CHANGING THE CONVERSATION FROM “CRISIS” TO “PREVENTION”!
Nine times out of ten, renewal leaves are not sought after by clergy or their district leaders until a crisis situation. We at Big Sigh Ministries are changing the conversation from burnout crisis to prevention and ministry resilience with our
GRACE BREAK program. Through this informative program, we help clergy dream and plan ahead for renewal leaves; we educate church Staff and Pastor Parish Relations Committees as to the unique numerous stressors clergy face, the real threat of compassion fatigue in their clergy, as well as the win-win benefits when a pastor takes renewal time away and returns refreshed, renewed, rested and re-connected with God.
Here’s How:
Pastors
GRACE BREAK: Planning Your Renewal Leave. This workshop helps pastors begin to dream about time away for renewal, grounds Sabbath and renewal leave practices in scripture, helps pastors identify compassion fatigue and other life stressors they might be experiencing, provides tools for planning, implementing and communicating renewal leaves with one’s church leaders, District Superintendent, and family, and leads pastors on their way to reconnecting with God through extended Sabbath practices. Due to a generous grant from the WNCC Leadership Development Team, the cost to clergy is only $25 to participate in one of these events. All 2017 workshops will be held at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, NC, from 9am-3pm. Please register and pay online,
www.bigsigh.org or complete the form on back and mail to Big Sigh Ministries.
Tuesday, September 12th (Registration deadline: September 2nd)
Tuesday, October 3rd (Registration deadline: September 19th)
Congregations
GRACE BREAK: Caring for Our Pastor. This is a small group study written by Big Sigh Ministries’ founders, Reverends Jack and Jacqueline Tookey. This weekend study includes topics such as: Jesus’ Pattern for Ministry, External and Internal Stressors and Pressures of Ministry, Compassion Fatigue, Ministry Resilience, Christian Accountability and the Nuts and Bolts of Renewal Leaves. Jacqueline and Jack can come to your church or district (if several SPRC/PPRCs come together) and facilitate this study. Please contact Jacqueline at
Jacqueline@bigsigh.org to schedule your leadership team for this small group experience.
Churches and pastors who complete the
GRACE BREAK programs can jointly apply for Renewal Leave micro-grants: $1300 for three-month pulpit supply and $500 towards the pastor’s leave expenses. These micro-grants are available on a limited basis. Please contact Jacqueline for more information.
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