By: Jon Reed
The Fount is located in the heart of Kansas City and has been a source of living water in a spiritual dry land for thousands of souls. Social and economic changes have created an opportunity to reach the masses with the Gospel and Jim and Laura have devoted themselves to this purpose. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that The Fount continues to be a source of living water in a spiritual dry land, and for this reason Jim and Laura are taking a needed sabbatical to renew and refresh their spirits. As one of your Pastors I wanted to take a moment to articulate why this sabbatical is important both for the Hays and for our church body, answer some questions that we have heard, and express our heart and vision for growth.
At our church, we have a plurality of elders and are an elder-ruled congregation, meaning that the elders highly value the input of the congregation. After much prayer and reflection, they take the best possible action for the benefit of the church, understanding that the church is much bigger than any single member or pastor. It was in this spirit of communal care that we made the decision to give one of our pastors, Jim, a sabbatical. As a lay-pastor with a flexible schedule, I can relate to the feeling of always being on call. However, I can personally attest to the fact that Jim is an incredibly selfless and devoted leader.
Jim and his family have made tremendous sacrifices for the church. His sabbatical is a time for him to refresh, recharge, and renew. Over the past six years, Jim and Laura have given up their former careers to plant a church, have had four children, moved, renovated their home to care for twins, and spent considerable time in the hospital. Throughout all this, Jim has remained a devoted pastor, leading The Fount through a pandemic, different shifts in leadership teams, multiple church moves, and countless sermons and counseling sessions. I feel privileged to pastor alongside such a faithful man as Jim.
Objections or Questions about Sabbatical:
What if giving decreases, attendance shrinks, Jim decides to leave the ministry, a guest comes and decides not to stay?
The reality is we have seen giving decreases, attendance shrink, and visitors come and go while Jim has been here. It is not a knock on my brother but evidence that personality is not enough to keep a church together. No pastor has the ability to do what is not his job. Jim and I are no substitute for the Holy Spirit.
This phenomenon is not unique to The Fount Church. In fact, it is becoming increasingly common in the church at large. Over 250 pastors leave the ministry every month due to burnout and conflict, a trend that demonstrates how difficult it is to sustain a healthy church. The reality is that no pastor can make up for the Holy Spirit’s work. We must rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to sustain the church, and it is our job as believers to create a safe and nurturing environment for the Spirit to move. Ultimately, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we will be able to experience true growth and revival.
Allow me to address specific questions and concerns about the sabbatical:
1. Why does the Pastor need to not attend services during sabbatical?
It is essential for pastors to take a break from the regular rhythms of ministry in order to rest and be spiritually, mentally, and physically renewed. Sabbatical provides a much-needed opportunity for pastors to focus on the Lord and be refreshed and invigorated in their ministry. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28).” Similarly, church pastors need time to reflect on their sense of call and refresh their professional skills after serving for a number of years in the ministry. The pastor’s on-call, 24/7 role can lead to burnout, so it is important to provide a season of rest and reconnection with the Lord in order to be prepared to serve in ministry.
As a pastor it is nearly impossible to ever fully disconnect from ministry or to “turn off.” Also because of the size of our congregation it would be difficult to not put on the pastoral hat and just attend for a season. Guests or those unaware of the fact that Jim is on sabbatical would likely still feel compiled to take pastoral concerns to Jim. We want to shepherd Jim and Laura’s heart and allow them the time they need to rest and reconnect for the season ahead in ministry.
2. In what ways can we anticipate this sabbatical period will benefit the Hays?
The sabbatical period can provide a tremendous benefit to the Hays. According to a survey conducted by The Clergy Journal, 87% of pastors reported feeling more spiritually connected after their sabbatical. Additionally, 75% of pastors reported feeling more energized and motivated after their sabbatical. These benefits can help the Hays to be more effective in their ministry and to continue to lead with joy and enthusiasm.
Scripture also encourages us to take time away from our daily activities and to focus on our spiritual lives. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Taking a sabbatical can help the Hays to rest, reflect, and renew so that they can be better stewards of the Lord’s work.
3. In what ways can we anticipate this sabbatical period will benefit the Fount?
We can anticipate this sabbatical period will benefit the Fount by allowing for spiritual growth and rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This sabbatical period provides an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation, as individuals are able to take time to focus on their relationship with God.
Our church is led by a plurality of Elders and this is beneficial to the Church during a sabbatical period because it allows for a diverse representation of voices and perspectives. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Paul teaches, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to
form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” This spiritual bond between the Elders can help to provide unity and strength during this sabbatical period. Although one pastor is taking a break for a season the church is still being cared for and will not be without pastoral care and counseling.
A sabbatical period can strengthen the relationship between the Church and its Elders by allowing for more intentional communication between the two. In Ephesians 4:15-16, we are reminded to “speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” This sabbatical period provides an opportunity for the Church and its Elders to come together in prayer and dialogue, deepening their relationship and strengthening their bond. If you have a need at any hour I invite you to reach out my phone is always open to you. Sabbatical can safeguard a church from becoming personality dependent by allowing for a period of spiritual growth and discernment. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, we are instructed to “test everything; hold on to what is good.” During this sabbatical period, the Church can evaluate their practices and leadership, allowing them to make sure they are being led by the Holy Spirit, rather than by the personalities of their leaders.
Sabbatical may put short term stress on church leadership team and members but how does this work to fortify long term commitment?
Furthermore, when pastors are away, it can serve to remind the congregation that the Lord is ultimately their shepherd and source of spiritual guidance, rather than the pastor. This can be a time of growth and spiritual formation for the congregation, as they rely on the Lord to carry them through in the pastor’s absence. Finally, a sabbatical can help pastors to gain perspective and gain a renewed vision for ministry and how best to serve the church body.
We want to use this opportunity for growth and renewal for all parties involved. As a church, we are committed to continuing our mission and maintaining our sense of community. We also want to provide our pastor with the opportunity to rest and restore so they can return and be more effective in their role. We have faith that with the help of the Holy Spirit and the dedication of our church members, this sabbatical will bring about positive change.
By having our pastor away for a period of time, we can remind ourselves that our ultimate source of spiritual guidance and direction is the Lord. In this way, we can use this absence as an opportunity for the congregation to be spiritually formed and to trust in the Lord to lead us as our shepherd. We can have faith that in His presence and plan, we will be equipped to continue our mission and our church community.
In conclusion, Jim and Laura’s sabbatical is an opportunity for both the Hays and The Fount to be spiritually renewed and refocused. We are grateful for their faithful service and for the blessing of having them in our lives. We pray that God would give them rest and refreshment as they take this time and that He would use this season to bring about His perfect will and plan for The Fount.
With Joy In Christ
~Pastor Jon
