R.E.S.T.

A flash of lightning.
A fresh revelation.
A practical strategy.
R.E.S.T.

Church leadership teams often escape to Sandy Cove for rest and planning. Recently, Mountain Christian Church of Harford County, Maryland was inspired to create a ‘rest policy’ for its staff – as a result of their time at Sandy Cove.

Senior pastor, Ben Cachiaras shared these practical and insightful thoughts with me – and he gave me permission to share them with you.

Too often, without realizing it, a church creates a culture of overwork and imbalanced living that feeds unhealthy and unbiblical living. The result is families that suffer, ministry that suffers, a church that suffers, and a misunderstanding of where our worth comes from.

The following real quotes describe the need for the policy: “I could talk easily with others about Jesus, but I knew nothing about how to sit still long enough for Jesus to talk with me.”

“I was unable to distinguish between my activity and my identity – and so my activity determined my identity.”

“I was overcommitted, and busyness became what I was known for.”

“I am paying the price physically. Whenever the holidays come and I take a break from the pace and activity of the ministry, my body falls apart. I get sick way too often, because I’m constantly run down.”

“My friendships and family pay dearly for my badly managed, overstuffed schedule.”

“The busy, noisy, and hurried environment inherent in most churches raises expectations to an unrealistic, inhumane level.”

Most pastoral staff I know are overscheduled at work, under scheduled at home, and unscheduled when it come to nourishing one’s soul. Mountain’s R.E.S.T. policy is based on the idea that God Himself built certain rhythms into the universe. The work of creation was completed, and though God certainly did not need rest, He established the precedent of Sabbath – a period of celebration and reflection and rest. We see this pattern at work in all of creation. Modern living has attempted to eradicate these God-ordered rhythms. But we ignore these rhythms at our own peril.

What would make us want to rest less than God rests?

Jesus echoed these rhythms and lived out an alternating pattern of work and rest, involvement and disengagement, public ministry and private prayer. Mountain wants to make it possible – and to encourage and expect – pastoral staff to observe these same rhythms.

        Relax and Refresh the Spirit
        Exercise the Body
        Social Connections and Strong Relationships with Family and Friends
        Time with God

Action points:
• Divert daily. Time for God each day through classic spiritual disciplines and
avenues that work on your unique spiritual pathway.

• Withdraw weekly. Sabbath rest.

• Quit quarterly. At least 2 “½-day” (or more) personal retreats required

• Abandon annually. Staff will do this together.

Connecting with God and each other is easier at Sandy Cove. But, if that is one of your only times of REST and connection – there is a serious storm on your horizon.

Let us together practice God’s universal rhythms of REST!