Pastor and spiritual coach Tony Miltenberger invites us to face the invisible weights we carry—not to wallow in pain, but to walk through it. With deep pastoral care and vulnerable storytelling, Tony shares how unaddressed wounds from his own life—childhood trauma, adolescent anger, and leadership burnout—formed canyons in his soul. And yet, in those very places, God began a work of healing.
This book was written for leaders—but not just pastors. If you influence others, you’re a leader. And if you’re a leader, your wounds matter.
Rooted in Scripture and redemptive insight, Wisdom in the Wound guides readers to:
Name the wounds shaped by both the extraordinary and the mundane
Understand how those wounds influence identity, relationships, and leadership
Acknowledge how overwhelming it can be to face what we’ve long ignored
Embrace the paradox that “on the other side of our wounds lies our greatest gift”
This isn’t a book about fixing yourself. It’s about discovering that God is already working in your story—turning what was meant for harm into something good.
If you’ve ever felt like your past disqualifies you, or your pain is too great to carry with faith, this book is an invitation: to walk into the canyon, to name what hurts, and to trust that God’s redemptive power is at work—even there.
Tony Miltenberger is the founder of Follow2Lead Coaching. He is a veteran, podcast host, executive coach, author, and the associate pastor of disciple making at Centerville Grace Church. Throughout the years, Tony has traveled the globe taking deployments in Kuwait, El Salvador, and numerous marriage retreats throughout the US. He has consulted with churches in the deep south and multi-million dollar organizations in the Midwest.
He has done hundreds of hours of pastoral counseling and executive coaching. Each conversation helps people uncover their true potential by taking a deep look at their past as well as their hopes for the future. He is genuinely curious and passionate about pursuing the mission of making disciples who make disciples.
His proudest accomplishment is being the father to three amazing kids and being married to his high school sweetheart (Karen) for over 20 years.