225: Natalie Runion | Staying Secure in Jesus Despite Hurt From His People

Natalie Runion | Staying Secure in Jesus Despite Hurt From His People

Natalie Runion is an author, speaker, worship leader,
songwriter and the founder of Raised to Stay, a ministry for those raised in the church who are finding their own healing, calling and voice in church leadership.

Natalie and Tony Runion live with their daughters in Colorado Springs, CO, and they attend New Life Church where Natalie recently served as a pastor.

Natalie is the host of the Raised to Stay Podcast and the author of a forthcoming book entitled Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away. www.RaisedtoStay.com

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Natalie’s journey with faith took an unexpected turn. As a child, she witnessed the power of love as her parents served in church ministry, leading her to embrace Jesus wholeheartedly. But what she didn’t anticipate was the shattering blow of disappointment, hurt, and betrayal from the very people she trusted the most—the church. Join Natalie as she shares her path towards healing and discover the resilience she found in abiding Jesus.

My special guest is Natalie Runion

Say hello to Natalie Runion, a passionate defender of faith amidst the struggle of those who have felt the sting of hurt resulting from the church and its people. Having spent all her life in the church, belonging to a family deeply devoted to its ministry, Natalie has not been a stranger to the pain and disappointment that church communities can sometimes bring. However, her resolve to stay anchored in Christ, despite her hurt, paints a picture of resilience and divine commitment. Through her writings, Natalie offers solace and understanding, encouraging many others who are on a similar journey.

This is a portion of Natalie Runion’s story:

Natalie Runion’s journey with faith started at a very young age. Born into a family deeply involved in church ministry, she was introduced to the concept of loving people no matter what their life looked like or their current situation was. This exposure showed her a side of Jesus that she couldn’t resist. She desired the love and the good plans that she was promised. As she matured, she found out that this path wasn’t a straight line. There were valleys and mountains, days of clarity and days of confusion. Natalie came face-to-face with the harsh reality dealing with people entailed – disappointment, hurt, and betrayal, most especially from those she least expected, the church. It was a bitter pill to swallow, one that made her question her commitment.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Navigate through the complexity of church related disappointments, maneuvering towards healing via the reassurance in Jesus.
Cement bonds with Jesus, breaking free from over-attachment to individual entities or ministries, so that you’re focus is abiding in Christ.
Step beyond church’s traditional roles, experiencing a ministry that spans across day to day life, rooted in God’s teachings.
Contemplate the trials in your ministry, and how they impact your spiritual growth and are used by God.
Cultivate patience with oneself and with others, strengthening community dynamics during tough seasons.

Quotes:

“If I love God, I’m probably going to get hurt. I don’t want to be self-preserving. There’s freedom in the Lord to choose where we serve and to contend for healthy culture.” – Natalie Runion

“When someone says they’ve been abused by the church, that’s not the time to defend the church or the leader. It’s a time to lean in and start asking questions. We need to understand and support those who have experienced spiritual, emotional, or physical harm.” – Natalie Runion

“I love God, I love his people, but I do have open wounds still like many of us do. We have these open wounds that we’re trying to heal through the power of the Holy Spirit, through community, but we have to acknowledge when they still sting.” -Natalie Runion