From the Pastor’s Desk (304)
New Life provides all pastoral staff with a sabbatical every five years. My last sabbatical—which was the first one I took after serving at Seoul Baptist Church and New Life Fellowship since December 1994—took place from July to December 2019. That means I took my first sabbatical after 25 years of ministry, and it has now been six and a half years since that time.
As many of you know, I applied for and received the Lilly Clergy Renewal Program Grant, which means I am not using any of the church’s budget for my sabbatical this time. The theme for this grant program is “What will make your heart sing?” Using this grant, my family traveled to Switzerland for a week, and my wife and I visited Norway for about a week. Both trips truly made our hearts sing as we drove, hiked, and marveled at God’s majestic creation.
I have a few remaining trips scheduled for my sabbatical:
October 6 – November 5: My wife and I will be in South Korea to rest, enjoy delicious food, and take in the beautiful fall foliage.
November 17 – November 22: We will be in Atlanta to spend time with my side of the family.
November 24 – November 28: We will travel to Phoenix to celebrate Thanksgiving with my wife’s family—something we haven’t been able to do in many years.
December 1 – December 14: I will spend two weeks practicing solitude, reflecting, and writing the final report required by the Lilly Endowment Renewal Program.
To ensure I rest and am fully renewed during this season, I have asked Pastor Sang to oversee the church from October to December by fulfilling nearly all of my responsibilities as senior pastor. Some of his primary duties will include:
- Preparing Sunday worship services and preaching
- Leading the Receiving Jesus Meeting
- Officiating Baptisms
- Teaching the Membership Class
- Leading the Living Life Bible Study
- Facilitating Shepherds’ Meetings
- Facilitating Leadership Team Meetings
- Leading HOP messages, prayer times, and the Lord’s Supper
- Keeping Early Morning Prayer
It will not be easy for Pastor Sang to fulfill all these responsibilities while continuing to minister to our college students, but this will be a wonderful opportunity for him to experience what I do day in and day out. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for him, support him, and encourage him as faithfully as you can.
Regarding weekly Shepherds’ Ministry Journals: I am asking all shepherds to submit their journals to their respective village leaders. The village leaders will then summarize key prayer requests and updates for me so that I can continue praying for you. Additionally, during October through December, whenever my wife and I are home in Houston, we will join you on Sundays to worship together.
Please be even more faithful, committed, sacrificial, prayerful, and loving toward one another while I am away on sabbatical. My hope and prayer is to see New Life grow stronger, healthier, and more vibrant in this season.
Finally, please keep my family and me in your prayers, that we may rest deeply and be fully renewed through this sabbatical.
Your pastor,
Pastor Eric
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