When Church Transitions Hurt: Navigating Change Without Losing Faith
In this episode of Substance of Faith , host Rudy Swigart shares a reflection on church transitions, spiritual trauma, and the emotional toll of unpredictable changes in leadership and culture within the local church. Drawing from his own military background and ministry experience, Rudy brings wisdom and compassion to the realities of navigating pastoral shifts, church mergers, and the cultural fallout that often leaves congregations in a wilderness season.
Rudy unpacks the difference between reacting and responding when the routine is disrupted; whether that’s someone sitting in your usual seat on a Sunday morning or your trusted pastor suddenly stepping down. With authenticity and grace, he explores the deeper tensions of post-traumatic stress, both in military veterans and everyday Christians, and how many carry these wounds silently into church spaces that are meant to be safe but often trigger past hurts.
Through it all, Rudy offers hope and clarity: the call to community doesn’t end when churches change. Whether you're a leader walking your congregation through a transition or a church member wrestling with anxiety and spiritual disorientation, this episode reminds you that God is constant, even when everything around you shifts. You are not meant to remain isolated. You were made for relationship, healing, and meaningful participation in the body of Christ.
Key takeaways from this episode:
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Why church transitions are emotionally destabilizing and how to recognize trauma responses
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The critical importance of culture in church mergers and leadership changes
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The spiritual and psychological impact of chronic fight-or-flight from military service or unsafe environments
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How to shift from consumer to contributor in your church community
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Encouragement for pastors and church boards to communicate with compassion during times of change
🛑 If you’ve been tempted to walk away from church after getting hurt: this episode is your call back to peace and healing.
🙏 If you’re in leadership, ask yourself: Are we shepherding people through transition with care, or just managing logistics?
🎧 Listen now and be equipped to walk with grace through the messiness of church life.
Learn more about Rudy Swigart by visiting the following links:
