The Kingdom Investor: Recent Episodes
Daniel White
Imagine taking your generosity to the next level, impacting more lives, and leaving a godly legacy for generations to come! Get ideas and strategies to do just that when you listen to these personal stories from high-level kingdom champions. The Kingdom Investor Podcast showcases business leaders who have moved from success to significance. Sharing how they use worldly wealth for Kingdom impact. Discover how they grew in generosity, impacted more lives, and built godly legacies. You’ll find motivation, inspiration, and practical steps to grow as a kingdom Investor
Discover Aaron Walker’s powerful journey from financial success to lasting significance. In this episode of The Kingdom Investor Podcast, Aaron shares:
- His story of building and selling businesses
- A life-changing accident that reshaped his purpose
- The power of community and mentorship
- How Iron Sharpens Iron Brotherhood helps leaders grow personally, professionally, and spiritually
- Why generosity and legacy matter more than money
If you’re looking for wisdom on faith, business, and making an eternal impact, this conversation will inspire you to pursue more than success—pursue significance.
From selling candy as a kid to scaling a multimillion-dollar HVAC company, Gwen Riley’s story is one of grit, faith, and bold leadership. In this episode of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, she shares how she grew Greenbox Heating & Air to 70+ employees, made multiple acquisitions, and exited to private equity—while never losing sight of her calling to impact people and communities.
Discover how Gwen:
- Turned early failures into fuel for success
- Transitioned from operator to owner while learning to give up control
- Balanced business growth with ministry by launching Jay’s Place coffeehouse and Revive Lifehouse recovery center
- Invests in others as her greatest return
If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or dreamer ready to step into your God-given purpose, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with J.P. Blevins, former University of Kentucky basketball player turned entrepreneur, investor, and Kingdom leader.
In this episode, J.P. shares:
- Growing up in humble beginnings in rural Kentucky and chasing his basketball dream.
- How leaving his comfort zone led him to join a small startup bank that grew into a publicly traded company.
- The lessons he learned about perseverance, faith, and finding true identity in Christ—not in success, sports, or money.
- His journey from chasing personal achievement to embracing Kingdom impact through generosity, investing, and building businesses with purpose.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or simply someone navigating big life decisions, J.P.’s story will encourage you to trust God, take bold risks, and invest in what truly matters.
Anthony Humphress joins the Kingdom Investor Podcast to share his remarkable journey of faith, business, and missions. Raised in Campbellsville, KY, Anthony started out fixing houses with his dad and dreamed of playing baseball. God redirected his path, leading him into real estate—but with a higher purpose.
In this episode, Anthony shares how he:
- Launched Eden Companies with a mission to extend goodwill to residents, partners, and the world
- Grew from one rental house to hundreds of units and major syndications
- Discovered that business itself can be worship when lived in obedience to God
- Uses profits from real estate to support church planting globally through City for the Nations
- Balances work, family, and faith while pursuing $5 billion in assets under management
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or ministry leader, Anthony’s story will inspire you to see your work as a platform for Kingdom impact.
👉 Subscribe to the Kingdom Investor Podcast for more conversations with leaders who are leveraging business for eternal significance.
In this episode of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, we sit down with Chris D Estes — a former small-town teacher and coach who built a thriving business, invested in nearly 1,000 real estate units, and now stewards over $90 million in assets under management.
Chris shares how he transitioned from the farm fields of Kentucky to global influence, why he believes in multiplication over addition, and how faith, family, and fitness shape his rhythms of life.
You’ll hear about:
- The “life audit” that changed everything for Chris
- Overcoming rejection, ridicule, and adversity
- Why he mentors men through faith and fitness
- His A.P.P.L.E. formula for daily growth (Attitude, Prepare, Perform, Learn, Evaluate)
- How he uses real estate to create Kingdom impact and legacy
Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, James 2, Parable of the Talents
In this week’s episode, Ryan Skoog joins us again—back-to-back weeks on The Kingdom Investor Podcast! Ryan shares powerful stories of ministry in some of the hardest places in the world, insights from his new book Lead with Prayer, and the habits of praying leaders across cultures.
You’ll hear how prayer fuels courage, shapes culture, and impacts generations. Ryan also offers practical next steps to strengthen your own prayer life and lead others into a deeper walk with God.
If you’re a business leader, ministry leader, or simply someone hungry to grow in your relationship with Jesus, this conversation will inspire and equip you to become a praying leader who leaves a lasting Kingdom impact.
Learn more at LeadWithPrayer.com
Ryan’s story is a testimony to the power of combining business excellence with Kingdom purpose. Growing up traveling to refugee camps rather than theme parks, he developed a heart for the hurting. This calling led him to co-found Venture, a nonprofit serving the unreached, unsafe, and unresourced, funded largely by his for-profit travel technology companies. Ryan discusses practical ways to integrate generosity into business models, disciple employees, and seek God’s leading in every decision. He shares both his successes and failures, emphasizing patience for God’s timing, and describes how his faith was deepened during COVID when business nearly collapsed. Listeners will walk away encouraged to live out their faith boldly in the marketplace and invest in what truly matters for eternity.
What happens when a hacker-turned-entrepreneur sells his company—and gives most of it away? In this inspiring episode of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, Jason Syverson shares his remarkable journey from rural poverty to engineering success, venture capital, and radical generosity.
Jason talks AI, faith-driven business, and how to build a financial legacy that echoes in eternity. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just exploring how to use your gifts for God’s glory—this episode is a masterclass in kingdom-minded living.
🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of success turned to significance.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen.
What happens when a broken beginning meets a bold vision? In this inspiring episode of The Kingdom Investor Podcast, Chris McMurray shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and financial rock bottom to founding a successful cookie franchise designed for Kingdom impact.
Chris takes us behind the scenes of Come and Get It Cookie Company, revealing lessons learned through failure, the role of faith in entrepreneurship, and why generosity isn't just a goal—it’s the foundation.
