The Healthy Church Staff Podcast
The Mid-Career Ministry Refresh_ When You're Too Experienced to Start Over But Too Restless to Stay Put
Jan 14, 2026
Episode 528
In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades addresses the feeling of restlessness that can occur in ministry when expertise becomes routine. He introduces the concept of the 'competence paradox,' where accumulated knowledge and efficiency lead to stagnation rather than growth. Todd discusses ways to refresh and reinvigorate one's ministry role, such as expanding into adjacent responsibilities, mentoring younger staff, taking on challenging projects, and planning for succession. He emphasizes that restlessness is not a flaw but a sign to pursue greater impact.• Longevity and expertise in ministry can lead to feelings of restlessness.• The 'competence paradox' refers to how mastery in a role can feel like a prison.• Suggestions to revitalize one's role include expanding into new areas, mentoring, tackling challenging projects, and succession planning.• Restlessness is seen as a call towards achieving greater impact, not a flaw.• Encouragement for church staff to have open conversations about growth desires with leadership.
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