EMB EP47 | Transition as an Invitation: Finding God in the In-Between with Tony Calabrese

I sit down with Pastor Tony Calabrese, lead pastor at The Gathering in Spring Hill, Tennessee, for a conversation that ranges from his admittedly bougie coffee habits to the deep spiritual work that happens in seasons of transition.

Tony shares how his passion for prayer was shaped by watching his single mom depend on God through difficult circumstances, and why he believes prayer begins with understanding God as Father rather than taskmaster. We dive into his journey of saying yes to his biggest no - church planting - and how God often calls us out of our comfort zones to step into His purposes.

The heart of our conversation centers on transition as spiritual invitation. Tony offers profound insight for anyone feeling stuck between what was and what's to come, explaining why God's perceived absence in difficult seasons might actually be the prime condition for His breakthrough. We explore how the greatest demonstration of God's power at the resurrection was actually what was missing from the tomb, not what was there.

Tony also shares about The Gathering, the church he recently planted after a previous church planting season ended during COVID. He describes this new venture as the most freeing and joy-filled season of his 19-year ministry. Whether you're in a season of transition, struggling with prayer, or simply need encouragement to trust God in the unknown, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for following Jesus through every season of life.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and First Impressions

04:42 | Transitioning Through Life's Seasons

05:11 | The Coffee Journey

09:12 | The Power of Prayer

14:27 | Personal Stories of Prayer

19:13 | Saying Yes to Our Biggest No

23:07 | Encouragement for Prayer

29:02 | Navigating Transitions

30:14 | Navigating Transitions: The Spiritual Journey

37:01 | The Power of Dependence in Transition

41:29 | God's Silence: A Test of Faith

47:34 | The Gathering: A New Church Community

54:45 | Designing a Beautiful Day: Simple Joys

Tony's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_calabrese_
The Gathering Website: https://www.thegatheringchurch.co/
Tony on QAVA: https://qava.tv/teachers/tony-calabrese/