Hey QuadCity!
I am excited to let you know I have been granted a sabbatical by our Elders. I will be on sabbatical and away from my pastoral responsibilities from June 1st to August 31st. This will be an incredible opportunity for me and my family to rest, hear from God, and connect with one another. I aim to answer a few basic questions in this email.
Why am I going on sabbatical? The elders have granted this sabbatical as a gift, and I am grateful to receive it. Our church has an established sabbatical policy for our pastoral staff to cultivate health so we can lead for the long haul. My desire is to come back rested, refreshed, and eager for the next season of ministry.
Why I am NOT going on sabbatical. Be assured, I am NOT burned out, looking for other jobs, writing a book, or having a medical issue. This is not a punishment; it’s a beautiful gift.
How will this impact our church? Great ministry will continue to happen without me. We have an amazing staff who are more than capable of continuing the great work God is doing among us. As our Executive Pastor, Josh Garrett, already handles much of the day-to-day ministry responsibilities, he will continue to do so with excellence while I am away.
Who should you contact? As always, please contact our church office with any questions or concerns. Please direct any emails to Tyler at [email protected] and he will make sure it gets forwarded to the best person to address your needs.
How can you pray for me and my family while we’re away? Our big prayer for this time is rest and rejuvenation. It has been an honor to serve as the Lead Pastor of QuadCity Christian Church for the last 17 years. Lord willing, I will serve 17 more! (That will put me at 65, someone else can take it from there!). This sabbatical will give me the opportunity to prepare well for the season ahead.
Thank you, church, for being such a blessing. It is an honor to serve as your Lead Pastor.