Mike Winger announces 3-month sabbatical after ‘cover-up culture’ series, clarifies it's not for 'safety' reasons
Christian YouTuber and Bible teacher Mike Winger announced he will take a “long overdue” three-month sabbatical beginning in June after postponing the break for months while working on his series about “cover-up culture.”
“I was supposed to go on a sabbatical in January,” Winger said during Episode 77 of his podcast. “It didn’t happen because of this series on cover-up culture, because of the stuff I’ve been working on, that sabbatical did not take place.”
Winger, who just hit over 1 million subscribers on YouTube — “It’s all by God’s incredible, incredible kind grace. I’m so grateful for it,” he said — delayed the break because he wanted to continue helping people connected to the issues he has been covering.
“I really want to keep helping these people. I don’t want to put it off. I don’t want to make them wait months for me to do the work,” he said. “So, we put it off and put it off. Well, it’s May, so I’m going to go on sabbatical starting June 1.”
“I’m just going to take a break,” Winger added. “I’m not done with the whole series. Unfortunately, there’s a few situations that I still want to cover that I just have to put on the shelf for a while.”
The former pastor said the break from creating new YouTube videos and podcast episodes will likely last about three months.
“I need a break, guys. I am tired ... as you can tell,” he said. “So, I’m taking a break. The break is probably going to be, as far as me making new YouTube content … probably three months.”
“I am a little bit nervous to take a break this long,” he added. “One of my board members for Bible Thinker was telling me it should be longer, but I’m like pretty nervous.”
In addition to taking time off, Winger revealed that he's writing a book.
“Part of it is so I can just take a true, honest vacation where I’m just not working for a while,” he said. “But I’m also … writing a book.”
“I’m not going to give you details on it yet,” Winger added. “Plus, it can change in the writing. Things can change. The title can change, the concept of the book can shift. So, let me get it written … and when the manuscript’s done, then maybe I’ll give you guys more info about it or whatever the publisher thinks.”
Though some of his most popular YouTube videos feature topics like “What the Bible REALLY Says about Alcohol” and exposing the problematic practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Winger’s recent series on cover-up culture, including the controversies surrounding Bethel Church, has recently gone viral. Other pastors and church leaders he’s addressed as part of the series, also exposing false teachers, include Todd White, Brian Simmons and Gary Morgan.
In his new video, Winger clarified he’s not taking a break due to personal problems or safety concerns despite the sensitive topics he tackles. He stressed that he’s never taken a sabbatical or extended break from work despite being involved in ministry since his teenage years.
“I’m not taking a break because of any other issues. I don’t know if people are, like, worried about me being under stress, like danger and stuff like that,” he said. “Please don’t worry about that. It’s not the kind of thing you can worry about anyway. But that has nothing to do with why I’m taking a break. I’m not taking a break for any reason other than I actually had one scheduled in January.”
“I’ve got a book contract,” he added. “I really want to honor my word and do, and I’m exhausted. I need some time off, as is apparent to those who know me well ... I have been burning the candle at both ends for a very, very long time.”
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
