Speaking of Reclamation

We are in the long period of dealing with the doldrums - where it 's easy to feel dull and listless.  In this episode we share some tips to navigate the doldrums, and some resources to help you learn a little more about how to handle stress during self quarantine.

Figuring our your next steps in these uncertain times... it's tough. Especially if you still believe that your have to have everything perfect. ⁣⁣In this episode of Speaking of Reclamation, we talk about the advantage of a "7" plan that you can execute today over a perfect "10" plan.⁣⁣No offense to Dudley Moore and Bo Derek.   

We are now in a whole new ballgame.⁣⁣ What do you do everything changes? We are not 100% sure,either. ⁣⁣But in this episode of Speaking of Reclamation we share some of what we have observed and experienced in this new world of social distancing and voluntary quarantine. ⁣⁣We share some great stories about the good things we see people stepping up and doing. ⁣⁣We also want to know what you are experiencing. ⁣⁣Leave a comment and let us know how you are responding when everything changes.

In our 20th episode, our favorite counselor Hannan Smith and Jody Todd talk about how to turn traumas into strengths. It's the best kind of jiu jitsu, where you turn the power of trauma against itself and make it work in your favor.

"If God gave you something to do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?" ~ Stephen King (yeah, that Stephen King) God put a life changing message inside of you. Part of your job on the planet is to share that message. "There are more people waiting to hear your unique life changing message, who can only hear it from you, than you can ever get to in your lifetime." ~ some guy named Jeff Herring I have always said that there are people who will only be able to hear God through your voice. So not only do you have a life changing message inside you, you have an audience waiting, more than you can ever get to in your short lifetime. So why don’t you?

Three truths that we have had to learn the hard way.Skills don't equal character.Everything you formed your self worth around is probably nonsense.Don't hide the hard parts.You think that we are kidding? Give a listen.     

Listening..It's the greatest gift we can give each other. It's the means to let the other person know that they are both seen and heard.Effective listening can be a great healer for those who have been through harsh ministry seasons.In this episode, our favorite counselor Hannah Smith shares three actionable tips for loving listening.

We are proud to present another episode with our favorite counselor Hannah Smith. Speaking about The New Normals, she helps to explore the necessary changes that are forced by ministry transitions, and shares tips to navigate these choppy waters.

We are super excited about this episode of Speaking of Reclamation. Our first guest is our daughter Hannah Marie Smith. She is well versed in all forms of ministry transitions, having experienced them as a P.K. She is now a licensed counselor and shares a ton of great tips in this episode Walking Through Loss. Enjoy.

When you carry the bruises of serving in ministry, it's common to feel stuck and frustrated. In this episode we share a story to encourage you to reconnect with your true heart. Don't be Bob. Don't be Darla. Just be you.

Remember playing freeze tag when you were a kid? Too many of us are still playing in a game of freeze tag today - the problem is that everyone else has moved on. We look at how to get “unfrozen”, how tall you should be, and who to spend time with during the holidays. Just listen, it will all make sense.

We talk a lot about getting your unique gifts back into the game. What is your plan to get these things accomplished? In this episode, we look at three questions that will help you to make the progress that you desire. Also, an invitation to join an encouragement and accountability cohort.

We talk a lot on Speaking of Reclamation about how you can only lead from where you have been. So I (Bill) share my story of ministry, burnout, hubris, forced humility, mistakes and the path back. Would love to get your feedback on this one.

For our 10th episode, we share 10 things that make us very thankful for all of you. We believe that we are building an incredible audience, and you amaze us more and more every week. So allow us to share a few of the ways that you inspire, motivate and astound us. This one is all about YOU!

Find the fun, reclaim your joy. It can be very hard when you have been beaten up by ministry. However, finding your fun is not only possible, but it is also imperative. In this episode, we discuss the reality of losing your joy in ministry and give steps and examples on how to get back to being the fun hub that you were meant to be.

You are still exactly who you were designed by God to be. Even if you have parked your gifts on the sidelines, they are not going anywhere. You have simply allowed them to grow dormant. And you are shaped by the experience in ministry. We talk through each of these struggles and offer three suggestions on how to define your role in this new season.

With a nod of the cap to the Drive By Truckers, this episode Hell No I Aint Happy looks at the value of contentment versus happiness when you are recovering from your church staff experience. We look at what it really means to be in the center of God's will for you, and the importance of who you let whisper in your ear.

In this episode, your intrepid hosts share several of the responses that we have received over the past few weeks.  You will resonate with many of the stories shared. Also, your first steps to reclaiming your true voice. Can't wait for you to listen.

Former church staff members are sinking in secret shame. Shame about how your time ended, about how to explain what happened, and shame about feeling that no one will understand. It's a theme that we see all of the time. In this episode we let you know that we do understand what you went through. Finally, we give you three steps to begin to move out of shame and to embrace your terrifying (no longer terrified) self.

Episode 4 Finding Yourself Again.Where your hosts talk about finding your heart again, struggle with technology, play What's in the Oven, and repel an invasion of yard pandas.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9cSRFt42iQ 

We share 11 indicators that you may benefit greatly from church staff recovery. We share some listener emails and texts, and Bill tries to read without his readers with no success.

“Add me to the list of chewed up ministry folks. Now find myself 40 years old, wife and kids, decidedly done with ministry as we were crushed by the church. Stuck with a resume full of ministry and no clue where I fit. My community, my network and my drive to be better are all gone.”