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“I feel so distant from God,” Rev. Howard-John Wesley admitted recently. “One of the greatest mistakes of pastoring is to think that because you work for God, you’re close to God.” If you’re a pastor or ministry leader I’m especially writing to you. But whatever your work is and however you serve God, you too…
“I was burned out and didn’t know it,” lead pastor Ken Baugh recalls. It happens to so many pastors and other leaders and caregivers—but it doesn’t have to be your story. “I was so depleted of my own energy that I had just enough to get from weekend to weekend… I came to the point…
As Christians we all have probably heard the term “sabbatical”, but not many of us really know what it means. How many men & women in ministry can confidently say they are ministering out of an overflow? In this episode of Soul Talks, Bill & Kristi explore the spiritual, emotional and physical gift we find in the biblical practice of sabbatical. Learn how significant it will be for yourself, your family and those you minister to.
Soul Shepherding’s Sabbatical Guide has met a huge need. It has been downloaded over 21,000 times so far. We’re thankful that pastors and leaders like you have found this resource and then passed it along to your staff or colleagues, whether in church, Christian education, or nonprofit ministries. It is our hope that our Soul…
Last week on this blog I shared on “Megachurch Pastor Pete Wilson Burns Out.” What’s your response to this story? Sadly, some people are critical of Pete. The leader of one of America’s fastest growing churches admitted to the world he was “leading on empty.” The pastor who welcomed imperfect people to receive God’s grace…
On our Sabbatical one of the things that Kristi and I prayed about was our longing for God. What we desire will ultimately tell the story of our life. When we visited the Big Sur Hermitage, a Christian monastery, I read a note from Brother Cassian that got my attention. He said that the reason…
This is a journal update I would like to share from Kristi. My prayer is that it will minister to you as it has to me. I invite you to join me to keep Bill and Kristi in your prayers as they finish the last part of their Sabbatical. God Bless you! Michael Ann (Bill…
Kristi and I are on Day Ten of our thirty day Sabbatical, which I described in the devotional I wrote just before we started: “Our First Sabbatical (Why Pastors Need This)”. With the help of Michael Ann, Soul Shepherding’s Administrative Assistant, I’m sharing with you an update, which for me is meant to be a…
As you read this Kristi and I have just begun a Sabbatical together! Since starting Soul Shepherding in 2009 I’ve helped other pastors go on Sabbatical, but even though I was ordained as a pastor back in 1995 this is our first Sabbatical. We’d very much appreciate you supporting us by praying for God to bless…
A Sabbatical of a few weeks or more helps you disconnect from your work and ministry to experience Sabbath rest and hear God’s voice. Here are some ideas.