Francis Chan Reflects on Leaving Megachurch Over Concerns About Community and Spiritual Gifts

Francis Chan, a well-known pastor and author, built a megachurch in Southern California that became a model for many in the evangelical community. His church, along with his bestselling books and Bible studies, reached a wide audience across the globe. However, a candid conversation with his wife became a pivotal moment that led him to reevaluate his path.

Chan shared his reflections with rapper and speaker Lecrae in a conversation that highlighted one of the most significant decisions in recent evangelical history. Many found his choice difficult to understand, but Chan himself was clear about his reasons. He expressed that if the Apostle Paul or Jesus had a church in Simi Valley, it would be larger than his own. This statement was not an act of false humility but a genuine realization of the gap between his church’s size and the example set by Jesus and Paul.

Chan noted that Jesus and Paul often avoided large crowds, focusing instead on genuine relationships and spiritual growth. This contrast troubled him, as he recognized that the success of his church did not equate to spiritual fulfillment. As he examined the early church described in the New Testament, two key aspects stood out to him. The first was the emphasis on believers genuinely loving one another, not merely attending the same service or supporting the same preacher. Chan admitted that his megachurch had become a place where thousands of people were “playing church,” indicating a lack of authentic community.

The second issue was the spiritual gifts of each member, which the New Testament describes as essential for the body of Christ. Chan acknowledged that his church had 5,000 individuals with gifts he was unaware of, many of which were not utilized meaningfully. This realization brought clarity rather than defeat, as he recognized the limitations of his current model.

Chan did not leave his church immediately. He attempted to reform it from within, striving to align it more closely with the biblical model. However, these efforts created more tension than progress. He was clear that this was not a story about success but about a deeper pursuit of spiritual truth and community.

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