Details About My Sabbatical

Dear church,

This summer I will have the incredible privilege of taking a sabbatical. As I have prayed and prepared for the summer, I have found a number of extremely exciting opportunities to further my education and deepen my knowledge of Scriptures. I wanted to share a little more of how I’ll spend my time during my sabbatical, including attending the Holiday Bible Week at Capernwray Harbour on Thetis Island in July.

Capernwray Harbour is a renowned Bible school and conference center located on Thetis Island, British Columbia, Canada. Their mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Life through biblical teaching, exemplary living, and practical training. They aim to equip individuals to serve in the global Church, being living witnesses to Christ's resurrection life in a lost and perishing world. When she was in her twenties, Libby attended Capernwray Harbour Bible School and was instrumental in shaping her spiritual life and career path.  It was during this year at Bible School that she felt peace about pursuing a career in nursing.

The Holiday Bible Week focuses on the Book of Exodus, exploring themes of deliverance, identity, and freedom. Exodus shares the story of God’s people being delivered from Egypt, bondage, and slavery, to a new identity and freedom. The Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt in order to take them into the Land of Canaan (a land flowing with milk and honey). The victory from God was always to be received, and never could it be achieved. It’s my hope that this week of study in Exodus will provide the perfect foundation as we study Exodus together in a future Sunday morning teaching series. The sessions will be led by Matthew McLean, a seasoned pastor with extensive experience in biblical teaching. Matt serves as the pastor of the Uptown Church in Ontario, Canada. He actually attended Capernwray and has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years.

In addition to the above opportunity, I have a pretty ambitious book list I hope to read through during my sabbatical. Here’s a sneak peek of what I’ll be reading…

·         Rediscovering Israel – This book explores God’s enduring covenant with Israel and offers a deeper understanding of the land, people, and biblical promises that still shape the story of redemption today.

·         Are You Getting This? – A collection of personal and powerful reflections from pastor and communicator Andy Moore, this book challenges readers to tune into what God is saying in the midst of everyday life.

·         Three Mile an Hour God – This poetic and contemplative work invites readers to slow down and walk at the pace of love, reflecting on how God’s presence is most deeply encountered in stillness and simplicity.

·         Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make – Paul David Tripp presents six transformative commitments rooted in the gospel that can strengthen and sustain marriages through grace, humility, and shared purpose.

·         Grasping God’s Word – A practical guide to reading, interpreting, and applying Scripture, this book equips readers with essential tools to understand the Bible accurately and faithfully.

·         Know What You Believe – A clear and accessible overview of core Christian doctrines, this book helps believers understand and articulate the foundational truths of their faith.

·         An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest – Alan Fadling explores how to resist the hustle culture by embracing Jesus’ unhurried way of life marked by peace, presence, and purposeful rest.

·         Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes – This thought-provoking book highlights how cultural assumptions can distort biblical interpretation and calls readers to engage Scripture through a more globally informed lens.

·         Ordering Your Private World – Gordon MacDonald challenges leaders to cultivate a strong inner life by developing disciplines of rest, reflection, and spiritual alignment amid the demands of ministry.

·         Exodus (The Story of God Bible Commentary) – A rich, narrative-driven commentary that brings the book of Exodus to life, connecting ancient truths with present-day application through theological insight and pastoral wisdom.

My sabbatical dates are from Monday, July 7th, through Sunday, August 31st. On Sunday, July 6th, there will be a time when I’d love for you to join us as the church prays over our family. There’ a few ways you can pray for me and my family during my sabbatical…

·         Rest & Renewal – Pray that this sabbatical would be a time of deep rest, physical refreshment, and emotional renewal for me as I step away from the rhythms of daily ministry.

·         Spiritual Growth – Ask God to draw me closer to Him, that I would experience a fresh outpouring of His presence, and return with a renewed heart for His Word and His people.

·         Clarity & Vision – Pray that God would speak clearly during this season, giving me wisdom and discernment for the future direction of my life and leadership in our church.

·         Family Bonding – Lift up my family, that we would make meaningful memories during this special season of our lives, grow closer to one another, and enjoy uninterrupted time together in joy and love.

·         Protection & Provision – Ask the Lord to protect our family in every way and to faithfully provide for every need, both practically and spiritually, during this time away.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the incredible privilege of serving as your pastor over these past nine years. It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to walk with you through seasons of celebration, sorrow, growth, and grace. I’m deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support—not only in the day-to-day of ministry but also in granting me the opportunity to take a sabbatical this summer. Your generosity and trust in allowing me this time to rest, refocus, and be refreshed mean more than I can say. I’m looking forward to all that God will do in and through our church in the months and years to come.

If you have any questions leading up to my sabbatical this summer, you can reach out by replying to this email or directly contacting Pastor Daniel, Pastor Darren, or any of our elders (John Hooper, Rich Hoper, Mike Nichols, Shaun Ryan, Arlene Skaugset, & Dean Soper).

I love you, church family.

Blessings,

Pastor Daniel