Church growth in the latter 20th and early 21st century appears to be focused on the personality, style, attire and possessions of the pastor. As we consider the many mega churches that have come forth since the beginning and middle of the twentieth century, it appears that most are built around the charisma of the leader. History suggests that many ministries of the sorts if not most falter during the transition of leadership from one generation to the next. This thesis article entitled A Three Day Journey: The Blessings, Challenges and Transition of Succeeding Charismatic Pastors in Congregational Ministry explores the methodology, practices and ministry approach applied in the first three years of a successor’s pastoral leadership in a post-charismatic pastoral ministry context. Drawing upon interviews with pastors who succeeded charismatic predecessors, as well as research of transition in church leadership, systems, methods and transitional practices, this thesis identifies underlying characteristics that will assist pastoral successors to position and reposition their ministry context for new growth, vision and successful congregation transition in the absence of the charismatic predecessor. The transition process will lead to: a repositioning of the church with a new direction, new vision and focus, and increase in membership and finances; ministry and congregation decline; or congregational and ministry stabilization. The number three in this context symbolizes the first three days of Joshua’s leadership as recorded in Joshua 1:11, which is the metaphor for the first three years of the successor’s pastorate. The hope for this article is to provide a synthesis of essential actions, an overall strategy, which will help successors in a post-charismatic ministry context to move forward to position, reposition and in some instance reshape and repurpose the church to move into the future with measurable success that significantly alters the spiritual landscape of their present church reality.
