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In This Issue:
SABBATICAL REFLECTIONS
The opportunity to take a sabbatical
leave was very special to me because it was my first one in
over 36 years of full-time ministry. We are fortunate that ABC/Wisconsin
has had in place for many years a policy that after 6 years
of full-time service a three-month paid sabbatical is provided.
My leave was January through March as many
of you are aware. The executive committee of the region that
serves as personnel committee approved my plans late last summer.
The basic plans had also been shared with the region board of
managers.
There were three foci to my leave: 1. Rest
and Relaxation, 2. Study of Retirement Issues and 3. Research
on the Faith Development of the Youth I served 1971-83.
My first reflection is that I misjudged the
amount of "decompression" time needed as it was greater
than I anticipated. This is an observation others had made as
they had sabbatical leaves but it was not a significant need
of which I was personally aware.
So my first advice to others anticipating a
sabbatical leave is to provide adequate time for removing oneself
from the everyday pressures and responsibilities of ministry.
Research and learning took several formats.
Research was conducted related to the study
of retirement issues for personal reasons but which can be shared.
(This month's mailing includes a sheet "Retirement Planning:
More Than Dollars and Cents" that gives more information
about this experience.) My hope is that others will take advance
of the Midwest Ministry Development Service program "AutumnQuest".
A questionnaire format as well as group and
individual interviews and e-mails related to the faith development
of youth focus. Included was a reunion of the "former"
youth with whom I served at First Baptist Church of Los Angeles,
1971-83. Twenty-six persons were a part of the research and
sixteen attended the reunion at the church on Marcy 1, 2008.
It was an amazing experience.
My encouragement to congregations is to seek
to contact former youth group members and schedule a reunion
to celebrate experiences from the past, discover how their faith
has developed over the years and find ways to do effective ministry
with youth in these times.
Arlo R. Reichter
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COMING IN OCTOBER
A BOLD MISSION MOBILIZATION
prior to the region annual meeting as American Baptists throughout
Wisconsin join together in a mission work project in the Green
Lake Area.
The Commission on Congregational
Mission is coordinating this effort-stay tuned for details.
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 CAMP
TAMARACK, 1958-2008
50 YEARS
Special 50th Anniversary Weekend
August 8-10, 2008
Watch for Details
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MAY
PRAYER FOCUS:
Church:
Milwaukee-Calvary
Pastors: John R. Walton, Jr.
Spouse: Lorrie
Began 3/02
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ENTHUSIASTIC
No person who is enthusiastic
about his (her) work has anything to fear from life.
- Samuel Goldwyn
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AMERICAN BAPTISTS
SERVING
AS THE
HANDS AND FEET
OF CHRIST
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MTW08
More Than A Week
National Gathering of American Baptist Youth
July 5-11, 2008
Estes Park, Colorado
www.morethanaweek.org
Sponsored by National Ministries, ABCUSA
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15th Baptist World
Youth Conference
July 30-Aug. 3, 2008
Leipzig, Germany
"Dive Deeper"
Info. At:
www.dive-deeper.org
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