Whether you’re leading a business, dreaming of starting one, or walking through a valley yourself, this conversation offers practical steps and spiritual encouragement to help you move from surviving to serving—and giving back in ways that matter for eternity.
Chris’s book, Food Stamps to Franchise, is available now.
Leadership lessons:
Have a clearly defined “why.”
Exit your doors to get people to enter them.
Don’t fear failure—use it to grow.
Value and empower your team.
What if your generosity could do more than meet a need—what if it could help end global spiritual and physical poverty?
In this powerful episode of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, Lane shares his unexpected journey from yacht designer to missionary, to the founder of All Access—an innovative giving platform that uses data and investment strategies to maximize Kingdom impact. Hear real stories of underground churches, clean water in South Sudan, and former jihadists transformed by the gospel. You’ll walk away inspired and equipped with practical tools to give more effectively and build a lasting legacy.
🔗 Learn how to reverse-engineer your generosity
🎯 Discover Lane’s 3-step giving strategy
🌍 Be challenged to give with purpose, precision, and passion
Subscribe and join us in turning generosity into transformation.
KingdomInvestor #Generosity #FaithAndFinance #GlobalMissions #LaneYachttoMission #AllAccess #ImpactGiving #ChristianLeadership #FaithDrivenInvesting #Philanthropy
Join me as I engage with Adam Griffin, renowned lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas. Discover Adam's transformative journey from reluctance to becoming a church planter and lead pastor to embracing God's will fully. We delve into the biblical concept of “burning the plow” and its profound impact on his life.
Together, we explore how to identify and eliminate any idols that could hinder our connection with God. Adam offers riveting real-life instances of individuals who've bravely ventured out of their safe havens to embrace God's path. We have an open discussion about pursuing health, wealth, spiritual growth, and potential challenges one might encounter.
As we wrap up, Adam imparts his insights on effective ways for fathers to guide their families in faith. He highlights the concept of servant leadership, a principle he cherishes, inspired by his favorite book, Training of the Twelve by AB Bruce. His inspiring motto, "serve in order to lead," underlines this belief. Don't miss this invigorating conversation with Adam Griffin that's bound to enrich your spirit and motivate you towards a life filled with purpose and generosity.
Get ready to be inspired by our enlightening conversation with renowned business coach, John Whitt. In this episode, we delve into his transformative journey from the corporate world to the creation of the trailblazing Lifeshine Altruism Coaching Program. This compelling narrative embodies the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact of altruism in both our professional and personal lives.
John opens up about how he integrated his faith into his coaching practice, using biblical wisdom as a guiding light to help others in cultivating meaningful relationships, managing their behaviors effectively, and laying a significant legacy. Inspired by Ken Blanchard's 'Lead Like Jesus' series, John offers a unique viewpoint on failure, seeing it not as a setback, but as a stepping stone towards success.
Highlighting John's commitment to uplifting others is his free five-day initiative, 'Lifeshine Circles', designed to promote altruism. This episode isn't just another podcast; it's an inspirational journey filled with valuable insights that you wouldn't want to miss.
Imagine a humble beginning, unwavering faith, and a natural talent for real estate converging to inspire an innovative and benevolent approach to business. This episode spotlights Micah Lacher, the embodiment of this unique success narrative. Raised in a modest family in an underprivileged Memphis neighborhood, Micah's life trajectory shifted dramatically when he gained access to quality education.
Today, Micah is the driving force behind Anchor Investments, a company breathing new life into shopping centers across the country, and Missions Hotels, an innovative venture repurposing abandoned churches into community-beneficial hotels.
Micah's story doesn't plateau at success; instead, he uses it as a springboard to promote generosity. We delve into his transformation from a principled individual to a prosperous entrepreneur, the pivotal role his Christian faith played in his career trajectory, and how he utilizes this faith as a guiding principle for his business operations.
In this episode, we unpack his distinctive business philosophy, his perspectives on leveraging business acumen for philanthropy, and the wisdom gleaned from financial challenges.
This isn't just an exploration of Micah's journey. It's about redefining our perception of wealth and success. Through Micah's lens, we explore the potential of starting small and escalating generosity. We discover that releasing control can catalyze remarkable outcomes, and our environment shapes us in profound ways.
Micah's narrative stands as proof that it's possible to build a thriving business while upholding a commitment to generosity. His story is a must-listen for anyone who believes in the transformative power of generosity and the potential of business to effect positive change.
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Ellen Voie, founder of the Women in Trucking Association. We delve into her awe-inspiring journey from a steel fabricating plant to spearheading a non-profit organization that champions and celebrates women in the trucking industry. Tune in as Ellen shares insights on her faith journey, overcoming challenges in a non-conventional industry, and the transformative impact of her organization on women in trucking.
In the latter part of our discussion, Ellen provides a candid account of her transition from CEO to founder, revealing her decision to remain with the association and the subsequent revival. She discusses future plans and how she continues to advocate for the association in her new capacity. As we dive deeper, Ellen reflects on her career trajectory, her leadership journey, and her vision for the trucking industry's future. She underscores the significance of family and the joy of spending quality time with them. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by leadership, career transitions, and the evolving landscape of the trucking industry.
Let's embark on an enlightening journey beyond the realm of wealth with our distinguished guest, Pete Ochs, the visionary founder of Capital Three and Enterprise Stewardship. Leveraging a unique business operating system, Pete inspires and equips leaders to transform their organizations into platforms for making a global impact in Christ's name. Trace his remarkable trajectory, from his humble origins on a Kansas farm to his ascension as a successful entrepreneur, all underpinned by unwavering faith.
In an insightful exchange, Pete explores the four cornerstone disciplines of business: purpose, strategy, operations, and execution. He recounts how integrating these principles into his own ventures such as Seeking and Electric has transformed lives, providing employment opportunities to maximum-security prisoners. Is it possible to transition from mere wealth to true flourishing? Uncover insights on navigating the pitfalls of fear and greed, and discover how faith and surrender can serve as vital instruments on this path.
