Substance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered Perspective

Today on The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart tackles a critical yet often overlooked moment in church life: the departure of a beloved pastor. Whether it's a peaceful retirement, an unexpected firing, or a scandal, pastoral transitions impact far more than Sunday attendance—they affect the faith of the people in the pews.

In this episode, Rudy unpacks:

• Why 10–30% of church members leave after a pastoral transition—so...

In this sobering episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart explores the hidden pressures crushing pastors across the United States—and why pastoral care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

From endless hours and constant crisis management to burnout, depression, infidelity, and addiction—today’s pastors are struggling. Some in silence. Some until collapse.

Drawing from credible research, Rudy lays out the alarming statist...

In this week’s episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart speaks straight to the heart of the church—and the hurting.

We’re diving into what it really means to be a safe church for those who are silently battling addiction, mental health challenges, grief, trauma, or spiritual burnout. For too long, the church has unintentionally fostered environments where people feel pressure to appear whole instead of being honest ab...

In this heartfelt episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart shares a story that stopped him in his tracks—a story of relapse, redemption, and what it looks like when the church truly becomes a safe place for its leaders.

While attending an AA meeting, a friend witnessed a powerful moment: a pastor receiving his 12-month sobriety chip. But even more powerful was the backstory—this pastor had once relapsed after years of...

In this soul-searching episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives into a topic that too often remains buried in the shadows of church life: lust and sexual temptation, especially among those in ministry and spiritual leadership.

The conversation begins with the reality of pastoral burnout, serving in high-stress, low-control environments with little visible reward. When volunteers are inconsistent, when crise...

In this powerful and introspective episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart is joined by Randy Davis, a ministry leader and voice of experience in the world of addiction recovery and spiritual care. Together, they explore the deep intersection between discipleship, mental health, and the church’s response to addiction—particularly among leaders.

Randy shares insights from his work with A Better Life – Brianna’s H...

In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Pastor Rudy Swigart returns with a timely and vulnerable conversation about what’s often hidden behind the pulpit, burnout, exhaustion, and spiritual depletion in ministry. With a deep heart for both church leaders and individuals navigating addiction or mental health battles, Rudy opens the episode with a profound reminder: We bring the shadows where grace can, it’s built upon the...

In this episode of the Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart delivers a heartfelt exploration of overcoming life’s chaos and the unseen burdens of pastoral leadership. Reflecting on a past guest’s transformative journey from addiction to redemption, Rudy underscores how trauma, abuse, and sin impact us all, urging listeners to process pain through the Holy Spirit’s power for true freedom. He also addresses the critical chal...

Many churches today are stretched thin, financially, relationally, and spiritually, and the effects are showing up in both congregations and leadership teams. In this Memorial Day reflection, host Rudy Swigart honors the sacrifice of service members while calling believers to a life of service within the body of Christ. He takes listeners deep into the reality of what pastors and church leaders face behind the scenes, from burnout ...

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 congregatio...

Many veterans carry invisible wounds: PTSD, addiction, depression, and spiritual oppression, that linger long after their service ends. In this episode, host Rudy Swigart welcomes retired Navy Senior Chief John Loretta for a conversation on trauma, transformation, and the healing power of Christ.

Listeners will hear John’s story of military service, suicidal despair, and supernatural deliverance, along with real talk on how identity...

Many Christians experience church hurt, whether through leadership failures, betrayal, or spiritual wounding, and it can shake even the strongest believers. In this episode, host Rudy Swigart unpacks how to process church hurt in a way that strengthens, not weakens, your faith.

Listeners will hear real talk on why faith in Christ, not people, must always be our foundation, and how to stay spiritually healthy through prayer, Scriptur...

In this milestone Episode 10 of the Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart sits down with Tim Holloway, a mentor, friend, and brother in Christ, for an unfiltered conversation about trauma, redemption, and the long road to true healing. Tim opens up about his childhood in extreme dysfunction, early exposure to addiction, and the devastating losses that shaped his life. Together, Rudy and Tim explore how deep pain can either trap ...

In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart takes a heartfelt and honest look at the role of dysfunctional family systems within the context of addiction and Christian recovery. Drawing from personal experience and biblical interperitation, Rudy explores how codependency, trauma, and enabling behaviors shape not just the individual caught in addiction, but the entire household. He speaks directly to parents...

In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart delivers a crucial message for Christian families navigating the difficult waters of addiction and mental health. This episode is a lifeline for anyone loving someone through substance use or emotional struggle, and for pastors seeking to shepherd more effectively in these hidden battlegrounds. Rudy breaks down a practical, spiritually grounded care model—centered...

In this episode of the Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart welcomes his longtime friend and spiritual brother, Mike Worley, to share a testimony that has deeply shaped his own faith journey. What unfolds is not just a story about recovery; it's a deep dive into what it means to wrestle with the darkness, to cry out in desperation, and to meet a living God who responds with transformational power.

Mike opens up about his tr...

In this episode of Substance of Faith, host Rudy Swigart speaks directly to those feeling buried under the weight of guilt, shame, addiction, trauma, depression, or spiritual exhaustion. With vulnerability, biblical truth, and a pastor’s heart, Rudy reminds listeners of the transforming power of Jesus Christ, even when hope feels like a distant memory.

Whether you’re silently struggling with substance use, mental health issues, or t...

In Episode 5 of the Substance of Faith podcast, host Rudy Swigart gets real about a question many of us wrestle with silently: When do you finally admit it’s time to get help? Whether you’re battling anxiety, addiction, unresolved childhood trauma, or spiritual burnout, this episode offers signs that you may be at a breaking point—and why that can actually be your breakthrough.

Rudy shares a heartfelt story of a Christian leader fac...

In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives into the journey of faith, recovery, and transformation. Exploring the intersection of substance use disorders, mental health struggles, and the Christian walk, Rudy sheds light on the often-overlooked reality of addiction and emotional struggles within the church.

With candid storytelling and biblical wisdom, he unpacks the stages of change, the sanctificati...