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our board meeting was ending, I made a tearful and humbling confession: “I feel like I am driving down a dirt road behind a truck. I can see nothing but a cloud of dust. I am struggling with vision and direction for our church.” For more than a year, our staff had scrambled to adapt to evolving COVID-19 mandates. I was so consumed with keeping my head above water I had little margin for planning our next steps. I had prayed for a fresh vision, but nothing was clear. I felt discouraged and incompetent. I was even beginning to question my calling. After that emotional moment with my board, I debriefed with a trusted colleague. I admitted I had been working at a pace that was not sustainable. Since the start of the pandemic, I had not taken a regular sabbath, much less a vacation. I also realized it had been seven years since my last sabbatical. I knew I needed to get one on the calendar. Perhaps you recognize the need for a sabbatical but are not sure how to ask for one or whether your church even offers one. If that’s you, stay tuned. What Is a Sabbatical? In addition to a weekly sabbath and annual vacations, a sabbatical is part of a comprehensive approach to stewarding a ministry calling. A sabbatical may include rest, education, travel, study, and prayer. It is a good practice to schedule a sabbatical every five to seven years, with each one lasting between one and six months. Our church provides all pastors with a one-month sabbatical every seven years. Sabbaticals have not always been a part of our Assemblies of God tradition, but a growing number of ministers, churches and districts are recognizing their value. Why You Need It To become better leaders, pastors may attend conferences, read books, and even engage coaches. However, many of us ignore the need for rest and reflection. People expect pastors to be on call 24/7. They expect us to be scholars, counselors, anointed preachers, visionaries, general contractors, authors and caregivers. After years of carrying the weight of all these expectations, many ministers burn out. After my confession to our board, I realized I had been depleted for quite a while. It is past time for an extended break when vision is lacking, energy is waning, joy is fading, and depression is rising. If you’re questioning your calling, that is a clear sign you need to get away and seek God. A sabbatical benefits not only the leader, but also his or her family and church. Even those who are skilled at separating work and family inevitably carry home some of the stress. A sabbatical provides an opportunity to reset and refocus on what matters most, including family. The church’s ministry is more effective when leaders are healthy, and getting adequate rest is a vital part of maintaining good health. A sabbatical can also enhance longevity. Often, a pastor will return with renewed passion and vision for ministry. And leaders who take time to rest set a positive example for other members of the congregation.
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