We delve into probing questions about money and our often misguided perceptions of it, distinguishing between the concepts of wealth and genuine flourishing. Pete candidly shares his personal journey in defining 'how much is enough' and illustrates how his lifestyle, ranging from middle to upper-middle class, has significantly influenced the kingdom. We conclude our discussion by examining legacy building and introducing the concept of Kingdom Investing Thesis, a comprehensive guide to elevating generosity to unprecedented heights. This episode is packed with inspiring narratives, practical guidance, and stimulating discourse on faith, commerce, and the significance of crafting a lasting legacy. Don't miss out!
Do you ever find yourself struggling to balance your faith and finances? Wondering how to deepen your faith while managing your resources effectively? Look no further! In this episode, we're joined by Michael Blue, who shares his personal journey of triumph over these challenges through stewardship, generosity, and a deeper bond with God.
Get ready to be inspired and motivated to invest in your faith journey, as Michael opens up about his experiences and offers valuable insights.
Join us as we welcome Gale Kragt, the co-founder and executive director of Soul Care Consultants, on our Kingdom Investor podcast. Listen to Gale's inspiring journey, from being called to the ministry based on a grandmother's prophecy to partnering with a medical doctor, Dr. Troy Carlson, to start a nonprofit spiritual care organization. Gale's story unfolds to reveal how God provided steps to help them create a spiritual healing ministry that offers free care to those in need. His experience reminds us of God's provision and how he can use our talents and skills to serve others.
In our conversation, we also explore Gale's impressive feat of expanding his ministry from school buildings to five schools and an entire children's ministry. We learn how Gale mastered the art of fund development, fostering relationships with business leaders, and creating the 'Connecting Champions' program. His success story of raising the endowment fund from $55,000 to $966,000 in just three weeks is indeed the 'miracle on Green Street'. It's an enlightening discussion about how his work at a church in Holland, 18 years prior, set the stage for the success of Soul Care Consultants.
But that's not all. Our discussion stretches beyond borders as we share our experiences of providing spiritual and financial support to pastors in Honduras, rescuing kids from gangs in Costa Rica, and visiting a rehab center for underage girls rescued from sex trafficking, drugs, and prostitution. Finally, Gale talks about the importance of building partnerships in ministry and business, sharing insightful leadership lessons and book recommendations. We wrap up with tips on crafting your Kingdom investing thesis and how it can create lasting legacies for future generations. Don't miss out on this captivating episode that seamlessly merges faith, leadership, and philanthropy!
We all strive for success, but what happens when we reach it and still feel unfulfilled? This week, we had the honor of speaking with former NFL player and federal prisoner, Sterling Harris, about his incredible journey from worldly success to a life of deep connection with God. Sterling opened up about his early life, growing up in a religious household, and a transformative encounter with God that set him on a new path.
During our conversation, Sterling shared the void he experienced in his heart, despite all his possessions and successes. His life took a drastic turn when he was arrested for mortgage fraud, but it was during this time that he decided to serve God wholeheartedly. Sterling also shared his step-by-step guide to help others hear God's voice in their lives, leading to incredible growth in his own business.
As we wrapped up our conversation with Sterling, we explored the power of having a two-way communication relationship with God and the difference it can make in our lives. Sterling reminded us that no amount of worldly wealth can bring the peace, comfort, health, and healthy relationships that a relationship with God provides. We encourage you to listen to Sterling's inspiring story and learn how to deepen your own connection with God, leading to personal miracles and a lasting legacy of Kingdom impact.
What does it take to transform a life of success into a life of significance? Former NFL player and federal prisoner Sterling Harris shares his awe-inspiring journey from material wealth to an intimate relationship with Jesus. In our conversation, Sterling reveals how his faith carried him through his darkest days and allowed him to experience life-changing generosity and a godly legacy.
We discuss Sterling's realization that fulfillment could only be found through God, not through the trappings of success. His story of navigating this transition and the development of his relationship with God is a testament to the power of faith and its impact on every aspect of his life. Sterling also shares how he applied his faith in the business world, resulting in miraculous outcomes and profound effects on the lives of his employees.
Sterling's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of partnering with God and the immense power behind His name. We explore the significance of developing two-way communication in our relationship with God and how recognizing God's voice can enrich our daily lives. Join us for this incredible conversation with Sterling Harris, and be inspired to cultivate your own authentic encounter with God.
Are we doing enough to invest in and support the next generation's faith journey? Dr. Kara Powell, a passionate advocate for young people, joins us in this episode to discuss the state of the American church and how it affects young people aged 13 to 29. Together, we explore the challenges they face - anxiety, adaptability, and diversity - and the importance of building relationships with them to create a lasting impact on both the church and the world.
We dive deeper into the three pivotal questions that define today's teenagers - identity, belonging, and purpose - and how understanding these questions can help us better empathize and guide them on their journey with Jesus. Dr. Powell shares her thoughts on discipling young people for faith formation and the role of faith leaders, parents, and grandparents in shaping their faith. We also explore the 10 by 10 campaign, a national program aiming to make faith matter more for 10 million teenagers in the next 10 years, as well as the importance of intergenerational support in the church.
Don't miss this compelling conversation with Dr. Kara Powell, and learn how you can invest in the next generation's spiritual growth and well-being. By doing so, we can create a brighter future for both the church and the world at large. Tune in now and be inspired to make a difference in the lives of young people, helping them grow closer to Jesus and fulfill their God-given purpose in life.
About Zach's Ministry
Zach will provide primary focus towards equipping members of Northway Church in evangelism and discipleship for the sake of sending members to the unreached. Zach will also help lead and teach trainings and build pipelines and pathways towards service and sending. As with any role at Northway, there is a call to love and serve the members and guests of Northway Church in a desire to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.
