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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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