LIFE AFTER
MINISTRY
STORIES OF WHAT NOW AND WHAT’S NEXT
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Episode 102 - Your Bylaws Would Like a Word (featuring Sheila Bennett)
Some churches find their bylaws only after a pastor announces a departure. Then they discover the documents haven’t been reviewed in decades.
Sheila Bennett would rather help a board ask those questions earlier. With more than twenty years in church finance and operations, she sees governance as part of caring for the people doing ministry.
Sheila joins us to discuss why churches need structures that serve the organization beyond its current leader.
We talk about choosing board members for more than proximity, understanding a congregation’s relationships, and making sure someone owns the work happening behind the scenes.
There’s also an honest exchange about why pastors avoid this material. We would prefer Leviticus to business paperwork. Sheila explains why she finds purpose in the details we’d gladly hand to someone else.
Episode 101 - How Father-Son Ministry Succession Works (featuring Jonathan & David Shibley)
Jonathan Shibley was about to speak when someone whispered how sorry he felt for him, having to fill his father’s shoes.
Following a respected founder carries pressure. Following a father brings that pressure home.
In this episode, Matt Davis talks with David and Jonathan Shibley about the succession at Global Advance - and how they remained close through it.
Jonathan joined with no promised title, served for ten years before becoming president, and had time to earn the confidence of the board and the people connected to the ministry.
David explains why he affirmed his son’s leadership publicly and kept disagreements private. Jonathan describes the insecurity of being compared with his father, the weight of becoming president, and learning to lead in his own way.
They also discuss their wives’ experiences, boundaries around family time, financial preparation, and the work David continues to do after leaving the presidency. It’s a hopeful account of a handoff that gave both generations room to serve.
Episode 100 - Lessons From 100 Ministry Transitions Stories (featuring the Ministry Transitions Team)
The church has a plan for who’s preaching next Sunday. Who’s checking on the pastor’s family on Monday?
For episode 100, our team at Ministry Transitions - Bill Tom, Matt Davis, Noe Rivera, and Ron Henry - talk about what has surprised us, what still breaks our hearts, and why we keep hearing, “I wish we’d found you sooner.”
Today, we get to talk with people who are asking “What now?” and “What’s next?” We also help the boards and leaders making hard decisions that will affect a family long after the announcement is over.
We talk about caring for spouses and kids, the humility to ask for help, and the moments when somebody begins to see a future again.
After 100 episodes, we believe more strongly than ever that the church should know how to say goodbye without destroying people.
Episode 99 - Succession Planning for the Ministry You Love (featuring Robin Fuller)
Why is it so hard to let go of a ministry you love before something forces the decision?
Robin Fuller knows firsthand. After more than 23 years in pregnancy center ministry, she burned out and heard that only about 10 percent of ministry leaders finish well.
She decided to be part of that 10 percent. Robin lifted the mantle off her shoulders in front of her board and walked through a four-year succession plan that started with a simple "Things I Do" document.
Matt and Robin talk about why founders struggle most, how a poverty mindset keeps leaders in the seat too long, and why outgoing leaders need to step away for at least six months. Robin also shares her new book, Finish Well: Succession Planning for the Ministry You Love.
Episode 98 - Leaving a Gift Or a Legacy? (featuring Anthony Barton)
Anthony Barton was a successful business owner when a trust attorney asked what his family mission statement was - not his business one.
That question pushed him beyond leaving a gift toward building a legacy, and within 90 days he and his family were serving in Swaziland.
Cancer later clarified the shift. Anthony sold his company, entered seminary, and now coaches Christian entrepreneurs through Convene.
In this conversation he shares frameworks for pausing and pivoting, caring for people as image-bearers, and looking for God's providence in disruption.
Episode 97 - 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?
Facing Life After Ministry can feel hopeless, but it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you've stepped away from your position by choice, or circumstances have forced a change, it's a monumental shift that leaves many wondering, "What's next?" If you're at this crossroads, you may feel alone, overwhelmed, and unsure about the road ahead.
We want you to know that you're not alone in this transition. There's not just life after ministry - there's a chance to thrive.
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Listen to an episode and help us spread the word by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.
“Just listened to Matt and Marilee unpacked their own story in episode one. So generous, honest, and invitational. Thanks for meeting a "gap" in the ministry world, and by that I mean the shattered heads and hearts wandering the land like Christendom's own take on the Walking Dead. I pray this resurrects many, opens eyes for their families and communities, causing an increase in empathy among God's people.”
- Scott White
David, Former Pastor
"I felt lost after leaving the ministry. This podcast showed me a way forward."
Sarah, Ex-Missionary
"Life After Ministry Podcast was a lifeline during my transition. Now, I'm thriving in my new chapter!"
The Struggles of Transitioning
Stepping away from pastoral service can be a lonely journey filled with uncertainties. What will your new identity be? How do you make sense of the changes? The stakes are high - but you don't have to navigate this alone.
