Is it time for you to take time out?
You’ve held your nose to the grindstone, ministering week in week out for years. Is it time for a sabbatical? Three Elim leaders told Chris Rolfe how they took a well-earned break
STEPHEN GIBSON, SENIOR PASTOR, CITY CHURCH CARDIFF
Sabbatical: April-June 2023
Why did you take a sabbatical?
I’d been in full-time ministry for just over 20 years. I wasn’t in a place of burnout, but my usual motivations weren’t what they had been. I saw a sabbatical as an opportunity to take time out and reflect.
What practicalities were involved in planning it?
I spoke to our elders and Regional Leader, then started making plans, including how to hand over responsibilities while I was off.
What did you do on your sabbatical and why?
I gave the lion’s share to study and writing. I wanted to work on a book I’d been researching for some time. I generally wrote in the mornings, then did exercise and spent time with my family in the afternoons. Near the beginning, I had a prayer retreat for a few days, which was really special. I also attended a Christian conference and went home to Scotland.
How did you feel after your time off?
It refreshed me to go back into ministry again and prepared me to step into what became an unexpectedly busy season. I’ve recently been appointed as the senior pastor at City Church in Cardiff. I had no idea when I took my sabbatical that that would happen, but perhaps this was part of God’s plan to prepare me. I also established a consistent physical exercise routine during my sabbatical, which I still carry on. I was able to write two-thirds of my book, too.
STEPHEN’S TIPS:
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Be honest – Share as honestly as you feel able to why the sabbatical will help you. Also, reassure your team you’re not going to disappear at the end of it.
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Refresh your whole self – Find a balance of activities that will help you physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. You’ll come away refreshed in every area.
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Make time for family and friends – This time will never be wasted. Take full advantage of the extra free time available for important relationships.
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Get advice – I spoke to three other ministers who’d taken sabbaticals. The best advice I got was to plan my time well so I could make the most of it—not jam it full of activity but think about what I could do to benefit me.
GEOFF LEE, SENIOR MINISTER, PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN CENTRE
Sabbatical: July-August 2022
Why did you take a sabbatical?
After 25 years in ministry without a break, I’d just had three of my toughest years ever in leadership, so I was recommended to take a sabbatical.
What practicalities were involved in planning it?
I planned how to cover my church work. I actually took time off preaching for a month but stayed around and did some other stuff. Then I took two months off fully after that. There was also planning the financial side and how to make meaningful use of a couple of months off work.
What did you do on your sabbatical and why?
Being by myself was important, so I started with a week in the Isles of Scilly. Thankfully, we have somebody in church with a property there who made it available. I spent time walking, running, and reading. After that, I did the Coast-to-Coast walk for two weeks, from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire. Then we took a long-planned family trip to America. I also spent time studying for a sermon series on Revelation, which allowed me to read for personal growth rather than just preparation.
How did you feel after your time off?
I found the peace, quiet, and simplicity of walking every day and not having any responsibilities really restorative. Just sleeping, eating, thinking, and taking in the countryside did me a power of good. It was great doing something physical. My job is very mental, spiritual, and emotional, so it was nice to do something completely unrelated to work.
GEOFF’S TIPS:
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Sort the financials – If you plan to travel or do something, how will you afford it? Will the church pay? Will you get sponsorship?
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Plan ahead – I had the idea of the Coast-to-Coast walk a year before, so I prepared and researched. Sort out who will cover your work too. The more you plan, the more you’ll get out of your time away.
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Use your time meaningfully – Often there is an expectation that you’ll study. I did take some time for reading, but it was more for personal development than work. If you need time out, don’t overload yourself.
TIM ALFORD, LIMITLESS NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Sabbatical: March-May 2024
Why did you take a sabbatical?
I’d just hit my ten-year anniversary at Limitless and wanted to make sure I was going into my second decade with the same spiritual energy, passion, and commitment I had given in the first. I was also turning 40, so I wanted to ensure I was entering the second half of life with an even greater degree of love for the Lord and passion for the gospel. Additionally, as Limitless, we’ve been in a year where the Lord has asked us to "lay things down in order to make more room for prayer." This sabbatical was my way of being personally obedient to that too.
What practicalities were involved in planning it?
I ensured the responsibilities I was handing over were clearly communicated. I arranged one-to-one time with my team after my return to check how things had gone. I also planned specific anchoring points along the way, leaving space for flexibility. I used Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen as a guide for prayer practices.
What did you do on your sabbatical and why?
I engaged with prayer practices outside my charismatic evangelical church tradition. This included a silent retreat at a Jesuit spirituality centre, visits to a Benedictine monastery to pray the Hours, and meetings with an Eastern Orthodox priest to discuss prayer. I also spent time with family, took on extra responsibilities at home, and enjoyed one-on-one adventures with my kids. Additionally, I trained for a 100-mile ultramarathon.
How did you feel after your time off?
I finished with four A4 pages of reflections and a notebook full of prayer practices. My prayer toolbox quadrupled in size, and the lessons I learned will impact the rest of my life.
TIM’S TIPS:
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Release the pressure – Remove any burden to produce measurable results. This is a sabbatical, not work.
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Don’t over-schedule – Leave room for breathing and responding to what the Spirit might want to say.
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Ask God for an assignment – Focus on what God tells you to do and say no to other things.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.