Sabbatical Update
Hey Redemption Church Family,
After faithfully serving Redemption Church for the last 10 years, the Elder Team are providing the Reardon Family with a 6 week sabbatical beginning on Sunday, June 1st. We made this announcement at our Annual Ministry Celebration in February and we wanted to provide you with some additional information as their Sabbatical time quickly approaches.
What is a Sabbatical?
Sabbatical is a time of intentional rest. We see the very first sabbath instituted by God in Genesis 2, when God takes a day of rest on the seventh day of creation. The principle of rest or sabbath is woven all throughout scripture.
Regarding Pastor Adam and his family, it is an opportunity for them to lay down the daily responsibilities, duties, and activities of leading and shepherding the Redemption Church Body with the intention of them getting rest, renewal, and rejuvenation.
This sabbatical has been planned by our leadership team and is an investment in both the Reardon Family and the long-term health of Redemption Church. This is not a response to any form of burnout, unhealth, or leadership issues.
What Are The Benefits of Sabbatical?
This Sabbatical will provide Adam and Audrey the opportunity to have a quieter and slower pace for a few weeks where they can experience physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. We believe this rest will give them the opportunity to reflect on what God has done over the last 10 years, while simultaneously being rejuvenated for future ministry.
God often uses times of rest and solitude to prepare and recharge his people for ministry. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights alone with God on Mount Sinai. Elijah spent more than 40 days with God to recover from ministry and rediscover his calling. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. After being saved by Jesus, Paul spent years in Arabia before launching his ministry.
This sabbatical will provide the Reardon’s with an intentional time to experience a quieter, slower, more deliberate pace of living that is necessary to experience physical, emotional, and spiritual rest, which we believe will result in renewed strength and vision for the next season of ministry.
Who Will be Leading While The Reardon’s Are Gone:
For the last 10 years Adam and Audrey have been the primary leaders of Redemption Church, however we currently have a great team of people in place who already help lead and serve.
• Thad Mack (Elder) and David Berg (Elder Candidate) will be working together as the Elder Team to provide oversight and pastoral care.
• Candice Berg oversees the office administration, coordination, purchasing, and input and deposit of giving.
• Thad Mack will be leading worship most of the time the Reardon’s are gone, and will coordinate with the worship team.
• Our current Ministry Leaders will continue to oversee and provide leadership to their ministry teams.
• Thad Mack, Patrick Anderson, David Berg, Gary Ricci (New Hope Community Church), and Tim Beavis will be teaching while the Reardon’s are away.
How Can You Help During This Sabbatical:
There are two ways you can help make this time of Sabbatical a blessing to both the Reardon’s and Redemption Church.
Pray for the Reardon Family during this time. Pray they would experience the presence of God, and would be refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.
Continue to partner together with our church family to see lives changed by Jesus and disciples made. While the Reardon’s have played a vital role in the formation and leadership of Redemption Church, ministry will continue in their absence.
We are currently working on the serving schedule for June and July. Please reach out to your ministry leaders and consider serving extra in the month of June to make sure all the ministry teams are fully staffed. Teamwork makes the dream work. Thank you for using your time, talents, and treasure to serve Jesus by serving at Redemption Church.
We really are better together, and we are so thankful to have you as a part of this church family! While the Reardon’s will be missed during this time of Sabbatical, the life a ministry of Redemption will look normal and continue on.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us!
The Elder Team