In Luke 4 we see Jesus led by the Spirit to the wilderness alone for 40 days to fast, and later in the chapter He goes to an isolated place. Jesus got away often to pray and prepare for the days ahead, and if Jesus needed these times then we do too.
For a few years I have considered taking a sabbatical. I realize and am very aware that this is an opportunity and a blessing and not an obligation for a church to provide. Several fields of employment encourage this and provide this opportunity for further growth, while others do not. The reality is that for many pastors a sabbatical only comes at a time of need, brokenness, or near burn out, and while I recognize that I am not immune to these possibilities in my life, I am thankful that I am not in that place. It has also been my experience that pastors who take sabbaticals as a break from stress usually leave the church they are serving and I want to aÂssure the Board of Elders that this is not the case.
There is a lot in my heart for Country Hills, and for myself, but I don’t often get the time to adequately plan and study for the road ahead, or grow in some of the deeper parts of my faith journey by giving adequate blocks of time to prayer and fasting. So starting January 18th until March 14th I am taking a Sabbatical/Study Leave. I will spend 6 weeks on sabbatical/study leave & will take 2 weeks vacation after that.
The scripture God has placed on my heart for this sabbatical is John 4:11 (NLT)  “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?
The purpose of this Sabbatical is for me to seek God for ropes & buckets… practical and clear ways to connect people to living water we already have (Jesus) and keep them going to Him. God has done a number of wonderful things here in the past number of years, but I feel as if many are not connected, and the path ahead is more foggy than it needs to be.
Plans are in place for preaching, leading, and care and you can contact the church office of you have any needs or concerns over those 8 weeks.
Please pray for me during this time as I pray for you. I have many goals and hopes that will directly impact me personally, how I lead, and how our church will be and do ministry in the next 5 – 10 years.