The discussion in this episode of the Kingdom Investor podcast focuses on investing in the next generation through family discipleship. Host Daniel White and his wife Caitlin interview Cassie Bryant, an experienced leader in next-gen ministries and passionate about teaching children about Jesus. They explore the four key aspects of family discipleship: modeling, intentional time, everyday moments, and milestones. Cassie shares practical insights and personal stories, highlighting the challenges and importance of discipling children in the home.
Key Points:1. Family discipleship involves modeling, intentional time, everyday moments, and milestones.
2. Modeling: Parents need to prioritize their own personal holiness and show genuine transformation through their relationship with Jesus.
3. Intentional Time: Carve out regular time to study Scripture, pray, and teach children about Jesus.
4. Everyday Moments: Leverage everyday situations to teach children about God and His ways, such as discipline, sibling relationships, and celebrations.
5. Milestones: Mark significant events in children's lives to remember and celebrate God's faithfulness.
Key Quotes:- "You cannot give what you do not possess yourself."
- "Kids can spot hypocrisy, so it's crucial to model genuine faith and transformation."
- "Family discipleship applies to all believers, not just parents, as it is a command to make disciples."
- "Discipline moments can be leveraged to teach children trust, obedience, and the consequences of sin."
- "Implementing family discipleship requires making a plan and being intentional with time and opportunities."
Join Daniel White, the host of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, as he interviews Kevin East, the president and CEO of Mentoring Alliance. In this episode, they delve into the importance of leadership, the power of mentoring, and the significance of investing in God's Kingdom through family and community. Kevin shares his personal story, including his experience with cancer, fostering and adopting children, and his passion for teaching kids about money management. Discover how embracing humility and following Jesus can transform your leadership and leave a lasting impact on those around you.
Key Points:1. The transformative power of relationships: Mentoring Alliance focuses on connecting godly mentors with children and families to provide tangible help and eternal hope.
2. Investing in God's Kingdom through family: Kevin shares his journey of fostering and adopting children, emphasizing the importance of using our families to bless and impact others.
3. Trusting God in leadership transitions: Kevin recounts a pivotal moment when he trusted God's leading and left a ministry without knowing where he would go next, resulting in divine guidance and growth.
4. The significance of following as a leader: True leadership begins with humility, a willingness to empower others, and a focus on people rather than processes.
5. Prioritizing family as the greatest investment: Kevin emphasizes that investing in his own children has been the most impactful and rewarding investment he has made.
Key Quotes with Times:1. "Relationships change lives. Programs don't. Relationships, do." - Kevin East (5:59)
2. "How can godly people invest their own families for Kingdom purposes?" - Kevin East (9:38)
3. "Living beyond ourselves and blessing others can bring true fulfillment." - Kevin East (13:36)
4. "Great leaders have a foundation of humility and a willingness to follow." - Kevin East (21:26)
5. "The greatest impact I'm gonna make is through the kids that God has provided for me." - Kevin East (25:02)
In this episode of the Kingdom Investor podcast, host Daniel White interviews Mark Phillips, the Founder and Managing Partner of 11 Tribes Ventures. Mark shares his passion for empowering purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build thriving businesses and transform communities while avoiding burnout. He discusses the unique approach of 11 Tribes Ventures in investing not only in business models but also in the development of entrepreneurial resilience. Mark highlights the importance of aligning business outcomes with founder outcomes and shares insights into their thesis and strategies. He also emphasizes the significance of integrating biblical truth into the business world in a way that resonates with everyone. The interview provides valuable insights into the venture capital industry and the vision behind 11 Tribes Ventures.
Key Points:
- 11 Tribes Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on empowering purpose-driven entrepreneurs and building resilient founders.
- The firm allocates 2% of every invested dollar directly to founders for investing in their entrepreneurial resilience.
- Their approach aims to align business outcomes and founder outcomes, emphasizing both financial success and personal fulfillment.
- 11 Tribes Ventures is geographically strategic, targeting competitive geographies such as Chicago, Lexington, Atlanta, Nashville, and Austin.
- The firm's venture partners platform connects experienced entrepreneurs with portfolio companies to provide guidance and support.
- Mark shares his personal investment in his relationship with Jesus Christ as the greatest investment he has made, shaping his values and guiding his journey.
- He envisions breaking down the sacred and secular divide, integrating biblical truth into the marketplace and seeing business as a mission field.
Key Quotes:
- "Healthy founders, healthy returns. It's that simple."
- "We want to be remembered for someone that loved God and loved others."
- "If my son got up at my funeral and said, 'Hey, I want you to know that my father was consistent, present, and loving,' that would mean the world to me."
- "The sacred and secular divide is a lie. The marketplace is a mission field."
- "I hope to see a world where biblical truth is integrated into every aspect of business and is received by anyone who hears it."
Abour Mark PhillipsMark is an action-oriented strategist with a strong track record working with teams of all sizes, from pre-seed startups to multi-national corporations.
Before launching 11 Tribes Ventures, Mark was a management consultant, focused on M&A between corporations and growth stage startups. He advised on deals totaling more than $750M, actively supporting clients throughout the due diligence and post-merger integration processes.
Mark earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, focusing heavily on entrepreneurial finance and strategic management. He is an adjunct professor of finance at his alma mater, Wheaton College.
He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Emily and their two boys.
In this episode of the Kingdom Investor Podcast, host Daniel White engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Jim Wise, a senior partner at Ronald Blue Trust and a seasoned wealth advisor. Jim shares his personal journey of transformation and highlights the importance of biblical stewardship in funding the completion of the Great Commission. Drawing from his extensive experience in the financial industry and his passion for global missions, Jim discusses the significance of having a global vision for evangelism and discipleship. He sheds light on the collaborative efforts of organizations working towards translating the Bible into every remaining unengaged people group's heart language. Jim also emphasizes the pivotal role that the American church plays in funding the Great Commission, given the significant wealth entrusted to committed followers of Jesus. The episode delves into the opportunities for individuals to get involved in accelerating the funding of the Great Commission and making a global impact. Listeners are encouraged to pray for personal involvement, embrace radical generosity, and gain firsthand experiences by witnessing the lives transformed through their support. Through engaging storytelling and compelling insights, this episode inspires believers to release their resources for God's kingdom and contribute to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Key Quotes:
- "Becoming missional is kind of an automatic byproduct of being conformed to the image of Jesus."
