In Episode 59 Part 2 of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Jeff Travis for a raw, unflinching conversation about faith forged in the fires of real life. Jeff opens up about his remarkable journey—from a struggling student to a reluctant pastor and, eventually, a missionary in Thailand. What begins as a familiar story of answering God’s call soon unfolds into something far deeper—a father’s desperate fight to protect his family amid cultural isolation, special needs parenting, and relentless spiritual warfare.

After years of battling infertility and enduring painful adoption setbacks, Jeff and his wife Elizabeth finally became parents to three beautiful children. When they felt called to the mission field, they sold everything and moved to Thailand, believing they were stepping into their greatest adventure. Instead, they found themselves in a harrowing struggle as their oldest son developed severe behavioral challenges in a place with almost no resources or support.

With brutal honesty, Jeff dismantles the myth of the bulletproof spiritual leader, sharing how God often works through our most broken places. When bombs from a nearby civil war literally rattled their home while their son was in crisis, Jeff faced the hardest question of his life: Was God asking him to sacrifice his family for ministry, or was caring for his family the ministry itself?

Whether you’re a parent navigating a child’s special needs, someone wrestling with feelings of failure, or simply searching for authentic faith in life’s messiness, this conversation will both comfort and challenge you. Jeff’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is admit when we need help—and that vulnerability, not perfection, is the true path to healing.

Support the show