In Psalm 46:10-11, the Lord reminds us of His power and calls us to a place of stillness, a place of rest.
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”
God created rest for our benefit, to restore us.
And God commands us to be obedient in pursuing Sabbath rest, humbly trusting Him to be sufficient to sustain us.
By taking time to rest, we create space for communion with the Lord our God, seeking guidance, nourishment from His Word, and the deepening our relationship with God.
Resting can also facilitate a sense of awe and wonder, allowing us to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the world, which is the work of our Divine Creator.
What’s upcoming for Michael Parker?
Recognizing the importance and our call as believers to rest, our Founder and President, Michael Parker, will be beginning a 3-month sabbatical. Michael will take July 1 – October 1 as a home-based sabbatical from his role in direct ministry with Developing Workers.
This is a welcome opportunity for Michael and the Parker family to rest and regenerate energy for the next season of ministry.
Michael has a sure calling on his life to be an encourager, a Barnabas among leaders, and he is encouraged to do that upon his return. This will simply be an overdue sabbatical of nourishing rest.
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah”
Psalm 62:6-9
A Word from the Chairman of the Board
Dear Friends,
We are eager as a ministry to send Michael on this time of sabbatical over these next 3 months. Sabbath rest is a Biblical mandate for us all, and extended sabbatical is a wonderful opportunity for those in full-time ministry to rest for their own needs and in response to the Lord.
Developing Workers is excited to honor Michael in this manner, a period of rest he routinely encourages the pastors and ministry leaders he mentors to pursue. By embracing this rest, we acknowledge our dependence on God’s grace and wisdom, humbly trusting Him to be sufficient and sustain.
Thanks to the commitment of our well-established team of staff and volunteers, Developing Workers will not see any gaps or stalls in ministry. We will continue the work the Lord has laid before us, blessing Michael to take this time of rest fully.
Our prayer for Michael’s sabbatical is that through times of stillness and presence with the Lord he would be restored, regenerated, and refueled for all that the God has for him & us in the next season of ministry!
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me at info@developingworkers.com.
Assured of God’s lead and excited for His plans
