This summer, my wife Sasha and I have the privilege of serving on the Renew Team for two of our ReachGlobal missionary friends. “Renew” is the ReachGlobal term for ministry sabbatical.
Most missionaries serve overseas for a period, and then come back on home assignment to reconnect with churches in the US. These times in America were once called “furlough,” but that term has been discarded by many mission agencies because it means “a leave of absence from work,” which is an inaccurate description of a missionary’s time stateside.
For most missionaries, being in America means more time on the road, lots of moving around, and a not a small amount of stress. Though it is a joy to reconnect with brothers and sisters, and many missionaries look forward to it, home assignments are anything but an absence from work.
Yet missionaries are human, and humans need rest. Ministry sabbaticals can be an important tool in the toolbox for long-term retention and fruitfulness in missions. In her book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, Ruth Haley Barton wrote, “But as leaders, we simply must pay attention to our humanity and our human limitations. This is called self-responsibility or self-leadership— which, by all counts, is the most challenging leadership task of all.”
As you think about the missionaries you and your church support, consider ministry sabbaticals. Ask them if they have one scheduled in the next few years. If there is one coming up, ask if there is any way you can support them.
When I took a ministry sabbatical in 2023, I asked the pastor of my sending church to meet with me on a regular basis over the course of it. There was no agenda to our meetings other than asking how I was doing, making sure I was getting rest, and praying for me while sharing a cup of coffee with a friend. Though a little thing, it was a great blessing as I find time with brothers in Christ to be life giving.
It may look different for your missionaries. Ask them what would be restful, and consider how you might facilitate that rest. There are long-term benefits to keeping our missionaries healthy and well cared for, and it is a joy to love them.