyond your mission’s end can hinder growth. Every season has its purpose, and when God releases you, it is not failure. It is faithfulness.
Unity has always mattered to me. I long for my family to be part of a church that holds fast to Scripture and loves people well. True unity is not silence when something is wrong. It is the shared pursuit of truth, humility, and obedience to Christ. Our decision to leave was not an act of division but of devotion. It was an act of trust that God would guide us toward a body of believers who live out His Word with consistency and grace.
As we visit new churches, we pray together for wisdom. We ask God to lead us where we can grow, serve, and share the Gospel freely. We are not looking for a place that entertains or comforts us. We are looking for a community that lives out the Great Commission, where my children can see faith in action and where we can contribute to God’s work with sincerity.
This season feels like both an ending and a beginning. The military chapter of our life is nearing its close, and with it comes a renewed calling to lead our family by faith rather than by orders. The uniform may come off, but the mission remains the same. We are called to love God, raise our children in His truth, and be witnesses to His faithfulness wherever He plants us.
Clarity often follows courage. The courage to ask questions, to leave when it is easier to stay, and to trust that God’s next chapter will not only grow deeper roots but bear lasting fruit.
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