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Sabbaticals: "How-To" Take a Break from Ministry before Ministry Breaks You
Are you tired and worn out from ministry? Isn’t Jesus’ burden supposed to be light? In the pressure-producing machine of our chaotic world, Jesus’ words of rest don’t often touch our lives. As ministry leaders, we know a lot about biblical rest, yet we don’t often experience it. The ancient practice of sabbath provides ample wisdom on how to enter into rest in Christ. Sabbaticals is a guide showing us how to implement Sabbath principles into a sabbatical as well as into the ebb and flow of our entire lives.
RUSTY McKIE serves as the lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has contributed articles for thegospelcoalition.com, AmICalled.com, and sojournnetwork.com. He has been married to Rachel for thirteen years, and they have two dearly loved children. Rusty loves working and resting alongside family and friends in his beautiful city, Chattanooga.
RUSTY McKIE serves as the lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has contributed articles for thegospelcoalition.com, AmICalled.com, and sojournnetwork.com. He has been married to Rachel for thirteen years, and they have two dearly loved children. Rusty loves working and resting alongside family and friends in his beautiful city, Chattanooga.
- GenresChristian Living
80 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 28, 2024
Work - this side of Eden - is difficult, the thorns are sharp and the ground is often unfruitful. But, though all work is hard, there is something to the work of ministry that is uniquely dangerous to the long-term health of a minister and the church that they serve. As the subtitle suggests, a minister must "take a break from ministry before ministry breaks you." This tag-line has become one of my driving goals as I head into my own sabbatical in less than a month's time.
The metaphor - from Ruth Haley Barton - of the 'jar of river water' sticks with me: as long as you stay active, the murky water hides what's inside, but if you slow down long enough for the water to settle it will reveal what you couldn't see before. Sabbaticals are a break from work in some sense, but the 'soul work' of being present to both grief and delight is hard but necessary. To work - and overwork - as if we are more than human reveals a lack of humility in our hearts. We are not made for "work-alone" (workaholism), nor were we made for "rest-alone" (laziness), but we are made to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23). A sabbatical is a step towards "refreshment" which ultimately aims towards returning to church with a renewed vision for life and ministry.
Still, at the end of the day, as McKie admits, 'your sabbatical will leave you wanting.' It can't fix everything that ails you, it can only begin to address some of the restlessness that is hidden with the preoccupation of work. My hope is to rest in and with Jesus to "find rest for my soul" (Matthew 11:29).
This was an essential guide to shaping the details and approach of my upcoming sabbatical. The "how-to" and helps - like example church sabbatical policies and book recommendations - are refreshingly practical and the framework of a sabbatical plan (reorder, revive, rejuvenate, recreate, reconnect, refinance, and rethink) is worth the price of the book alone. For anyone considering "taking a break from ministry before ministry breaks you," I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The metaphor - from Ruth Haley Barton - of the 'jar of river water' sticks with me: as long as you stay active, the murky water hides what's inside, but if you slow down long enough for the water to settle it will reveal what you couldn't see before. Sabbaticals are a break from work in some sense, but the 'soul work' of being present to both grief and delight is hard but necessary. To work - and overwork - as if we are more than human reveals a lack of humility in our hearts. We are not made for "work-alone" (workaholism), nor were we made for "rest-alone" (laziness), but we are made to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23). A sabbatical is a step towards "refreshment" which ultimately aims towards returning to church with a renewed vision for life and ministry.
Still, at the end of the day, as McKie admits, 'your sabbatical will leave you wanting.' It can't fix everything that ails you, it can only begin to address some of the restlessness that is hidden with the preoccupation of work. My hope is to rest in and with Jesus to "find rest for my soul" (Matthew 11:29).
This was an essential guide to shaping the details and approach of my upcoming sabbatical. The "how-to" and helps - like example church sabbatical policies and book recommendations - are refreshingly practical and the framework of a sabbatical plan (reorder, revive, rejuvenate, recreate, reconnect, refinance, and rethink) is worth the price of the book alone. For anyone considering "taking a break from ministry before ministry breaks you," I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
February 10, 2023
Good and helpful. Recommended for gleaning tips on sabbatical policy, proposal, and planning. Would be good for congregations to read to bring them to a place of joyfully giving sabbaticals to their pastors if they haven’t considered it - for the shepherds’s long and healthy endurance and the congregation’s joy.
June 10, 2019
This short book gives a good foundation for why sabbaticals are helpful and Biblical. It also provides good advice on how to prepare for and take a sabbatical. A few templates of church sabbatical policies are included.
May 25, 2021
Great resource!
This is a great resource for pastors and churches considering a sabbatical policy and plan. McKie keeps things simple and practical without losing Spiritual depth. This is a great starter resource for pastors as they prepare.
This is a great resource for pastors and churches considering a sabbatical policy and plan. McKie keeps things simple and practical without losing Spiritual depth. This is a great starter resource for pastors as they prepare.
May 13, 2023
Short how to for pastors having a sabbatical
Does what it says on the cover. Mainly for pastors with some US application but much that is transferable. Helpful, rooted, realistic.
Does what it says on the cover. Mainly for pastors with some US application but much that is transferable. Helpful, rooted, realistic.
May 15, 2023
Excellent. Practical. Good theological foundation. May we recapture this in our fast-paced ministry culture.
June 17, 2023
Great helpful tool
This book is short but helpful. If you can read this book a year or 6 month's before your sabbatical it will be a big help.
This book is short but helpful. If you can read this book a year or 6 month's before your sabbatical it will be a big help.
February 21, 2024
Practical
June 12, 2024
Very practical. The appendices are great templates to craft your time of rest.
August 12, 2025
Short and Sweet
Great little book to read and prepare for your sabbatical. Found it both encouraging and practical. Read and be blessed and pass on to another pastor.
Great little book to read and prepare for your sabbatical. Found it both encouraging and practical. Read and be blessed and pass on to another pastor.
October 1, 2025
Great Resource!
McKie has created a wonderful resource to help one plan for a successful sabbatical. Successful as in intentional expectations and guidance for goals and purpose.
McKie has created a wonderful resource to help one plan for a successful sabbatical. Successful as in intentional expectations and guidance for goals and purpose.
July 27, 2026
Good little primer. I am looking forward to checking out other books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews