Sabbatical 4 Me
June 16, 2009
Our family will be on a Sabbatical at Regent College in Vancouver for the next two months. Some churches give Sabbaticals for their pastors every 7 years, some churches every year, and some churches just let the pastor get the rest in Heaven (after all, we’ll be at rest for all of eternity, so what’s the hurry, right?).
I’m taking this Sabbatical after 11 years of ministering here at Waypoint Community Church. To tell you the truth (and pastors need to do that), it has been a challenge leading a church. I look back to my days as a professor and recall how easy it was just teaching chemistry and doing research 60-80 hours a week; that was a piece of cake with ice cream on top! Being a pastor is a 60/60/24/7/365 job where every second matters…
Many a times when my cell phone rings, I pause and take a deep breath before I say, “Hello?” It’s because every call might be from a person struggling in faith, battling some urgent crisis, or someone desperately in need of a Savior, the Prince of Peace. Such is the calling of a pastor, ministering in a sin-impacted world.
Sabbath rest is what I need to experience, especially since I’m supposed to rest, rejuvenate, recover, read, restore, etc. That means I should not worry about what will happen back at Davis. Fortunately, while I am away, Pastor Timothy and the rest of the directors will take good care of ministry. And Jay & Cathy’s family will be taking good care of our house. And I can be at rest because Jesus will take good care of me…
Please pray for us while we are gone and we’ll see you in mid-August! (BTW, I am planning on updating this blog on a weekly basis to let you know what’s happening up there.)
Entry Filed under: About Life, Leadership Lessons, Ministry Lessons, Waypoint Community Church. .
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1. Joe Kim | June 17, 2009 at 5:19 am
What a blessing for your family and all of Waypoint! We’ll be praying for your family and all of Waypoint. Enjoy the next two months brother! Joe (Nagoya, Japan)
2. Angela | June 18, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Pastor Jonathan,
Being a pastor must be like being a teacher to the 50th power.
3. Dennis | June 19, 2009 at 12:02 pm
We’ll be praying for you Pastor Jonathan!!! We’ll hold down the fort here at Waypoint while you’re away. I hope you have a great time of resting, reading and fellowship with God as you’re there.
4. sarah yue | June 20, 2009 at 11:48 am
Hi, Pastor Jonathan and Susanna! We miss you and we’re praying for you! I’m thankful that your family has this opportunity to get some much needed rest and time of refreshing. That picture is beautiful!
5. joongwlee | June 20, 2009 at 12:59 pm
BTW, the picture that I posted is from Kit’s photo album from one of his family trips to Canada (Banff). That lake is about 10 hours away from where we’re staying and we’ll be visiting it in August.
So far, we’ve just ventured around Vancouver (Wal-Mart, Korean market, library, etc.). I’ll post in greater detail in a couple of days.
P.Jonathan
6. alison | June 22, 2009 at 11:03 pm
hi pastor joong and susanna, we’ll be praying for you from sf! it’s good to see the updates on your blog thus far too.
7. MD | June 24, 2009 at 11:05 am
Pastor Jonathan and Susanna smn, please have a great time in Vancouver and thank you for leading the Davis church. I always am so thankful for the time I spent there in college. I dont know what I would have done without your guidance, acceptance, and love.