Having served the same small Methodist congregation as senior pastor for the past 18 years, I discovered that focusing on administrative tasks, membership growth, teaching and training programs and all the duties related to ministry that a pastor in a small church must often carry out single-handedly, had taken my attention and time away from the call to feed the hungry, cloth the naked and seek the lost among the homeless and unchurched. Finding myself "lost" in the burden of churchwork, I began to feel a sense of burn-out and a longing to return to the "hands-on" outreach ministry that is found beyond the church walls. Pastoral burn-out is a leading cause of mental health issues and physical illnesses among the clergy. Pastors are often so busy ministering to others that they often neglect their own needs. I received an abrupt awakening of the importance of clergy well-being after being diagnosed recently with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In addition, I am a mother of four grown children who have growing children of their own, and like many other female clergy, attention to family consumes a great deal of my time and energy.

My sabbatical will begin with a three-week retreat to a resort area to relax, rest, read, and restore my body physically while re-connecting my mind spiritually with my Creator. I plan to spend the next 3 weeks in Diabetes education classes at a local hospital learning how to use exercise, diet and medication to control and hopefully reverse my medical issues. I will spend the remaining 6 weeks on a church missions trip to Ghana, Africa where I will teach Reading to girls and women who are not always allowed to go to school.

I anticipate learning more about taking care of my own physical and mental health needs while serving God's people as a pastor; to learn good habits for restoring my own body physically; and to regain the joy, passion and excitement that comes from fulfilling God's call to help the needy.