Restore · Reflect · Rejoice

A Sabbatical for Pastoral and Congregational Renewal

After Mother’s Day Pastor Rob will be taking a sabbatical, a planned and prayerful season of rest, renewal, and reflection. This is a healthy and normal part of long-term ministry life at Wilshire Ave, and it is an opportunity not only for Pastor Rob to be renewed, but also for our church family to grow in trust and shared leadership. As a congregation, we will walk through this season together through the guiding theme: Restore, Reflect, and Rejoice.

Purpose

The purpose of this sabbatical is to create an intentional season of renewal for both Pastor Rob and Wilshire Ave through a shared framework of Restore, Reflect, and Rejoice. This time is meant to strengthen long-term pastoral health, deepen spiritual attentiveness, and encourage a culture of shared leadership and growing congregational maturity.

This sabbatical is not a response to burnout or difficulty. It is a proactive and faith-filled investment in the long-term health of Pastor Rob, his family, and our church family as a whole.

Why Now?

At Wilshire Ave, sabbaticals are part of our commitment to the long-term health and sustainability of our pastors. Our sabbatical practice provides this opportunity every seven years to encourage rest, renewal, and faithfulness in ministry over the long haul.The reason churches provide sabbaticals is because pastoral ministry carries a unique combination of spiritual responsibility, emotional care, public leadership, and ongoing relational weight. Pastors walk with people through grief, crisis, conflict, illness, family pain, and major life moments. They preach, lead, counsel, pray, shepherd, and carry the responsibility of caring for souls.

 Pastor Rob became eligible for sabbatical earlier, but chose to delay the timing of his so that other pastors could receive theirs as needed. This is also a meaningful season in Pastor Rob’s life and ministry as he has recently completed his Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership and is approaching ten years as Lead Pastor at Wilshire Ave. This makes it a fitting time for renewal, gratitude, and fresh attentiveness to the Lord.

Key Objectives

1. Pastoral Renewal and Re-centering (Restore & Reflect)

The primary purpose of this sabbatical is to give Pastor Rob a sustained season of rest and reflection through a full stepping away from pastoral responsibilities.

This includes:

• Stepping away from preaching, leadership, decision-making, and pastoral care

• Reclaiming healthy rhythms of rest, sabbath, and unhurried life

• Creating space for prayer, Scripture, spiritual direction, counseling, and retreat

• Investing in marriage and family during an important season of life

• Making space for physical renewal, relaxation, and joy as part of God’s care for the whole person

• Allowing fresh perspective and renewed clarity to emerge apart from the regular demands of ministry

Our hope is that Pastor Rob returns spiritually grounded, emotionally refreshed, physically renewed, and deeply re-centered in his calling.

2. Long-Term Ministry Sustainability (Restore & Rejoice)

This sabbatical is also an important investment in long-term ministry health.

This season is intended to:

• Support pastoral health and longevity

• Establish rhythms that will strengthen ministry for years to come

• Reinforce healthy boundaries between work, family, and rest

• Model a biblical vision of sabbath, joy, and dependence on God

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3. Strengthening Shared Leadership (Reflect)

This sabbatical is not only for Pastor Rob’s renewal; it is also an opportunity to strengthen Wilshire Ave’s culture of shared leadership.

During this season:

• Staff and board will carry full leadership responsibility

• Multiple pastors and leaders will serve in preaching, worship, and pastoral ministry

• Guest voices will bring fresh encouragement and perspective

• Emerging leaders will gain valuable experience and confidence

This season reminds us that the church is built on Jesus Christ and sustained through shared leadership, not centered on one person.

4. Congregational Participation in Renewal (Reflect & Rejoice)

As a church family, we will also be invited into this same rhythm of Restore, Reflect, and Rejoice.

During this season, the congregation will be encouraged to:

• Identify practices that restore their souls

• Make room for reflection through prayer and conversation

• Celebrate God’s faithfulness through gratitude, worship, and shared stories

Our Guiding Framework

RestoreStepping away from daily responsibilities in order to reclaim God-given rhythms of rest, physical renewal, relaxation, sabbath, and joy.

ReflectCreating space to listen for God’s voice and discern His work through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual attentiveness.

RejoiceCelebrating God’s faithfulness through worship, gratitude, shared stories, and meaningful milestones.

Desired Outcomes

At the conclusion of this sabbatical, we prayerfully anticipate:

• A renewed Lead Pastor who returns rested, spiritually attentive, and physically renewed

• A strengthened leadership team marked by shared responsibility and growing confidence

• A congregation more engaged in rhythms of rest, reflection, and joy

• A deeper trust in God’s sustaining presence and faithful provision

This sabbatical is an act of faith, trusting that even as Pastor Rob rests, God remains at work in and through our Church.