ALPHARETTA, Ga. — After 30 years, pastor of North Point Church, Andy Stanley is ready to leave the pulpit.
“I want to say yes to my grandchildren without having to check my schedule,” said Stanley who will be 69 when he steps down.
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“Don’t be sad that it’s over be happy that it happened and we are so happy that it happened,” Stanley told parishioners Sunday morning as he announced he is ready to turn the page.
“The best thing for this next iteration of what we are going to do together requires a younger leader who can project a vision further out than I could because of my age and season in life,” said Stanley.
Stanley says his plan to retire has been in the works for years now. And another pastor on staff, a familiar face, will now take the helm.
“The best person to replace me is in fact Joel Thomas,” said Stanley.
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Stanley who is the son of late pastor Charles Stanley of First Baptist Church, founded North Point Church in 1995. And North Ministries has expanded to a network of 8 churches. The 50,000 people of the church, will now vote on the next leader of North Point Church and North Point Ministries.
Stanley, who says he will still occasionally preach, has been a spiritual leader for three decades.
“We are confident that this is the right decision, it’s the right time,” said Stanley with his wife Sandra by his side.
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