By David C Alves A Sabbatical Primer for Pastors: How to Initiate and Navigate a Spiritual Renewal Leave (1st Frist Edition) [Paperback]

by David C. Alves

Have you noticed the toll modern ministry is taking on our pastors? Pastoral fatigue and burnout cost the church more than just money; it costs lives, drying up the pastoral pool. More pastors and church leaders leave ministry today than in the history of the Christian Church. And I almost became a statistic.Pastors are in big trouble but have few resources to help. More and more has been written about sabbaticals, yet few comprehensive, but simple, guidebooks are available to assist a pastor to initiate and maximize the gift of his or her pastoral sabbatical.This primer is designed to take a pastor through the sabbatical from conception to conclusion. This book contains more than was available to me when I took both my first and second sabbaticals. Though not exhaustive, the contents should accomplish the purpose of a primer on spiritual sabbaticals. WHAT OTHERS ARE "What a wise and winsome invitation to the spiritual practice of sabbatical! But there's more-once you've said yes to the invitation, you will also find a road map for planning and then taking the journey into this oft-unexplored terrain. This is a most helpful offering!" --Dr. Ruth Haley Barton, Founder, Transforming Center, author of "Invitation to Solitude and Silence" and "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership" "If every beginning minister were given a start-up kit when they began, David Alves' book, would be an essential. It contains the indispensable fundamentals for a long and fruitful ministry. Providing step-by-step guidance, this book could save many from premature erosion that takes place beneath the surface in ministry. I highly recommend this primer for every new and veteran minister who cares about his or her future vitality!"--Dr. Wayne Cordeiro, author of "Leading on Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion" and Senior Pastor of New Hope, Oahu "You will never know how hard it was to keep you boys busy," my dad acknowledged in a moment of morphine-induced honesty following surgery for colon cancer."Did it ever occur to you to give us a day off?" my youngest brother asked.Dad hesitated, but only for a moment - "The thought never crossed my mind.""Keep busy" buzzes in my head. My daily "to do" list gives an often distorted shape to my day.In "A Sabbatical Primer for Pastors," David Alves raises his voice over the buzz. "God is taking you out of the brick making business," he writes. With frequent references to his own story, David argues that Sabbath and Sabbaticals offer a God-designed way for me to be free from the drivenness that has served as a constant companion since my youth.The Primer troubles me with a question that lingers like the scent of a powerful "which father's voice will shape the remaining years of my life?"-Clayton Blackstone, author of "Meet Me for Breakfast" and Pastor of the Advent Christian Church in Bangor, Maine

Paperback

First published February 19, 2014

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Reviews

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for anyone in ministry who is planning, or thinking about planning, a pastoral sabbatical. The author does a good job laying out the rationale for ministry sabbaticals.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not super polished and didn’t agree with the author on underlying theology or convictions everywhere, but he’s generous with his gleanings from past sabbaticals, making himself available to readers for questions, and offering appendices with sabbatical policies or examples of how he spent his time.

Not a one-stop-shop for sabbatical planning, but I’m glad I read it for tips / things to think about.

[Rick Bregitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Helpful Sabbatical Resource

This short book did much to inspire me in the eve of my sabbatical. I guarantee you will find some wonderful guidance and good ideas for how to spend time being refreshed by the Lord within the pages of this book.

[Seth Channell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave helpful insight on planning a sabbatical.

[Steve Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful for philosophy and planning, but not as helpful for specific ideas and guidance for how to spend it.

[Seth Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much needed

This has been helpful for planning a sabbatical to recharge spiritually, emotionally and physically. I'm looking forward to putting these tips to work.

[Tony Villatoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️-

Very, very practical. After spending time going through why a sabbatical, what is a sabbatical, why should one take a sabbatical, and when should one take a sabbatical the author lays out in very practical ways how does one get a sabbatical. Not anything new in the first half of the book, really. But a good reminder of it. I think I enjoyed the appendices the most since they gave templates of a life mission statement, a sabbatical schedule, etc.

The highlight for me about this book is that it really shaped, with other conversations, with changes I would start to do in my own life and in the ministry after coming back from sabbatical. That’s a big take-away.

Here are some quotes I highlighted:

How can We say we are leading in the spirit if we’re not abiding in the presence of the Lord? -xv

A true sabbatical is not a vacation or holiday season – though these may be added to the beginning, middle, or end of a sabbatical. -29

It is a time of purposeful ceasing, resting, and planned refreshment, with a spiritual renewal component or emphasis. The leave accomplishes, a purpose and specific intent: to renew and restore vitality and health – spiritual, emotional and physical – in spiritual leaders. Some element of work may be attached to it, but it would be different work than typical ministry responsibilities and tasks. -29

The Lord does not need or demand our tireless religious activity as much as he desires our fellowship and faithfulness. -58

Discerning is finding out what he’s doing, What he’s up to, and aligning ourselves to him and his plans. We sense what he’s doing and where he’s going, and we do and go with him. Jesus said that he only did what he saw the father doing. He only spoke what he heard the father speaking. -67

Systems check: do I have new, personal, pastoral practice is prepared to replace older, unhelpful ones? Am I going to be and do differently than I practice before my sabbatical? Does the church need to change the way we as a community approach ministry and values? Do I have more healthy habits returning to community then when I went away from community? How will I maintain the sense of renewal and refreshment I’m returning with? Have I designated one day a week as a Sabbath with to enjoy my walk with my Father? -80

Mentoring: do I have a spiritual mentor? Am I being a spiritual mentor? How can I find and engage someone to walk with me as a mentor? Who should I be encouraging in a mentoring relationship? -81

Reflection: review what you wrote, before you get back in the saddle. Before you re-enter ministry, take the last four or five days of your sabbatical to review and reflect. Then take the last day or several hours at the end of each reflection day and write a summary of what you want to keep with you through the years until your next sabbatical. What worked for you? What didn’t? What would you do differently next time? Make a clear path for your feet as you re-enter your ministry. -81