S1:E5 Dr. Nathan Wagnon

Guest Introduction

Nathan Wagnon’s story takes us on a journey from his seminary studies to Afghanistan to ministry in the church to an experience in a classroom in 2014 that would serve as the foundation of the ministry he has since dedicated his life to; The Eden Project in Dallas, Texas. 

While serving in the Army, Nathan experienced crisis in a way most of us will never have to endure. What is remarkable is how in the face of trauma, Nathan didn’t run. He stayed with his faith in God, his men in the Army, and he stayed with the church when he got back home. 

They say trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens in you. Trauma happens when we’re alone and we feel trapped, helpless, and afraid. Without an empathetic witness to our story, our nervous systems get stuck trying to find safety and meaning. We cope by running and hiding our unprocessed emotions in all kinds of ways.

Since returning on American soil more than a decade ago, Nathan has been shepherding God’s church through disorientation to reorientation, complexity to simplicity, malformed God-image to God-Actual. As pastors and leaders we are all still working this stuff out for ourselves in real-time, but as evidenced in Nathan’s story, it is not only possible, it is far more beautiful if we don’t try to do it alone.

Guest Bio

Dr. Nathan Wagnon’s life is dedicated to helping others come to know, as he calls him, God-actual; and to Nathan, God is actually Love. 

Nathan is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Eden Project; a non-profit organization dedicated to retraining people to connect deeply with God, self, and others. For the 9 years prior to launching The Eden Project, Nathan served as the Director of Equipping and Apologetics at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. As a US Army veteran, Nathan deployed twice to Afghanistan and co-authored a mentoring book for young men called Checkpoints: A Tactical Guide to Manhood.

Nathan holds a Doctor of Ministry in Discipleship from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, a Masters of Theology in New Testament Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University.

 Nathan and his wife Margaret have four children: Nate, Miles, Jules, and Joy. They share this beautiful life together in Dallas, Texas.