Pastor’s Sabbatical - Prayer and Information
Pastor Rob and Betsy are going on sabbatical starting June 16th returning August 10th. During this time, they will be enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation.
Below you will find their prayer requests, some questions and answers, and scripture references. Use the links below to jump to the desired section on the page:
Prayer for Sabbatical - For those who wish to pray for Pastor Rob and Betsy while they are on sabbatical, you’ll find their prayer requests listed here.
Sabbatical Questions and Answers - This section tries to answer some of the most common questions concerning Pastor’s sabbatical.
Biblical Inspiration - Scripture references related to the concept and purpose of sabbatical are outlined here.
Additional Resources - For those wishing to understand more concerning sabbaticals and the need for them, the links in this section will take you to external resources for more information.
Prayer for Sabbatical
Want to be praying for Pastor Rob and Betsy as they are on sabbatical? Below are prayer points they provided so the church can be lifting them up in prayer while they are gone.
Prayer Points for the Sabbatical
1. Relinquish and Release
Pray that the Lord would help us release the burdens of leadership, expectations, and responsibilities with peace and trust.
Ask God to give us grace to let go of control and to embrace being a beloved son/daughter before being a shepherd and leader.
Pray against any guilt, pressure, or anxiety about being away-that we would feel the Father's delight in our obedience to rest.
2. Rest and Recover
Pray for physical, emotional, and mental rest-true Sabbath rest that restores.
Intercede for uninterrupted family time that is joyful, fun, and healing, especially our time away on vacation.
Ask Jesus, to provide deep sleep, laughter, and healthy fellowship that would be good like a medicine.
3. Reflection and Renewal
Pray for meaningful times of personal prayer, journaling, and Spirit-led reflection, especially during the secluded fasting and prayer retreat in July.
Ask for divine clarity as we review the past season-what to carry forward, what to release, what to repent of, and what to celebrate.
Pray for spiritual renewal, fresh encounters with the Lord, and deepened intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
4. Refocus and Return
Ask the Lord to speak clearly and personally about what's next both in life, at Trinity, and in leadership.
Pray for a spirit of joy, strength, and fresh fire as we prepare to return and re-engage.
Pray that the AG General Council (August 4-8) will be a time of inspiration and prophetic clarity for future direction and ministry vision.
Time Specific Prayer Points
June 16 - Sabbatical Begins
Pray for a strong start with supernatural peace-for the family to shift out of "doing" mode and into "being" mode.
Ask God to guard their time and block any distractions or interruptions.
End of June - Family Vacation
Pray for protection in travel, health and safety.
Ask the Lord to bless this time with laughter, bonding, and delight in creation and one another.
July - Fasting and Prayer Getaway
Pray for divine encounters and a Spirit-saturated time of intercession, clarity, and commissioning.
Ask for a deepening of their call, revelation in the Word, and an overwhelming sense of God1s nearness.
August 4-8 - General Council (Assemblies of God)
Pray for prophetic words, divine connections, and Spirit-led moments.
Ask God to use this time to stir vision, unity, and strategic insight for the future of their life and ministry.
Covering Over the Whole Sabbatical
Protection over our marriage, children, health, and home.
No attacks of the enemy, distractions, or spiritual confusion.
Ongoing presence and peace of the Lord to saturate each day.
The Spirit to prepare the church and leadership team to thrive in their absence and to receive them well upon return.
Sabbatical
Questions and Answers
Why a Sabbatical?
Leading a church is unlike any other profession on planet earth. We lead as one who will give an account to God Himself. A sabbatical is not a reactionary response to a crisis, sin, or burnout. It is a rhythm of working and resting that we see modeled in the Scriptures. We practice Sabbatical because we have the long game in mind and want to equip our Pastor to finish well and have seasons of deep soul work. Statistics reflecting the number of pastors who don't finish well are quite alarming, and we want to do everything we can to allow our pastors to cultivate their character and remember their first love! This is a period of time for our Pastor to develop deep wells of soul work that are not tied to performance, and rest for the next season that's coming. We also believe Trinity Assembly of God belongs to Jesus. She is His church, and a Sabbatical helps remind us that we are His partners and He will be faithful to build His church.
HOW LONG ARE PASTOR ROB & PASTOR BETSY & THEIR FAMILY ON SABBATICAL?
They are on Sabbatical from JUNE 16 - AUGUST 10. Pastor Rob and Pastor Betsy have led Trinity Assembly of God for 11 years, and been pastoring at Trinity for 17 years.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR TRINITY ASSEMBLY OF GOD DURING OUR PASTOR’S SABBATICAL?
We have incredible leaders here who will be serving as they do weekly. So on that front nothing changes. But we will also have several other Friends and Leaders joining us throughout the summer to help with Speaking on Sundays, Wednesdays, and also providing counsel as needed. There is a calendar plan, care strategy, and (hopefully, never need to exercise it) a crisis plan in place.
WHAT WILL OUR LEADERS DO ON A SABBATICAL?
A helpful strategy we are modeling is..
1. Relinquish and Release
2. Rest and Recover
3. Reflection and Renewal
4. Refocus and Return
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TRINITY ASSEMBLY OF GOD WILL EXPERIENCE DURING THIS SABBATICAL?
There are many tangible and intangible benefits but here are 3 to highlight:
1. We remember that God is building His Church.
2. We exercise the truth that we are not a personality driven church.
3. Other leaders have a season to step up in new, fresh ways.
SHOULD I TAKE A SABBATICAL?
By all means, if you have the opportunity, a Sabbatical could be very beneficial for anyone since we're all in ministry daily. Our first priority, before work, family life and ministry, is to simply be with Jesus, and an extended season of rest could help you develop that. However, the reality is that an extended Sabbatical may not be an option for everyone. But we do believe that everyone can practice the spiritual discipline of Sabbath. When we receive the Sabbath rest God provides on a weekly basis, we develop a sacred rhythm in our lives and enjoy Jesus in new ways. Rest is a gift God provides, and it's wise to recognize your limits. When you step out by faith to trust God and rest He will prove Himself faithful!
BIBLICAL INSPIRATION
Bellow you will find biblical references related to sabbaticals and resting in the Lord.
Hebrews 13:7-17 CSB
"7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited. 10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace. 14 For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."
John 15:4-6 ESV
"4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
Luke 5:15-16 CSB
"15 But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed."
Leviticus 25:1-7 CSB
"1 The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land I am giving you, the land will observe a Sabbath to the Lord. 3 You may sow your field for six years, and you may prune your vineyard and gather its produce for six years. 4 But there will be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land in the seventh year, a Sabbath to the Lord: you are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5 You are not to reap what grows by itself from your crop, or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. It is to be a year of complete rest for the land. 6 Whatever the land produces during the Sabbath year can be food for you—for yourself, your male or female slave, and the hired worker or alien who resides with you. 7 All of its growth may serve as food for your livestock and the wild animals in your land."
Exodus 23:10-11 CSB
"10 “Sow your land for six years and gather its produce. 11 But during the seventh year you are to let it rest and leave it uncultivated, so that the poor among your people may eat from it and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove."
1 Timothy 5:17-18 CSB
"17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
Additional RESOURCES
Here are some links to external resources with more information on sabbaticals and the need for them: