Pre-Sabbatical Jitters

ADDRESSING THE UNCERTAINTY OF LEAVING FOR BOTH PASTOR AND CONGREGATION.

I have been in the ministry for a little more than 40 years. Beginning in August I will take my first sabbatical ever. I want to begin by thanking my present church and giving me this much needed opportunity. Yet, as I begin my sabbatical in a little over two months from now, I confess that I have some jitters. There is a mix of excitement and expectation along with nervousness and uncertainty. I'm sure many in my congregation feel that way as well, as they are probably experiencing a pastoral sabbatical for the first time

I have been convinced for a long time that I needed a sabbatical if I was going to be a long-term pastor and finish well. "But at the same time, leaving the people in my church, the fellowship, and the familiarity of our worship—even re-ordering the way I manage my time—brings a level of uncertainty that I've never experienced before.

I know that this sabbatical will strengthen my relationship with God and improve my well-being. Still, I can’t help but wonder how this process will impact my congregation. So, I just wanted to quickly jot down the benefits of a sabbatical, not only for a pastor's health and spiritual growth but also for the congregation's health and spiritual growth.

Sabbaticals are a valuable gift for pastors; they offer a chance to pause, reflect, and focus on self-care and spiritual renewal. For me, this means stepping back from daily responsibilities and rediscovering my personal walk with Jesus. As I've expressed before to my congregation, having pastoral responsibilities for years on end establishes a pattern in your life where every time you try to worship outside your congregation, you are still in Pastor mode. That is, when another pastor is preaching. It is very common to desensitize oneself to the speaking of the Holy Spirit because we are always wondering would I preach that differently? Should he have said this or that? I like this order of service. We should try that song in worship. etc. A sabbatical gives a pastor the time he needs to break that cycle so he can just become simply - a worshiper.

Sabbatical also give pastors the opportunity to dive deep into personal self-care. We can get so busy that we neglect, exercise, eating, right, and good deep friendships. These things are not only good but necessary for a healthy ministry. I also look forward to reading books that I want to read rather than the ones I need to read for ministry. I eagerly anticipate connecting with God in new ways and allowing His Spirit to teach me new things.

But what about the benefits for my congregation? To be honest with you, as I prepare for my sabbatical, I am genuinely concerned about how it will affect our congregation. Over the past 8 years, I have invested my energy in teaching and training the people in our church as the Scriptures and instruct me to do. My primary job as a pastor according to Ephesians 4:11-12 is to help equip each of you with the necessary tools and spiritual gifts to thrive in ministry. So I am leaving, trusting that my ministry has had an impact. And that while I'm gone, the church won't just survive but thrive because each one will step up and serve powerfully the way God has called them to. This is an exciting thing, because when I get back if the church is thriving, then I can just jump in on that momentum. This is where I realize that this sabbatical is just as crucial for you as it is for me.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12

So, while I'm away, I encourage each of you to discover, experiment and refine your spiritual gifts. You are empowered to lead, serve, and be part of the body of Jesus at West Dighton Christian Church.

This period will offer you a unique opportunity to explore and practice these gifts. There will be some training sessions that I encourage you all to attend. I'm praying that you will come to worship services regularly so you can grow together as a family, learning from one another and loving one another, so that the unity among us will be at an all-time high when I return on November first.

This sabbatical will test how well I’ve prepared you for ministry. Have I nurtured you enough, helping you to develop the abilities needed to be the church serving one another and serving community? Though I am nervous, I am also encouraged because research shows that communities that empower their members during leadership transitions often see a boost in engagement and growth, sometimes up to 30%.

Don't use the three months I'm away to just glide. Don't use it to catch up on other things that aren't 'church stuff.' This is an excellent opportunity to use this time to deepen your faith, both individually and collectively. Pray for one another, provide support, and seek opportunities to witness God’s goodness. Find your gift and take a step of risky faith and see what God can do.

While the thought of leaving generates pre-sabbatical jitters, I am filled with joy thinking about how this experience has a great potential for growth and depth in our church.

So, as much as you're trusting in me to make the most of this time away, I am doing the same for you. Asking God to pour out his spirit in such a way that we are compelled to do everything for his glory.

This sabbatical is a leap of faith for all of us—a time for me to recharge and for you to thrive in your call as Mighty Warriors, – servants of the most high God.