Last Tuesday I had the honor of interviewing Francis Chan at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. I was asked to wait to post this video until today because of the sensitive nature of what Francis shared...
After 16 years of serving as senior pastor for Cornerstone Church Francis is sensing the Lord leading him in a different direction. Despite not having complete clarity on what this means or exactly what is next Francis is stepping out in faith, something he has done for so much of his life. He announced this decision to the church yesterday no doubt solidifying the start of a huge transition for both the Chan family AND the Cornerstone Church family. The beauty of this announcement is that it comes in unified peace and hopeful harmony.
When I asked Francis, "what's going on with you right now, what are you learning," I had no idea that he would share all of this...needless to say the remaining questions I had prepared were thrown out the window as Francis spoke from his heart and offered a vulnerable glimpse into his own personal journey...
"I would be a hypocrite if I didn't go..."
Francis Chan - "A Different Direction"
Francis on his recent annoucement that he feels called in a different direction...
Francis Chan - "Fun Five"
On a lighter note, I asked Francis five fun questions from our twitter audience...
Why do I fear following in faith? What risk is too great if the voice of the Lord is leading?
Francis, thank you for your tangible example of trust and surrender...
Wow! Now that is couragous leadership. I’m thankful for Francis Chan’s example. He has always been an amazing inspiration. Thanks for posting this video. Fantastic. Seriously, fantastic!
If he’s looking for a new city to start over in, we will take him in Baltimore!
Comment by Jeff - Apr 19, 2010 @ 04:14 AM
His twitter name should be @theasianjacksparrow
Comment by Greg - Apr 19, 2010 @ 05:25 AM
big ups and prayers.
Comment by John (8BIT) - Apr 19, 2010 @ 06:57 AM
Wow. Truly living out what the Holy Spirit lead him to write about in “Forgotten God”. May I have that kind of Holy Spirit empowered faith and courage…
Comment by Dennis - Apr 19, 2010 @ 07:30 AM
Love it! Go Francis Go! I’m praying for you as you follow…
Comment by Joe - Apr 19, 2010 @ 07:41 AM
Why not post these to a iPhone friendly media type? YouTube works!
We can’t see your videos now.
Comment by IPhoneUser - Apr 19, 2010 @ 09:09 AM
Not that surprised. I have believed for some time that Francis Chan truly is seeking to love God, with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” I believe that Francis Chan seeks to be such a man.
Glory be to our God. May HE raise up a whole generation that shares this same heart.
HIS Kingdom Come
Comment by Rick Fancher - Apr 19, 2010 @ 09:15 AM
Wow. Really convicting thoughts about faith, fear and stepping out. Really. Convicting.
And P.S. the second video is totally hilarious.
Comment by Elaina Avalos - Apr 19, 2010 @ 09:25 AM
It is so awesome to see faith like that in action. I have learned so much from him ust by the way he lives.
Comment by Nathan Gilmer - Apr 19, 2010 @ 10:37 AM
That drum story is awesome. So wrong…but a good laugh.
Comment by Zach Drummond - Apr 19, 2010 @ 10:40 AM
So what exactly is Chan doing? He seemed vague. So is he stepping into missions? Or does he just not know at this point? Great interview and awesome job on not getting flustered when he threw you that wicked knuckleball high and inside.
Comment by Jared Young - Apr 19, 2010 @ 10:59 AM
Ever since I was introduced to Francis Chan last year by a friend at Mars Hill Church (Seattle) I have been impressed w/ his openness, transparency, and blunt honesty. I read “Crazy Love…” and was amazed at the insight he has. I have also listened to many of his sermons at Cornerstone. He doesn’t know it but I look at him as a remote mentor (same w/ John Piper). It also doesn’t hurt that we both enjoy surfing and he is not timid about trying new activities such as scuba diving. If there was any pastor who would boldly (though with discernment) follow a leading from the Lord to try something else it would be Francis Chan. Francis Chan lives the two greatest commandments - “37..You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt 22:37-39. I say, go for it Dude! No fear, bro! Even if it seems like it is going to be a late take-off, recover and ride that wave!
PS - Francis Chan has earned even more respect when he says that he doesn’t tweet or twitter (whatever) and doesn’t own an iPhone, Storm, or any other smart phone. I hope he does keep us posted on new developments for his ministry on his blog or Facebook or other social networking site. Most important is that I don’t want to be a fan of Francis Chan rather I am a fan of our Lord Jesus the Christ first and foremost. From what I have heard and continue to hear from Francis Chan is that he feels the same way about the Lord.
Comment by Kerry - Apr 19, 2010 @ 11:26 AM
Thank you, Francis! Such awesome encouragement as I am in a transitory spot in my life as well! God told Abram to go to a place He would show him… and he went not knowing where he was going. I’m excited to hear what Jesus does for His glory!
Abundant Blessings!
Comment by Joanna Downing - Apr 19, 2010 @ 12:04 PM
Francis is not stepping out in faith, he’s just leaving his church for a yet to be determined calling. Francis has been at odds with his congregation for the last couple of years (I was one of them). He feels the folks don’t have his conviction, so he’ll probably end up downtown L.A. with young unchurched folks. If you listen to his podcasts you won’t here that it is the righteousness of Christ that saves, but rather, Christ gives you the power to be righteous, which is perfectionism. Pefectionism always ends badly, as it has at Cornerstone Simi. Us plainfolk need to here the Gospel preached correctly and frequently, lest we forget what Christ has done for us. Remember, Jesus said “it is finished”, you need to have failth in Jesus’ perfect life (the Lamb of God) and His blood on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins, and His rising from the dead as evidence of justification, not your works. I pray Simi gets a new pastor who will preach the Gospel according to Jesus frequently, lest we forget.
