Have you ever been hurt by the Church and wondered if you should stay or walk away?

In this powerful Summer Throwback episode of Priorities on Purpose, Melissa Batt sits down with author and founder of the Raised to Stay movement, Natalie Runion, for an unfiltered conversation about navigating church hurt, rediscovering Jesus through the pain, and learning what it truly means to “stay.”

Natalie shares her personal story of disappointment, deconstruction, and healing—offering hope to anyone who’s felt let down by spiritual leadership or disillusioned by church culture. Together, Melissa and Natalie talk about what healthy churches actually look like, what to do when leaders fall, and how to stay rooted in Jesus even when you're wrestling with His people.

Whether you’ve left the church, feel like an outsider, or are cautiously finding your way back, this episode reminds you that you’re not alone—and God still has a purpose for you in His Church.

✨ Want more? Continue the conversation in Part 2: Healing the Orphan Spirit & Being Seen in the Church as Melissa and Natalie go deeper into identity, rejection, and what it means to be truly known by God.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:02] – A Divine Connection Melissa shares how she discovered Natalie’s account and why their messages aligned—even from opposite church experiences.

• [04:18] – Natalie’s Background & Burnout Growing up in ministry, Natalie opens up about her family’s church wounds and what pulled her back into leading others toward Jesus.

• [06:42] – What It Means to Be 'Raised to Stay' The moment God gave Natalie this phrase, what it means, and how it birthed a movement of believers staying grounded in Christ.

• [10:01] – Discernment vs. Criticism Learn the difference between inspecting spiritual fruit and nitpicking preferences—and why it matters for those seeking healthy churches.

• [16:12] – Staying or Leaving? Ask This First. How to know when you're called to bring change to a ministry—or released to grow somewhere new.

• [20:38] – Is Church Membership Biblical or Just a Numbers Game? Natalie breaks down how denominations handle membership, why it’s fading, and what spiritual commitment really looks like.

• [24:19] – Refocusing on Jesus, Not Just Church Culture Melissa and Natalie talk about how church messaging can shift away from Jesus and how to bring it back to what really matters.

• [28:37] – You Don’t Need a Title to Make an Impact The story of one woman, a quiet act of obedience, and a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be on staff to serve well.

📚 Pre-Order Natalie’s Newest Book! If this conversation spoke to you, don’t miss Natalie Runion’s upcoming release: I Don’t Even Like Women: And Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood This book tackles the lies, wounds, and walls that keep women isolated and invites us back into real, healing sisterhood rooted in grace and truth. 👉 Pre-order your copy here

Take the Free Quiz Are you stuck or simply exhausted from trying to hold it all together? https://melissabatt.com/get-unstuck-quiz

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Connect with Melissa:

• Website: melissabatt.com

• Instagram: @melissabattofficial

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In this Summer Throwback episode of Priorities on Purpose, Melissa Batt, Christian Life Coach and Faith Mentor, answers one of the most common questions she receives: “What does a life coach actually do?”

Melissa shares behind-the-scenes stories, client examples, and the transformational framework she uses to help overwhelmed women realign their priorities, get unstuck, and move forward in faith. If you’ve ever wondered how coaching works, what topics you can bring to a session, or whether coaching could help you with your specific struggles—this episode is for you.

You’ll hear how Melissa supports her clients with everything from building consistent habits and strengthening marriages to managing anxiety, decluttering homes, and healing from emotional burnout—all while keeping Jesus at the center.

Whether you're just curious or ready to take the next step, this episode offers clarity and encouragement to help you move forward.

• [00:01] – Welcome & Why Melissa Calls Herself a Faith Mentor Melissa shares the heart behind her coaching and what it means to help women grow closer to Jesus while moving forward with purpose.

• [04:05] – What Coaching with Melissa Looks Like From prioritizing your health and relationships to making big life decisions, learn how Melissa walks clients through creating intentional action plans.

• [06:55] – Why the 12 Weeks of Success Framework Works Melissa explains how she guides clients through realistic goal setting, building habits, and overcoming obstacles—one baby step at a time.

• [12:21] – Real Life Coaching Examples Get a peek into client wins and breakthroughs, including building fun into the lives of high achievers and learning to stop numbing out with busy work.

• [15:17] – Melissa’s 4-Step Coaching Framework Identify what’s working, define your goals, create a doable action plan, and stay accountable through weekly support and voice memos.

• [21:12] – Why Hiring a Coach Removes Guilt for Givers Melissa shares why investing in coaching is especially powerful for women who often feel guilty asking for support.

• [24:01] – Is Coaching Forever? Not Necessarily. Coaching is meant to equip you to move forward—sometimes fast. Hear why many of Melissa’s clients don’t need long-term coaching to experience transformation.

• [27:28] – Want to Learn More About Coaching? Melissa invites you to reach out if you're curious, and reminds listeners that coaching is not just about goals—it’s about growing with God.

💬 Need quick clarity or support to get unstuck? Melissa is now offering a limited number of one-time sessions for women who need focused support without a long-term commitment. If you're ready to make progress but don't need full coaching right now, this could be the perfect next step.

👉 To learn more or purchase a single session, email https://melissabatt.com/take-your-time-back-guide

• Website: melissabatt.com

• Email: melissa@melissabatt.com

If this episode helped you, share it with a friend and leave a quick review! Your words help more overwhelmed women find hope, support, and a way forward.

Rejection doesn’t have to define you. In this episode of Priorities on Purpose, Melissa sits down with award-winning author Tracey Mitchell to talk about overcoming fear, finding courage, and cultivating a victorious life with Jesus at the center.

They dive into how God uses rejection as redirection, why courage is a choice, and how to move forward even when you're discouraged or tired of getting knocked down. Tracy shares her story of writing Becoming Brave in the middle of five life-altering tragedies—and how those painful moments turned into purpose.

💡 Originally released earlier this year, this Summer Throwback episode is one of our most downloaded—and it still speaks to what so many of us are navigating today.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:00] - Meet Tracey Mitchell & the Story Behind Becoming Brave Melissa shares how this book helped her break free from fear and victimhood.

• [05:00] - When God Calls Introverts Into Public Roles Tracey reflects on saying yes to God—even when it feels uncomfortable.

• [08:00] - Writing Through Crisis: 5 Tragedies in 28 Days Why Becoming Brave wasn’t written from theory, but from the trenches.

• [12:00] - Courage vs. Fearless What’s the difference—and why do they go together

• [15:00] - Letting Go of Resentment & Bitterness Practical insights for when you're not ready to forgive but know you need to.

• [21:00] - Rejection as a Gift How God uses rejection to protect and position us for His purpose.

• [26:00] - “Daughter Over Doing” A powerful reminder for high-achievers trying to earn God’s favor.

• [30:00] - Baby Steps & Mailbox Moments Melissa shares the simple step that got her out of bed—and changed her life.

• [38:00] - Encouragement for the Woman Who Wants to Give Up Tracey offers a heartfelt word and prayer for the woman who feels done.

🌟 Want to win a free coaching call with Melissa? https://bit.ly/freecallforchristianwomen

🎯 Ready to say YES to 1-on-1 support and get a coaching package? Click here: https://melissabatt.com/breakthrough-coaching

Connect with Melissa:

• Website: melissabatt.com

• Instagram: @melissabattofficial

• Book a consult to see if we are a good fit: Book Consult

Connect with Tracey Mitchell:

• Website: www.traceymitchell.com

• Tracey's books: Becoming Brave, Fearless, Downside Up

Subscribe & Share: If this conversation spoke to you, share it with a friend who needs encouragement. Your review helps more women find the hope and healing they need.