Have you heard the one about "old ministers"?  Old ministers don't retire, they just go out to pastor.  (Get it?  Go out to pasture/pastor.)  OK, that may be the hokiest joke I have ever shared publicly.

However, there is inherent truth to this little joke.  Pastoral work is not retirement-focused.  Granted, some day, I will no longer have strength to continue in full time ministry.  Some day, I may retire.  Nonetheless, I didn't enter full time ministry for the sake of some future retirement.  I entered full time ministry because God called me to proclaim His Word and shepherd His flock.

Thankfully, I am not alone in this task-for all of us have been called to proclaim His Word and to make disciples of all nations.  But I count it an honor that I should be enabled to do this work full time, through the faithful support of His people.  And, in fact, it was with the view to full time service, almost 20 years ago, that I planned my undergraduate work at Multnomah Bible College, now Multnomah University, which would be followed by masters work at Western Seminary.  This time, set apart at the beginning of my ministry, provided me with a strong foundation for a life of pastoral work.

However, I am not naïve enough to think that what I learned in a classroom setting before I began full time ministry was all I would ever need to learn.  For this reason, I am thankful to share with you an opportunity I have been given, this coming summer, to devote myself, once again, to study.  This upcoming "set apart time" comes in the form of a sabbatical.  The notion of sabbatical is derived from the Hebrew Word, Sabbath, and God's rest on the seventh day of creation.  This principle is further applied, in Scripture, to letting the land rest the seventh year (Leviticus 25:1-5).  Historically, the first application of the Sabbath principle to a sabbatical (i.e., a time of rest from labor) was to college instructors in the middle ages.  The practice continues with college instructors today, in addition to missionaries and pastors.

For me, sabbatical is certainly about rest, renewal, and spiritual refreshment.  There are aspects of pastoral ministry that can be emotionally wearying.  However, at the heart of my hope for sabbatical is the notion of a set apart time for "continuing education," as evidenced by the number of books I plan to read during this two month time period (to view this list of books, along with a fuller description of this sabbatical, see the two page handout available in the foyer).

For each of the eight weeks of this sabbatical, approximately mid June to mid August, I will be giving a full work-week worth of hours to study, reflection and prayer.  This Easter will mark seven years of ministry at Renton Bible, so the timing is appropriate to the biblical pattern of "Sabbath" during the seventh year.  What are the purposes of this sabbatical?

First, it is certainly to provide me and my family with renewal with a view toward many more years of fruitful ministry.  In an age where ministry leaders "burnout", sabbaticals are a preventive measure that increases the longevity of God's under-shepherds.

Second, it will provide me with an opportunity to refocus on my pastoral pursuit.  In the busyness of every day ministry, it is easy to let the "what" of ministry overshadow the "why" of ministry.  I trust that upon my return from this sabbatical, I will have a refocused sense of purpose as I seek to help lead this local fellowship of believers.

Third, it will provide me with the opportunity to interact with a number of great works of Christian literature with emphases ranging from church health to spiritual growth to pastoring.  In both my ministry of the Word and my pastoral leadership, I am grateful for the wealth of resources of Godly writings, including the recent, the ancient, and those that fall somewhere in between.  As I allow such authors to speak into my life during this set apart time, I will not only be blessed, but I will be able to share these blessings with the body during the months and years of ministry which will follow.

During this summer sabbatical, I am confident that our body will be well-cared for by both our elders and our intern, Joshua Williamson.  Joshua will take the bulk of the preaching load in my absence, while the elders will have an increased role in overseeing our worship and shepherding.

If you have any questions about this sabbatical, please feel free to talk with our elders.  Otherwise, I do ask for your prayers in this regard, both for God's blessing on the members of our body who will take on additional ministry during this time period and for God's blessing and working in and through this time in my life and the life of my family.

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Pastor Dan