I recently wrote a newsletter and sent it out to our ministry partners that highlighted the rationale behind ReachGlobal’s strong encouragement that we take “a season in the wilderness,” a period of renewal when we draw near to God, delight in Him, listen to Him, and learn from Him. Along the way, hopefully we recalibrate elements in our ministry and life that need modification so we can be better aligned with God’s will. Holly and I are eager to do this for the first time in our 30+ years of full-time ministry. It is a bit like a sabbatical, for those familiar with that term. Here is some of what I shared in that letter:

In John 15, Jesus charges His followers to “abide in Christ,” the only command in verses 1-11. But it is so easy for us to focus on the other action word in the passage, “bearing fruit,” the natural outward by-product of inward abiding. Fruit is visible, attractive, and sweet, and our “fruit bearing” (i.e. ministry service) easily eclipses our abiding in Christ, resting in Him and being renewed by Him.

The Bible commands we do this (Psalm 46:10) for in God alone we find soul rest (Ps. 23:1-3, 62:5). Jesus set an example numerous times (Mark 1:35, Matt. 14:13). In Matt. 4, as Jesus was about to begin His ministry, being led by the Spirit He spends 40 days out in the wilderness. In the midst of a growing ministry and crowds flocking to him, “Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” (Luke 5:16) And Jesus instructed His followers to do likewise, “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31)

Why haven’t I followed Jesus’ example? 11 years of post-graduate education; 12 years of full-time pastoral ministry; 17 years of full-time missionary service; and in all that time, I’ve never STOPPED! Even during Covid, when many in our mission were forced to take a break, I was cranking away on my doctorate from morning till night. I take short pauses here and there to spend time with God and family. But I have never taken an extended time to rest, reflect, rejoice, renew, re-align, and then re-engage as a refreshed servant of Christ. I know the truth: God is in control, and I am not. He is fully capable of doing His amazing work without me. But my culture mixed with my sinful nature create a powerful current driving me onward in ministry with an inflated sense of my own significance. I think Africans “need” me and Pathways Bible Training. The reality is they need the Lord and His Word, and He can use me or Pathways or MANY others to do His glorious work.

So, in obedience to our Lord, and in collaboration with our mission, Holly and I will be engaging in a two-month “sabbatical” time our mission calls “RENEW.” ReachGlobal strongly encourages long-term missionaries to renew 2-4 months every five years, so we are finally getting around to it. Far different from a vacation, there are five structured stages to this period of disengagement from normal ministry and leadership responsibilities for the purpose of drawing near to God and evaluating our life and ministry. We will be reporting to coaches and a support team who will walk with us through our renew plan. During the first three weeks, we will be recharging: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Then we will move into a focused time of reflecting on what needs adjustment in our lives and ministry. Finally, our time will end with re-aligning, implementing necessary changes, and re-engaging in ministry.

Following a Global Equipping conference in Mexico in early August, our time frame for RENEW is mid August – mid October, and I’ll be eager to share with you what we learn after we finish. Holly and I recognize we both need this time “in the wilderness” for our health and longevity in mission service, so we are excited to follow the Lord’s lead through these uncharted waters.

Please pray for us to “be still,” to wait upon Him, to listen to Him, and to learn from Him. Thank you for your prayers and support!

In an effort to honor our mission’s requirements during this time of RENEW, I will not be posting blog entries until I re-engage in our mission work in mid October. Thank you for your understanding.