Episode 77 - Leaving Without Losing Continuity (featuring Chuck Proudfit)
Telling stories of turning transition into transformation. There is Life After Ministry.
What if the biggest lie Christian leaders believe is that ministry only happens inside church walls?
When pastors and nonprofit leaders transition into the marketplace, many feel like they’ve stepped out of calling and into something lesser. But that assumption may be the very thing limiting the Church’s influence.
In this episode, we talk with Chuck Proudfit about faith at work, succession challenges, leadership continuity, and why Christians must rethink the sacred-secular divide.
This conversation reframes work as worship and challenges leaders to build legacy that outlives them.
Key Takeaways
Work is not secular space. It is strategic deployment.
The sacred-secular divide quietly undermines Christian leadership.
Most succession failures begin long before the transition announcement.
Boards must proactively ask leaders about their 10-year vision.
Continuity requires infrastructure, not just inspiration.
Community shapes faith at work more effectively than content alone.
Leadership legacy must include both personal and organizational clarity.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Introduction and Chuck’s faith journey
03:15 – Work as worship and the sacred-secular divide
06:44 – Faith in consulting and marketplace leadership
07:33 – Why church transitions struggle
10:13 – Organic ministry in the workplace
13:30 – The birth of At Work On Purpose
16:44 – Spiritual formation through work
19:05 – The Faith at Work Summit and future frontiers
20:43 – Continuity, succession, and leadership legacy
25:15 – Invitation to the Summit
If you are navigating a leadership transition, preparing for succession, or reimagining how faith integrates with your everyday work, take your next step today. Visit https://ministrytransitions.com to schedule a confidential conversation about your transition, explore how faith and work come together at https://atworkonpurpose.org/, and learn more about the global Faith at Work Summit at https://faithatworksummit2026.com/. Whether you are leaving vocational ministry, leading through change, or building what comes next, you do not have to do it alone.
Find resources. Find hope.
This is a sanctuary for those who've experienced a transition out of church or nonprofit Christian leadership roles. Our mission is to provide a platform for sharing, learning, and growing through each other's experiences.
A place for elders needing answers.
Welcome to the Elder Hub, a platform designed to uplift, empower, and unite elders across Christian denominations. This group serves as support and guidance for those entrusted with the weighty responsibility of making critical decisions within churches and nonprofit ministries.
