If you’ve ever sat in the pews or scrolled through YouTube and seen a man preaching with the kind of intensity that makes you feel like he’s reading your personal diary, you’ve probably met Dr. Howard-John Wesley. He’s the Senior Pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. But a few years back, he did something that most people in high-pressure leadership roles would consider career suicide. He stood up in front of thousands of people and basically admitted he was empty.
The Moment Howard-John Wesley Pastor Realized He Was Done
It happened in December 2019. Most megachurch pastors are gearing up for the Christmas rush, the big production, the end-of-year giving. Not him. Howard-John Wesley stood at the pulpit and gave a sermon called "Selah." It wasn't your typical "be blessed" message. It was a raw, somewhat uncomfortable confession. He told his 10,000-member congregation that he was tired. Not "I need a nap" tired. He was "tired in his soul."
He was honest. He admitted that he felt far from God. Imagine that—a man whose entire life is built on being the bridge between the Divine and the people, telling everyone the bridge was under construction. He decided to take a three-and-a-half-month sabbatical. No preaching. No meetings. No being "the man."
You've got to respect the guts that takes.
In a world where we're told to "grind" until we drop, Howard-John Wesley pastor chose to stop. He realized that you can't pour from an empty cup, and his cup wasn't just empty; it was cracked.
Why the 2020 Sabbatical Actually Mattered
He left on January 1, 2020. Talk about timing. While he was away trying to fix his prayer life and his A1C levels—his doctor had warned him his health was a wreck—the world ended. Well, it felt like it. COVID-19 hit.
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Suddenly, the guy who went away to learn how to rest had to figure out how to lead a massive congregation through a global plague from his living room. He didn't come back to a 300-person choir. He came back to a camera and empty pews on Easter Sunday.
But here is the kicker: he didn't regret the break. He’d spent those months sleeping eight hours a night (with help from a sleep therapist), eating a pescatarian diet, and actually being a father to his two sons, Howard-John II and Cooper Reece. One of his kids even told him, "I'm glad I got my daddy back." If that doesn't hit you in the feels, I don't know what will.
More Than Just a Preacher: The Engineer Who Found a Calling
Howard-John Wesley isn't just a guy who can talk. He’s got the receipts. He grew up in Chicago, the son of the late Rev. Dr. Alvin and Dr. Helene Wesley. He’s a fourth-generation preacher, so the church is in his DNA. But he didn't take the easy route.
He went to Duke University and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering. He was actually in medical school when he felt the "tug." He walked away from a lucrative career in medicine to attend Boston University School of Theology.
- Education: Duke (Engineering), Boston University (Theology), Northern Baptist Seminary (D.Min).
- The Vibe: High intellect meets deep, Southern-style homiletics.
- The Impact: He’s grown Alfred Street from 2,500 members to over 10,000.
He’s currently part of a super-exclusive PhD cohort at Christian Theological Seminary, focusing on African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric. The man is a perpetual student.
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Taking on the Streets and the Smithsonian
The thing about Howard-John Wesley pastor is that he doesn't stay inside the "stained-glass bubble." When the Trayvon Martin verdict dropped, he didn't just offer a prayer. He preached a sermon titled "When the Verdict Hurts" that ended up being featured in Time magazine. He’s led protest marches. He’s challenged the NYPD.
Under his leadership, Alfred Street Baptist Church became the first faith-based organization to donate $1 million to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. They also have a "Tithe-the-Tithe" initiative that has poured millions back into the community.
He’s not just talking about heaven; he’s trying to fix the hell people are going through on Earth.
What You Can Learn From His Journey
Honestly, whether you’re religious or not, the Howard-John Wesley story is a masterclass in boundaries. We live in a culture that rewards burnout. We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor. Wesley basically said "no" to all of that.
He realized that "busyness" isn't the same as "holiness."
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He had to learn how to be a person again, not just a persona. He took social media off his phone. He started playing golf. He learned how to cook. He realized that the church would survive without him for a few months, but his family—and his sanity—might not.
Actionable Steps Inspired by Dr. Wesley
If you're feeling as empty as he was, you don't necessarily need a 4-month sabbatical (though wouldn't that be nice?), but you can take a page out of his book.
- Audit your "Why": Wesley realized he was working for God but wasn't with God. Are you doing the work but losing the passion?
- The "Selah" Principle: Find your pause. Even if it’s just 15 minutes of silence or a weekend without your phone.
- Check your vitals: Wesley’s doctor told him his numbers were bad because of stress. Don't wait for a medical emergency to listen to your body.
- Invest in the "Inner Circle": Ministry and leadership can be lonely. Wesley used his time to reconnect with old friends and mentors. Who are the people who knew you before you were "successful"? Talk to them.
Howard-John Wesley pastor continues to lead one of the most influential churches in the country. He’s still a voice for justice. He’s still a "prophetic voice." But hopefully, he’s doing it now from a place of rest rather than a place of depletion.
It’s a reminder that even the strongest leaders need to sit down sometimes. And that sitting down isn't a sign of weakness—it's the only way to stay standing for the long haul.
To really apply this, start by scheduling one "non-negotiable" hour this week where you are completely unreachable. No work, no "ministry," no expectations. Just you and the silence. It's a small step toward your own "Selah."