5 Reasons I'm Taking a Nine Month Sabbatical
In October I celebrated 27 years of full-time ministry. It’s has been a wondrous and beautiful, challenging and difficult ride. Some of the most beautiful times of my life have been moments I’ve experienced in ministry. My best friends on earth are those I’ve met in ministry. The spiritual family God has given me at Gatecity in Atlanta is beautiful. I’m incredibly blessed. I wouldn’t trade my job or this journey for anything else.
I have recognized over the last several years there is a residual fatigue upon my soul. My wife, kids, and leadership team have all noticed and agreed that I need a season of rest. Several months ago the Lord began to speak prophetically about me taking a season to rest and prepare for the things He has in store for the days ahead.
God designed the ground of the earth to lay fallow after seven years or else it would lose the power of fruitfulness. Our human frames are similar, since we are made from the ground. No matter how called, anointed, or gifted we may be, we are not made for constant work. We have to sleep a third of our lives just to function. We are commanded to rest one out of every seven days of our lives in order to worship and rest. Seasons of sabbatical are required because our frame, though wonderfully constructed, is essentially weak. I am no different. Starting November 15th I’m taking a nine month sabbatical.
As I was considering the next nine months, I was inspired by a post by John Mark Comer to write out the why behind that what.
I want to humble myself and confess that the Lord has things well in hand without my service. He was God before me, He is God after me, and He is God without me. He doesn’t need my leadership to bring to pass His dreams for our local spiritual family or the prayer and mission movement at large. Though I’ve not always thought this, I willingly agree and submit myself to His leadership.
There are moments when God’s friends steal away to seek Him afresh for encounter. For the next nine months I’m going to bury myself in His word and His presence to present myself before Him for friendship and nearness in a way I haven’t known. I’m sure that this moment to “come away” is a moment that is absolutely necessary for where He wants to take me in the days ahead.
This is a moment for my wife and I to reflect and refresh our love anew. We have worked hard to not let ministry infringe on our relationship but if we are honest there have been moments when we have sacrificed time and attention from one another to meet the ever present needs of ministry.
My kids are all entering pivotal moments in their lives and I want spend intentional time connecting with them in a focused and intentional way.
I’m gonna read, write, study, pray, and worship, without the need to produce a message or hammer out new content for the first time in 27 years. I’m expecting the Lord to meet me in healing and restoration as I allow the ground of my heart to drink in the richness of His word and presence without any requirement to produce.
What does this mean for Billy Humphrey Ministries?
We will be releasing pre-written blogs and pre-recorded courses throughout our time off. Keep an eye out for courses on the Song of Solomon and the Book of Daniel.
At the same time we will go almost completely quiet on all social media platforms, except to mention the release of the content that we’ve prepared. Overall we’ll be putting a pause on preaching, teaching, traveling, and social media until Fall of 2022.
I am excited about what this next season holds. I believe the Lord is preparing me and and many in these days for the things He has in store in the days ahead. I encourage you to take this next season to lean into His heart and allow Him to identify areas He wants to meet you and transform you.
Much love to you all and see you soon,
Billy