Did God say it or not? Bishop Henry Fernandez declared Joel Tudman was his God-chosen successor at The Faith Center Ministries in South Florida, then ousted him less than six months after his historic installation, sparking speculation and questions.

Written By Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online

Dr. Joel Tudman (left) and Bishop Henry Fernandez (right) once stood together as symbols of pastoral succession at The Faith Center Ministries. That transition has now unraveled in less than a year. (Photo illustration: EEW Magazine)

In American megachurch culture, pastoral succession is often cast as a divine handoff, one generation passing the mantle to the next in a seamless continuation of vision and mission.

But when that process unravels, it exposes the fragile line of trust, the immense influence wielded by individual leaders, and the emotional toll borne by entire faith communities, especially when God’s name is invoked to legitimize the transition.

That reality hit home for The Faith Center Ministries International, a dynamic South Florida congregation, when members learned—via letter and a brief statement before the Sunday sermon—that Dr. Joel Tudman, their newly installed senior pastor, had been abruptly removed.

On August 30, Bishop Henry Fernandez, founder of the church, informed members of the decision in a written missive. He reassured the flock that the church’s mission would continue but offered no explanation.

By the next morning, the fallout had spread well beyond the congregation. Social media timelines, YouTube commentary, and religious forums lit up with shock, confusion, outrage, and grief.

Across platforms, one refrain captured the mood: “But I thought God said Joel Tudman was the one. What’s happening?”

In a new statement uploaded on Instagram on September 2, Tudman broke his silence with an urgent appeal to unity. “Stop taking sides,” he urged, admitting he was “grieved” over the division the controversy has sparked. “The world is watching,” he added. “And when we are divided, the witness of Christ is weakened.”

Speaking about his family’s well-being, Tudman shared: “My wife and I, we’re managing. My family, we’re managing. We’re here in South Florida, and we’re not going anywhere, unless the Lord says leave. As for now, I’m on my knees—and I’m on my knees praying to God daily, and it’s His strength that’s sustaining us. So, I’m asking Him for clarity about the direction we’re going and my next steps. When He makes His will clear, I promise I am going to tell you what God said.”

Chatter reached fever pitch after the August 31 service, where Fernandez addressed the matter publicly, telling the congregation he was aware that they “have mixed emotions, and social media’s blowing up.”

He pointed out, “A lot of people have already cast their judgment. But yesterday, I sent out a letter to the church—and yes, the letter was authentic. It came from me. It’s not spam—and I know many of you have a lot of questions and concerns. But for 34 years, I have led this church as God has led me, and I can assure you that God will continue to direct me and the executive board of this church. This church is not run by one man. I want that to be absolutely clear. There’s an executive board that I am accountable to. Even though I am the founder of the church, I have submitted my life under their authority.”

On June 2, 2025, The Faith Center Ministries posted a photo of Bishop Henry Fernandez and Dr. Joel Tudman looking joyful and aligned in purpose—a sharp contrast to the upheaval that would come only months later.

Fernandez also asked congregants and those watching virtually to “trust my leadership for 34 years,” prompting applause from the audience. “And while you’re not given reasons,” he continued, “I’m asking you: be careful of your assumptions.”

He stressed to the audience that “we are Kingdom citizens. We are expected to conduct ourselves accordingly.”

But, for many members, the absence of explanation only deepened their unease. The opacity was particularly striking given the highly public lead-up to Tudman’s appointment.

In March of this year, just months before the dismissal, Fernandez and Tudman sat together in a candid YouTube conversation—which has now been made private— ahead of the installation service.

There they discussed how their partnership began in January 2023 when Tudman first preached at The Faith Center. Fernandez recalled, “You came and just blew the roof off. God used you in a tremendous way.”

Tudman, in turn, said the church “felt like home” and praised Fernandez as “different from any other spiritual leader that I’ve ever met: very calm, super knowledgeable, very professional, but yet, you were open, and you didn’t know me. You conversed with me like I mattered.”

Soon, Fernandez introduced him to the facilities and openly discussed retirement. Tudman later reflected: “I felt like God was talking to me in your talk about retiring, because there’s no way in the world we would have had the conversation if I didn’t hear God.”

Fernandez assured him, “The vision is bigger than my brand. It’s bigger than my ego. I sit so many Sundays in my seat, my wife and I, and I watch you on stage with your gifts, [as] God [is] using you. That brings me joy. Never one moment [have I felt] jealous. Never felt that this man is taking away from me. I just felt like, God, I did it right. You made sure Joel Tudman was born for such a time as this.”

The installation itself was a high-profile celebration, attended by Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastors Travis and Jackie Greene, Pastor Keion Henderson, Pastor Mike Todd, Rich Wilkerson Jr., Pastor John Hannah, and local civic leaders.

So, how did it all go so wrong, so fast?

*Credit: The Faith Center Ministries International*

While the current succession plan for The Faith Center stands out for the swiftness of its unraveling, the church's story is far from isolated in the landscape of American megachurches.

Scholars of religion note that megachurches, often centered on a founding leader’s charisma, face unique succession challenges. Research from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research highlights that few megachurches transition smoothly, with tensions around vision, authority, and congregational loyalty frequently surfacing.

The Faith Center, founded in 1991 by Henry and Carol Fernandez with just 11 members, grew to thousands by the early 2000s. Its rise mirrored other megachurches that became civic forces in their regions. Fernandez said he understood from the beginning that he was building the institution only for a season, with plans to pass it on to a worthy successor. By all accounts, Tudman was that man, until the story took a different turn. Fernandez’s vision seemed secure in Tudman, whose charisma, experience, and alignment with the ministry’s mission made him the natural heir.

As of now, neither Fernandez nor Tudman has explained the reasons for the split. Tudman, who previously pastored in Oklahoma and trained under Bishop T.D. Jakes at The Potter’s House, initially addressed the incident on August 30, posting on Instagram: “PRAY FOR US. OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN AND DEVASTATED,” a message that quickly drew thousands of responses.

With both men offering only vague statements, speculation has ranged from moral failings to leadership disputes to resistance over handing off control. None of these claims have been substantiated, but they reflect the hunger for answers in a moment of disillusionment.

The Faith Center now stands at a crossroads, where words once spoken—'passing the baton,' ‘God told me,’ 'preparing the next generation,' and 'trust'—ring differently in light of this sudden rupture.

As of time of publishing, no further statements have been released by The Faith Center or Tudman. For now, the congregation, and the broader faith community watching, waits for clarity that has yet to come.

One of the most difficult questions left dangling is this: Fernandez repeatedly testified that God told him Tudman was the man. If that is so, how can the split be reconciled? And if God cannot lie, what does that mean for such declarations?

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