Pastor Appreciation Month felt like the perfect time to sit down with one of our founder's closest friends, Tom Burns—a lifelong learner, former Bible teacher of 25 years, and now full-time teaching pastor. Tom traces his winding path back into local church ministry, the hard lessons from early wounds, and why authentic community (the real, sometimes messy kind) is essential for pastoral health. We talk distributed teaching, resisting the “one voice” model, and Tom’s challenge to leaders and congregations alike: stop doing the relational math and tell the truth to one another. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay in the game when ministry feels like agony and ecstasy in the same week, this one’s for you.

You’ll hear about:

• Leaving comfort for calling—and finding a church that fits over decades, not days

• Why multiple voices from the pulpit can grow a healthier body

• Stop doing “Relational math,” authenticity, and building safe spaces for pastors

• Friendship, accountability, and belonging outside of performance

• Seeing today’s headlines as “light and momentary” compared to future glory

Memorable line: “Pastors need a place where their hearts are naked—and they still belong.”

Keywords: pastor appreciation, authenticity, pastoral health, friendship, distributed leadership, vulnerability, koinonia, Ohio, Life Community Church