My Reinvention Story (And Why I Built This Community)

If you’re over 50 and feeling stuck, tired, or quietly wrestling with burnout… I want to tell you a story about the moment everything changed for me.

For 28 years, I served in full-time ministry—pastoring, leading an addiction treatment program, walking with people through the darkest and brightest moments of their lives. It was sacred work, and I gave it everything.

Then I was promoted to Regional Director.

On paper? A dream.

In reality? The beginning of my reinvention.

One year into the role, I was told I’d be moved to a new city—1,000 miles away.

New role. New expectations.

No choice.

Except my wife was fighting a serious, debilitating disease.

My married daughter was too.

And uprooting my family—or walking away from them—wasn’t an option.

So I offered a compromise:

“Let me stay in my city. I’ll take any role that fits my skills. I just won’t abandon my family.”

Instead, I got pressure from upper-level executives:

“Take the new role for two years. After that, you can choose whatever job you want.”

To sweeten the deal, they offered a prestigious 6-week leadership training at the international headquarters—the kind that usually fast-tracks you to the top.

But something in my spirit shifted.

I realized this wasn’t about opportunity.

It was about obedience—to a system that didn’t value my family, my health, or my calling.

And one quiet morning, it hit me:

If I didn’t take control of my future now, I’d spend the rest of my life waiting for permission to live it.

I was scared.

Overwhelmed.

On the edge of burnout.

Afraid of disappointing people.

Afraid of failing.

Afraid of starting over at 50+ with no roadmap.

But I walked away.