The question is asked:
“What are your thoughts? Have you ever ‘bailed’ when decline set in”

Isn’t this a sign of failure?  If God called you to do something, or you are doing a work for God.  If you bail because of difficulty, you are admitting a mistake.  God wants us to grow and mature through difficulty.  Is there actually an attitude that this should be easy? Why be surprised at diffulty, and think of “bailing” as an option?

I had a task that I once choked on.  I gave it over to someone else.  This has been a learning moment for me.  Some good advice I found later was “stick in there for just 5 more minutes,” you’ll get through it.  In my situation, I was dealing with a difficult task and job burn-out simultaneously.  A major vacation was a vital medicine for me.

...Bernie
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com

Bernie,

I understand your point, if only things were that easy.  Unless you hear the audible voice of God, it can be a very confusing process.  Unfortunately, there are some churches who are literally shut down because a pastor who should leave takes just five more minutes.  The same God who calls you to one location may very well call you to another location, even if you’re not thriving where you are.  Maybe you are where you are to learn valuable lesssons for the next place of ministry.  Or maybe you’re there for a particular season.  Maybe you don’t know why your there; or you even question whether you heard God right when he told you to go.  There could be a myriad of reasons.  Maybe the word “bail” wasn’t a good word to use. 

Anyway… it seems as if you use the “just stick in there five more minutes”; then you could never move on.  (And that would be a very LONNNNNGGGGG five minutes!) How would you determine when it’s a proper time to leave?  When attendance is flourishing, when it is declining, or that attendance has absolutely no factor in a decision to leave whatsoever?  Just wondering… anybody please feel free to jump in.  I’m wearing my kevlar vest just in case. 

Todd

Yes, Todd, the problem is over the word “bail.” Now, I think we both agree that it is never a good reason to leave, simply because of difficulties.  Just because of hardship?  The hardship is what matures us!  There are many verses about this, such as:

James 5
10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

It’s today’s false gospel that sets the believer up for thinking things will get easier (health & wealth).  Jesus promised us persecution.

...Bernie
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com

A church my wife and I have attended for two-and-a-half years received a large sum of money and asked me to consider leaving my position as newspaper editor to join the two person ministerial staff as director of discipleship at a cut in pay and loss of all benefits.
Because I had felt God’s call to re-enter full-time vocational ministry after leaving it several years previously following a divorce (an abusive situation) and I wanted to help the church as it appeared to be on an upward swing, I told them I was interested.
I was so willing to follow God’s direction that, on the same day I told them I would consider the job, I turned down an offer to become city administrator...a position that would have meant a $10,000 increase in salary and incredible benefits.
Several weeks later, the pastor who made the offer was moved to another church and was replaced by his former college roommate.
It soon became evident the new pastor was a different sort of fellow. He kept putting off my hiring...despite the unanimous support of church leadership for bringing me onboard.
It took almost exactly ONE YEAR for the job to become a reality.
Since beginning my work at the church last May, I’ve found the pastor to be both irresponsible in performing his duties and incommunicative with the church staff and membership.
He has made it clear he doesn’t want to see our church grow (too much work) and has also been quite open about his disbelief in much of the Bible (ie: salvation, intercessory prayer, hell, etc.)
Meanwhile, I’ve been working day and night...performing many of the duties of the pastor as well as mine. Most days I find myself alone in the church office...the pastor just doesn’t show up.
This summer I oversaw a major renovation of the education facilities (another result of the financial gift given the church), reorganized the children’s ministry, formed a team that redesigned the church’s website, newsletter and bulletin, started a revived ministry to students, began a small group ministry and led the church in having the largest attendance it has had in 40 years (325 in worship).
Since that day (Aug. 22), things have gone steadily downhill. A support staffer can only do so much when his senior pastor is not only offering no assistance but is actively making his job as difficult as possible.
There are a large number of church members who are fed up with the situation. They are registering their dissatisfaction with the pastor by simply dropping out. The church leadership is aware of the problem but refuses to deal with it.
I’ve hit a wall. I can’t accomplish much more when the pastor is literally afraid to see the church grow.
Some in the congregation are actively encouraging me to start a new church in town...others to lead a group to speak to our district superintendent about the problem.
I won’t do that.
I want to serve God more than anything else. Am I wrong to feel the urge to move? Should I stay and trust God will change the situation?
I’m praying!!

I “bailed” when it was clear that the church was more interested in maintaining membership benefits rather than promote the gospel at all costs.

It had nothing to do with numbers