Eldership: Stepping Down

I’ve been part of church leadership for almost two decades now. That’s a long stretch of life, laughter, lessons, and a few lumps along the way. From the early days at Kings to the adventure that became Lifespring, Hazel and I have had front-row seats to some of the most extraordinary moves of God. We’ve seen people saved, healed, restored, forgiven, filled with the Spirit, and sent out again to do it all over. There’s been growth, loss, laughter, and tears, but through it all, one thing has remained absolutely unshakable: the goodness of God.

Then came 2022. I launched WayMaker, not quite knowing where it would lead, and six months later came the cancer diagnosis that changed everything. You might imagine that would be the end of things, but instead, it felt like God was just getting started. WayMaker grew beyond anything I could have imagined. Somehow, in the middle of chemo, surgeries, and uncertainty, God kept making a way.

Just this year, we passed half a million pounds in donations. That’s not due to clever strategy or slick marketing; it’s the favour of God, simple and clear. And my church family, Lifespring, has been right at the centre of that miracle. They carried us, quite literally, through one of the toughest seasons of our lives, and they continue to do so. They continued my salary for eighteen months after diagnosis, which took my breath away. It was outrageous kingdom generosity. It was genuine family in action.

During treatment, I felt God prompting me to take a risk and step off the staff team at Lifespring. That decision wasn’t driven by a single prophetic word, but by a deep sense of God’s favour resting on WayMaker and the wise counsel of trusted advisors. At the time, it felt like a massive leap of faith, but since then God has confirmed that step again and again through blessing, fruitfulness, and a growing sense of purpose.

Over the past little while, as WayMaker has grown and cancer treatment continues, I’ve felt a gentle nudge from God saying, “Andy, trust me. Step out again.” Not away from church or people, but into something new. With the wisdom of friends, the counsel of my fellow Elders, and the encouragement of prophetic voices, Hazel and I have been reflecting on what this next season will look like.

Two prophetic words from trusted and proven people, in particular, have really stayed with us.

The first came through my friend and father in the faith, Dave Fellingham. He spoke of God releasing me from an inner wrestle between home and away, Lifespring and WayMaker. It wasn’t about disconnecting, but about being freed. Still rooted in Lifespring, still loved and supported, but released into a new authority for what God is calling me to in this next chapter.

The second came from my dad, and it took me back to a story tucked away in Joshua 22, the two and a half tribes of Israel: Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. When the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land, these tribes chose to settle east of the Jordan. The land there suited them; it was good for their families, their flocks, and their future. But here’s the key: even though they settled outside Canaan (the promised land) proper, they still crossed over to fight alongside their brothers until everyone had inherited their promise.

That picture has been ringing in my heart ever since.

You see, I feel a bit like one of those tribes. My calling with WayMaker feels like the land east of the Jordan. It’s where God has planted me in this season. But just like those tribes, I haven’t checked out or moved on. I’m still part of the same family, still fighting for the same inheritance. Lifespring is my home, my tribe, my base. I’ll keep cheering, praying, and contending for all that God wants to do here, even if my role looks a little different.

After much prayer and discussion with my fellow elders, I believe it’s time to step down from eldership at Lifespring. I’m not stepping back, but stepping forward into a different expression of what God has called me to. Hazel and I are both stepping off the Senior Leadership Team so that we can give ourselves more fully to what God is asking of us in this next season: serving the poor through WayMaker, strengthening churches across ChristCentral, time with family, and writing books that carry the message of God’s goodness far beyond our local walls.

By the grace of God, I’ve finished my first book, The Big C in Me. Within twenty-four hours of sending the manuscript to a publisher, they offered me a deal. That moment confirmed something deep in my spirit: God isn’t finished yet. I sense He’s calling me to write more, to share the lessons of faith, suffering, and hope He’s been writing into my own story.

Hazel and I will remain at Lifespring, preaching, leading Into the Word Bible School, supporting Alpha, and walking closely with and serving the church we love. The only difference is that we’ll be doing it with a little less responsibility on our shoulders and a little more room to say yes to what’s next.

So please hear my heart. This isn’t about leaving because we are not leaving! It’s about leaning into what God is saying. It’s about recognising that sometimes faith means staying rooted in the same soil but growing in a new direction.

Like the two and a half tribes, I will continue fighting alongside the elders, the other leaders, and my brothers and sisters at Lifespring until everyone inherits God's promises. I am simply doing this with a different hat on, from the position that suits the season God has called Hazel and me into.

We love Lifespring church deeply. We’re grateful for every prayer, every hug, every moment of grace. And as we look to the future, our prayer is that, together, as we always have, we continue to pursue His presence, expect Holy Spirit to move in power, signs, and wonders, and keep making a way for others to encounter His goodness.

Because the truth is, no matter what changes, His goodness never does.