CLF Conversations

Lessons in Rest: Pastor Dave York’s Sabbatical

Episode Summary

Ever feel like you’re running on empty? Maybe you’ve looked at your calendar and thought, “Sabbath? Is that even possible?” Now imagine leading a church, caring for countless people, preaching weekly, and still finding time for family—all without hitting pause. Burnout, would be just around the corner. In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Dave York to talk about his recent sabbatical. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t just extra sleep and long walks (though there was some of that too). God used this time to teach, convict, refresh, and realign him for the work of ministry. Grab your favorite coffee, a notepad, and maybe even your calendar—you’ll want to mark off some rest days after this conversation.

Episode Notes

🎙️ Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode of CLF Conversations, we interview Pastor Dave York about his recent sabbatical. Far from a vacation, this season became a powerful time of renewal, where God revealed both the necessity of rest and the beauty of His sustaining grace.

Pastor Dave shares candidly about his struggles with slowing down, the unexpected ways God met him, and the new perspective he gained on life, ministry, and shepherding God’s people. This conversation will encourage you to see rest not as a luxury, but as a gift from the Lord.

🌍 Key Topics Covered

• Why sabbaticals matter in pastoral ministry
• How God teaches through slowing down
• The balance of work, rest, and family
• Recognizing warning signs of burnout
• Practical takeaways for every believer’s walk with Christ

💬 Discussion Highlights

• The humility required to step back and let others lead
• Lessons on the importance of preventative rest rather than emergency rest
• The gift of time with family and God’s Word apart from ministry demands
• A renewed heart for CLF’s mission moving forward
• Encouragement for weary believers to embrace God’s rhythms of grace

📖 Scripture References

• Matthew 11:28–30 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
• Psalm 127:2 – “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest… for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
• Mark 6:31 – “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”
• Hebrews 4:9–10 – “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…”

📌 Takeaway Questions

• Do you see rest as obedience or as weakness?
• Where are you neglecting rhythms of Sabbath in your own life?
• What might God want to teach you if you actually slowed down?
• Who around you might need encouragement to pause and rest in Christ?

🔗 Stay Connected
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Follow Covenant Life Fellowship on social media, and visit clfroseburg.com to learn more about upcoming events and resources.

🎧 Funny Outro:
Ever thought you didn’t have time to rest? Pastor Dave just took eight weeks off and came back more energized than ever. If God can run the universe without us for a while, He can handle your inbox too.

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations. Remember: rest isn’t just a nap—it’s a reminder that God is in control.

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