Dear Cornerstone Members,
As I reflect on these past five years together, my heart is filled with deep gratitude. What began as a small gathering of family and a few others has grown into a community of adults, youth, and many children—lives shaped, friendships formed, and hearts drawn toward Christ. Truly, God has been at work among us.
At the same time, this has also been a season of personal difficulty for me. I have been wrestling with deep discouragement, weariness, and areas of sin in my own heart. The Lord has been exposing pride and a lack of humility that has affected not only our church but also my home. This has been painful to acknowledge, yet I believe it is an important part of God’s refining work in my life. I want to grow in Christlikeness, and I do not want to ignore the ways the Holy Spirit is calling me to repent and be restored.
I also recognize that, for some, there remain concerns about my preaching, leadership, and the direction of Cornerstone. These conversations have led me to ask whether my continued leadership is helping our church flourish or if it may be causing harm to our unity and witness. Pastoral ministry requires trust, and where that trust has been strained, it grieves and pains me deeply. After much prayer, counsel, and reflection, I believe I need to step back for a time to seek the Lord’s guidance with greater clarity and to give you space to discern as well.
Over the coming weeks, I will be stepping away from the day-to-day responsibilities of the church. During this time, Pastor Joseph, our deacons, and our sending church, Grace Community Chapel (GCC), under whose spiritual authority I continue to serve, will provide care and oversight. GCC will be supplying preachers for our Sunday services, and Pastor Joseph and the deacons will carry the leadership responsibilities while I am away.
I ask you to pray for me and with me during this time of discernment. I know this may come as a surprise or stir difficult emotions, and I am sorry for any distress this causes. I have written and rewritten this many times because I care for you and do not desire to cause harm to any of you. My hope is simply to be faithful, to finish the race and keep the faith, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7. I believe God can use even this season for our good and His glory.
The plan at this time is for me to be away for four Sundays (11/23, 11/30, 12/7, and 12/14). Before I return, I will meet with both GCC’s leadership and our own to discern whether I am spiritually healthy, ready, and wanting to resume ministry—and whether Cornerstone believes that I should continue as your pastor. I ask that, if I return, you receive me not as a perfect leader, but as a brother who is being sanctified by grace. We cannot move forward healthily as a church if our hearts are divided. Pastor Joseph and the deacons will call a members meeting before my scheduled return so that you can speak honestly and seek unity in Christ.
In the meantime, I humbly ask you to care for one another well. Welcome those who visit. Encourage the weary. Pray for the wandering. Extend hospitality and love, especially to the unchurched and dechurched who may come through our doors. My family and I are grateful for your patience, grace, and prayers. I love you all in Christ.
At the same time, this has also been a season of personal difficulty for me. I have been wrestling with deep discouragement, weariness, and areas of sin in my own heart. The Lord has been exposing pride and a lack of humility that has affected not only our church but also my home. This has been painful to acknowledge, yet I believe it is an important part of God’s refining work in my life. I want to grow in Christlikeness, and I do not want to ignore the ways the Holy Spirit is calling me to repent and be restored.
I also recognize that, for some, there remain concerns about my preaching, leadership, and the direction of Cornerstone. These conversations have led me to ask whether my continued leadership is helping our church flourish or if it may be causing harm to our unity and witness. Pastoral ministry requires trust, and where that trust has been strained, it grieves and pains me deeply. After much prayer, counsel, and reflection, I believe I need to step back for a time to seek the Lord’s guidance with greater clarity and to give you space to discern as well.
Over the coming weeks, I will be stepping away from the day-to-day responsibilities of the church. During this time, Pastor Joseph, our deacons, and our sending church, Grace Community Chapel (GCC), under whose spiritual authority I continue to serve, will provide care and oversight. GCC will be supplying preachers for our Sunday services, and Pastor Joseph and the deacons will carry the leadership responsibilities while I am away.
I ask you to pray for me and with me during this time of discernment. I know this may come as a surprise or stir difficult emotions, and I am sorry for any distress this causes. I have written and rewritten this many times because I care for you and do not desire to cause harm to any of you. My hope is simply to be faithful, to finish the race and keep the faith, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7. I believe God can use even this season for our good and His glory.
The plan at this time is for me to be away for four Sundays (11/23, 11/30, 12/7, and 12/14). Before I return, I will meet with both GCC’s leadership and our own to discern whether I am spiritually healthy, ready, and wanting to resume ministry—and whether Cornerstone believes that I should continue as your pastor. I ask that, if I return, you receive me not as a perfect leader, but as a brother who is being sanctified by grace. We cannot move forward healthily as a church if our hearts are divided. Pastor Joseph and the deacons will call a members meeting before my scheduled return so that you can speak honestly and seek unity in Christ.
In the meantime, I humbly ask you to care for one another well. Welcome those who visit. Encourage the weary. Pray for the wandering. Extend hospitality and love, especially to the unchurched and dechurched who may come through our doors. My family and I are grateful for your patience, grace, and prayers. I love you all in Christ.
In the love of Christ,
Pastor Brian Na
Lead Pastor, Cornerstone Church of New York
Lead Pastor, Cornerstone Church of New York