This is an honest confession from a preacher and for the people of ACC, your pastor.

I am TIRED.

There are numerous reasons for this, and I want to share a few for you to ponder.

1. Our Church is growing. Growth means more people and more people means more needs. I spend time dealing with at least one issue every single day.
2. People Fatigue. I am an introvert by nature. I love people, but it exhausts me whenever I spend time around them. Lately, I have been having 1-3 daily meetings, plus Sundays and small groups.
3. Additional Planning. Whenever you add people, the Church needs programming to meet their needs. I had hoped to hire a staff person to help in this area, but we have struck out three times. So, I keep planning things myself.
4. People Management. I try to lead the staff, guide the Church with the elders, and coordinate with our Church leadership all the things that need to happen. My job is to make them look good as I follow the example of Jesus as a servant leader.
5. Leadership Issues. Church people are a funny bunch. I recently celebrated 30 years of leading a local Church as a pastor, yet people seem to doubt most of what I say and do. Everyone truly believes they know how to lead a Church because they have attended one for part of their adult life. It is rightfully said that leading Church people is like herding cats.
6. Isolation. It has been said that a pastor is seldom alone but usually lonely. Where does a pastor share his struggles and not be judged for them? Due to the morality connected to my career, I am often forced to internalize struggles for fear of gossip and condemnation.
7. Emotional Weight. I carry the burdens of a congregation. There are people’s marriages falling apart, struggles with addiction and cancer, people losing a parent, those angry with me or my wife, and my concern for people’s relationship with the Lord.

I hope this is not seen as complaining. It is not a plea for you to show up at my door with some sense that you will save me from my struggles. It is simply a declaration that the lead pastor’s life is often challenging.

Sometimes, I need rest and a vacation simply because I am tired.