Sabbaticals

Why take a sabbatical?

Taking a sabbatical is an application of the biblical principle of rest - times we deliberately trust God with the unfinished. As an act of faith, we disengage from our regular work for the purpose of worship, rest, renewal, and repair. - See Navigators Sabbatical Guidelines 2016.
Sabbaticals are intended to be a regularly scheduled practice of spiritual renewal designed to proactively prevent burnout.

How often should I take part in a sabbatical? How long should my sabbatical be?

Missionaries are encouraged to take a 4-month sabbatical within every 7-year period of on-field service.

How do I know if I need to take a sabbatical?

What is a sabbatical coach? What is the benefit of having a coach?

Someone who helps you discern what the Lord is showing you and teaching you. They also help you develop a plan pre-sabbatical, stay on plan during sabbatical, and live out what God showed you post-sabbatical.
Most of us haven’t had a sabbatical and don’t know what to expect. It can be intimidating to plan for it and get the most out of it.

What should I focus on during Sabbatical?

Sabbatical as an intentional time of connection with the Lord. That's the principal focus.
Sabbatical is an intentional period when a missionary suspends all ministry responsibilities to focus on personal goals to restore and develop their spiritual, mental, intellectual, and physical health. Those goals can include, but are not limited to:
- Seeking new ministry direction
- Seeking new life direction
- Seeking additional personal development (training etc.)
- Prevent burnout
- Counseling or coaching

Can I take a sabbatical at the same time as my spouse?

Definitely! Sabbatical can become even richer to share that experience together. We recommend meeting with Spiritual Directors or Marriage Counselors together during that time for a period of marriage enrichment.

How do I parent while on sabbatical?

If you have school-aged children, consider taking a sabbatical during the school year rather than summer.
This isn’t a sabbatical from daily life. Expect to spend time on family responsibilities, expense reports, household chores, etc.

Can I take a sabbatical while living in my country of service?

Sabbaticals can be done in the missionary’s Passport Country or Service Country per the missionary’s desires.
Seek mentoring and/or coaching to determine what would be the best choice for you/your family.

I’m ready for a sabbatical, what should I do?

Contact your Care Coordinator. If you don’t know who that is, contact the Director of Missionary care at [email protected]. He/she will help you get connected with the appropriate people on the Care Team to make your sabbatical as fruitful as possible.
Fill out the Significant Change in Ministry form.

RESOURCES: SABBATICALS

Soul Shepherding

A website and ministry with training, sabbatical plans and coaching to experience Jesus’ rest, healing, and renewal while on Sabbatical.

Practical steps for embedding sabbath rhythms in churches and organizations, grounding us in God's intentions in giving us the gift of sabbath.
An opportunity at the end of each chapter to reflect and engage God around your own journey with the material.
A conversation guide for small groups and communities to foster transformation on a community-level. Sabbath is more than a practice―it is a way of life ordered around God's invitation to regular rhythms of work, rest, and replenishment that will sustain us for the long haul of life in leadership.

A rule of life is a schedule and set of practices and relational rhythms that help us create space in our busy world for us to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what he did—to live “to the full” (John 10v10) in his kingdom, and in alignment with our deepest passions and priorities.
While the word “rule” may strike you as a strict or binding constraint, the Latin word we translate “rule” was originally the word for a trellis in a vineyard. In the same way a vine needs a trellis to lift it off the ground so it can bear the maximum amount of fruit, and keep free of predators and diseases, we need a rule as a kind of support structure to organize our life around “abiding in the vine,” (John 15v1–8) as Jesus imagined.
It’s been said that we achieve inner peace when our schedule is aligned with our values. A rule of life is simply a tool to that end. Rather than a rigid, legalistic to-do list, it’s a life-giving structure for freedom, growth, and joy.
Article from the Gospel Coalition on the Rule of Life.

This is a great, very detailed PDF compiled by the Navigators that covers a very in-depth look for how to take part in a Sabbatical.
“Taking a 3‐6-month sabbatical every 7‐10 years is an important aspect of staff development.”
“Your decision to set aside time from your normal ministry responsibilities, to rest, reflect and realign with God’s calling on your life, is a significant one that will pay you dividends for years to come.”

Amy Young, from Global Trellis, offers an online course to help you navigate taking a sabbatical.
The Sabbatical Journey Course (SJC) is tailored to your unique needs as a cross-cultural worker.

Sara and Jeff Simons provide resources and support for the development of ministry leaders in major transition through The Way Between (thewaybetween.org). They have served in this way for over 20 years. After each living abroad for 11 years, including 8 years in Spain, they now live in Colorado with their two children. They both hold master’s degrees in intercultural studies and leadership, bachelor’s degrees in psychology, and ICF coaching credentials.

Missionary Life Blog

A great blog entry with tons of resources for how to approach and execute a Sabbatical.

How is Sabbatical rest different from vacation rest? They are similar but there is also a difference. Read here to learn more.