Episode 78 - The Next Season WITH God (featuring Curt Swindoll)
Telling stories of turning transition into transformation. There is Life After Ministry.
Is there really a difference between ministry and the marketplace? Or have we created a divide that Scripture never intended?
In this episode, Curt Swindoll shares insights from 40 years of leadership across nonprofit, church, and for-profit environments.
Having transitioned multiple times - sometimes with a plan, sometimes without - Curt challenges the assumption that ministry is something we leave behind.
Instead, he invites leaders to rethink their posture toward God, especially during seasons of uncertainty.
For leaders navigating burnout, succession, or vocational transition, this conversation reframes the journey.
The issue is not whether you are in ministry or business. The deeper issue is whether you are living for God or with Him.
And that distinction changes everything.
Key Takeaways
There is no sacred-secular divide. God is as present in the marketplace as in the church.
Burnout often reveals a “for God” posture that has replaced a “with God” relationship.
Transitions are rarely clean; God’s presence is not dependent on clarity.
Work is one of the primary places of spiritual formation.
Discernment is not about finding one perfect path but learning to journey wisely with God.
Succession is less about ending ministry and more about shifting where and how ministry happens.
Peace and freedom are often the deeper invitation beneath vocational change.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Is There Really Life After Ministry?
02:30 – Sacred vs. Secular: A False Divide
07:00 – Transitioning Without a Plan
10:00 – Life With God vs. Life For God
15:00 – Burnout and Identity in Ministry
21:00 – The Role of Spiritual Formation and Marriage
24:00 – Moving Between Ministry and Marketplace
29:00 – God at the Door in Seasons of Anxiety
33:00 – Lessons from a Lifetime of Ministry Transitions
43:00 – Succession, Discernment, and “Never Say Never”
50:00 – Practical Resources and Final Encouragement
If this conversation stirred something in you - whether you're navigating a leadership transition, discerning succession, or simply longing to experience more of a life with God - there are a few trusted next steps.
For confidential support and guidance through ministry transitions, visit https://ministrytransitions.com.
To explore spiritual formation resources and connect with trained spiritual directors, go to https://graftedlife.org.
And if you're leading an organization and want clarity, traction, and a healthier operating rhythm, learn more about EOS at https://www.eosworldwide.com or connect directly with Curt at https://www.eosworldwide.com/curt-swindoll. Wherever you are in your journey, you don’t have to walk 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.
