167: Building a Movement of Purpose-Driven Retirees

FEATURING: Barak Strickland

ORGANIZATION: Refire Nation

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!

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