From Division to Unity: A Guide to Healing Church Splits

I never wanted to be an expert on churchsplits. I never imagined that every church Ipastored would have its origins in division. Yet, looking back, I see that God was preparingme for something greater not just to leadcongregations but to bring healing, order, andstability to churches that had been torn apart. Each church split I encountered was different. At Southside First Baptistin Kansas City, I pastored those who remained after a painful division. The challenge wasn t just preaching and leading; it was helping peopleheal from the hurt of those who had left. At Prince of Peace in Peoria, Ifound myself in the opposite position leading a group that had walkedaway from their former church. That experience taught me how difficultit is to build something new without carrying the baggage of the past. And when I founded New Cornerstone Baptist Church, it was anotherstory entirely a church born from division, but with an opportunity tocreate something fresh, something healthy, something rooted in unityrather than past wounds. Church splits leave behind deep wounds. Friendships are broken, trustis shattered, and bitterness lingers if it s not confronted with grace. I veseen people walk away from the church entirely not because theylost faith in God, but because they lost faith in His people. That s whyI m writing this book. Not to assign blame, not to relive the pain, but tooffer wisdom, healing, and a path forward for churches and pastorsnavigating the fallout of division. If you ve ever been in a split whether you stayed, left, or started over you know the pain it brings. But I also want you to know this: division isnot the end of the story. With God s help, what was once broken can berebuilt. What was once divided can be united. This book is about that journey. A journey From Division to Unity.