429. Sabbatical Report

I am officially back from Sabbatical, as of last Tuesday. Two months passed quickly, but I feel that I have enjoyed all that I had planned to do, thanks to God’s grace. I did my best not to try to prepare for ministry or get ahead and worry about church, as it is Jesus’ church. Thankfully, I rested well and heard that the church did well in my absence.

In the first week of sabbatical, I stayed at my sister’s place. I enjoyed the weather and the California vibe. The highlight of my sabbatical in the US was the trip to Arizona. As I was driving from Vegas to the Grand Canyon, I was amazed by the vastness of the land and the beauty of the mountains. It was a 5-hour drive, so I was initially worried about the long drive, but it ended up being a serene experience and an intimate time of praise and thanksgiving for God’s incredible handiwork.

Staying in Korea with my family for a month was very enjoyable for me, as I had missed their presence. During our first week in Seoul, we had the opportunity to visit some historic and iconic Korean places. When we visited Busan, after connecting with my relatives, we took them on a day trip to Kyoungjoo, where the famous Buddhist temple “Boolgooksa” is located. It was a scenic moment.

We thoroughly enjoyed Jeju as the Airbnb we rented was beautifully renovated, with both a modern and traditional Jeju vibe, located in a very tranquil area. Still, there were a couple of restaurants I saw on TV shows just around the corner from our place (which I didn’t know), and I felt God’s goodness and saw it as his loving provision. We took a short trip to Osaka from Jeju, and though it was a good experience, we felt it was too crowded and touristy. However, Jennifer found Expo 2025 to be a valuable source of architectural inspiration. When we returned to Seoul to conclude our stay, we did some shopping and caught up with Jen’s relatives.

After coming back to Toronto, I had to fly to Houston to serve at Shepherd’s conference and deliver the final message. It was a great experience serving the shepherds and appreciating them in such a way. Thankfully, the final message was well-received, and many found it encouraging. When I visited elevation church on the final Sunday of my sabbatical, I was deeply blessed by the worship. However, through the sermon, which focused on the value of scripture, I felt God was giving a tangible and concrete direction after the sabbatical, which was to be “the man of one book”.

I want to thank all the shepherds, their spouses, and team leaders for their faithful service to the church during my absence. What I learned is that the time away from work ultimately creates a greater desire to return to work. As much as I enjoyed the rest, having meaningful work is a blessing. I am glad to be back, and I am excited about what God will do in my life and our ministry differently.