Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I will be stepping down as pastor of First Baptist Church Athens effective March 10, 2024, as I move to work full-time for 2033.
For nearly a year, God has been taking me through a deep process of discernment. On March 2, 2023, God moved directly and powerfully in my life and turned my attention to 2033. This is a growing global movement to accelerate the Church to accomplish 4 Great Commission tasks (1. A Bible for every person in their heart language; 2. A personal testimony given to every person by a Christ follower; 3. A church available for every person; 4. A prayer offered for every person by name).
Through a series of miraculous events, God has made it clear that he has prepared me, gifted me, and called me to this work. I was asked to serve on the Finishing the Task Leadership Team. This small group of people is working to engage churches, organizations, and denominations to adopt 2033 goals and strategies. Almost every week, I have been in meetings with the team and God has affirmed this as my calling. I served for a decade on the Global Leadership Network’s International Team as a volunteer and believed that God wanted me to continue to pastor our church and serve as a volunteer on this team in the same way. God has led me to believe that 2033 requires a different level of commitment.
Last fall, I was asked to go to Africa as part of a teaching team for the All Africa Baptist Fellowship to help launch 2033 in Africa. I said, ‘No’ because it coincided with our Christmas.Land event. God began to stir in my heart telling me that He was calling me to the 2033 movement and the next time I got that call I needed to say, ‘Yes.’ It was time to choose.
The morning before I left for Turkiye, on Jan 17, I was asked to lead the FTT team going to Hawaii from March 12-17. Leaders from across that state will be gathered at an influential conference. This will be the official launch of FTT in Hawaii. Rick Warren will be the primary teacher, but I have been asked to teach sessions and coordinate other conference responsibilities.
I carried that question with me while I was in Turkiye. We landed in Istanbul. With 15 million people, it is the largest city in Europe and less than 0.2% are Christians. We followed Paul around the country. I stood in places where the Holy Spirit redirected his plans. I believed that I would retire while I was Pastor of FBC Athens, but God has made it clear that he has other plans for my life and ministry and that I have at least one more challenge (Acts 16:6-7). I stood on the beach at Assos where Paul felt the urgency to respond to the Spirit of God. I picked up a rock there and I have been carrying it in my pocket and praying every day for the faith to step out of my comfort zone and into this new ministry (Acts 20:13-38). I stood on the beach at Troas where Paul responded to the call of the Macedonian man (Acts 16:6-11). The water was churning, but my heart was peaceful. I need to say, ‘Yes’ to this new Macedonian call on my life. It is as if God planned for me to be at that spot - the spot He launched the mission movement of the church, at just this moment.
It is scary and sad to be stepping aside from leading this church that I love so much. You all have richly blessed my life. We have seen God do so many things together. I know that God loves this church even more than I do and that He has great things planned for FBCA. I believe God is calling our church to deeper levels of evangelism, greater growth as disciples, and more impact in missions. I have been praying diligently for God to lead that effort in our church. I will continue those prayers.
I plan to preach Feb 18, and 25, and then be out with a family commitment on March 3. I will return to preach on March 10, 2024. I started as pastor here on March 2, 1997. That Sunday I will have completed 27 years.
Our family plans to remain in Athens for the foreseeable future. I will be traveling with the FTT team nationally and globally as we gain momentum for 2033. These teaching trips, strategy sessions, and prayer meetings will become the focus of my daily work and much of it will be done remotely. Athens will be our home base as we seek the Spirit's guidance on how my new responsibilities will impact us.
God is arranging a plan to care for our needs that I will be able to tell you more about in the days to come, but like the children of Israel approaching the water of the Jordan, we believe God is asking us to put our feet in the river before the water parts (Joshua 3:14-17). We covet your prayers. We hope to continue to have your support, friendship, fellowship, and partnership in the great global mission.
In His Service,
Kyle Henderson
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