The Miller Family Sabbatical
Note from the elders:
August of this year will mark 20 years that Russ has served as the lead pastor of JICC. We are excited to give him this time to rest and refocus on his family and on his personal relationship with the Lord. We believe the timing of this is very much led by the Lord -- both the amount of time he is taking and the fact that it is happening now. All of the counsel we have received from other pastors and leaders have affirmed that this is one of the best ways that we can care for Russ and his family. Please be praying for the Millers during this time.
The sabbatical will be from June-September -- four months. This will include vacation time with immediate family, visiting with extended family, and also having some focused time after the children go back to school. The original announcement was three months, but after Jackie’s dad’s cancer diagnosis and hearing wisdom from other leaders, we added an additional month.
The sabbatical will be from June-September -- four months. This will include vacation time with immediate family, visiting with extended family, and also having some focused time after the children go back to school. The original announcement was three months, but after Jackie’s dad’s cancer diagnosis and hearing wisdom from other leaders, we added an additional month.
Here is Milton Costa talking about the sabbatical at the Member's Meeting:
FAQ (From Russ)
What will you be doing?
The summer will be in three week increments:
What do you hope to get out of it?
Closer connection with the Lord.
A pastor friend just told me, “pastors need sabbaticals to see whether or not they are still Christians.” What he meant was -- when all of the public ministry and all of the expectations and affirmations of people are removed, is there still a desire to know Jesus and to be with him as a son? I’m looking forward to spending time reading and praying when I have nothing that I have to prepare for.
Closer connection to my kids.
Although I genuinely feel that I’ve gotten better over the years, the reality is that my kids still often know what it means for dad to “be somewhere else” even when I’m physically with them. I’m excited to connect with them in a deeper way. To observe things that I have been missing. And to have their hearts more deeply connected to mine and Jackie’s.
Closer connection to Jackie.
My wife is the absolute best. And we really are best friends. But we are very much looking forward to focused time to grow our friendship and to learn new healthy habits for living and for leading our children.
Vision for the future.
I want ministry to flow from a place of vision and faith and confidence in the Lord. So I’m looking forward to God refreshing me personally by giving vision for the future.
How can we support you?
Prayer. The most important thing is to pray for the time. If you would like to be a part of the prayer updates and prayer team, you may sign up HERE.
Serve. Serve the church in ways that you haven’t. Being gone puts extra work on the other leaders. So, find new ways to serve the greater church community. Our prayer is that this would be a growing time for everyone.
Give. People have asked if they could give towards are travel. See the bottom of the page in the travel fund section.
Where will you be worshiping on Sundays?
On the weeks that we are in town, we will be using this time to visit other churches and see what God is doing among churches in the city. There may be weeks where our kids will be at JICC to see friends and Jackie and I will be at another church.
How can we reach you?
My phone will be off for most of the time (this is a discipline for me to try to reprogram my brain from the continual stimuli of needs).
BUT, I will be going "old-school" and reading and writing letters.
1) Send a physical letter:
1763 Lady Cooper St.
Charleston, SC 29412
2) Email letters of encouragement and prayer to Lanie and she will forward it to me: lanie@jicc.us
How will the church responsibilities be divided?
Our church is led by a plurality of elders and will continue to function in this model. My specific responsibilities will be divided among the elder and staff team.
But, in general, Caleb Nel will be directing the staff and Sunday Morning meetings, and Chris Talbott will be coordinating pastoral care and follow up from the elders.
Sunday morning teaching will be done by Caleb, Chris, Jon, and Jeremy, as well as Shawn Maze and Will Plonk (guest speaker from Grace City church).
Have other questions?
If you have another question, you can email lanie@jicc.us and we will use that to publish updated FAQs.
The summer will be in three week increments:
- The first three weeks will be in England (our kids are getting to see the world for the first time)! We will be seeing friends that are part of churches there and touring part of the country.
- The next three weeks will be back at home -- the kids are going to youth camp. Doing yard work and chores and visiting with friends and family.
- And then the last three weeks will be in Michigan with Jackie’s family. Her dad has recently been diagnosed with stage IV cancer, so this is an especially important time to be with them.
What do you hope to get out of it?
Closer connection with the Lord.
A pastor friend just told me, “pastors need sabbaticals to see whether or not they are still Christians.” What he meant was -- when all of the public ministry and all of the expectations and affirmations of people are removed, is there still a desire to know Jesus and to be with him as a son? I’m looking forward to spending time reading and praying when I have nothing that I have to prepare for.
Closer connection to my kids.
Although I genuinely feel that I’ve gotten better over the years, the reality is that my kids still often know what it means for dad to “be somewhere else” even when I’m physically with them. I’m excited to connect with them in a deeper way. To observe things that I have been missing. And to have their hearts more deeply connected to mine and Jackie’s.
Closer connection to Jackie.
My wife is the absolute best. And we really are best friends. But we are very much looking forward to focused time to grow our friendship and to learn new healthy habits for living and for leading our children.
Vision for the future.
I want ministry to flow from a place of vision and faith and confidence in the Lord. So I’m looking forward to God refreshing me personally by giving vision for the future.
How can we support you?
Prayer. The most important thing is to pray for the time. If you would like to be a part of the prayer updates and prayer team, you may sign up HERE.
Serve. Serve the church in ways that you haven’t. Being gone puts extra work on the other leaders. So, find new ways to serve the greater church community. Our prayer is that this would be a growing time for everyone.
Give. People have asked if they could give towards are travel. See the bottom of the page in the travel fund section.
Where will you be worshiping on Sundays?
On the weeks that we are in town, we will be using this time to visit other churches and see what God is doing among churches in the city. There may be weeks where our kids will be at JICC to see friends and Jackie and I will be at another church.
How can we reach you?
My phone will be off for most of the time (this is a discipline for me to try to reprogram my brain from the continual stimuli of needs).
BUT, I will be going "old-school" and reading and writing letters.
1) Send a physical letter:
1763 Lady Cooper St.
Charleston, SC 29412
2) Email letters of encouragement and prayer to Lanie and she will forward it to me: lanie@jicc.us
How will the church responsibilities be divided?
Our church is led by a plurality of elders and will continue to function in this model. My specific responsibilities will be divided among the elder and staff team.
But, in general, Caleb Nel will be directing the staff and Sunday Morning meetings, and Chris Talbott will be coordinating pastoral care and follow up from the elders.
Sunday morning teaching will be done by Caleb, Chris, Jon, and Jeremy, as well as Shawn Maze and Will Plonk (guest speaker from Grace City church).
Have other questions?
If you have another question, you can email lanie@jicc.us and we will use that to publish updated FAQs.
