Afleveringen
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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 TakeawaysUnexpected 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 Markers00:00 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. Learn more about Dennis and his book Choosing Gratitude at Market Square Books.
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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 TakeawaysReverse 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 Markers00:00 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. Learn more about Nate and Brittany's ministry at The Bruns Tribe.
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