Our church allows the pastoral staff to apply for a three-month sabbatical every five years. Recently, the elders approved a sabbatical for me for January through March 31, 2018. I want to express my gratefulness to our church for this gift. I remain committed to and convinced of God’s call on my life to serve our church as a shepherd. However, I am somewhat fatigued and am excited about the prospect of a season of refreshment. I’m surrounded by gracious servants on the Downtown Campus pastoral and Lead pastors teams who will be picking up my responsibilities in my absence.

The goals for my sabbatical include ...

• Rest and growth in Christ through personal worship in the Word and prayer.
• Completion of a seminary class. I have two classes remaining to finish a Master of Arts in Theological Studies through Reformed Theological Seminary.
• Engagement with immediate and extended family. Theresa and I moved to Minnesota in 2003. I look forward to time with our five children (all local) who are in various life stages, as well as visiting extended family outside of Minnesota.
• Learning how to snowboard “switch.” I like to snowboard, and I’m thinking I might improve a bit!

Please join Theresa and me in praying to God for intimacy with him and each other and for Spirit-wrought refreshment that we might labor into the future in the strength that God supplies.

We love you, Bethlehem.