A Sabbatical Rest
There are very few secular companies that offer a sabbatical to their employees. Intel is one of the few well-known companies that has been doing it for 40 years. Here is Google’s understanding of Intel’s purpose and perspective on employee sabbaticals.
Purpose - Intel views the sabbatical as a strategic investment in its employees' well-being, offering a chance to rest, recharge, and explore new interests. This can lead to a fresh perspective and increased engagement when they return to work.
Perspective - Intel believes that taking time away from work is essential for sustaining creativity, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. They see the sabbatical as a way to invest in employee well-being and personal growth.
However, the Bible reveals a much more meaningful perspective on a Sabbatical rest. It actually begins with God in creation and was built into God’s people, Israel, when He gave them the law.
The Bible reveals that God created heaven and earth in six days, then rested (Gen. 2:2). Here’s where it all begins. For God not only states the fact of His rest, but He also explains in v. 3 that the seventh day was holy. The fact that God took a “sabbatical” rest after six days reveals there is wisdom in observing a sabbath rest.
Fast-forward to God’s chosen people, Israel. Built into their routine of life was a weekly sabbatical rest, a seven-year sabbatical rest for the land, and a 50-year nationwide sabbatical known as the Jubilee.
Today, Pastors are encouraged to maintain a day off, not because of any law or command, but mainly as a way to both rest from ministry work and make a statement to the Lord that He is the One building the Church. In other words, God is big enough to advance His mission through a local Church if a Pastor dedicates one day a week to rest from ministry work.
The other way a Pastor can make a statement that God is the builder of the Church is to take a sabbatical every 7 years. Take 90 days off, do some unique things that are not possible in the weekly and monthly routine of Pastoral ministry. Trust the Lord with the Church while completely disengaging.
Pastoral ministry has some similarities to every job – a work week, job description, evaluation, etc, yet there are also many differences. A Biblical Pastor is given a flock to shepherd, lead, and disciple. This calling doesn’t fit in a 9-5 pm job routine. Plus, a Pastor carries the people in the Church on his heart every day. Most Pastors love what they do and would gladly work every day to care for the Church, especially since it’s typically viewed as a calling from God instead of a job.
A sabbatical for a Pastor typically works in three ways. If a Pastor is sensing an unusual tiredness, lacking joy (sometimes called nearing burnout), a sabbatical can help sort some things out. If a Pastor is wondering about his calling as a Pastor, a sabbatical rest away from the daily challenges can help.
By the grace of God, our Senior Pastor is neither of these two scenarios. Offering or strongly recommending Derek take a 90-day sabbatical is primarily to allow him to trust God with the Church, setting him free from the daily challenges, and providing him and his wife with a unique kind of rest. Our prayer would be that this allows him to come back more eager for the mission of the Church and zealous to approach his role of overall leadership, vision, preaching, etc.
Church, what can you do to help Derek and Donna receive all the benefits God has for them on sabbatical?
Stay after Church on June 8 for fellowship and an intentional time in which we will joyfully send them off!
Begin praying now that God will richly bless them with a sabbatical rest and continue to pray for them over those 90 days.