WISEMANS’ ON SABBATICAL
After more than ten years of working and serving at CV, the Wisemans will be taking a sabbatical at the end of 2026 to rest and reflect. Rob and Alisha have been part of CV since it began in 2014, first serving voluntarily, then with Alisha coming on board as part-time staff. In 2019, they stepped into the role of Co-Leaders.
Whether leading worship, serving our street whānau at Gratis, walking alongside people in grief, or preaching on a Sunday, it has been a real joy and privilege for them to lead and serve as part of the CV community.
What is a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is a dedicated season of rest given to pastors so they can refresh their bodies, recharge their souls, and be renewed in their calling. The Vineyard Aotearoa movement recommends that pastors take a sabbatical every seven years, and our own CV Trellis (or Rule of Life) for our Co-Leaders prioritises rhythms of rest.
This sabbatical has been proactively initiated by our Board as an investment in the long-term wellbeing and flourishing of our Co-Leaders. While sometimes sabbaticals are given when leaders are nearing burnout or considering stepping down, that is not the case here. The CV Board sees this as both an honouring of their faithfulness and an intentional space for the Spirit to refresh them, so they can continue serving their calling well into the future.
What are the Wisemans going to do?
Alisha and Rob will be taking three months off from late September to December. For the first month, they are planning to travel to the UK and Europe. They are looking forward to showing their girls the country that grew their faith, brought healing, and helped direct them toward ministry, as well as spending time with old friends.
What will be happening while they are away?
One of the beautiful things about CV is that our church is co-led, with the other half of our leadership being the Sheeds. Gabrielle and Dan, along with our staff team and ministry leaders, will ensure everything is well led and cared for while the Wisemans are on sabbatical.
Naturally, there will be some gaps during their absence. As a community, we will look to step in and share those responsibilities and tasks together.
How can we support them as they prepare?
There are three simple ways we can support them:
1 — Pray for them
The Bible encourages us to pray for our leaders. As they head into their final couple of months before sabbatical, there will be extra work involved in preparing for their time away. Please cover them, and our wider staff team, in prayer during this lead-up. Pray also for their time away, that the Spirit would refresh them deeply and inspire them beyond measure.
2 — Consider serving now
Part of the Wisemans’ responsibilities includes running Gratis, assisting on Sundays, and caring for people during the week. In their absence, there will be practical areas that need to be covered well.
If you are not currently serving on Sundays but would like to, this is a great time to step in. Starting now will give you time to learn the ropes and be confident in the role before they head away. It will make a big difference later. You can sign up to serve here.
3 — Generously contribute to their sabbatical
As a community, we want to bless Rob and Alisha financially to help cover their sabbatical expenses. We will be taking up a special offering for this purpose. If you feel led to give a koha toward their trip, you can do so through the giving box below, or for other ways to give, see our giving page.