But he (Shammah) took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it
and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.
II Samuel 23:12 (ESV)
Dear friends ~
In follow-up to our September 2020 newsletter and one week into the new year, Wayne and I are now able to share pertinent details surrounding our decision to take a much-needed sabbatical.
Starting April 1, 2021, we will begin a one-year sabbatical from the counseling ministry.
At the end of the day on Wednesday, March 31, we will close the door on our office suite and take a deep breath. Followed by not setting the alarm for Thursday and coffee’ing like it was Saturday!
a bit of background
For those who know us long, well, or little, our own healing journey began 32 years ago. It was through pursuit of the Lord for His ministry of light, life, and truth to our wounded hearts that we were placed on the path that has led us to the present day. As we have healed and grown in Him, so has the ministry.
Transition and changing things up a bit have been the Lord’s hallmark of presiding over our engagement. As was shared in our June 2020 newsletter, we celebrated Wayne’s 16 years in private practice. It was in 2000 that four years of education, training, and part-time counseling began. It’s now been twenty years.
Fast forward to October 2019 when Wayne broke his leg. The forced down time allowed the weariness from 15+ years of carrying such weight to fully surface. And Holy Spirit was right there speaking, encouraging, and leading in a new thought process. Or better said, not a new thought process but an accelerated one.
In March 2020 we made a 3-night trip into Canada. While away on that brief respite, we talked timing. When we returned – the night before the first Covid-19 restrictions were announced – we had agreed to one year out: at the end of March 2021.
With diligence to details in the background while conducting business as usual, we are now in the last quarter of that year. We began notifying long-term clients six months in advance; shorter-term clients three months in advance. Current clients have now been notified and our announcement is public.
what we know that you need to know
The sabbatical will mean a time of fully stepping away from the counseling and coaching that have comprised our work and ministry. The office will be closed. We will not be available. We’ll be living life.
Living life means that first, we will gain some much-needed rest. Self-care and soul care will include our home, our immediate family, extended family, hopefully road trips, connecting with friends, and enjoying a pause we have not experienced this way before. Individually and together, we have some goals during this time.
We do not consider this retirement. It is a leave, the meaning of sabbatical. On our part, we need the break so we may hear from the Lord with clarity for what post-sabbatical will look like. Certainly, the focus and pace of the past client base and schedule will undergo needed change. We know this is a transition from what was to what is to be as the Lord freshly directs our time and energy. After a rest.
what we do not yet know
What we will do with our office suite. For now, we plan to hold it for a few months. First, so we do not have to immediately vacate. Secondly, to have time to determine if it is in our best interest to keep it. (Part of why we need time to clearly hear from the Lord for the way forward and what it will look like).
We do not presume to know at present what or how much future counseling will be engaged. While we have placed a sabbatical comma in what the Lord is pleased to do with us, there is a definite period as we leave the two-decades-long season behind. What He chooses to bring forward we believe will be made known to us. Likewise, we trust He will assure us of what is done so what is new may come.
assorted details for inquiring minds
WEBSITES –
Shammah Ministries at nancybentz.com will continue in its new format and focus on the redemptive gifts of individuals as they relate to the seven portions of our human spirit. Writing, no clients / classes.
Shammahs Field (our ministry website at shammahsfield.com) where resides counseling and resource information, as well as Nancy’s original blog Wellspring of Life, will undergo a makeover.
- The homepage will clearly note our one-year sabbatical.
- Available resources we have identified will be listed for you to access/contact as you wish.
- This newsletter will be displayed for easy reference to the details shared here.
- Wellspring of Life will continue as the resident blog on shammahsfield.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA –
Facebook, with some platform elements they have put in place, is not serving the reach of our two ministry pages. We have chosen not to purchase advertising on their platform to widen the reach.
*The Shammahs Field Facebook page will be set to unpublished as we approach March 31*
Nancy Bentz/Shammah Ministries Facebook page will remain active; as will my personal profile page, where I also post any writings for public view.
You may ‘like’ or ‘follow’ here: https://www.facebook.com/nancybentzshammahministries, or here: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.bentz.3/. If you only follow Shammahs Field page, that will end.
BEST WAY TO REMAIN CONNECTED – or Disconnected
Subscribing on either website ensures your receipt of new content when posted. This includes future newsletters / announcements; Wellspring of Life blog posts (with continuance of Vineyard Days); the redemptive gifts teachings; and occasional other blog thoughts that find their way to the written page.
If you are a current subscriber who no longer wishes to receive our emails cluttering your inbox, please give yourself permission to unsubscribe at the bottom of one of those Mailchimp emails.
OUR CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION – Emails / Business Cards / Phones
Emails: We currently have three business emails through Comcast; one each and the main ministry email. We are still researching our options; at the least, if able to retain these email addresses, they will have a sabbatical-long out of office reply and will go largely unattended. Any replies, and blog exceptions, will be at our discretion.
Business Cards: Old business cards are just that – outdated. Please toss them if you have one in your possession. We ask that current cell phone numbers listed not be used for business/client calls/texts after 3/31. Thank you.
Phones: Our current business landlines are serviced through Comcast. Nancy’s office phone line will be eliminated (number with the 290 prefix). Wayne hopes to retain his business number (the 484 prefix) for future use. During these last two months of operation, we will be making the necessary changes to coincide with closure of the office the end of March. With Wayne’s business number still active, any voicemails left after March 31 will not be timely monitored, which his voicemail message will reflect.
*Note: We offer our deep appreciation to any of you reading this who have used our services and / or referred others to us using any of the above contact methods. You may now rest from your referrals. Wayne’s schedule is quickly filling with his existing clients and final inquiries based on our remaining time. Thank you so much.
not quite sabbatical yet …
We are aware of the minutiae contained within this newsletter (even we yawned by the end 😊). But before we say so long, farewell, Aufwiedersehn – you get the idea, here are a few last notes:
- published on January 7, 2021 – we still have nearly three months before sabbatical
- meanwhile, we are concentrated on finishing well with our current clients and remaining details
- you are free to share this now public newsletter / announcement with others
- if you wish to encourage anyone toward our continued ministry, encourage them to subscribe on either website
- we are not riding off into the sunset never to be heard from again, Lord willing
- what we hope you’ll hear is the echo of our laughter and snoring – not necessarily in that order!
- one more newsletter is likely before March 31 to mop up any loose ends
Thank you for your prayers and care, with our love and blessing.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all ~
Wayne & Nancy Bentz / aka Mr. & Mrs. Shammah
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