While cleaning out his memory-filled office last week, Huffman and his assistant came across the church’s 1977 mission statement, which called for a dynamic young pastor to come lead the flock.
Huffman arrived at St. Andrew’s a year later, and stayed for 31 years.
He said the mission statement could have been copied verbatim and used in the church’s most recent search for a pastor.
Since Huffman took to the pulpit in 1978, the church has completed a $16-million building campaign (and burned the mortgage), with 25% of its tithes regularly going to missions around the world.
The church also just competed a $28-million capital campaign that’s seen the building of a new family and youth center, a new children’s building and a remodeling and refurbishment of the entire campus.
Huffman’s weekly sermons are printed, bound and mailed to subscribers in all 50 states and in more than 30 countries. He also has written nine books.
He and his wife have lived in the same home they purchased 31 years ago, and they have no plans to move, Huffman said.
But neither does he plan to interfere with life at St. Andrew’s.
Denominational principles and his own common sense will keep Huffman away from the church for at least a year.
“I’m retiring from 47 years of local parish ministry,” said Huffman, 69. “What I’m retiring from is administration and fundraising. I will still be serving various ministries and organizations.”
He will transition to become a “minister-at-large.” That includes chaplaincy, guest preaching and teaching, and many other duties. He is the board chairman of Christianity Today International, serves on the board of World Vision, and has a leadership role in the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization planned for October 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa.