- "There are people coming to faith in Jesus in the far reaches of the planet, but they don't have access to God's Word in their heart language, like I take it for granted."
- "The Great Commission, for every Christian, when we look at our own giving portfolio, Great Commission-oriented ministry should be at least a part of it."
- "God has already entrusted way more than enough money to finish that work. Even if we do it in the most efficient way possible, it would still take less than 2% of the resources currently in the hands of God's people to complete the work of the Great Commission."
- "We are at a point in church history where we don't have a problem with workers. The workers are out there and they're willing to go; they just need to be resourced. What's missing now is the funding."
Key Points:
- Jim Wise shares his personal conviction about individual evangelism and discipleship and his realization of the global vision for the Great Commission.
- Collaborative efforts of organizations are underway to translate the Bible into the heart languages of all remaining unengaged people groups.
- The American church holds a significant amount of wealth, and it is entrusted with funding the completion of the Great Commission.
- The cost estimation for completing the Great Commission involves both Bible translation and establishing a missionary presence in unengaged and unreached people groups.
- Jim emphasizes the importance of witnessing the impact of generosity firsthand and encourages believers to engage personally in the mission field.
- The resources needed to complete the Great Commission are already available, and the challenge lies in releasing those resources and prioritizing global missions.
- The episode highlights the importance of prayer, radical generosity, and personal involvement in accelerating the funding of the Great Commission.
This podcast episode features Jim Wise, a senior partner at Ronald Blue Trust, and senior private wealth advisor. Jim shares his personal transformation story, highlighting the shift from a focus on material wealth to biblical stewardship and Kingdom impact. He discusses the challenges he faced in aligning his faith with his career as a financial advisor and the subsequent steps he took to incorporate biblical wisdom into his practice. Jim also explores the importance of generosity and offers practical strategies for listeners to become Kingdom investors, leaving a lasting legacy.
Episode Highlights:
- Challenging the status quo: Jim's realization of perpetuating the lie of endless accumulation of wealth and how it conflicted with his newfound understanding of biblical stewardship.
- Embracing biblical principles: The impact of Jim's decision to invest in clients' financial well-being, prioritize debt elimination, and establish emergency funds, aligning his practice with biblical order and wisdom.
- Navigating secular constraints: Jim's experiences with compliance issues when attempting to incorporate faith into his financial advice, leading to the decision to practice overtly and align with firms promoting biblical financial guidance.
- Answering God's call: Jim's journey of surrender and guidance to join Ron Blue, a firm dedicated to helping Christians achieve financial freedom to fund the Great Commission.
- Expanding impact: Jim's realization that his influence could extend beyond serving individual clients, leading him to develop training curriculum for Christian ministries and financial advisors to incorporate biblical principles into their work.
- Donor engagement: Insights into the factors that inspire generosity, including effective fundraising approaches that align with donors' values and build strong relationships, and pitfalls to avoid in Christian fundraising.
Summary
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Introduction to this episode. 0:03
- Introducing jim wise, senior partner at ronald blue trust.
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- Three episodes of the podcast.
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How did my job become an issue? 1:42
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His job became an issue.
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- The first time in his life he had experienced professional guilt.
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Incorporating faith and biblical wisdom into your practice. 3:45
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Incorporating faith and biblical wisdom into his practice.
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- Lessons learned from a prospective client.
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- Interview with the general manager of a Christian radio station.
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- Interview with a financial advisor.
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The day of surrender and leaving the financial industry. 8:08
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The day of surrender.
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- The book by ron blue, master your money.
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- How jim became a financial advisor.
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- The call from ron blue.
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What he’s doing now at Round Blue. 13:45
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The mission and mission of RON Blue.
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- What ron blue is doing now.
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- The first way to expand impact is through a discipleship model.
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- Mission aligned ministries.
- The importance of develo
In this episode of the Kingdom Investor podcast, host Daniel White interviews Robert Netzly, the CEO of Inspire Investing. They discuss the concept of biblical responsible investing, which involves paying attention not only to the financial returns of a portfolio but also to the moral aspects of the companies being invested in. Netzly shares his personal story of how he stumbled upon this concept and how it led him to start Inspire Investing. He also talks about their current project, "Blessing Generations," which involves strategically thinking about the long-term future of the company and how it can continue to glorify God.
Key takeaways:
- Aligning investments with personal values is important.
- Companies have a significant impact on society.
- Long-term planning is essential for a successful business.
- Following God's calling, even when it seems risky and uncertain, can lead to great success.
- The exclusionary process involves a dozen categories such as abortion drugs, pornography, and human trafficking, and legislative efforts that promote immoral activities.
- The majority of businesses (about 85%) pass all exclusionary criteria and are not involved in heinous business or moral issues.
- Companies are evaluated based on how they are being a blessing to their customers, workforce, communities they operate in, and the world in general. There are a few dozen categories to evaluate these aspects.
- Industry best in class is also taken into consideration, such as oil companies that are responsible in drilling and transportation of oil, and companies that score higher in these areas are awarded more points.
- A theoretical positive 100 is awarded to companies that score the highest above average in all categories.
- There are over 40,000 ticker symbols of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs that are available and scrubbed daily for various data points and refreshed daily, and can be accessed for free on inspire insight.com.
- The faith-driven investing space has been around for a long time, but it has been a really sleepy market until recently.
- Faith-driven investing is growing by leaps and bounds and more and more financial advisors are becoming aware and integrating it into their practice.
