168: A Starting Point for Your Retirement Ministry

What if a simple summer picnic could change our country? 

In this lively episode, Jim and Martha Brangenberg launch a summer challenge for listeners: host a neighborhood picnic. They share personal stories, practical hospitality ideas, and a biblical reminder that loving your neighbor often starts with simply spending time together. 

The conversation highlights how modern life has isolated many people from those living right next door and how food, fellowship, and intentional connection can begin changing that. Jim and Martha also offer easy, low-pressure ideas for hosting a casual gathering that helps neighbors feel seen, welcomed, and loved. 

What You’ll Hear: 

• Why neighborhood connection matters 

• How simple hospitality reflects the love of Christ 

• Practical tips for hosting an easy summer picnic 

• Why relationship-building helps break down barriers 

• Fun ideas for food, games, and gathering neighbors together 

• The vision behind the iWork4Him/iRetire4Him summer picnic challenge 

Action Steps: 

1. Plan to host a simple neighborhood picnic this summer. 

1. Invite your neighbors – whether a few close by or the whole street.  

1. Keep it casual; no need to overcomplicate it.  

1. Use the gathering to build genuine relationships (doesn’t need to be explicitly evangelistic). 

1. Take a photo and send it to jim@iwork4him.com to enter the summer giveaway 

This episode is a refreshing reminder that ministry doesn’t always happen from a stage. Sometimes it starts in your driveway, backyard, or front lawn with an open invitation and a shared meal! 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him reach more Christ followers with the message that their work matters to God. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/donate

Featuring: Jim & Martha Brangenberg 

Ministry: iWork4Him & iRetire4Him 

167: Building a Movement of Purpose-Driven Retirees

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 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! 

FEATURING: Barak Strickland 

ORGANIZATION: Refire Nation 

166: When God Aligns a Couple for Their Next Assignment

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, 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 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, where they share more about bringing Kingdom impact into everyday work and leadership. 

FEATURING: Peter & Tini Lawry 

ORGANIZATION: Business as Mission 

165: Free Golf. Eternal Purpose.

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!

FEATURING: Ron ‘3-Putt’ Potter & Wes Kliner 

ORGANIZATION: Challenge Golf