The power of R.E.S.T.

During the past few months, I have noticed quite a few pastors that have been blessed with much needed rest through sabbaticals.  In March 2022, Barna Research reported that 42% of pastors considered resigning — up from the 29% who did the same in January 2021, according to data collected by Barna. The three biggest reasons clergy cited were “immense stress,” feelings of isolation and loneliness, and “political division,” according to Barna. Pastors are realizing the need to take a concentrated period of rest from ministry. 

These sabbaticals were made possible by the generosity of their churches. These opportunities allow ministers to disconnect from day-to-day ministry pressures for the purpose of relaxation, reading, catching up with family, writing assignments and lots of other creative options. 

Apart from our pastors, how about other leaders in our churches? How are they finding ways to disconnect for the purpose of rest and recharging? Consider these four ideas:

Remember

Remember that Jesus never intended for us to experience burn out. He himself gave us clear examples of regular rest so that ministry could be approached with vigor and vitality (see Matthew 14:13, Mark 6:31, Mark 4:36).

Establish

Establish healthy rhythms in your life and ministry. Jesus knew that healthy rhythms meant practicing regular times with the Father in prayer, worship, and study. This does not mean just thinking about spiritual growth, but actually putting it into practice so that our connection with God is getting stronger and flowing deeper. We sometimes find ourselves so focused on the tasks of ministry that we neglect our relationships with God and our family. If these have become neglected, it is time to reestablish and renew commitment to a healthy spiritual (and family) life (see Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12). These healthy habits should be taught as an ongoing emphasis of discipleship in the local church. If these are established early in your faith walk, they will help you know when a break is needed.

Spiritual disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are practices designed to keep our spiritual life thriving. It should be our desire to grow as disciples of Christ and deepen our relationship with God. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, we are reminded, “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come”. It is critical that we find effective ways to meet these goals that fit into our life and personality so that we are continuing to experience growth and renewal in our spiritual journey.

Talk to your pastor

Talk to your pastor and other leaders and begin the process of providing much needed care for lay leaders in your church. Help them recognize the need to provide guidance, direction, and a pathway for active leaders to find ways to be refreshed. Delegate responsibilities to others who can step in temporarily so that leaders can have intentional breaks from ministry pressures. During these breaks, leaders can attend to their spiritual needs, which will lead to refreshment before they face the ongoing rigors of serving the body of Christ.

Let’s find a space to dialogue about this larger issue for all leaders in our churches. God has blessed our local churches with precious human resources, so let’s make every effort to ensure their longevity in ministry.

Sandy Coelho serves as Lay Leadership Development Coordinator at the Baptist Churches of New England.