- The market for faith-driven investing is huge, estimated to be about $21 trillion in stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and retirement plans in the United States that are controlled by Protestants, evangelicals, and Catholics.
- The main roadblock for investors to participate in biblically responsible investing is awareness and knowing what to do once they become aware of it.
- Investors need to ask questions about who is managing their money, their convictions, and options available to them, and they may need to find a different place to invest for the glory of God.
Links:
https://inspireinsight.com/
About Robert Netzly
Robert Netzly is the CEO of Inspire Investing and a frequent contributor on FOX, Bloomberg, New York Times, and other major media. Read more from Robert in his #1 bestselling book Biblically Responsible Investing, available at Amazon.com and other major retailers.
Redeeming Our Relationship with Money: Surrendering at the Foot of the Cross
In this thought-provoking episode, Daniel engages in a deep conversation with Tim Mohns, a renowned spiritual advisor and author, as they explore the intricate connection between faith, money, and personal redemption. Tim shares profound insights on how money can be redeemed, just like any other aspect of our lives, by surrendering it at the foot of the Cross.
Throughout the episode, Tim invites listeners to examine their relationship with money and encourages them to consider surrendering it to find true redemption and reliance on a higher power. The conversation delves deep into the spiritual and emotional aspects of money, offering a fresh perspective that challenges societal norms.
Don't miss this enlightening episode as Tim Mohns shares his wisdom and reminds us that all God seeks is a willing heart ready to lay everything down. Join us on this transformative journey of rediscovering the true worth and purpose of money in our lives.
Note: This podcast episode is intended for those seeking spiritual and philosophical insights on the role of money in their lives.
Links In this Podcast:
http://fountainwm.com
About Tim Mohns:
With three decades of experience in helping people navigate both good times and bad, Tim brings a perspective that adds clarity to the present and confidence for the future. His ultimate goal is that his clients would have less concern about their finances and be free to fully enjoy their lives. Tim is a graduate of Purdue University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He and his wife, Rachelle, have two adult children.
There are many practical and meaningful ways to serve and bless others and promote God’s kingdom. We can use our resources, our influence, and even our businesses as a ministry to reach out to others and share the word of God. In this episode, we’re sharing the story of a real estate entrepreneur whose passion for evangelism has influenced how he runs his business.
William Holland shares his journey from construction management to pursuing real estate syndication full-time, and how his faith and personal values have influenced his career path and investment strategies. As founder and CEO of Bigger Picture Holdings, he not only educates investors on financial literacy and responsible real estate investing but he also spreads God’s word and helps people understand the scripture. Listen now and find out how a real estate business can be a force for reaching out and making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Key Points From This Episode:
- William shares a highlight from this week.
- William talks about pivotal moments in his life and how he got to his current station in life.
- William shares his faith journey.
- How did William get into real estate?
- What is William’s current focus in real estate?
- What is the greatest investment that William has ever made?
- William reflects on his journey toward growth in generosity.
- How does William steward resources for God's kingdom?
- William answers the mentor-minute questions.
- William talks about his podcast, the Money Tree Real Estate Investor Podcast.
- William’s contact details.
Tweetables:
“Real estate is my ministry.”
“Doing real estate is an open door to be open about my faith and who God is.”
“Find that place where you can serve and build relationships. That's where real change takes place.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
William Holland on LinkedIn
Bigger Picture Holdings
Send Willian Holland an email
Money Tree Real Estate Investor Podcast
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Wiliam Holland
William Holland is the founder and CEO of Bigger Picture Holdings LLC, a real estate investment company headquartered in Dallas, TX, that focuses on acquiring value-add multifamily properties.
William specializes in educating investors about the advantages of passively investing in commercial real estate through syndication. William previously was on Balfour Beatty’s Pre-Construction team helping develop budgets for upcoming large residential and commercial projects totaling over 2 billion dollars. His first role in Balfour Beatty was managing over $20 million worth of construction planning, execution, and quality control on a 26-story skyscraper.
William has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He enjoys playing basketball, cycling, camping, serving at church, and spending time with friends and family. The most important thing in his life is his relationship with Jesus and his seeking to glorify God in all that he does.
Sometimes, all it takes is one book to prompt a person to rethink his priorities, search for something more meaningful, and figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. It happened to Mario Zandstra, our guest in today’s episode. A book compelled Mario to rewrite his life story arc and create a new vision for living the second half of his life at its most rewarding - leading ministries to success.
Transitioning from a career in business to leading a ministry dedicated to serving others and God has been most rewarding for Mario Zandstra, president and CEO of Family Legacy. Mario shares his journey of leading various ministries to achieve their goals and more. Despite obstacles early in life, Mario rose above the challenges to reach his career peak in business only to turn away from it to pursue service to God and others. Listen to Mario’s story of moving from success to significance and learn why surrendering his life to God and allowing Him to use his talents and experiences is what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Mario introduces himself and shares something exciting that he’s currently working on.
- Mario talks about his background, and how he got into real estate and stayed in business for 17 years.
- Mario reflects on a pivotal moment in his life that led to his transition from business to ministry.
- Mario describes the move from “success to significance” leaving his successful career in commercial real estate to become the head of the first ministry he led, Pine Cove Christian Camps.
- Mario talks about the next ministry (Redeemer City to City) that he got involved in then on to his next leadership role with a missions agency, East West.
- Mario speaks about Family Legacy, the ministry he now leads, that helps children and communities in Zambia.
- Mario details the programs offered by Family Legacy designed to empower Zambian kids, families, and communities out of poverty.
- Mario shares stories about the impact the programs have on the beneficiaries.
- Information on how to support the programs of Family Legacy
- What unexpected lesson did Mario learn from his journey?
- Mario’s number one piece of advice for the followers of Christ who desire the completion of the Great Commission.
