Au revoir my lovelies, God bless and take care
It seems very weird to be taking 3 months “sabbatical leave.” The Baptist Union advise that Baptist Pastors be given 11 working days a year to be set aside for sabbatical leave. This must be taken after 5 to 7 years in ministry, and is different to annual leave. This is my 8th year serving at Connect so it’s time to “hang up my boots” for 3 months and get some R & R.
This is my recreational plan for the 3 months. My daughter is having her second child at the beginning of April, so I will be driving to and from Wellington and spending several weeks playing “grandma and housekeeper.” At home I want to paint my kitchen, so I’m enlisting the awesome help of my sister-in-law and her hubby. I also plan to go fishing on my brother-in-laws boat up north and catch a massive snapper! Spending quality time with friends and family is something I’m really looking forward to.
For Baptist Pastor’s Life-Long-Learning I’m studying “Organisational Leadership” this year under Alan Vink, and this will continue while on sabbatical. I have also been asked by Charles Hewlett, our Baptist national leader, to lead a small team of Baptist women pastors in researching “Why Baptist women pastors have left the Baptist movement.” So I’ll be interviewing several women leaders during my break.
Sabbatical gives me opportunity to attend a different church every Sunday. I plan to fellowship with Christians from different denominations. It will be feel strange saying “hello I’m just visiting today.” I’ll also be attending the NZ & Beyond conference for 3 days in March.
I will truly miss you all, but you are in great hands! Our elders, ministry leaders and their teams, our two Carey student pastors, our 4 new Life-Group leaders, and Jill Burrows in the office, are all stepping up in service, so that all aspects of church life will carry on as usual. I have no doubt that when I return on June 2 you will have inspiring stories of God’s grace, ministry and empowering of our people, and new believers added to our numbers.
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favour and give you His peace” (Numbers 6: 24-26)
Luv and prayers
Julie xo
About Pastor Julie
I’m passionate about the church – building believers up in their faith, to be all God intended them to be; and I’m passionate about sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people who don’t know Him yet.