Sabbatical | Dwayne & Jennifer

After over three decades in full-time ministry, and with the direction of their board, Dwayne and Jennifer have stepped into a sabbatical. This is not a retreat from calling, but a sacred pause—a space to reflect, listen, and heal.

Their journey has brought them into the beauty of the Church and its brokenness. They have stood with communities in pain and spoken truth to systems that enable spiritual and sexual abuse. These encounters have only deepened their conviction: God is confronting and cleansing His house.

This sabbatical is a time to tend to their own hearts, to grieve betrayal, to be renewed, and to encounter God afresh. It’s also a time to read widely, study thoughtfully, and allow space for unhurried listening—to the Spirit, to one another, and to the broader Church.

While on their sabbatical, they are asking questions about what is next for Dwayne and Jennifer and for the church. Now, in a season of deep reflection, Dwayne is not seeking to position himself as a guru but rather as a fellow pilgrim and facilitator of conversation. He is committed to exploring how the Church must reorient—structurally, spiritually, and relationally—in order to embody the integrity, humility, and love that Jesus calls His people to

Jennifer is intentionally stepping into a time of reflection and realignment as well. After years of serving in various ministries, she is returning to the simplicity of the gospel, stripping away the weight of performance and the expectations that often come with being a “professional minister.” This is a sacred time for her to be re-centered in deep communion with God, to sit quietly before Him, and allow His presence to recalibrate her heart. It’s a course correction—marked not by burnout, but by hunger. She is seeking clarity, renewal, and fresh strength to fully give herself to whatever God entrusts to her in the next season of ministry. This is not a pause from calling, but a wholehearted return to its source.

Their love for the Church remains. But with that love comes a sober clarity: we cannot continue on without change. Business as usual has left too many harmed and disillusioned.

Dwayne and Jennifer are not stepping into “what’s next” with polished answers or formulas. Instead, they are stepping into it with humility and openness, eager to participate in the kind of reform that Jesus Himself would lead. They hope to be part of a growing chorus of voices—pastors, prophets, practitioners, and everyday disciples—who believe that transformation is possible and necessary.

This isn’t the end of their ministry story. It’s a necessary re-centering. And they’re grateful for your prayers, friendship, and patience as they seek clarity on what comes next.

Partner with Dwayne and Jennifer

"Rare is it to really know your pastors.
Not just see them on a platform or hear them preach—but know them. In their homes. Around their family. In the day-in and day-out of real life. Rarer still is to walk with them as friends, to be folded into their lives, and to discover that who they are on stage is exactly who they are at the table, in the trenches, and in the quiet.

Jennifer and Dwayne Roberts have been that to me and my family.
Over the past four years, they’ve redefined what I believed Christian community could be. They’ve celebrated milestones with us, shown up at our kids’ recitals and tournaments, visited us after surgeries, and sat with me through chemotherapy. They didn’t love us from a distance. They walked with us—in the most personal, meaningful, sacrificial way. Not for money. Not for duty. Not for recognition. They simply showed up—out of love, and for the sake of real relationship.

And we need more leaders like them.

The Church today is reckoning—again—with the consequences of elevating charisma over character. Of contributing to broken systems that protect fallen leaders—shepherds turned wolves. We shouldn’t be surprised this keeps happening. It’s painfully simple: we’ve supported the wrong people for the wrong reasons. We’ve mistaken gifting for fruit. And we’ve built platforms instead of forming people.

It’s time to shift.
We must become more discerning about who we follow.

And I say this with full conviction: Dwayne and Jennifer are the real thing.

Not because they’re perfect. But because they’re honest. They live with integrity, transparency, and humility. They’re open about their weaknesses, accountable to trusted leaders, and invitational in their leadership. They don’t preach at people—they talk with them. About Jesus. About His Kingdom. With gentleness and grace. And more than talk—they show them, by walking it.

Over the past few years, we watched them stand for justice when it cost them everything. They heard and believed individuals who suffered extreme abuse. They didn’t hesitate to act on their behalf, confronting one of the most high-profile charismatic leaders in modern church history—calling out not only his prolific abuse (spiritual, sexual, and systemic), but the layers of deception he built his ministry on. They exposed the corrupt systems others protected. They named what others ignored. And they did it not for applause or platform—but because it was right.

All while pastoring a house church. Shepherding a small, faithful community. Crying with us. Praying with us. Letting us in.

They’ve also helped us heal. My husband and I came from painful church experiences. And yet they welcomed us—saw us, valued us, encouraged us. They helped us deconstruct harmful religion without losing Jesus in the process. They modeled a way to grow in God without performance. With sincerity. With freedom.

Because that’s who the Roberts are.
They love like Jesus.
They lead like Jesus.
And they live it—inside and out.

As they now step into a much-needed sabbatical, I hope this helps you see what we’ve seen. If you’re considering whether to support them—financially or otherwise—please do. Not just because of what they’ve done in decades of ministry, but because of who they are when no one’s watching.

They’ve been a gift to us. And we want to see them fully supported in this next season."

Crystal Schaefer

Mother, wife, brand strategist