167: Building a Movement of Purpose-Driven Retirees

167: Building a Movement of Purpose-Driven Retirees

FEATURING: Barak Strickland  ORGANIZATION: Refire Nation [https://refirenation.org/]  What happens when you change one letter in a word? You get Barak Strickland’s “retire to refire” God-given mission.   After retiring from a 40-year career in the Air Force, Barak thought he was entering a quieter season of life. Instead, God used unexpected transitions to spark something entirely new: Refire Nation – a community helping retirees rediscover meaning, service, and spiritual flourishing.  Barak shares how retirees at his local church went from uncertainty and frustration to renewed joy and clarity through the “Flourish” experience, rooted in Psalm 92 and focused on helping people bear fruit in every season of life. The conversation is filled with encouragement for anyone wondering if their most impactful years may still be ahead.  What you’ll hear in this episode:  * Why Barak believes “retirement is temporary, but refirement is forevermore”  * How God used unexpected life changes to open new ministry opportunities  * The powerful transformation happening through the Flourish groups  * Why retirees are wired for purpose, not perpetual leisure  * How Refire Nation is helping people connect, learn, and serve  * Details about the national neighborhood picnic challenge  * Opportunities to get involved with Refire Nation    You’ll also hear Jim launch the iRetire4Him Summer Picnic Initiative: a simple but powerful challenge to invite neighbors over, build real relationships, and create community right where you live. Listeners are encouraged to host a neighborhood picnic this summer, take a picture, and send it to jim@iwork4him.com [jim@iwork4him.com] for a chance to win the grand prize.  Whether you’re retired, approaching retirement, or simply asking God what’s next, this episode is a reminder that if you still have breath, you still have purpose!  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

166: When God Aligns a Couple for Their Next Assignment

FEATURING: Peter & Tini Lawry  ORGANIZATION: Business as Mission [https://business-as-mission.com/]  We love watching God take couples on new adventures – even in retirement. In this encouraging episode, Jim and Martha sit down with Peter and Tini Lawry to talk about faith, retirement, mentoring, and learning to minister together again.  Peter shares how, after years in business leadership, God told him he would never receive another regular paycheck, launching him into a new season of mentoring business owners, leading prayer ministry, discipling younger believers, and speaking prophetically into businesses and churches around the world. Tini shares how retirement opened opportunities to build meaningful relationships through hiking groups, biking clubs, the Lions Club [https://www.lionsclubs.org/en], and intentional investment in her grandchildren’s lives.    What You’ll Hear in This Episode  * Why Peter believes retirement was never meant to be “couch potato” living  * How God led Peter from business into unpaid full-time ministry  * The role mentoring plays in Peter’s life today – from business leaders to young adults in Bangladesh and Denmark  * How Tini ministers to “pre-believers” through hiking, biking, and Lions Club relationships  * Why grandparents have unique opportunities to disciple the next generation  * How Peter and Tini discovered new ministry synergy while praying for people together during their US trip  * The freedom Tini found when she realized everyday believers can pray, minister, and encourage others without formal ordination  * Why loving your neighbors may be one of the Church’s greatest missed opportunities  Jim and Martha also introduce the iRetire4Him summer picnic challenge, encouraging listeners to intentionally gather their neighbors for simple potluck-style hospitality as a practical way to love others and build meaningful relationships in their communities. Snap a picture of your picnic and send to jim@iwork4him.com [jim@iwork4him.com] to be entered into our grand summer giveaway!  Be sure to also hear more from Peter and Tini in their coinciding conversation on the iWork4Him Podcast [https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2026/2147], where they share more about bringing Kingdom impact into everyday work and leadership.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

165: Free Golf. Eternal Purpose

FEATURING: Ron ‘3-Putt’ Potter & Wes Kliner  ORGANIZATION: Challenge Golf [https://challengegolf.org/]  What if your next round of golf wasn’t just a game but a God-given opportunity? In this episode, Jim and Martha talk with Ron “3-Putt” Potter and Wes Kliner of Challenge Golf, who are using the fairway as a place for eternal impact – especially in the season of retirement.  Ron, a former sales professional, stepped away from business to pursue a vision of reaching one million golfers with the Gospel. Wes, a retired attorney and judge, thought he’d keep working into his mid-70s, but instead answered the call to help lead this growing ministry. Together, they’re showing that retirement isn’t about slowing down; it’s about stepping into purpose.  Through free monthly golf events, Challenge Golf creates space for real relationships with unbelieving and unchurched players. The Gospel is shared through serving participants, banquets, and intentional conversations, centered on the idea of a “mulligan”: a second chance we didn’t earn, pointing to the grace of Jesus.  What you’ll hear in this episode:  * How free golf events are drawing in unbelieving and unchurched golfers  * Why relationships – not programs – lead to lasting impact  * A powerful story of a man who came to faith years after attending an event   * Their new 18-week discipleship journey modeled after 18 holes on the course  * Why retirees are uniquely positioned to mentor and disciple others  * The impact so far: 260+ decisions for Christ in recent events   With new chapters launching across the Southeast, the opportunity is wide open to get involved, whether by inviting a friend, mentoring as a “caddie,” or helping start something new. If you’re a golfer, see how you can get involved with the mission of Challenge Golf! See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

164: Your Summer Challenge: Have a Picnic

FEATURING: Jim Brangenberg  ORGANIZATION: iRetire4Him [https://www.iretire4him.com/]  Spring brings new life – and new opportunities to connect with the people around us. In this short solo episode, Jim Brangenberg challenges listeners to take a simple step toward loving their neighbors: host a picnic. Instead of complicated programs or formal outreach, Jim encourages something far more relational: inviting people into your space, sharing a meal, and simply spending time together.  Jim reminds us that real transformation often begins with ordinary moments. A backyard picnic, a potluck dish, and an open invitation can create space for friendships to grow and conversations about faith to happen naturally. As the weather warms up, this episode offers a practical way to live out Jesus’ command to love your neighbor – one picnic at a time!  P.S. – Don't forget that if you take a picture of your picnic and send it to Jim (jim@iWork4Him.com [jim@iWork4Him.com]), he’ll send you a copy of the iRetire4Him book [https://www.iwork4him.com/iretire4him-book]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

163: What If Your Address Was Your Assignment?

FEATURING: Ken & Patti Sandel  ORGANIZATION: Apartment Life [https://apartmentlife.org/]    What does it look like to turn an apartment complex into a mission field?   Meet Ken and Patti Sandel, a couple in their 70s and 80s who are living on purpose inside a Tennessee apartment community where they host gatherings, build trust, and show up daily for neighbors who need a listening ear or steady presence.   Instead of choosing typical comfort in retirement, Ken and Patti followed a different calling – one that placed them in a community many would overlook. Through simple, consistent presence, they’re creating connection, offering care, and demonstrating what it means to truly love your neighbor right where you live.  What you’ll hear in the episode:  * Why Ken and Patti chose mission over leisure in retirement  * How Apartment Life creates opportunities to build community and share faith  * What it practically looks like to love and serve neighbors in an apartment setting  * The challenges of building trust in a hurting and skeptical community  * Simple, relational ways to make a lasting impact (from events to everyday presence)  * The unexpected moments where ministry becomes deeply personal  * Why living among people changes everything  Ken and Patti’s story is a reminder that purpose isn’t tied to a season of life. It’s rooted in obedience. Whether in an apartment complex, neighborhood, or workplace, there’s an invitation to live with intention and bring Jesus into everyday spaces and moments.   If you’re wondering what your next season could look like, consider exploring Apartment Life [https://apartmentlife.org/] and how you might step into a mission field right where people are already living.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.