JOHNS CREEK, Ga., March 13, 2019 – During the weekend services of February 23 and 24, Lead Teacher Randy Pope announced his plans to transition in September to a full-time role as assistant pastor of Perimeter Church and president and CEO of Perimeter’s Life on Life discipleship ministry.
Randy Pope founded Perimeter Church in 1977 and has faithfully served as senior pastor since that time. “When we planted this church, we did so with the intention to attempt something so great for God that it is doomed to failure, lest He be in it,” Pope said. “My wife, Carol, and I could not have imagined how much God would accomplish in and through this church over the past 42 years.”
At a special congregational meeting on March 3, an 18-person nominating committee recommended that Jeff Norris, current assistant directional leader, succeed Pope. Norris was on staff with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 13 years before joining the staff of Perimeter Church in 2015. During his time at Perimeter, Norris has served in the roles of pastor at large, Young Families and Young Adults director, and teaching team pastor.
A succession plan for the senior pastor has been in the works for more than 20 years. Pope notified the Elder Ministry Team in 1997 that, while he had no interest in leaving his leadership role anytime soon, he believed that he would be ready to do so in about 20 years’Â time.
Planning and preparation began then as the Perimeter Executive Leadership Team developed strategic initiatives to identify and develop a viable succession candidate. They were looking for someone that would truly understand the ethos of the church and might carry on the vision to make and deploy mature and equipped followers of Christ for the sake of family, community and global transformation.
At the March 3 congregational meeting, Tom Rhodes, chairman of the nominating committee, said that, after thorough examination of Jeff Norris and his wife, Rachel, the committee realized that “Jeff is a product of Perimeter’s ministry. He will honor the past, continue what is best, and implement fresh ministry ideas as God leads him.”
After the planned formal installation of Norris in September, Pope will continue serving the church in three roles: assistant pastor, teaching team member and leader of the global Life on Life discipleship ministry.
During his announcement message, Pope reflected on the future of the church he planted. “Perimeter Church, in my opinion, is the healthiest it has ever been,” he said. “And I believe that we are going to see the best years to come. I think they lie ahead of us. We have laid a foundation, and it will just keep going. You young folks, you are going to continue to build it, build it, build it. God’s kingdom will just keep coming.”
For a biography of Jeff Norris, visit perimeter.org/JeffNorris.
About Perimeter Church
Founded in 1977 and located in Johns Creek, Georgia, the vision of Perimeter Church is to make and deploy mature and equipped followers of Christ for the sake of family, community and global transformation. To learn more, visit perimeter.org.
