A Message From Our Pastor

Dear friends,
I thought I’d take this opportunity before I go on sabbatical to write a
few words to you.
First, I would like to thank you for your generosity in granting me this
three-month break (and continuing to pay my salary throughout its
duration). This is a considerable sacrifice on the church’s part, and
Elaine and I very much appreciate it and feel humbled by your
kindness. We also appreciate your understanding of our need for this
break: some churches work their pastors into the ground, giving them
very little relief and rest, as though their pastor were a machine and
not a human. I am glad to be at a church that is different from that.
Elaine and I appreciate your understanding of our needs.

Second, let me give a brief word of explanation regarding the next
three months. Elaine and I will be worshipping elsewhere during this
time, not out of any desire to get away from you—not at all: we love
being a part of this church and serving amongst you. However, for us
to get the break that we need from our responsibilities, the only real
way of achieving that is to worship elsewhere for this time. We hope
you understand, and we will miss you, and will be very glad to
recommence worshipping with you and serving amongst you and
enjoying fellowship with you again as we come back in November.

The goal of this sabbatical is for Elaine and me to recharge our
batteries—physically (by resting) and spiritually (especially by
spending time reading some good, edifying Christian books, etc)—so
that we are renewed and refreshed to come back and serve with
greater energy and helpfulness. May the Lord grant this intention for
the sabbatical be fulfilled.

There are many things to thank the Lord for that He is doing amongst
us at this time—people whose lives He is working in. We will miss
being part of that for this period, and we pray the Lord’s blessing on
you all. Let me finally just say, that if any of you feel your time is very
short (or if you are just about to move away), and you would like me
/ Elaine to come and see you, just give us a ring (phone is better than
email—I’m not sure how often we’ll be checking our email) and we
will of course come.

Let me leave you with a verse to encourage you, and help remind us
all that it is no mere human that runs and leads and heads up the
Church, but God our Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour, who with the
Holy Spirit reign in sovereign power and tender love towards us:
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation”
(Psalm 68:19).

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.
With Christian love,
David B