On July 1 I will begin a forty-day sabbatical from my job as pastor of Highland Drive Baptist Church. Though somewhat unusual, pastoral sabbaticals are not unheard of. I thought I would take a moment to share a few thoughts about why this has come about.
A few years ago our active deacons invited me to make a list of all the things that I felt would be helpful in enabling me to achieve my full potential as the pastor of our church. After careful consideration I gave them the list. On the list I decided to mention the idea of a sabbatical. I shared that pastors who make the commitment to a single church for a long ministry could benefit from some time away from the day-to-day challenges that come with pastoral ministries. These wonderful men embraced that idea and have worked hard to secure an opportunity for me to just that.
Because this is a new concept for our church and it will likely raise many questions, I thought it might be helpful to answer one of those at this time.
What is the purpose of this sabbatical?
Rest and recuperation. Pastors are on call 24/7.
Rejuvination in ministry.
Opportunities for study and enhancement of ministry skills.
Time for spiritual growth and reflection.
Let me assure you that our passion for ministry is stronger than it has ever been and our excitement about being at Highland Drive Baptist Church has never been greater. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to be in the Highland Drive family for the past sixteen years and we look forward to many years of continued service.
If you have questions about our upcoming sabbatical, please do not hesitate to ask.
Does this mean you won't be preaching during this time as well?
ReplyDeleteThat is correct, Carey. We have some excellent preachers lined up to share during this time. You will be blessed by each one.
ReplyDelete