When Church Growth Breaks Down: Paul Dazet on Cancer, Burnout, and Rethinking Success (Part 1) | PT 126

What if success in ministry is what’s breaking you? In Part 1 of this compelling conversation, Paul Dazet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to reflect on his unexpected path to faith, his climb through the ranks of church leadership, and the moment it all came undone. From a picnic table conversion to the painful fallout of cancer and burnout, Paul shares what it took to stop pretending—and start pastoring with honesty. 🎙️ In This Episode: Why Paul faked his first altar call—and what finally made it realThe pressure to perform in a results-driven church cultureHow cancer forced him to reexamine his identity and callingLeaving the “dream church” to shepherd a smaller, healthier community ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Paul’s early background 03:00 – Growing up unchurched and marrying a pastor’s daughter 06:00 – Faking a conversion to impress others 09:00 – Real surrender on a roadside picnic table 12:00 – Falling in love with Scripture and community 16:00 – The business mindset in church leadership 20:00 – Ministry growth, cancer diagnosis, and burnout 25:00 – The personal toll of unresolved pain 28:00 – Leaving behind platform for presence 💡 Takeaway: Paul’s story is a mirror for every pastor who has felt the gap between ministry success and soul health. Sometimes healing begins not in doing more—but in finally being honest about what’s breaking.