Bill Simmons thought he was in control - until a child soldier in the Congo held him at gunpoint. In that moment, as the AK-47 clicked into place, Bill realized the terrifying truth: control was an illusion.

Years later, as the CEO of a global nonprofit, he faced a different kind of pressure - leading an organization, carrying the weight of a mission, and pushing through exhaustion.

But this time, the gun wasn’t in someone else’s hands. It was the slow, creeping pressure of burnout, and it was just as dangerous.

In this episode, Bill shares how he went from being a leader on the brink to discovering the power of interruption.

He unpacks why so many pastors and ministry leaders are running on empty, why stepping away feels impossible, and how his sabbatical at a silent monastery changed everything.

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor - it’s a warning sign. If you feel the weight of ministry pressing down on you, this conversation is your lifeline.

• Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow fade, and most leaders don’t see it coming until they’re in crisis.
• Control is an illusion. Whether it’s holding onto leadership or refusing to step away, the tighter your grip, the heavier the burden.
• Interruption is a choice - disruption is a consequence. If you don’t make space for rest, your body, mind, or ministry will force the issue.
• A sabbatical isn’t selfish - it’s survival. Leaders who take time to step away don’t weaken their ministries - they strengthen them.
• The church must do better. If you're a board member or elder, don’t wait for your pastor to break - give them space to breathe.

• [00:10] - Welcome & Bill Simmons’ Story: From Missionary Kid to CEO
• [03:14] - Held at Gunpoint - What a Child Soldier Taught Me About Control
• [06:25] - The Burnout Epidemic: Why 8.5/10 Leaders Are Near Collapse
• [09:55] - The Moment Everything Broke - And Why Bill Took a Sabbatical
• [14:44] - Shabbat, Ceasing, & The Myth of Rest
• [19:09] - The Power of Pause, Psalm, and Prayer
• [24:59] - Leaders Don’t Have to Manufacture Spiritual Life - Just Make Space
• [28:41] - Interruption vs. Disruption: What Happens When You Ignore the Signs
• [32:11] - How to Sabbath Without Making It Just Another Task
• [36:46] - The Way of Interruption - Bill’s Book & Why It Matters

The weight of leadership isn’t yours to carry alone.

• Read Bill Simmons’ book, The Way of Interruption, and learn how to embrace spiritual pause before burnout takes over. Order your copy now: Get the book here
• Need help navigating a transition? Whether you're stepping away from ministry or trying to find a healthier rhythm, Pastoral Transitions can help. Visit pastoraltransitions.com to start the conversation.

Matthew had been hiding a secret for years. A secret that was growing, festering, and slowly creating a wedge in his marriage.

He was a pastor. A leader. A man who thought he had it under control - until he didn’t. Until Joanna asked him the one question he had spent years avoiding.

In that moment, everything unraveled. Their marriage. Their ministry. The future they had planned.

What do you do when the thing you're struggling with is the very thing you’re called to help others with? When the shame is suffocating, and the voices in your head tell you you're disqualified?

In this episode, Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith open up about betrayal, confession, and the long road to healing. They reveal how their journey nearly cost them everything - and how, through the wreckage, they found a new calling.

If you’re a pastor, a ministry leader, or just someone feeling like you've lost your way, this episode is for you.

• Secrets don’t stay buried. What you hide will always rise to the surface - usually when you least expect it.
• Your struggle doesn’t disqualify you. But ignoring it might.
• Healing is possible - but only if you face the truth. Matthew’s addiction nearly destroyed his marriage, but confession opened the door to redemption.
• Ministry should not cost you your soul. Leaders are burning out, hiding struggles, and suffering in silence. It’s time for a better way.

[00:10] - Introducing Matthew & Joanna Raabsmith [01:15] - Falling in Love & Stepping into Ministry [02:08] - The Secret That Changed Everything [07:18] - The Moment of Truth: When Joanna Asked the Hard Question [09:15] - Can You Still Be in Ministry After Failing? [14:51] - Pastors in Crisis: Why Leaders Feel Stuck [18:30] - The Weight of Hidden Struggles & The Road to Freedom [21:27] - Creating a Culture Where Leaders Can Heal [26:08] - What Churches Get Wrong About Redemption [29:08] - Finding New Purpose After Ministry

If you or someone you know is struggling in ministry, you are not alone. There is a way forward. There is life after ministry.

Get resources and connect with Matthew & Joanna at https://raabsmithteam.com/free

Connect with us at https://pastoraltransitions.com/

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What do you do when life shatters around you?

When everything you built - your family, your future, your faith - feels like it’s slipping through your fingers?

Bryan Elliott knows suffering intimately.

A tragic accident left his brother in a vegetative state.

Addiction nearly destroyed his daughters.

A brutal murder stole one of them forever.

His businesses collapsed.

His marriages unraveled.

His world should have crushed him.

But it didn’t.

Instead, Bryan woke up the morning after his daughter's murder with something that made no sense: peace.

Not numbness.

Not denial.

Actual, undeniable peace.

And then, something even crazier - joy.

How?

This episode of Life After Ministry goes deep into the mystery of suffering, not as something to survive, but as something that transforms.

Bryan doesn’t just talk about enduring pain - he talks about what it means to co-suffer with Christ, to find God in the darkest pit, and to come out on the other side more alive than ever.

If you’ve ever walked through a season where God felt absent - where the wilderness stretched on too long and the heartbreak felt too heavy - this is the episode you need to hear.

Because maybe, just maybe, your suffering isn’t the end of the story. Maybe it’s the beginning of something bigger than you ever expected.

• Why suffering is not just something to endure, but something God uses to transform us.
• The kingdom principle of co-suffering with Christ and how it leads to co-glorification.
• How to recognize God’s presence in the darkest seasons, even when He feels silent.
• Why suffering is an accelerant in spiritual growth and how it prepares us for what’s next.
• The role of grief, loss, and pain in shaping our faith and revealing God’s goodness.
• How Bryan’s story of unimaginable suffering led to an unshakable trust in God’s sovereignty.

00:10 | Welcome & Bryan’s background 01:15 | A tragic accident that unraveled his family 07:31 | When life keeps taking - divorce, addiction, business collapse 16:23 | The moment Bryan’s daughter was murdered 17:06 | Waking up with peace - and why it didn’t make sense 20:54 | Why suffering is an accelerant, not an obstacle 26:22 | What we’re missing about suffering as believers 33:42 | Encouragement for those walking through suffering 40:51 | How to move forward and trust God in the process

If you’re walking through a season of suffering, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

We’re giving away 14 copies of Bryan’s book, As In Heaven, for free. Be one of the first 14 people to email talk@pastoraltransitions.com, and we’ll send you a copy.

Want more resources on navigating life after ministry? Visit PastoralTransitions.com for guides, support, and practical help to walk through this season with clarity and hope.

To dive deeper into Bryan's ministry and find more resources on healing, restoration, and kingdom living, visit M46Ministries.com.

This is one of the most raw, gut-honest conversations we’ve ever had. Listen now, and let it reshape how you see suffering.