What God Showed Me During My Sabbatical

As many of you know, just recently, my wife Stacie and I had the incredible opportunity to take a three-month sabbatical from work. It was a wonderful gift from you, our church family, and one we are incredibly grateful for.

A sabbatical is one of those things you may not realize how much you need until you’re actually on it. One of the things that surprised me this time was just how long it took to truly slow down and rest.

It’s not that things were going poorly beforehand. Quite the opposite! Life and ministry were going well. There was good momentum at Crossroads, and I felt we had found a healthy rhythm as a church. Stacie and I were also enjoying a new season of life as empty nesters! Yet, even with all that, I was surprised by how difficult it was to simply slow down.

Thankfully, we knew early on what we wanted to use this time of rest for—not to fill the calendar with big trips, adventures, or activities, but to enjoy being home and take life at a slower pace. And that we did!

Over those three months, we were able to take a few short trips to the beach and the mountains, spend time with extended family, visit my parents, and even make a trip back to my hometown. One of the highlights was attending a Buffalo Bills game in their new stadium. And they won, which made the experience even better!

But more than anything, we simply enjoyed spending time together. We took long walks, enjoyed quiet mornings, and found ourselves having more conversations about the weather and the condition of our grass than I ever thought possible. We also quickly realized we’re not anywhere near ready for retirement!

It was a wonderful season of rest, reflection, and time together, and we did not take that opportunity lightly or for granted. Once again, I want to thank our elders, staff, and church family for making it possible—your generosity and encouragement mean more to us than you know.

One of the things I was reminded of during sabbatical is that rest is not just something we do when we’re tired. It’s actually a spiritual practice that God established for our good.

From the very beginning of Scripture, we see the importance of Sabbath and the rhythm of work and rest. God never intended for us to keep running at full speed without stopping. Yet, if we’re not careful, that’s exactly how we end up living. We fill our calendars, take on responsibilities, move from one commitment to the next—and all the while convince ourselves that slowing down can wait until another day.

But rest is not a reward for getting everything done. It’s something we need in order to remain spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy. In fact, it's often in rest that we hear God most clearly.

During my three months of rest, the Lord brought two words to my heart: community and rhythms. Those two words have stayed with me even after sabbatical, and I believe they’re important beyond my own life—which is why I want to share more about them with you today.

One of the things Stacie and I missed most during sabbatical was our church community. We certainly enjoyed the opportunity to step away from our normal responsibilities and the pace of ministry. But being away for three months reminded us just how much we value the relationships and connections that come from being part of a church family.

We missed seeing people, worshiping together, having conversations in the hallways, praying with others—and simply doing life together on a weekly basis.

For me, that feeling reflected a simple truth: the Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. This kind of shared life is what God intends for His church—and something we recognize we need, too.

We all need people who encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, celebrate with us, and walk alongside us when life gets difficult. We need people who can speak truth into our lives, offer guidance when we lack direction, and remind us of God’s faithfulness when we struggle to see it ourselves.

I think sometimes we underestimate the importance of being connected to a local church. In the modern era, it’s easy to view church as a place we attend, rather than a community we belong to. But church is so much more than a Sunday service. It’s a family of people growing together in their relationship with Jesus and helping one another become more like Him.

This is on my heart as I return not just personally, but as your pastor, too. I want us to continue building a church where people feel genuinely known, cared for, and encouraged in their walk with Jesus.

The second word God continued to bring to my attention was rhythms.

In returning from sabbatical, I felt challenged to think intentionally about the rhythms of my own life. It’s not that all my previous routines were bad. In fact, many were positive and productive. But stepping away gave me a chance to evaluate what was healthy, what needed to change, and what perhaps needed to stop altogether.

One of the challenges of returning from sabbatical is how easy it would be to pick up right where I left off—same schedule, same habits, same pace. But I don’t want to miss the opportunity God has given me to establish some new rhythms. And I wonder if that’s something we all need to consider from time to time.

What does the pace of your life look like right now? Are you making room for rest? Are you spending meaningful time with your family? Are you creating space to grow in your relationship with Jesus? Are you investing in relationships that encourage you spiritually?

Sometimes finding a healthier rhythm isn't about adding something new. Sometimes, it’s about recognizing what needs to change or what needs to be removed.

I’m still figuring some of this out myself. But after being back for a few weeks, I’m encouraged by some of the new rhythms I’ve begun to establish.

As the senior pastor of Crossroads, I also recognize that my responsibility is more than leading an organization or overseeing ministries. Biblically, I’m called to be a shepherd. That means caring for people, encouraging spiritual growth, helping others navigate life—and leading our church toward greater rhythms of health and faithfulness.

In previous sabbaticals, I returned toward the end of summer. This was my first time returning in October, which meant missing the close of our fiscal year and the beginning of our fall ministry season. But there’s something exciting about coming back during this time of year, especially with Christmas right around the corner!

As I reflect on this past year, I’m grateful for all that God has done through Crossroads.

I think about the people who have made decisions to follow Jesus, those who have been baptized, the families who have found a church home, the discipleship taking place, and the many ways our church continues to serve and reach our community.

I’m also grateful for the generosity of our church family through IMPACT Giving and excited about the opportunity to see our Wake Forest Campus fully paid off.

There’s so much to celebrate, and I believe there is so much more God wants to do through our church.

One of the things I often say as we approach the end of a calendar year is that we want to end the year strong so we can start the new year strong. That statement is about much more than finances or ministry goals. It’s about how we live, how we grow, and how we faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us.

As the end of 2026 comes into sight, I want to encourage you to reflect on a few things:

First, where are you finding community? Are you genuinely connected to others within our church family? Are you building relationships where you can encourage others and be encouraged yourself?

Second, what rhythms need your attention? Is there something you need to start, stop, or change to create a healthier pace of life and a deeper relationship with Jesus?

And finally, how can you help us finish this year strong? Perhaps that’s through inviting someone to church, getting involved in a small group, serving, or continuing to support the mission of Crossroads through faithful and generous giving.

Church family, I return from sabbatical with a renewed sense of purpose, a grateful heart, and a growing excitement about what God has ahead for Crossroads Fellowship. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve as your pastor, and I’m especially thankful for the community God continues to build through our church.

Let’s finish this year strong, continue growing together, and look forward with great expectation to all that God has ahead. I’m grateful you’re part of it!

As Andy settles back into life at Crossroads, let's let him know how grateful we are to have him back! Leave a comment below to encourage him and share how his reflections on rest, community, and rhythms spoke to you.

And as we continue growing together as a church family, we hope Andy’s reflections encourage you to consider how God is working to build stronger community and rhythms in your life, too. View our Discipleship Pathway to explore what your next step at Crossroads might be—wherever you're at in your faith!