A few Blogs ago we talked about Elijah being given a gift under the broom tree and as a result the world received something even greater.  God met Elijah’s needs at a critical time in practical and miraculous ways.  That led to an “AHA” moment that brought clarity and challenge, which has benefited every generation since.

Why did it bring clarity?

Elijah received mental and spiritual clarity.  Physical nourishment and intimate contact with a caring person [angel] helped restore mental clarity.  The broom tree experience reminded him he had hope and a future.  He met with God.

The word, clarity, means clearness as to perception or understanding.  Freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.

In a jeweler’s world diamond clarity refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes.

The rejuvenating encounter Elijah experienced also revealed that God was close and active in his situation.  This led to a clear understanding of his next steps.

Just like the diamond clarity is an absence of inclusions and blemishes, the goal of a Broom Tree retreat is to take pastors away from the ‘inclusions’ of the world [which, for many of them are technological invasions] and place them in a gentle setting full of beauty, simplicity and peace.  Mental and spiritual clarity enable pastors to see things they couldn’t see before.  This new visibility nourishes relationships, strategic thinking, and personal reflection, making it possible for pastors to confidently take the most beneficial next steps.

We talked about Elijah being given a gift under a broom tree and as a result the world received something even greater.  God met Elijah’s needs at a critical time in practical and miraculous ways.  That let to an “AHA” moment that brought clarity and challenge which has benefited every generation since.

What is an “AHA” Moment?

Under the broom tree Elijah realized he was not alone.  His extremely complex and challenging circumstances made him feel isolated and he didn’t know what to do.  The broom tree experience let to a mountaintop experience that reminded him he had hope and a future.  AHA!

Many pastors have the same realization at a Broom Tree retreat, but each person has a unique experience.  Unique moments of insight and discovery are a highlight and goal of the retreat.

They discover and learn.  Discovery by doing is the most effective way an adult learns.  It is also the best way for an adult to use and retain that which was learned.

We could teach for hours on the importance of solitude and soul care but when a pastor and spouse experience this by doing it, now they understand, retain and can apply this to their lives.  AHA!

Also for the married couple, having both experience this process together fosters better understanding between husband and wife.  Very important.

We have had reports from pastors that their congregations noticed a difference when they returned.  This is exactly what we hope and pray for – it is ‘Clarity”.  That is our subject for next month.

The desert is a hostile wilderness.  When Elijah told his servant to wait in the town of Beersheba, he continued, deliberately walking a full day’s journey into the desert when he saw a broom tree.  The low branches make shade where the sun is unrelenting.  They also provide visual shelter.

Elijah was experiencing the depths of fatigue and discouragement just after his two spiritual victories; the defeat of the prophets of Baal and the answered prayer for rain. Often discouragement sets in after great spiritual experiences, especially those requiring physical effort or great emotion.  To lead him out of depression, God first let Elijah rest and eat.  Then God confronted him with the need to return to his mission – to speak God’s words in Israel. Elijah’s battles were not over, there was still work for him to do.  When you feel let down after a great spiritual experience, remember that God’s purpose for your life is not over yet.

Elijah was given a gift under a broom tree and as a result the world received something even greater.  God met Elijah’s needs at a critical time in practical and miraculous ways.  That let to an “AHA” moment that brought clarity and challenge which has benefited every generation since.

We aim for a similar impact.

Broom Tree Retreats are designed to provide uninterrupted time with God in rest, reflection and beauty.  Pastors and spouses consistently experience “AHA” moments that bring clarity and challenge for the next season of ministry.

For 20 years we have been strengthening the church one pastor at a time.  Pastors are given a gift at Broom Tree and as a result an even greater gift is given to their communities.  It is a gift of spiritual and emotional health that multiplies into families, neighborhoods and workplaces.

Elijah’s desire was to end the spiritual decay that was happening in Israel and to increase the faith of God’s people.

In 2017 and beyond it is our goal to have a similar impact on our country.  This can happen only because of God’s intervention during each retreat.  He has an intimate way of stirring His pastors to fulfill their purpose in their congregations.

Broom Tree’s spiritual retreats allow pastor couples [and singles] to share in Elijah’s broom tree experience.  They are invited to trade the busy-ness and intensity of pastoral leadership for physical and spiritual rest and rejuvenation.

Psalm 46:10 describes what is made possible at our retreats, “Cease your striving and know that I am God.”

A ministry sabbatical is a period of time, usually three months, when ministry leaders and congregation set aside the leader’s normal responsibilities for the purpose of rest and renewal toward sustained excellence in ministry.  It is NOT an extended vacation, nor is it an academic sabbatical that normally involves extensive study.  A ministry sabbatical is a release from the routine of the call for the physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being of the ministry leader.

The Biblical Perspective

The word sabbatical is drawn from the word Sabbath.  The Hebrew word for Sabbath means to ‘close’ or ‘rest’ and is connected with the last day of Creation when God rested.  (Genesis 2:3)    God both models and commands Sabbath rest for his people.

Jesus affirmed the importance of rest saying, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”   (Mark 2:27-28)  The Biblical example of Jesus’ own frequent withdrawal to a quiet place to meditate, pray and be renewed is a model for all pastors, the under shepherds chosen by God to lead His church.  In Jesus’ ministry, the constant demands of people led him to step away on a regular basis.

Richard Bullock and Richard Bruesehoff  suggest the following motivations for considering a ministry sabbatical:

• Continual spiritual growth facilitated by periods of rest and renewal is vital toward being an effective minister.
• Pastoral responsibilities are not contained within normal office hours and regularly involve weekends.
• Rapid changes in parish ministry can increase the likelihood of burnout without periods of rest and renewal.
• Burnout makes ministry and the minister, dull, hollow, and uninteresting.
• The congregation also needs the opportunity to examine their dependency on the ministry leader and consider expanding their own roles in the church as lay leaders.

The above reasons came from a study of Sabbatical from Wheat Ridge Ministries.  Broom Tree Ministries would add to this one very important idea.  Expectations of the American pastor are enormous and without extended contact with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the assignment is hopeless at best.  This pastoral role can only be accomplished, regardless of the size of the congregation, with the direction, inspiration, devotion and leading from God.

Prolonged periods of meeting the constant demands of the people without time to re-connect with the Lord forces the pastor to operate with only his skills and out of his own strengths, abandoning the supernatural, Holy Power from Heaven.  This may last for a time, but the church that allows that to happen is settling for second best.  A pastor leader who has spent time at Jesus’ feet is prepared to lead with enthusiasm.