Rick Rusaw has announced plans to step down as lead pastor of LifeBridge Christian Church, Longmont, Colo., by September 2019, and transition to serving with the Spire network, formerly known as the North American Christian Convention.
Rusaw and his wife, Diane, have served in Longmont for 28 years. LifeBridge averaged 3,264 in weekly worship attendance last year.
“We knew there would be a time when we would pass the leadership privilege to someone new,” Rusaw wrote in a letter to the church posted at lbcc.org. “Now, as I look to the future of our church’s opportunities and needs, it has become clear to me that God has prepared both the church and us to begin the transition toward retirement.
“Our Elders have put together a transition team and are diligently praying and working through all the implications. . . . I trust that God will bring the next leader to LifeBridge and that our Elders will lead that process successfully.
“While I am retiring from LifeBridge, we won’t stop being involved in kingdom things, one of which is close to my heart. . . . The challenge and detrimental issues facing our young leaders is monumental, so a network named Spire launched with the mission to encourage and equip leaders who inspire a movement of healthy growing churches. Spire will provide innovative resources for mentoring, support pastor health, and provide practical ministry help. I have been asked to help give leadership to this new venture and help church leaders navigate new challenges they face. . . .
“For now, your work and mine remain the same: to find ways to help people in our community connect with the grace of God,” Rusaw wrote. “I am looking forward to watching how God will lead in this next year for both LifeBridge and our family.”
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