- Mario answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Family Legacy
Send an email to Mario Zandstra
Hope for Zambia Child Sponsorship
Halftime by Bob Buford
East West
Pine Cove Christian Summer Camps
Tim Keller website
Evangecube
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Mario Zandstra
Mario Zandstra is President and CEO of Family Legacy and is the Keeper of the Vision, Culture, Talent, Work with the Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Family Legacy, he served as the President & CEO at Pine Cove Christian Camp, the President at East-West Ministries, and the Executive Vice President at Transwestern Commercial Services. Mario has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, 1979. He is a member of St Judes Oak Cliff Church.
While giving food or money to the poor provides relief, this form of helping tends to be temporary and generates dependency. If we genuinely care for others, we want to help them create lasting changes in their lives by creating jobs and increasing economic opportunities. There are ways to help that can create sustainable economic growth, foster self-sufficiency, and help people end poverty in their community in the long term.
Thomas Carlson, the founder of Ecatalyst, joins us in this episode to talk about entrepreneurial ecosystems and how this helps poor communities create sustainable economic growth as a way to end poverty. Frustrated with the traditional charity model, Thomas invests in entrepreneurial ecosystems to generate permanent changes in people’s lives and create a legacy of positive growth that lasts beyond their lifetime. He shares success stories as well as challenges to support their initiatives with their need for investment capital and skilled individuals to invest in Ethiopian entrepreneurs. Listen now and find out how we can help people see a pathway out of poverty and make a change.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Thomas talks about a highlight from his week.
- Thomas shares life-transforming chapters from his life journey.
- Thomas discovers entrepreneurial ecosystems and commits to investing in them to create more impact in communities.
- Why is the entrepreneurial ecosystem a more effective model of helping people than the traditional mode of dole-out charity?
- How did Ecatalyst come about and how does it work?
- Thomas shares stories of successful ventures that use the entrepreneurial ecosystem model.
- What are the future plans for Ecatalysts?
- What is the greatest challenge that Ecatalyst is facing right now?
- What is the greatest investment that Thomas has made?
- How can people support or get involved with Thomas’s / Ecatalysts’ ventures?
- What’s the number one thing that lifts people out of poverty?
- Thomas answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ecatalyst
When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett, et.al
Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton
The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution by Barry Asmus and Wayne Grudem
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Thomas Carlson
For nearly 22 years, Thomas was a serial entrepreneur. He founded or co-founded six businesses in both the US and overseas in fields as diverse as construction, graphic design, and water bottling. He has an extensive cross-cultural background which includes living 10 years in the Middle East, traveling with significant cultural exposure in over 50 countries, and operating at different times in four other languages. He is fluent in Arabic. Thomas has also served as a professional educator, teaching recently as a Professor of Philosophy at CSU-Pueblo and PPCC. He has given guest lectures in many academic and professional contexts over the last 25 years on topics like business, startup principles, philosophy, theology, world religions, and cultural intelligence.
We continue our conversation with Alan Barnhart, CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging where we explore his journey of growing his mom-and-pop operation into a $500 million revenue company with 1700 employees and 50 offices across the US. Alan discusses the importance of delegation, and autonomy, and how faith has been a big part of his company's success. He shares his ultimate lesson on leadership, which is to be a servant of all, work for the benefit of others, and build up people.
We focus on leadership and finding the right people as Alan emphasizes servant leadership as a key to achieving business goals. He gives advice on handling tough decisions and the importance of taking responsibility for one's mistakes. We also delve into funding missions globally and prioritizing employee well-being highlighting the importance of generosity, and the proper use of money. Don't miss out on this uplifting conversation about building up people and advancing God's kingdom through your business.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Alan talks about transferring 99% of their company’s stock into a charitable trust under the National Christian Foundation.
- What types of ministry were implemented within Alan’s company and business to support the employees?
- Alan discusses the keys to successfully growing the company.
- Alan advises how you can successfully decentralize and delegate company operations.
- Alan’s advice on how to be a better leader and why servant leadership is crucial to becoming one.
- What is Alan’s principle on dismissing employees?
- What is the greatest investment that Alan has ever made?
- Alan encourages young people to develop generosity as early as possible.
- Alan emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible, heeding its warning about money, and why putting constraints in your life leads to freedom
Tweetables:
“If you're in a spot where God puts you in a position to make money, use that. But read the warnings. Think and pray about it. Be intentional with money because it can be a blessing or a curse.”
“Recognize that God owns it all and ask the owner what he wants to do with his stuff.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Barnhart Crane & Rigging
Kingdom Companies Group
The Grove
Generous Business Owner Podcast
Faith Driven Investor
Journey of Generosity (JOG)
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Tim Keller website
Thomas Sowell / Hoover Institution
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
Imagine giving away half of your business profits to charity. Not content with that, you give up ownership of your company by transferring 99% of the shares into a charitable trust. That’s what Alan Barnhart did. “I want to be good in business, and I’m competitive but I wanted to make sure that if we were successful in business, it wouldn't hurt us spiritually.” So, he balanced business success and spiritual growth by giving it all to God, the true owner of the company.
Alan Barnhart joins us today to talk about his pursuit of business with a purpose and of being called by God to use his engineering and business skills to serve the kingdom. Having led Barnhart Crane & Rigging to definitive success for the past decades, Alan never lost sight of the lessons about money he learned from the Bible early on.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What did Alan learn about money from the Bible?
- As the business flourished, how did Alan and his brother/business partner put safeguards in their life so that they will not fall into the trappings of wealth and affluence?
- What are the critical aspects of business that helped Alan grow the business steadily through the years?
- Alan’s advice to business owners on how to incorporate and structure the giving component of their business.
- What has been the impact of 37 years of giving for Alan, for the company, and for the beneficiaries?
- Alan reflects on the question: Is it harder to give away money than to make money?
Tweetables:
“I wanted to make sure that if we were successful in business, it wouldn't hurt us spiritually.”
