The Stroke That Reshaped My Ministry

By Shawn Newberry

A stress-induced mini-stroke exposed Shawn’s anxiety and performance-driven ministry, nearly costing him his life. Leading a struggling church with financial and relational strain, he had mistakenly equated effort with faithfulness. The medical crisis served as a "theological intervention," slowly reorienting his leadership from anxious striving to gospel-centered dependence. His recovery led to enduring lessons on relinquishing control and finding his identity in Christ, not effectiveness.