Michael Turner thought retirement might be slower and simpler. Instead, one year after stepping away from his company – and after a five-year intentional wind-down – he found himself living in an RV at a Georgia campground, fixing trailers, launching boats, mentoring veterans, and eventually preaching weekly to a pop-up campground church. What unfolded was not a retirement plan, but a clear picture of how God repurposes decades of experience for unexpected ministry. 

In This Conversation 

• Michael describes his five-year transition out of leadership, remaining chairman while gradually releasing day-to-day responsibility and why that helped retirement feel less abrupt. 

• A move to Georgia for his daughter’s college recruitment led to an unusual living arrangement: 16 months full-time in an RV at a large campground with both long-term and transient residents. 

• Michael’s daily prayer: “Lord, use me however You want today” has opened constant opportunities for hands-on service: repairs, transportation, conversations, and practical care. 

• A request to fill in once for a small campground Sunday service slowly became a weekly preaching role. 

• Michael reflects on how decades as an executive prepared him for ministry – clear communication, preparation under pressure, anticipating questions, and engaging people from every background. 

• Realizing the depth of questions being asked, he enrolled at age 65 in a master’s program focused on Christian Apologetics to better serve those he teaches. 

• The campground church removes barriers many feel toward traditional church spaces, welcoming people exactly as they are – camp clothes, hard stories, skepticism and all. 

• Retirement rhythms that matter: staying connected to friends, caring for health, developing hobbies, and avoiding aimlessness by setting 3 daily priorities. 

Next Steps 

• Get the iRetire4Him Book 
  iRetire4Him: Unlocking God’s Purpose for Your Retirement is available for the cost of shipping (to US residents). Email Jim at jim@iwork4him.com to request your copy and begin reframing this season through a Kingdom lens! 

• Impact Other Retirees Through the PWI Swipe Tool 
  You can support the ministry by rounding up the change from everyday purchases through the PWI (Project World Impact) Swipe tool. Your spare change helps fund the work of iWork4Him and iRetire4Him. Learn more and sign up at iwork4him.com/donate

FEATURING: Michael Turner

ORGANIZATION: Retired businessman, Lake Pastor

Christmas is meant to be full of meaning – not just memories. In this special Christmas episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg share a simple, practical challenge for retirees: use the Christmas season as an opportunity to love the neighbors God has already placed around you. 

For many retired neighbors, Christmas can be quiet, lonely, or even difficult – especially with physical limitations, tighter budgets, or family living far away. But those challenges also open the door for beautiful ministry opportunities right where you live. 

In this episode, Jim and Martha remind us that loving your neighbors doesn’t require big events or elaborate plans. Often, the most meaningful moments come through small, intentional acts: 

• Sharing a plate of cookies 

• Inviting neighbors over for dessert or coffee 

• Hosting a casual gathering in your home or garage 

• Delivering leftovers after Christmas 

• Simply learning your neighbors’ names and saying, “We’re here if you need anything” 

They also share fun, low-pressure ideas like neighborhood gift games (“you’ve been socked!”), community parades, cookie exchanges, and simple games that build shared memories and open doors for deeper relationships. 

Most importantly, this conversation points us back to the true reason for the season – Jesus. Christmas creates a natural, gentle way to share faith, stories, and hope with the people God has placed in our everyday lives. 

Your Christmas Challenge: 

Before the year ends, choose one simple way to love a neighbor. One visit. One invitation. One shared moment. Let God do the rest. 

From the iRetire4Him family to yours, Merry Christmas! 

And don’t forget that you can give yourself or a friend the gift of purpose in retirement. Email Jim@iWork4Him.com to request your free copy of iRetire4Him: Unlock God’s Purpose for Your Retirement – just pay shipping (US residents only).  

P.S. – Read the first chapter for free! 

FEATURING: Jim & Martha Brangenberg

ORGANIZATION: iWork4Him Ministries

This week, Jim sits down with brand-new retiree Russell Jenson—whose “quiet summer” on a Minnesota lake turned into something far more unexpected. Just months after handing off his business, Russell suddenly found himself with an empty calendar, a pontoon boat, and a campground full of people who didn’t realize how ready they were for church. What began as one simple question—“Would you come if I kept it under 39 minutes?”—sparked a Sunday-morning gathering that surprised everyone…including Russell. 

You’ll hear: 

• How a former escape-room business owner ended up preaching (even though he introduced himself by insisting he wasn’t a pastor… right before doing everything a pastor does). 

• Why 32 campers rolled up in golf carts—bloody marys in hand—to join Russell’s first lakeside service. 

• The surprising story behind “9:39,” and why that oddly specific number worked. 

• How God used decades of leadership training, Dale Carnegie coaching, and team-building work to shape Russell’s unexpected next assignment. 

• Why having nothing on the calendar felt both terrifying and freeing—and how Russell and his wife are learning to listen for God’s direction one day at a time. 

• The rhythms Russell now keeps—coaching men, leading morning Bible studies, mentoring a young pastor in Pakistan—and why none of it was even on his radar 20 years ago. 

Russell’s story is a fresh, honest window into what can happen when retirement isn’t an escape from responsibility but an invitation from God. If your own next season feels foggy, his journey will encourage you to start with prayer, stay available, and trust that God’s assignments rarely waste your past experiences. 

Tune in for a heartfelt, humorous look at a man discovering what comes after “I’m done working”—and how a Minnesota lake became the classroom where God clarified Russell’s calling. 

Ready to plan and execute your retirement with Kingdom impact? Email Jim@iWork4Him.com to request your free copy of iRetire4Him: Unlock God’s Purpose for Your Retirement – just pay shipping (ships to US residents only).  

P.S. – Read the first chapter for free! 

FEATURING: Russell Jenson

ORGANIZATION: Retired business owner, coach, and educator

Retirement isn’t a biblical “off-ramp” from purpose. Scripture calls believers to live on mission as long as they have breath. Instead of drifting into a leisure-first mindset, Jim encourages listeners to view retirement as a God-assigned season of influence, service, and legacy. 

That’s why Jim and Martha want to send you the iRetire4Him book at no cost (just cover shipping). It equips you to approach retirement with clarity, calling, and joy. 

Inside, you'll discover guidance such as: 
• Why retirement should shift from comfort to Kingdom purpose 
• How staying rooted near family and community strengthens generational impact 
• Practical ideas for serving as a “fully funded missionary” in retirement 
• Encouragement for investing in younger families who need wisdom and presence 

Ready to plan and execute your retirement with Kingdom impact? Email Jim@iWork4Him.com to request your free copy of iRetire4Him: Unlock God’s Purpose for Your Retirement – just pay shipping (ships to US residents only).  

P.S. – Read the first chapter for free! 

FEATURING: Jim Brangenberg

ORGANIZATION: iRetire4Him