From Division to Unity

I never wanted to be an expert on church
splits. I never imagined that every church I
pastored would have its origins in division.
Yet, looking back, I see that God was preparing
me for something greater-not just to lead
congregations but to bring healing, order, and
stability to churches that had been torn apart.
Each church split I encountered was different. At Southside First Baptist
in Kansas City, I pastored those who remained after a painful division.
The challenge wasn't just preaching and leading; it was helping people
heal from the hurt of those who had left. At Prince of Peace in Peoria, I
found myself in the opposite position-leading a group that had walked
away from their former church. That experience taught me how difficult
it is to build something new without carrying the baggage of the past.
And when I founded New Cornerstone Baptist Church, it was another
story entirely-a church born from division, but with an opportunity to
create something fresh, something healthy, something rooted in unity
rather than past wounds.
Church splits leave behind deep wounds. Friendships are broken, trust
is shattered, and bitterness lingers if it's not confronted with grace. I've
seen people walk away from the church entirely-not because they
lost faith in God, but because they lost faith in His people. That's why
I'm writing this book. Not to assign blame, not to relive the pain, but to
offer wisdom, healing, and a path forward for churches and pastors
navigating 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 is
not the end of the story. With God's help, what was once broken can be
rebuilt. What was once divided can be united.
This book is about that journey. A journey From Division to Unity.