When I relax my body starts shaking violently and it keeps me awake.” It only happens when I’m trying to go to sleep, when I relax. “When adrenaline hits my system it creates a shaking, tremors like Parkinson’s.
“Coming out of Covid, I realized my thorn in the flesh, which happened years before Saddleback, was getting worse,” he explained. Remarkably, the church’s finances have remained strong during their lengthy shutdown.īut his own health was a major factor in the timing of his announcement. “We are not in a crisis,” he stated, asking for prayer as they begin a search for his replacement. All three led to a deeper bond among them. Ironically, he stated three surprising reasons for the health of the staff: Covid-19, Zoom meetings during the health crisis, and their courageous effort to address racial reconciliation head-on. “I believe the staff is the healthiest it’s ever been right now,” he declared. Warren said he was certain about the timing of his Spirit-led decision, because he respects and trusts the maturity of the members. At the forefront of his thinking was an ongoing battle with a rare disease, spinal myoclonus, which has led to extreme sleep deprivation over many years. In a one-hour video recorded for his staff, influential author and pastor Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church, explained a dozen reasons that led to his decision to step aside at the mega church. By Mark Ellis – Pastor Rick Warren (YouTube screeshot)