Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Welcome.
My name is Adam Sauer. I’m the Lead Pastor of The Mount Church, a multisite church in the outskirts of Northern Virginia. I’m married to Kristin. We have two teenage sons. I like to run, and I’ve been thinking about writing a book longer than I’d like to admit.
Oh yeah, one last thing - I’ve always struggled fitting in.
Not in an awkward, I don’t know how to make friends kind of way. More of a “none of these tribes are really my tribe” kind of way. Let me explain.
I’m a pastor, in an increasingly post-Christian culture where trust in pastors is at an historical low. I’m a theologian who doesn’t fit neatly into any one theological camp, living at a time when our differences seem to be more important than our similarities. I’m a father trying to raise sons to be godly men in a world that is constantly redefining the target. I’m an American citizen, who isn’t satisfied with any specific political party, and is terrified with the ever increasing weaponization of fear in our culture.
Now you can see why I say “I’ve always struggled fitting in.”
Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel an angst in your soul. An angst that something isn’t right.
Interestingly enough, the Bible has a word for people like us. It calls us exiles.
The writer of Hebrews calls us “strangers and foreigners on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). Peter says we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood - sojourners and exiles (1 Pet. 2:9-11).
Strangers. Foreigners. Sojourners. Exiles. Words that should describe all of us who follow Jesus.
But unfortunately, I’m not always sure we live like it. Because we love to choose comfort. Living as an exile is hard.
Here’s what you’ll actually find here:
Reflections on being an Exile: I’m currently writing a book called Exiles - on how American Christians have traded costly distinctiveness for comfortable conformity, and what it looks like to live differently. This is where I’ll think out loud, float ideas, and occasionally flesh out all the bad ideas.
Church leadership: I’ve led in the local church for 20+ years in several different contexts at several different levels. I’ll write honestly about what that’s actually like - not to impress you, but because there are too few leaders willing to say what it’s really like in the room.
Fatherhood: I have two sons who are watching everything I do. That’s terrifying and sanctifying in equal measure. I’ll write about raising kids who know what they believe, who they belong to, and how to live with integrity in a world working hard to talk them out of it.
Running: I’m chasing a goal of completing 100 lifetime races by the time I turn 50. Some posts will be about running. Most of them will secretly be about something else. Because everything about running is always about something else.
Here’s my one promise: I won’t waste your time. I’m not trying to build a personal brand. I’m just a guy who dreams too much, loves to take risks, is often misunderstood, likes to run, has lots of opinions, and has finally decided to write some of it down.
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Thanks for being here.