Life After Ministry

About Life After Ministry

Many of us have experienced the sting of losing a job. But there’s something uniquely challenging about leaving a position in full-time vocational ministry. Whether you’re stepping down from a church or leaving a Christian nonprofit, it’s not as simple as just changing jobs. Suddenly, everything changes. You’re left navigating not just a career transition, but also a profound shift in identity, community, and daily routines. It feels like stepping into an unknown, filled with questions like, ”What now? What’s next? How do I redefine myself outside the ministry? How do I maintain my faith amidst this transition?” Welcome to the Life After Ministry Podcast. We’ve been there, navigating the complex journey from vocational ministry to a new chapter in our lives. We’ll explore stories of transformation, hear from those who’ve walked this path before, and provide practical strategies to turn your transition into transformation.

Publisher

Matt Davis

Category

business · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Aug 2023

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

98 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Leading Through the Trust Jungle (featuring Rob McKenna)

   What happens when trust breaks inside a church, nonprofit, or leadership team? Dr. Rob McKenna explains why trust is more than a feeling, how leaders can rebuild it after failure, and why succession is really the transfer of trust. This conversation explores emotional maturity, candor, vulnerability, blind spots, competence, reliability, and the three questions every team member is asking: Do I matter? Are you telling me the truth? Do I belong here? Key Takeaways Trust has identifiable drivers, including candor, competence, reliability, emotional maturity, and concern for others. Nearly half of employees experience their workplace as a “jungle of trust.” Competence matters, but competence alone does not make someone a trusted leader. Rebuilding trust requires responsibility, self-awareness, grace, and continual repair. Succession is more than transferring a role; it is transferring trust into a team and organizational culture. Leaders must create conditions where people can tell the truth and receive difficult feedback. Every team member is asking: Do I matter? Are you telling me the truth? Do I belong here? Chapter Markers 00:00 – Succession as the transfer of trust 01:23 – Introducing Dr. Rob McKenna 02:15 – Why trust is difficult in ministry and nonprofit organizations 06:04 – The State of Trust at Work 08:34 – Signs that trust is missing 10:25 – Why competence alone is not enough 14:19 – What it means to be a whole leader 18:00 – Handling difficult conversations during transition 20:00 – Succession and the transfer of trust 24:51 – How leaders rebuild trust after failure 28:34 – Blind spots and meaningful change 32:44 – What individuals can do in a jungle of trust 35:57 – How organizations can begin rebuilding trust 39:00 – Closing thoughts and resources Visit MinistryTransitions.com (http://MinistryTransitions.com) if a leadership transition is exposing cracks in trust. To learn more about Dr. Rob McKenna’s work, Whole Leaders, Wild Trust, and WiLD Leaders’ tools, visit wildleaders.org (http://wildleaders.org).

2. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Holding Gratitude & Grief (featuring Dennis Atwood)

   Most ministry leaders expect to decide when they step away. Dennis Atwood never had that opportunity. After serving churches for nearly three decades, Dennis was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease. He quietly carried the diagnosis for years before the progression of the disease forced him to step away from the pastorate he loved. In this deeply honest conversation, Dennis reflects on grief, identity, suffering, and why choosing gratitude isn't about denying pain but discovering God's faithfulness in the middle of it. Key Takeaways Unexpected health challenges can reshape both ministry and identity. Grief is a natural part of leaving a calling you deeply love. Gratitude isn't the absence of suffering but a response to God's faithfulness within it. Ministry leaders need purpose beyond the title they hold. God often brings deep spiritual formation through seasons we would never choose. Chapter Markers 00:00 Dennis' pastoral journey and ministry background 01:45 An early Parkinson's diagnosis changes everything 03:30 Why Dennis kept his diagnosis private for years 07:45 Telling the church and preparing for transition 11:00 Missing ministry more than expected 13:15 Becoming a caregiver and navigating family transition 14:30 Holy discontent and living with purpose 16:20 Choosing gratitude through suffering 20:00 The dark night of the soul and spiritual formation 25:30 Encouragement for leaders whose ministry ended unexpectedly If you're facing a ministry transition or unexpected life change, start a conversation with a specialist at Ministry Transitions (https://ministrytransitions.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Learn more about Dennis and his book Choosing Gratitude (https://a.co/d/0fcck31K) at Market Square Books.

3. 

   14 Jul 2026

   When Home Becomes the Mission Field (featuring Nate & Brittany Bruns)

   Missionaries spend years preparing to go to the field, but few are prepared for what it feels like to come home. After serving six years in Germany, Nate and Brittany Bruns share the unexpected challenges of returning to the United States, navigating reverse culture shock, raising third-culture kids, and rebuilding community. Ultimately, they discovered God was calling them to live as missionaries in their own country. Their story offers practical encouragement for missionaries, churches, and anyone walking through an unexpected ministry transition. Key Takeaways Reverse culture shock can be more difficult than moving overseas. Missionary transitions affect spouses, children, and the entire family. God often prepares leaders for future seasons long before they understand why. Returning missionaries bring valuable wisdom that can strengthen the local church. Waiting on God is an active posture of trust, not passive inactivity. Chapter Markers 00:00 Job loss, the desert season, and God's unexpected call to Germany 04:30 Reaching a post-Christian culture through relationships 07:15 When God said it was time to come home 11:15 Reverse culture shock and becoming strangers in your own country 16:00 Helping third-culture kids navigate transition 20:15 How churches can better care for returning missionaries 23:30 What America can learn from post-Christian Europe 26:45 Financial transitions and rebuilding support 30:00 Waiting on God and discerning what's next 34:00 The Bruns Tribe and engaging the spiritually disengaged 36:30 Encouragement for missionaries in transition If you're navigating a ministry transition, we'd love to help. Start a conversation with a specialist at Ministry Transitions (https://ministrytransitions.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Learn more about Nate and Brittany's ministry at The Bruns Tribe (https://www.brunstribe.com/).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

18 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

62 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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