REST Ministries Canada was born out of a dream that ministers need to be ministered to.  We are told in scripture to find our rest in Christ and that He will restore us and carry us.  We are given examples and even the words of Christ telling us that rest is a crucial facet of leading.  Yet the cases where we see this happening in the lives of leaders in the church are few and far between.

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As an ordained minister, I have been through hardships and victories as I have ministered in the local church.  From trying people and times of discouragement to spiritual victories and community involvement, ministry has a way of blinding us to our need of rest.  Whatever it is, it seems to come at us 24/7, functioning at a break neck speed as we try to manage a church, reach our community, be part of a family and develop our own relationship with Christ, not truly realizing that rest, sabbath and time away were sacrificed on the altar of ministering to our flock.   I believe that we need to do better.  We need to realize that rest is important.  Rest is crucial.  Rest is transformative.  If Jesus could rest while he raised up his disciples for just 3+ years, we need to rest as well.  Remember, when the storm was raging on the sea, Jesus was down below...napping.

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I realized the true benefit of taking a rest just a few years ago as we took a week long sabbatical from our place of ministry.  We went away to a retreat in the Midwestern United States and unplugged, connected with God and each other and conversed with others who were doing the same thing...resting.  It truly was a life changing experience and from that moment on we realized that this was something that would benefit evangelical ministers here in Canada.  That moment is now.

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The leadership at REST Ministries Canada believe that pastors need to rest and in turn reconnect with God, their spouse and even themselves.  By offering week long sabbatical retreats we aim for the following outcomes for each ministry couple that attends:

 

• Leave well rested

• Hear God’s voice

• See the importance of practicing regular Sabbath times

• Foster healthy family/life/ministry balance

• Practice positive lifestyle and well-being choices

• Share their experience in attending REST Ministries Canada with other Pastoral Ministry Couples, their Churches and Denominational Leadership

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If you are tired and weary, Jesus is just waiting right beside you to take your burdens and give you His, which is ever so light and truly rewarding.  Browse through this site and if this concept resonates within you as something that you desperately need, come away and rest.  Jesus will take care of the things that you are thinking of right now that you believe only you can handle and you just can't be away because the world will crumble.  Yes you can. Our desire here at REST is that the church be shepherded by Christ firstly, but assisted here on earth by pastors and leaders who are ministering in their gifts and consciously maintaining a balance between work and rest.  

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Rest awaits.

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Kevin Mullin and The Leadership of REST Ministries Canada