Beloved Redeemer Family,

In 2015, at the end of Holy Week, I found myself mentally and physically drained. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I was exhibiting all of the signs of burn-out. I later learned this is very common among church planters. Many church planters quit after 5 years in to the church plant. They assume that God is calling them to something different, when, in fact, they are just tired and need a break. That was me in 2015.

I wrote a letter to the Session explaining the way I was feeling and asking for their help. That letter led to a conversation among our elders, which led to the decision to grant me a twelve-week Sabbatical this summer – from Friday, June 16 through Friday, September 8. I am writing to you now to explain the purpose of a Sabbatical, why the elders decided to grant me a Sabbatical, and what I plan to do during those twelve weeks this summer.

The word “Sabbatical” looks a lot like “vacation.” Sabbath, of course, means to stop working. A Sabbatical is a period of time where you stop working. For me, that will mean that I stop preaching, stop planning and executing meetings, stop mentoring and discipling our staff and leaders. That sounds like vacation, doesn’t it? But to Sabbath means more than stopping. It refers to a period of intentional rest, renewal, and reimagining. It is rest for the sake of better work in the future. In that sense, it is strategic and pro-active. Jesus commanded his disciples to “come away and rest” (Mark 6:31). Jesus himself spent many nights communing with His Father in prayer. This wasn’t vacation from his work; it was part of his work. He models for all of us a healthy rhythm of work and rest. I have neglected this rhythm. That is my confession.

Recently, our staff read through a book called Resilient Ministry. The book is a culmination of a 5-year long study on what makes pastoral ministry uniquely difficult to manage and persevere through. (If you want to understand what life is like as a pastor, it’s a great book to read!) You’ve probably heard the statistics that more than 80% of men and women who begin their career in pastoral ministry don’t make it to the end. Pastors face tremendous spiritual, relational and emotional pressures in their work. As a result, there is a natural depletion that occurs throughout years of ministry. If this goes unaddressed, the result is often burn out or moral failure. Therefore, Sabbaticals are a key component of longevity in ministry. So much so, the Foundation that funded the research behind Resilient Ministry now funds sabbaticals for pastors. These twelve weeks away are a strategy for the next twenty five years of ministry, Lord willing, at Redeemer.

I am not planning to go out of town for the duration of the sabbatical. However, I will not be coming into the church office for any reason whatsoever (though I will have an office that I can go to for study and prayer). I will not send or receive work related emails, phone calls, or text messages. My family will not be worshipping at Redeemer City for those twelve weeks because we could not do this without me being drawn back into the work I’m trying to rest from. It will be hard not to be with you. Sunday mornings are our favorite part of the week. In my absence, Jonathan and our others pastors (as well as church planters in our Polk County network) will be filling the pulpit. These are gifted men. You’re in good hands.

I want to make sure to communicate: I do not take this for granted. I realize that my absence means a bigger load for the rest of our staff. It is a disruption for the entire church. It is an act of faith for all of us. My friend Randy Greenwald, who is also taking a Sabbatical this summer, wrote this to his church (it sums up how I feel), “The Sabbath year in the Old Testament law required that farmers let a field lie fallow for a season. Obedience to this was an act of faith for the farmer and an act of renewal for the field. During that year nutrients drained by prior use would be restored to the soil. Similarly, a pastoral sabbatical is a congregation’s act of faith, hoping for the restoration of their pastor’s depleted spiritual resources.” I am grateful for our elders. They are my friends, and their kindness to me and my family humbles me. I am grateful for you, too. You are a joy to pastor. Your encouragement and enthusiasm about this Sabbatical (those of you who already know about it) has put me at ease. God has been good to me!

Please be praying for our family during this time of rest and renewal. My prayer for our church is that things would carry on without us, with as much missional urgency and energy as normal. A good pastor is an unnecessary pastor. Prove me to be a good pastor. That’s my charge to you. Next fall we plan to transition back to two Sunday morning services. There is a lot of work to be done to get ready for that change. It will require an increase in volunteers – on hospitality teams, on the worship team, in Children’s ministry, etc. So, get your “yes” ready. Two services will mean more room for new people. Use the summer to build strategic relationships with people you’d like to invite to church to fill in the empty spaces. Encourage the men preaching throughout the summer by smiling bigger, laughing louder, and leaning closer than normal. I’m going on Sabbatical, but you can’t.

There is a great work God has called us to in our area. I look forward to serving our church and its mission with more enthusiasm upon my return.

Love you all. Affectionately,

Drew