Not every act of devotion happens in a sanctuary.

Beyond the Sunday sermons, pastoral visits, community work and committee meetings, many faith leaders carry quieter callings: the hobbies that fill the margins of their days.

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Some unfold over an empty canvas, others amid the clang of weights in a gym or along open stretches of road. Often cultivated over several years or even decades, these practices mirror the disciplines of ministry itself, requiring patience, care and devotion.

“What we preach on Sunday is just a small part of pastoral work,” says Olumide Ademidun, pastor at The House of David in Milton, Ont. “For some people, the church is their only refuge. They come every day seeking prayer, food or help with their challenges.” Carefully tending to his backyard trail has become a necessary counterbalance for Ademidun. In these moments, the work of caring for others gives way to the work of sustaining one’s self.

Across faith traditions and congregations, these are the hobbies that make the rest of the work possible.

Rev. Michael Fleming, Anglican (Painter)

For Rev. Michael Fleming, a self-proclaimed introvert, his painting studio in Magnetawan, Ont. is a place of solace and renewal. After successfully leading a handful of parishes in the Ottawa region for 40 years, his retirement in 2011 has allowed him to immerse himself in his art. Nestled above the trees on the top floor of his sister-in-law’s cottage garage,........

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