Sabbatical

For many pastors, ministry leaders, and preachers, rest seems like a dirty word.

Of course, we will affirm its importance in others’ lives. The overloaded person in our church, who is starting to show signs of cracking, should take rest more seriously. The marriage, which is under a lot of stress and showing signs of wear, would do well to take some time out to recuperate and reconnect. Even the church leader down the road should incorporate rest into the rhythm of life and ministry. But when it comes to the person in the mirror, some of us tend to resist our own advice.

We probably know the biblical case for the sabbath – that weekly rhythm of work and rest, the day set apart for honouring God not only through our worship but also through our faith-filled cessation of striving. We may also know about the Old Testament lesson of giving land a season of rest and what happened when Israel didn’t follow God’s instruction in that regard.

Then there is the New Testament’s far more familiar ground to cover. Think of Jesus taking time away from the crowds to be with his Father. Or the example of Martha, who was so busy loving her neighbour that she failed to love the Lord as her priority. Yes, she was busily serving in the kitchen. Still, Mary had chosen the top priority – she was sitting at Jesus’ feet, letting him minister to her. It wasn’t just Martha’s cooking that was steaming; it was her as well when she came into the gathering, making the atmosphere feel immediately tense and awkward.

We know what the Bible says. We know that it applies to others. We can see the need for rest in those around us as their attitudes reflect Martha’s bad day. But all too often, we cannot see the issue in ourselves.

I’m sure there are all sorts of psychological reasons why we feel exempt from the instruction to rest. Maybe our identity is caught up in being busy? Perhaps we are addicted to the adrenaline that comes with pressure, deadlines and crises? Or our addiction might be to being needed by others, being the vital cog in the machine, or just being busily distracted from some personal inner emptiness?

In Acts 6:4, the apostles recognised the danger posed by the growing demands of ministry. The danger was that they would not be able to devote themselves to the Word and to prayer. On my recent sabbatical, I read The Unhurried Pastor by Croft and Martin. They pointed out that the church leader needs to guard time for the essential foundation of ministry. That is not email, text messages, committee meetings, planning meetings, paperwork, organisation, administration, etc. All of these have their place, and ministry will involve a variety of work behind the scenes and with people. But the essential foundation is the Word, prayer, and contemplation. Do these have their proper place in our ministry rhythms?

I read another book, a collection of mini-biographies by Warren Wiersbe. He mentioned several times an elder statesman who repeatedly advised other pastors to take two months off from the pulpit every summer. That was at the start of the last century. For most preachers and church leaders today, two months away would be a rare sabbatical, not an annual vacation. Nevertheless, it does provoke the thought – would my ministry be more effective if I gave it room to breathe?

I did not realise how much a sabbatical would bless my soul. I did not feel like I needed it. And yet, I am thanking God for the extended break away from ministry responsibility that we were given at the start of the year. I am thanking God that we were able to be away from home so that the switch-off could be complete. And I am thanking God that we chose to switch off rather than use the time away from normal responsibilities to take on more (like teaching elsewhere or writing).

The blessing of an extended break away from home may feel impossible in your circumstances, I understand that for many reasons. You can still pray about the possibility and see what God does. But in the meantime, how about your next day off? When is it? How will it be a day off? What will you switch off? What will you do that is life-giving to you spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally?

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Perhaps you’ve stumbled across this post. Perhaps your pastor or a regular preacher in your church has “accidentally” linked to it (if so, forgive them, they must have linked here unawares!)

What can you give a pastor, minister, elder, preacher? I want to make one suggestion with various options built-in. You can give them time.

1. Freedom from guilt as they guard their day-off and time with their family. If they aren’t available, pray that God will bless that time, but don’t make them feel bad about taking it. If you can’t schedule a meeting with them at a time you requested and then discover their “appointment” was actually with their children, don’t complain, they are setting an example in God-pleasing priorities!

2. Provide for a retreat or training course. The church will reap the benefits of this, but still it will be a blessing to the person enabled and encouraged to attend. For someone who preaches every Sunday it would be a real blessing to be encouraged to go away for a few days (even if it is over a weekend!) Sometimes a cabin to be alone, other times a conference with other preachers, perhaps even a family holiday long enough to decompress and enjoy being together!

3. Why not push the boat out and start discussing a sabbatical. It might take a couple of years to prepare for a sabbatical, but it would be worth it. If the person has served faithfully for several years, why not start discussions about the possibility of a sabbatical? Perhaps they could travel for a few months and experience a ministry or missions setting that is on their heart? Perhaps they could be freed up for a while in order to write that book they’re itching to write? Perhaps they would like to take five months to participate in a study program like Cor Deo –click here. Again, the church will benefit massively from this apparent sacrifice, on numerous levels, but it will take significant planning to enable the person to feel free to genuinely be away from everything for this time of renewal and refreshment.