Sad Sabbath Statistics

Greetings for August 2026!

I am not even sure I like the word “August.” It means the winding down of summer days. I really hope that somewhere in these weeks, you are finding vacation time, disconnect time, restorative time. All batteries require recharging to function effectively. This month I am “poaching” a short publication by Biola University Mental Health & the Church Initiative. It is well worth your time to read and reflect on.

This is it:

Here’s a number worth sitting with: 43%

That’s the percentage of clergy in the Duke Clergy Health Initiative who were not keeping a regular Sabbath.

Not “having a hard time.” Not “struggling occasionally.” Not Keeping One At All!

And yet the research on those who do practice Sabbath consistently shows meaningful differences across almost every measure of wellbeing.

The Duke Clergy Health Initiative has produced some of the most important research on pastoral sustainability. And their findings on Sabbath are unambiguous.

Clergy who Practice Regular Sabbath Show:

• Greater Spiritual Wellbeing

• Better Mental Health

• Higher Ministry Satisfaction

• More Sustainable Long-term Patterns

This isn’t about legalism or checking a spiritual box. It’s about what actually works.

The Flourishing in Ministry research adds another layer: when we talk about Daily Wellbeing as a foundational dimension, Sabbath is one of the most powerful – and most neglected – components.

Rest is not what you do after the real work is done. REST IS PART OF THE WORK. It’s ministry infrastructure. WITHOUT IT EVERYTHING ELSE EVENTUALLY COLLAPSES

If you are in the 43%, here is a path forward:

Start Small. If a full Sabbath day feels impossible, begin with a Sabbath half-day. Four hours of genuine, protected rest in better than zero.

Make it Specific. “I’ll rest when I can” never works. Pick a day. Pick a time. Put it in the calendar like any other commitment.

Define what restores you. For some, rest means solitude. For others, it’s being with people who don’t need anything from you. For others, it’s physical activity or creative work. Know yourself.

Involve your family. If you have a spouse or children, Sabbath can become a shared rhythm – not just absence from work but presence with each other.

Reflection:

1. AM I in the 43% or have I built genuine rest into my weekly rhythm?

2. What’s one obstacle keeping me from practicing Sabbath – and is it as insurmountable as it feels?

You Cannot Give What You do not Have. And you cannot sustain decades of ministry on empty reserves.

Sabbath is not an Old Covenant relic. It’s a strategic necessity for anyone who wants to last.”

(Go deeper with this Blog – Click here - "Sabbath as Strategy: How Rest Strengthens Ministry")

The Biola University Mental Health and Church Initiative - Flourishing in Ministry coaching@flourishinginministry.org

Let’s find ourselves in the wiser group, following the eternal principles laid down for us in Scripture. Let’s face it, the God who knows us also knows how we function best.

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