How Long Should A Preacher Stay At One Place?
Many have asked the above question or commented on the subject. Does the Bible give an answer? Perhaps not directly but there are some scriptures that we should study to arrive at an answer to the question.
Paul's first preaching trip occupied a period of about six years but we are not told how long he stayed at any one place. On his second journey he was at Thessalonica for three sabbath days (not less than 15 or more than 27 days) Acts 17:2, but he stayed at Corinth a year and a half. On the third tour he stayed at Ephesus three years (Acts 20:31) but while there all Asia heard the word. (Acts 19:10).
By the use of the pronouns we and us, we learn that Luke (the writer of Acts) joined Paul and those with him at Troas and journeyed to Philippi (Acts 16:11). But when they left Luke was not with them (Acts 17:1), so Luke was evidently left at Philippi. He rejoined Paul seven years later as Paul passed through Philippi on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:3-6). Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that Luke stayed there seven years.
After the conversion of the Ethiopian, Philip went to Caesarea. Twenty years later he is still there and is called the evangelist (Acts 9:40 and 21:8).
The Bible does not place emphasis upon how long a preacher stays but upon what he does. If he teaches false doctrine, one day is too long. But if he is preaching the word and doing the work of an evangelist (II Tim. 4:1-5) he should stay as long as he can do more good there than at some other place. Since God has not said how long a preacher should stay, we must conclude that it is left up to human judgment.
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