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What happens when a faithful pastor is suddenly forced out of ministry?

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Robby sits down with Deanna Harrison, co-founder of Pastors Hope Network, to talk about the devastating experience of pastoral termination—and the long road toward healing.

After over 30 years of loving ministry life, Deanna and her husband were blindsided by a forced resignation that unfolded in just 12 days. No due process. No warning. Just loss, grief, and trauma.

But what the enemy meant for destruction, God used to birth a new ministry—one that now provides crisis care, counseling connections, financial guidance, and employment assistance to pastors and families who have lost their ministry positions.

If you or someone you love has experienced the pain of termination, this episode will remind you:
 You are not crazy. You are not alone. And you are not finished.

Key Topics Covered

• The emotional and spiritual trauma of forced termination
• Grieving ministry loss and understanding the stages of grief
• The stigma pastors carry after being “let go”
• Why forgiveness is a process—not a one-time decision
• Protecting your marriage when ministry collapses
• The importance of friendships outside your church
• Practical advice for pastors: CPE training, chaplaincy, and vocational flexibility

Key Takeaways

• Termination trauma is real. Many pastors are blindsided and deeply disoriented after losing their position.
• Anger is part of grief. Emotional reactions don’t mean you lack faith—they mean you’re human.
• Your marriage is your ministry. When everything else falls apart, your spouse is your primary calling.
• You must build friendships outside the church. Losing a position often means losing your entire social network.
• Ministry doesn’t end when the paycheck does. God often redirects calling, not cancels it.
• Crisis care matters. The first year after termination is critical for mental, financial, and relational stability.
• Denominations don’t define kingdom partnership. If you love Jesus, we’re on the same team.

Memorable Quotes

“Forgiveness is a process. You don’t just say the words and move on.”

“Our marriage was the only stable thing in our lives—and that was enough.”

“Just because a church doesn’t sign your paycheck doesn’t mean you’ve left ministry.”

“We show up like paramedics—we don’t ask whose fault it was. We ask, ‘Who’s hurt?’”

Deanna Harrison is the co-founder of Pastors Hope Network, a nonprofit dedicated to helping pastors and ministry families who have lost their ministry positions. After walking through the trauma of forced termination herself, Deanna felt called to create a network of mental health, financial, and employment resources designed specifically for wounded shepherds.

Her book, Moving On: Surviving the Grief of Forced Termination, has helped hundreds of pastors begin their healing journey.

Resources Mentioned

• Pastors Hope Network – pastorshopenetwork.org
• Care for Pastors – Counseling and support for ministry families
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for chaplaincy pathways

Who This Episode Is For

• Pastors who have been forced out or terminated
• Pastor’s wives navigating trauma and grief
• Ministry couples protecting their marriage
• Church leaders who want to better care for wounded shepherds

Next Episode:
 We continue the conversation around hidden pain as Robby interviews Sam Jolman about sexual formation, shame, and healing from sexual brokenness.