Yes, absolutely. Pastor Ryan and Andrea are not stepping away because of a problem—this sabbatical is a healthy and proactive rhythm our leadership team has put in place to ensure long-term strength, clarity, and spiritual vitality. They’re doing well and are taking this step with full support and excitement about the future.

Pastor Ryan and Andrea have been faithfully leading at Transformation Church for the past five years, and this sabbatical is part of an intentional rhythm our leadership has established to support long-term health and vision. Summer is also the most strategic time for a sabbatical, as the fall and spring are typically the most demanding seasons in the life of our church. Taking this time now allows them to rest and reset without disrupting major ministry initiatives, so they can return refreshed and ready to lead us into what God has next.

A sabbatical is a biblically rooted, intentional time of rest, renewal, and refocus. The idea comes from the principle of Sabbath found throughout Scripture—where God modeled rest in creation (Genesis 2:2–3), commanded a weekly Sabbath for His people (Exodus 20:8–10), and even instituted sabbatical years for the land to rest (Leviticus 25:4). Jesus also regularly withdrew to quiet places to rest and pray (Luke 5:16), showing us that even in ministry, rest is spiritual.

At our church, a sabbatical is not just an extended vacation—it’s a purposeful rhythm designed to help pastors stay spiritually healthy and lead from a place of strength and clarity. Each sabbatical includes three key areas:

• Personal Rest (vacation and time away with family),

• Soul Care (spiritual counseling, reflection, and restoration), and

• Personal Enrichment (books, study, or conferences for fresh vision and growth).

It’s a sacred pause that allows pastors to step away from the weight of daily leadership and return refreshed, renewed, and ready to lead into the next season.

Pastor Ryan and Andrea will be on sabbatical from May 12 to July 8—a total of eight weeks. During this time, they will be completely released from ministry responsibilities to fully engage in rest, soul care, and personal growth. They’ll return ready to lead with renewed energy and vision.

We have an incredible summer lineup planned! While Pastor Ryan and Andrea are away, we’ve intentionally scheduled some of the most gifted, Spirit-filled communicators and leaders to bring powerful, timely messages each week. This isn’t a season to pull back—it’s a time to lean in!

From nationally known guest speakers to trusted voices within our church family, every Sunday is going to be fresh, encouraging, and full of truth. You’re going to be blessed, challenged, and inspired each week—and we truly believe this could be one of the most impactful summers we’ve ever had.

Check out the Sabbatical speakers lineup on this page and make it a point to be here each week—you won’t want to miss a single Sunday!

Absolutely—not only will the church be okay, we believe it will thrive during this season. Pastor Ryan and Andrea have built their ministry philosophy around the biblical principle found in 1 Corinthians 12—that the church is one body with many parts, and every part plays a vital role.

From the very beginning of their leadership, they’ve been intentional about releasing ministry to those gifted and called to lead. That means this isn’t a sudden handoff—it’s something we’ve been doing all along. Our staff, volunteers, and leaders are already walking in their God-given roles, and our church is primed and ready to step into this season with strength.

This is not a pause in momentum—it’s a chance for even greater growth, ownership, and unity as we continue to be the church together.

One of the best ways we can support Pastor Ryan and Andrea during this sabbatical is by helping create the kind of environment where they can truly rest—with confidence and peace of mind that everything here is healthy and thriving.

That means staying fully engaged:

• Attend each week and bring someone with you

• Serve faithfully where you're gifted

• Give generously to keep the mission moving forward

Their ability to fully disconnect and recharge depends in large part on knowing that the church they love is in great hands—and that the people they lead are all-in. Your consistency during this time sends a powerful message: “We’ve got this.”

And of course, pray for them—for physical rest, spiritual renewal, family connection, and fresh vision. Your faithfulness here at home will multiply the fruit of their time away.

Yes—without a doubt. Pastor Ryan and Andrea are not going anywhere. In fact, they have both expressed their deep love for this church and their desire to retire right here at Transformation Church in 100 years or so. This sabbatical is not a step toward transition—it's a step toward longevity.

During this time, they are not preaching, ministering, or interviewing anywhere else. This is truly a season set aside for rest, renewal, and soul care—not for job searching or exploring other opportunities. They’re fully committed to the vision and future of this church family.

So take heart—this is not an ending, it’s an investment in the future. And when they return, they’ll be recharged and ready to lead with fresh passion for the next season God has for us all.

The sabbatical has three main focus areas:

• Personal Rest (time away as a couple and as a family to relax and disconnect),

• Soul Care (engaging in spiritual counseling and intentional reflection), and

• Personal Enrichment (reading, learning, and growing through books, resources, and possibly conferences).
  They won’t be doing ministry—they’ll be investing in their own spiritual, emotional, and relational health.

That’s a fair and important question. While many professions offer vacations or extended break like in academic or executive roles, pastoral ministry is uniquely demanding—not just physically or mentally, but spiritually and emotionally as well.

Unlike most jobs, pastoring isn’t something you "clock in and out of." It involves constantly carrying the spiritual weight of others—celebrating births and weddings, grieving losses, walking through crisis, leading teams, preparing messages, casting vision, and navigating spiritual warfare—often all in the same week. It’s been said that pastoring is like wearing a 200-pound vest you never take off. You wear it to work, to sleep, and even on vacations.

That’s why our church leadership has intentionally built in a sabbatical rhythm—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for long-term sustainability. A tired pastor can still preach a sermon, but only a healthy pastor can hear from God clearly, lead with vision, and care for people from a place of overflow instead of depletion.

Sabbaticals give pastors the margin to rest deeply, reconnect with God, invest in their marriages and families, and return with renewed strength and fresh insight. And when a pastor is healthy, the whole church benefits.

So while it may look different from what many experience in the workplace, it’s rooted in the same desire: to serve with excellence, consistency, and endurance—for the long haul.