# Dustin Kleinschmidt: Why He Refuses the Title of "Pastor" After 25 Years in Ministry

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/12minconvos-with-jesus-believers-7774952/dustin-kleinschmidt-why-he-refuses-the-title-of-pastor-after-25-years-in-ministry
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/12minconvos-with-jesus-believers-7774952/dustin-kleinschmidt-why-he-refuses-the-title-of-pastor-after-25-years-in-ministry.md
Podcast: [#12minconvos with Jesus Believers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/12minconvos-with-jesus-believers-7774952)
Published: 2026-07-13T19:12:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.12minconvos.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f3f29717-0946-47bd-aced-f12076131448.mp3
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Duration seconds: 762

## Resource

Dustin Kleinschmidt grew up outside the faith in a home shaped by instability and trauma, met Jesus in high school, and fell forward into ministry. Over 25 years he served in nearly every pastoral role student ministry, worship, lead pastor, church planter before stepping away after a long season of burnout. Out of that wilderness came The Wilderness Way- a book built on a single honest discovery: this life between rescue and full restoration is the wilderness. Not a season to escape. The permanent terrain where beauty and brokenness coexist, and where God is present and forming us all along. He now writes, and coaches ministry leaders Website: dustinkleinschmidt.com Book: The Wilderness Way: Finding Freedom in Life's Fractures : https://a.co/d/iXX78qP Substack: dustinkleinschmidt.substack.com Instagram: instagram.com/dustinkschmidt Facebook: http://facebook.com/dustin.kleinschmidt

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## Transcript

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