54. Living Beyond Offense with Yana Jenay Conner

Somebody will hurt you in ministry. Sometimes it’s loud criticism, sometimes it’s quiet silence, and sometimes it’s the kind of misunderstanding that makes you wonder if leading is worth it. We sit down with Bible teacher, ministry leader, and author Yana Jenay Conner to talk about what to do when offense shows up inside the church and how to keep your heart soft when you’ve been wounded.Yana frames forgiveness as an act of faith and a spiritual battle for unity, drawing from Scripture to show why God calls us to release the debt and refuse retaliation. We dig into the hard questions ministry leaders actually face: How do I forgive when the other person never apologizes? How do I stop bitterness from becoming background noise that colors every relationship? How do I tell the difference between real sin and unmet expectations, personality clashes, or my own idols getting challenged?We also get practical and careful about safety. Forgiveness is not pretending you weren’t hurt, and it’s not the same as reconciliation or rebuilt trust.If you lead students, volunteers, or families, this conversation will give you language, clarity, and next steps for church conflict and reconciliation. Subscribe for more, share this with a teammate, and leave a review so more ministry leaders can find it.SHOW LINKS: Living Beyond Offense by Yana Jenay Conner Register for ETCH Conference 2026Connect with Lifeway Next Gen Ministry