Comment by Bill Fabian - Apr 19, 2010 @ 01:00 PM
Traveling the same path as Francis and his family and our spiritual ancestors. As part of a clergy family, we’re stepping out in faith this June to travel to enter into a covenantal relationship with a “dying” congregation who long to be revived… to take the church to the streets and break down the four walls of the church that have kept them “protected” from kingdom business. It’s not what we would have chosen for ourselves initially, but now we can’t imagine choosing anything else.
Our feet are now wet in the Jordan, and we can’t wait to begin serving our Jesus in a new place and, definitely, in a new way.
peace to you as you go…
~elaine
Comment by elaine @ peace for the journey - Apr 19, 2010 @ 04:40 PM
God is moving in very big ways across our country…I suspect that it’s even across the world. I feel like I’m on pins and needles watching Him work.
Comment by Lindsay @ Not2Us.net - Apr 19, 2010 @ 06:06 PM
Sad for his regular church. Happy for his new church. Think God is calling him to my city—Dallas. ;o)
Comment by Meredith - Apr 19, 2010 @ 07:55 PM
so proud of Francis. i am sure God will bless him in this leap of faith.
Comment by andrew jones - Apr 20, 2010 @ 04:58 AM
LV, thanks for persevering to get this interview with Francis Chan, and to honor the sensitivity of the matter and embargoing the video.
Francis, thanks for breaking the news through this video and trusting the online community to embrace your next season of life & ministry. We need good examples like yours of how to transition away from the pulpit in a healthy & good way.
Comment by djchuang - Apr 20, 2010 @ 05:34 AM
Dear Francis,
I felt compelled to write you after watching your video of your thoughts about leaving your pastorate. I too have just resigned my pastorate after 18 years of being in the same church. I was literally answering the question you were asked in much the same way you did. My wife and I are going to serve with the IMB as a Team Leader in Serbia, something that was never on my radar. But God had other plans for us so here we go. I too thought this was the craziest idea ever, but God has shown his grace and mercy and love in incredible ways. All of that to say, thanks for being an encourager to my wife and I. When I began feeling the call to step away from the pulpit, I was scared, confessed, and freaked out. But this process has been truly amazing. I appreciate your candor as you are working through this process. My prayers are with you and your family. One thing I have learned, It is better to follow God to nowhere than to force my will into following God where He is not leading. I pray the best for you as you follow God.
Blessings, Mike Tullos (Pastor for the next 6 weeks)
Comment by Mike Tullos - Apr 20, 2010 @ 07:14 AM
Having stepped away from the “traditional” church myself just a few years ago and having listened to Francis at Catalyst and online. I believe he is truly following God with his heart and I look forward to hearing where God leads him.
For me and a few others around me, we have been led towards the smaller gathering of the church in homes. I have found it refreshing and the relationships we are building are incredible.
I’ve finally found a way to truly live out Galatians 6:2. One thing I realized was while I had many acquaintances “at church” I did not really know them and they did not know me. These deeper relationships have allowed the closeness to develop that’s needed to truly share each others burdens.
I pray Francis will also find his new experience to be as fruitful and meaningful!
Comment by Dave Johnson - Apr 20, 2010 @ 07:37 AM
Is Cornerstone a multisite church?
Comment by Adam - Apr 21, 2010 @ 10:50 AM
In response to Bill Fabian—-
Your response to Francis Chan’s departure sounds a little bit bitter. Francis Chan has inspired countless people to trust Jesus with everything they have and everything they are.
Comment by Neil Schori - Apr 24, 2010 @ 05:20 AM
Neil,
Francis and his staff at Cornerstone have wondered from sound Biblical Theology. Watch the podcast sermons from Cornerstone and see if you can find a message where the Gospel is offered. The Gospel should be incorporated into the weekly message. Find the Gospel in Francis’ two books. Find it in his messages at Passion Conferences. Ya, Francis can get people to leave their jobs, cash in their 401K, sell their homes, cars, etc. Is that what Jesus requires of you? Can you be a born again Christian and have savings, 401K, a nice home and college fund for the kids? Francis would say this is a poor example of a Christian. I would say, who provided the burial site for Jesus? Francis would say Johnny MacArthur is a poor example of a pastor because he doesn’t live in want and golfs. Is living on the edge of ruin a requirement? Francis is dangerous. The Body of Christ is made up of all kinds of people in different situations and circumstances. Without the big earners, you have no big givers. If Francis was to use his gift to spread the Gospel, I would support him to the hilt, but that is not his message. His message is “you aren’t doing it right, and if you are, your not doing it hard enough”. Francis’ targets the young with his passionate “you’re not doing enough ” message. What young people need is the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will create the fruit in them. Neil, do your homework before you go after someone who’s put the effort in. Lots of things look good on the surface, but the Word of God needs to be handled carefully. .
Comment by Bill Fabian - May 10, 2010 @ 06:56 PM
Hey Bill,
I don’t know much about Francis but I have been listening to his podcast for May 2 and all I can hear is the Gospel. As Jesus says, “Let those who have ears hear.”
I don’t know what your beef is with Francis but it seems as though your emotions and your views of Francis are keeping you from hearing the message of the Gospel being transmitted from him.
I don’t know…I’m just saying….
Comment by Neil Phillips - May 13, 2010 @ 07:35 AM
Francis is not only a well know christian preacher example in US. God bless. Ike Roetman. Netherlands
Comment by Ike Roetman - May 13, 2010 @ 08:49 AM
I’m excited about what God has in store for Francis Chan and am looking forward to what we, the church, can learn from his story of pursuing Christ wholeheartedly as it unfolds!
Comment by nadine.w - May 17, 2010 @ 10:44 AM