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The Joy & Pain of Leadership Succession
Posted on: Monday November 10, 2025

Leadership succession is one of the most sacred — and most difficult — tasks for any pastor or ministry leader.

In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes story of my second major succession — passing the baton of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship to Drew Hyun as our new President. I've rarely seen a succession done well. And that's exactly why I knew I had to do it differently — with prayer, intentionality, and surrender.

I walk through both the joy and the deep pain of letting go. I reflect on the lessons learned from my first succession at New Life Fellowship, the emotional disorientation that followed, and the profound spiritual formation that only comes through grief and relinquishment.

This is not a leadership technique. It's a spiritual crucible. A death and resurrection.

Whether you're years away from stepping down or you're mentoring the next generation now, this episode will help you face your limits, resist control, and steward your calling with integrity — for the sake of Jesus' mission in the world.

Every leader will face succession. The question is not if, but when.
Let's do it well.

 

Archives: 2016
Tuesday November 01, 2016

Pete Scazzero & Rich Villodas discuss transitions, letting go, and all that it entails—both in the church and in everyday life.

 

Pete Scazzero is the Founder of Emotionally Healthy Spirtuality, and Rich Villodas is the lead paster at New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, New York.

Saturday October 08, 2016

Pete Scazzero and Rich Villodas talk about limits and leadership and answer the question, what does it mean to find God in our limits?

 

Thursday September 01, 2016

Pete Scazzero and Rich Villodas share how understanding genograms has served as a powerful tool to create a healthy, transformational, team culture at New Life Fellowship over the last twenty years.

Tuesday August 02, 2016

In this month's podcast Pete shares part 2 of his interview with his wife Geri about being a leader's spouse.

Tuesday July 12, 2016

 

In this month's podcast Pete interviews his wife Geri about being a leader's spouse.

 

Tuesday May 03, 2016

In this month's podcast Pete and Rich talk about Emotionally Healthy Hiring.

Thursday February 25, 2016

Join Pete Scazzero and Rich Villodas as they discuss how the EHS Course can be a discipleship formation in your church.  

Tuesday February 02, 2016

Join Pete Scazzero and Rich Villodas as they discuss the importance of embracing silence in our daily lives. 

Tuesday January 05, 2016

Join Pete Scazzero and Rich Villodas as they discuss this pivotal leadership theme.