Ep 14: Burnout, Sabbatical, and Renewed Leadership: Kristen Welch's Journey
Release Date: 11/20/2024
Wealth Beyond Riches
A leadership calling can unravel faster than anyone expects. Tim Meisenheimer sits down with Steve Carter, bestselling author and former lead teaching pastor at Willow Creek, to talk about integrity, grief, and what it means to choose the right path when the cost is public, painful, and personal. Steve shares the story of preparing to step into one of the most visible church leadership roles in the country—only to watch it dissolve as scandal surfaced around his mentor and organization. In the middle of uncertainty, pressure, and loss, Steve was forced to confront a defining question: Would...
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In Part 2 of this conversation, Tim Meisenheimer and Justin Whitmel Earley shift from habits and formation into the deeply human realities of business, leadership, generosity, and trust. Justin pulls back the curtain on what really happens when people buy, sell, or transition businesses — and why the hardest parts are rarely technical. Drawing from his work as a business attorney and firm owner, Justin explains why the best outcomes come from building the right team early: trusted advisors, honest friends, and spiritual mentors who can help carry the emotional and ethical weight of major...
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In this episode of Wealth Beyond Riches, Tim Meisenheimer sits down with Justin Whitmel Earley—business lawyer, author, former missionary, and habit-builder—to explore why lasting change doesn’t start with willpower or ideas, but with practices. Justin shares how an intense season of anxiety and burnout early in his legal career forced him to confront a painful disconnect between what he believed and how he was actually living. Though his theology and values were strong, his habits—sleep, work pace, phone use, rest, and embodiment—were quietly shaping him into someone he didn’t...
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In Part 2 of this conversation with Riley Fuller, we move from origin story to impact story — the daily, tangible work of Humanity & Hope United and what Riley has learned about leadership, hope, and living generously. Riley and Tim Meisenheimer explore how his leadership shifted from managing by force in the corporate world to leading as a servant — listening first, empowering others, and building leaders in the communities he serves. Riley explains how his team measures hope scientifically, how generational poverty is being broken through education, entrepreneurship, and leadership...
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What happens when your life plan collapses — and a moment of unexpected clarity forces you to redefine purpose? In Part 1 of this conversation, Tim Meisenheimer talks with Riley Fuller, founder of Humanity & Hope United and Generous Coffee. Riley grew up as the seventh generation in his family’s Indiana food business, destined for stability and success. But heartbreak, addiction, and eventually jail time pushed him into survival mode — and then into an unexpected trip to Honduras that changed everything. There, Riley came face-to-face with what he calls the birth lottery — the...
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If the first half of Liz Fay’s story was about courage and agency — choosing to step away from a 19-year teaching career — this half is about what comes next: the open space. Host Tim Meisenheimer and Liz talk about learning to rest before life demands it, the discipline of Sabbath, and why “no shoulds” became her rule for peace. Together, they explore how to practice rest without guilt, why receiving might be the bravest form of generosity, and how to reclaim agency when life feels full of non-negotiables. Liz offers wisdom not just for teachers, but for anyone facing burnout,...
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What happens when generosity becomes your answer to scarcity? In this heartfelt conversation, host Tim Meisenheimer sits down with Liz Fay — a longtime friend, fellow teacher, and his very first financial planning client — to explore how money follows values. Liz shares how she learned finance at the library before ever carrying a balance, why generosity became her response to fear, and what it looked like to open her home so friends could walk out of debt together. Together, they discuss the years of teaching through the pandemic, the yellow flags we often ignore, and the morning Liz...
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In this episode of Wealth Beyond Riches, host Tim Meisenheimer continues his conversation with pastor and author Heath Hardesty, diving into themes from his new book, All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus Is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World. Heath unpacks the deep connection between joy and generosity, sharing how a life aligned with God’s abundance leads to greater freedom, joy, and relational wholeness. Together, Tim and Heath explore how generosity forms us, why giving isn’t just financial, and how abundance and scarcity mindsets shape our view of the world....
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In this episode of Wealth Beyond Riches, Tim sits down with Heath Hardesty—pastor, author of All Things Together (releasing October 14), speaker, entrepreneur, and father of five. Heath shares his unlikely journey from working as a plumber’s apprentice to becoming a pastor in Silicon Valley, and how an existential crisis reshaped his faith and purpose. With wisdom that blends theology, literature, culture, and even Monty Python, Heath offers a fresh perspective on what it means to live a deeply integrated life in a fragmented world. Together, they dive into: Heath’s early career, from...
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In part two of our conversation, David Green and Bill High share more about the principles that have guided Hobby Lobby and the Green family for generations. David unpacks the practices that keep him grounded as a CEO—prioritizing family, focusing on the “main thing,” and resisting the distractions of endless work. Bill offers perspective on how intentional family culture shapes legacy, and why the Greens view Hobby Lobby not just as a company, but as a ministry. You’ll also hear why David has no intention of selling Hobby Lobby, what it means to make a “great handoff” to future...
info_outlineIn part two of our conversation with Kristen Welch, CEO of Mercy House Global, we explore her candid reflections on leadership, burnout, and spiritual renewal. Kristen opens up about the challenges of leading through post-COVID uncertainties and how taking a sabbatical revitalized her vision and leadership. She shares practical insights into creating space for silence, solitude, and spiritual growth and how these practices have shaped her as a leader.
Discover how Mercy House Global is breaking the cycle of poverty for women in Kenya and the U.S., while also fostering a supportive and innovative organizational culture. If you're seeking inspiration to integrate spiritual practices into your life or leadership, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tune in to hear Kristen’s powerful story and her advice for leading with health and purpose.
Books mentioned:
- Kristen Welch Books: https://
wearethatfamily.com/books/ - Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
- Ruth Haley Barton: https://www.
ruthhaleybarton.com/books
Connect with Kristen Welch & Mercy House Global
// Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristengwelch/
// LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-welch-0b215a5/
// Mercy House Global Website: https://mercyhouseglobal.org/
Connect With Tim Meisenheimer
➡️ https://www.instagram.com/tim.meisy
➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meisy
Our mission at Wealth Beyond Riches is for you to reclaim your relationship with work and money. This is not another personal finance show about how to hack your way to riches. We cover the deeper dimensions of finance. These guests have thought long and hard about their relationship with work and money, so they can leverage their purpose and calling to have a greater impact on the world. The goal is that you hear something that moves your life 1% closer to your true purpose.
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