A Moment With Pastor Fred

Do any of us know what life is like being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week? This is the world of the full-time vocational pastor. He does all the “normal” pastor things – studying the Bible, preparing sermons and other teaching, praying, visiting shut ins, providing biblical counseling and executing more than a few administrative tasks. In addition to these, though, he may be called at any time by someone who has experienced an unexpected death in the family, or by someone facing an imminent spiritual crisis. He may need to be up at 3:30 a.m. to be at the hospital and pray with someone who is about to undergo surgery. Our pastor is not someone who silences his phone when he heads to bed after a long day. 

Because of this reality, the people of Holt Baptist Church created a policy enabling its vocational pastors to take a sabbatical every seven years. Accordingly, during the period of July 29 through August 25 Fred will be “off duty” and enjoying a sabbatical rest. During this time the normal functions and protections of the church will continue. Please let me know in the coming days if you have any questions about the sabbatical. Let’s do everything we can to make this a time of blessing and encouragement for Fred, and Susan as well!

– Paul Krepps serves Christ as a non-vocational elder here at HBC