Articles for tag: Sabbatical

October 30, 2016

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Preaching

God Spoke through the Sermons

What I learned from a year”s break from preaching By Dustin Fulton A few years ago, after a difficult season of ministry, my wife and I sensed a definite call to plant a church. Since we were weary, we were advised to take a sabbatical, as well as quit our jobs, sell our house, move out of town, and wait to see where God was leading us. Of the many aspects of the sabbatical, one that really excited me was getting to refresh my preaching skills by hearing from as many preachers as possible during my year”s break from the

May 16, 2016

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Pastoral Transitions & Succession

Trading Places: Learning from a Unique Staff Transition

By Brian Jennings Dave Dunson and Brian Jennings didn”t exactly exchange places on their church staff. But Dunson gave up the senior ministry to move to another staff ministry position while Jennings moved from youth ministry to become the lead minister. Here”s why and how it happened. Highland Park Christian Church has been ministering to people in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for almost 60 years. In 2004, we first began talking about a future staff transition. Everything about our situation felt unique; we weren”t planning on anyone leaving or retiring. Dave Dunson came to the church as senior minister

November 29, 2015

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Church Leadership Pastoral Transitions & Succession

Moving On

By Bob Mink I had the privilege of planting DiscoveryÂ Christian Church (originally Moreno Valley Christian Church) in 1984 in a small butÂ rapidly growing distant suburb of Los Angeles. I was 33 years old at the time,Â and our family moved from the Greater Philadelphia area. On our 30th anniversary in 2014, I stepped down as senior pastor. Looking back, I now realize the transition began in 2011, when one of our associate pastors left our church to become campus minister at his alma mater. I was fully supportive of the move, but after almost 27 years, I was worn down and

September 10, 2015

Christian Standard

Church Leadership

I Felt Most Appreciated When . . .

Six seasoned church leaders shareÂ appreciation testimonies. I”VE FELT MOSTÂ appreciated when offered opportunities to move to a larger church or a bigger salary. Those moments forced me to reflect on my current situation and to realize I would never find a church that loved me more or treated me better than the one I am in. I”ve been with this congregation more than a quarter of a century, mostly because of the way I”ve been treated. “”Mark Atteberry, preaching minister Poinciana Christian Church, Kissimmee, Florida ___ I FELT MOSTÂ appreciated when, during a time of crisis and great stress, the entire eldership

August 6, 2012

Daniel Sherman

Church Leadership

Confronting Burnout in the Ministry (Part 2)

Pastoral burnout need not be accepted as part of ministry. Daniel Sherman offers practical strategies for confronting exhaustion, restoring healthy ministry rhythms, and addressing six specific causes of burnout.

August 1, 2012

Mike MacKenzie

Care & Counseling

Learning to Trust

Ministry burnout can leave pastors questioning their faith as well as their strength. Mike MacKenzie explores human limits, Sabbath rest, perfectionism, and learning to trust God with both ministry and self.

November 25, 2007

Charlie Curran

Discipleship & Spiritual Formation Spiritual Disciplines

He Makes Me Lie Down

After a mild stroke, a senior minister reflects on Psalm 23 and the unexpected gift of being made to rest. A sabbatical, Scripture, and new boundaries reshaped his health, leadership, and pace of ministry.