Episode 79 - Why Men Need Men in Transition (featuring Don Ross)
Telling stories of turning transition into transformation. There is Life After Ministry.
What happens when the calling that once defined you no longer feels sustainable? When the work you love begins to cost you more than you can carry?
For many ministry leaders, the hardest battles are not theological. They are personal. Emotional. Quiet. And often fought alone.
In this episode, Matt Davis sits down with Don Ross, former pastor and founder of Manhood Tribes, to talk about why so many men struggle in silence, especially during seasons of ministry transition.
After two decades in large evangelical church leadership, Don stepped away - not because he stopped loving Jesus, but because the system was breaking him.
What followed was a difficult transition marked by uncertainty, financial pressure, and identity questions that many ministry leaders quietly face. This conversation pulls back the curtain on isolation, addiction, shame, and the deep need for brotherhood.
If you are navigating transition, questioning your direction, or responsible for leading others through change, this episode offers both clarity and hope.
No man should have to walk alone.
Key Takeaways
Ministry leadership can be both deeply fulfilling and profoundly exhausting at the same time.
Many church systems unintentionally isolate pastors rather than care for them.
Churches often struggle to reach men because they build connection models that don’t align with how men bond.
Pornography addiction thrives in isolation and shame, even among pastors.
Bringing struggle into the light is the first step toward freedom.
Transition seasons destabilize identity, especially around provision and purpose.
Intentional, challenge-based brotherhood can anchor men during seasons of uncertainty.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Introduction and framing the conversation about men
01:00 – Don’s ministry journey and transition
06:00 – The celebrity pastor model and systemic pressure
08:00 – Why churches struggle to reach men
16:00 – The five marks of manhood
19:00 – Pornography, shame, and isolation
24:00 – How tribes work differently than typical men’s groups
31:00 – Financial pressure and identity in transition
37:00 – Fulfillment after leaving vocational ministry
Ready to take your next step?
Visit MinistryTransitions.com to book a confidential call about an upcoming transition, termination, or succession.
Explore Don’s resources at ManhoodTribes.com and take the quiz at HowManlyAreYou.com.
If this episode helped you, consider donating to support leaders navigating transition.
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.
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