PAGE SABBATICAL HOUSE

The Page Sabbatical House is a ministry dedicated to the health and well-being of pastors and Christian Leaders and is sponsored by the Eastern North Carolina Church of God State Office. The purpose of this house is to provide a place for pastors to getaway for a time of rest, peace and renewal. Because of the many points of stress that is upon the pastor today, there is an awareness that Christian Leaders need to develop habits of self-care and a rhythm between work and rest.

“This house will serve as a getaway for pastors that need rest, a time to unplug from a demanding routine and/or marriage/family strengthening. If counseling is needed, we will help to provide professional counseling on-site at the house during the visit of the pastor.” 
-Bishop Dennis Page

The Page Sabbatical House is available for a short-term sabbatical that can range from one to seven nights. If circumstances require an extended stay for more than one week, this must be submitted for approval.

WHY A SABBATICAL

The purpose of a Sabbatical is to help pastors and their families get healthy and stay healthy. Why do pastors need time to getaway and rest? They carry the burden of all the congregation. They endure interpersonal conflict regularly, step into situational trauma and grief readily, and, if they are making a difference for the Kingdom, they experience spiritual warfare on a consistent basis. Many pastor rarely feel off duty.

• 73% of pastoral couples have not had a full week of vacation in the past (10) ten years….
• 45% of pastors say that they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry…..
• 33% felt burned out within their first five years of ministry….
• 45% of pastor’s wives say the greatest danger to their family is physical, emotional, mental and spiritual burnout…..
• 80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse…..

The Church of God International General Assembly passed a measure that states:

“We recommend that lead pastors and, at the lead pastor’s discretion, also staff pastors, take a Sabbatical for purposes of personal spiritual renewal and marriage/family strengthening.”

The concept of rest and renewal are foundational to healthy ministers and congregations. Ministers need Sabbath rests so they can minister with a new freshness, a new vitality. Sabbaticals are an extended time off from the regular schedules and committee meetings, the to-do list and the demands and expectations of pastoral care.

Matthew 11:28-30 gives an invitation to come to Christ for rest. The term sabbatical comes from the same biblical root in Greek: sabbatikos (σαββατικός). It is literally a “ceasing,” a rest from work or a break, often lasting a few days, months or in extreme cases, even a year.

THE BENEFITS OF A SHORT TERM SABBATICAL

There are many different stages for an effective Sabbatical, however, some refer to a short-term sabbatical as stage 1- Disconnect (one to two weeks). You really can’t enter into deep reflection and restoration without disconnecting from the regular routine. A short-term sabbatical can include no phone or limited contact, a break from social media or email, and the well-organized delegation of duties and responsibilities to allow you to relax and unplug. Many coaches and mentors suggest a minimum of one week to fast from your phone, emails, and any work contact. This may require you to create a plan for emergencies, for your church staff, elders or a designated individual who is the only one who can reach you. The Page Sabbatical House is a perfect place to interrupt your demanding schedule or routine for a few days of rest and peace.

ELIGIBILITY