How To Plan A Sabbatical, with Karl Vaters (Ep 050)

Pastors don't get work breaks unless we take them. And our brains and hearts don't get a rest unless it's a long break.

June 23, 2023

by Karl Vaters

In this solo podcast, I talk about the importance of taking extended breaks as pastors.

Also, I’ll talk about taking my upcoming sabbatical. It’s the first I’ve taken in over 40 years in ministry. It’s not because of burnout, but to avoid burnout.

I talk about:

Why I’m taking a sabbatical (and why they matter for pastors)
An important lesson on time management from the life of the Apostle Paul
What my sabbatical will look like
How I plan to get the most out of it
How I plan to report afterwards about lessons learned

While I’m gone, we’ll have regular podcasts coming out that I’ve pre-recorded, plus weekly articles and the newsletter – all pre-written and set to launch automatically while we’re away.

Bonus Chat

Karl talks about the DREAM acronym he will be using on his sabbatical:

Disengage from ministry and reengage with God
Reconnect by spending quality time with family and friends
Evaluate your ministry
Assess your needs
Move into your new way of living

To get the link for the bonus chat, subscribe to the free weekly newsletter at KarlVaters.com/Subscribe or become a monthly supporter at KarlVaters.com/Support.

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Credits

Producer
Veronica Beaver | [email protected]

Editor
Phil Vaters | [email protected]

Music
Composed and performed by Jack Wilkins | JackWilkinsMusic.com

Logo
by Solomon Joy

Correspondence
Shelley Vaters | Shelley@KarlVaters.com

Author

Karl Vaters

Karl Vaters produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. He has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience.
You can follow Karl on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, or Contact Karl to inquire about speaking, writing, and consultation.

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