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Today, I am privileged to speak with Tom Smith, a man whose life took an unexpected and remarkable turn after he entered his seventh decade.
A lifelong skeptic, Tom spent his career rising through the ranks of retail management and leadership training, never giving much thought to spiritual matters, until a series of surprising experiences led him to a profound faith journey at the age of 60.
Now 72, Tom is on a mission to help others discover that it’s never too late to find meaning, purpose and even a relationship with Jesus.
In this episode, Tom shares how his journey unfolded from moving back to Arizona for reasons he didn’t fully understand, to developing an unlikely friendship with his future pastor, to having deep, daily “commutes with Jesus” that completely reshaped his outlook.
He also discusses how a simple prompting to help a homeless man named Jacob became a life-affirming sign that there really are no coincidences.
Now the author of a new book, “From Skeptic to Salvation,” Tom is determined to share his story and encourage others to embrace the possibility of transformation no matter what their age.
Tom’s life after 50 is a powerful example of what can happen when someone opens their heart to something bigger than themselves.
After decades of living with what he now calls a “happenstance mindset,” Tom found himself nudged – repeatedly and uncomfortably – toward something more intentional and divine.
At 60, he began to believe that everything, even seemingly random events, might actually be part of a much greater plan.
That belief was solidified through what Tom describes as a series of spiritual encounters. One of the most memorable occurred when he greeted a homeless man who was sitting on a pile of cardboard outside his workplace.
After a voice prompted Tom to “put him to work,” he offered the man a small job. As the man stood up to accept a cup of coffee, he introduced himself with one simple, chilling word: “Jacob.” It was the very name Tom had been wrestling with in prayer earlier that morning.
Experiences like that became a turning point. Tom began speaking to Jesus during his long commutes, treating the time like a lunch date with a close friend. At first, Tom did all the talking. But over time, he learned to be quiet and to listen.
Tom never set out to be an author, but he felt led to document his journey not for fame or profit, but because he knew there were others out there like him: skeptics who were quietly yearning for something more.
Publishing “From Skeptic to Salvation” has given Tom a renewed sense of purpose. He’s now exploring speaking opportunities and building a platform to encourage others – especially those in the second half of life – to remain open to faith, relationships and the possibility that their most meaningful work may still lie ahead.
Rather than unplugging from life after retirement, Tom dove deeper into his faith community, built friendships through Bible studies and service groups, and leaned into volunteering.
His advice for others is to stay engaged, seek connection, and never underestimate the power of obedience to small promptings. Like Tom said, “You don’t have to figure everything out. Just be willing to follow.”
To connect with Tom, you can visit his website at www.fromskeptictosalvation.com or email him directly at tom @ fromskeptictosalvation.com. He is also active of LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Tom’s book, “From Skeptic To Salvation: A Rescue Story,” is available on Amazon and in other bookstores.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you order Tom’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.