“If God chooses to prosper the business, we're going to see that as an opportunity to further the kingdom as opposed to further our lifestyle.”
“People say it’s a really bad strategy to jettison 50% of our profits but we give away 50% of our profits; we take the other 50% and use it to grow the business, and God has given us plenty.”
“It's essential to include God in the equation while investing in the business.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Barnhart Crane & Rigging
Kingdom Companies Group
The Grove
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Alan Barnhart
Alan Barnhart is the CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging. He grew up working in the steel-erecting business his father founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1969. During high school and college, Alan and his brother, Eric, worked summers as ironworkers and crane operators learning the business from the ground up. In college, Alan studied civil engineering, coursework that would serve him well after joining the business full-time in the early 1980s. Barnhart Crane & Rigging has grown to be one of the largest Heavy Lift and Heavy Transport organizations in the United States with more than 40 locations across the country and a nationwide reputation for solving problems.
Alan, Eric, and their families decided to give 100% of their highly successful business to charity to keep wealth from taking over their lives. About 50 percent of all company earnings are donated immediately to charity. The remaining 50 percent is used to grow the business. And in 2007, they gave the entire company to National Christian Foundation. Though they still run their daily operations, the brothers will never reap its accrued value; they kept none of it.
Alan and his wife, Katherine, have six children and reside in Tennessee.
Adoption is a beautiful way of showing generosity and compassion toward those in need. By opening our hearts and homes to adoption, we are living out God's call to care for each other and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Adoption can be a challenging journey, but the rewards of providing a loving home and family to a child in need are immeasurable.
In this episode, we sit down with Ravonne John, a real estate investor/agent, wife, and mother of two boys. She shares their journey of welcoming their son through adoption and encourages others to be open to different possibilities in life. She also talks about generosity, tithing, and offering and how we can invest toward the Kingdom. Hear the inspiring story of a life dedicated to being faithful, doing the right thing, and giving back to others.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Ravonne shares her background and personal story.
- How did Ravonne and her husband, Matt, get into real estate investing?
- Ravonne talks about their successful real estate deals and how blessed and answered their prayers in miraculous ways.
- Ravonne shares their adoption story.
- Ravonne reflects on the lessons learned from the adoption experience and how adoption is tied to generosity.
- How would Ravonne want to be remembered?
- Ravonne differentiates tithing from offering and how we can invest toward the kingdom.
- Ravonne highlights the importance of being faithful, doing the right thing, and sharing one's blessings.
- Ravonne answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“We've been adopted into the family of God; that's how it all works together.”
“Adoption is an opportunity for generosity. It opens up your mind and your heart to love somebody that you would never have had the opportunity to love before.”
“We are not meant to be apart. The Lord wants us to be elevated and to be living a full life and I think God can do that in a person's life through adoption.”
“If you're in real estate, expect to evaluate 100 deals. And then once you get to number 101, you can go ahead and purchase and then do another 100, and you'll know that you're on the right path.”
“Never forget what it's like to be the little guy.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Urban Cottage Realty
Ravonne John on LinkedIn
BiggerPockets
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
As Long As We Both Shall Live: Experience the Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Smalley, Ted Cunningham
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Ravonne John
Ravonne John is a real estate investor serving the Northwest Arkansas area with Urban Cottage Realty. She has experience with new builds, land purchases, foreclosures, and residential and commercial rentals. Ravonne is a wife and mom to two boys. As an adoptive parent and previous foster mom, she is an advocate for adoption and foster care.
Can couples, polar opposites at that, work together in the real estate business? There may be rows blazing, sparks flying, swords crossing, walkouts, and tears but in the end, they are still “better together”. No words ring truer for our guests today. Divergent in personality and diametrically opposite in character, Lee and Hannah Yoder are the husband and wife team behind Threefold Real Estate Investing.
Lee and Hannah join us to discuss their investing journey and share their experiences of working together as a couple. With one being more adventurous and a risk-taker while the other, more cautious and risk-averse, Hannah and Lee tell us that finding a balance and honoring each other's strengths is key to reaching their goals. Find out how they learned to appreciate their differences, saw God's plan in it, and began to see each other thrive in their roles.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why Lee’s shift from a secure but unfulfilling job to the volatile yet exciting world of real estate became a battleground for the couple?
- What did Lee and Hannah learn about their contrasting personalities when they ventured into real estate?
- How did their real estate venture help Lee and Hannah trust God's design for their partnership and family life?
- What realizations about each other and about God’s plan led Lee and Hannah to affirm that they complement one another and actually work better together?
- Lee and Hannah talk about their real estate company, Threefold - the name origin, deals done, the worst and most successful deals, and how they scaled.
- Hannah’s and Lee’s advice to couples starting in the real estate business.
- Lee and Hannah answer the mentor minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Threefold Real Estate Investing website
Lee Yoder on Linkedin
Send an email to Lee & Hannah Yoder
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
ABOUT LEE YODER
Lee was a practicing physical therapist when he realized his true passion was building his own business and investing in real estate. Today, Lee is focused on syndicating larger apartment buildings and is the founder and visionary behind Threefold Real Estate Investing. Lee is committed to using his God-given gifts to forge a path that will generate incredible opportunities for all involved. His focus is driving the business forward by establishing new relationships with top-notch professionals in the real estate world and bringing on more partners to invest alongside Threefold. Lee also hosts a podcast, Threefold Real Estate Investing.
ABOUT HANNAH YODER
Hannah serves as the liaison for Threefold’s investors and residents, developing relationships, providing support, and ensuring all of their needs are being met. As a former registered nurse, with a BSN from Wright State University, Hannah has a heart for developing relationships and serving others well.
In this episode, you’ll hear Joe talk about his personal struggles with debt and how he turned them around to become successful in the business world. He provides practical advice on how to run a successful business, tips on creating a financial plan, and guidance on investing in assets and why it's important to approach financial decisions with a long-term perspective. Find out the greatest business decision that Joe has ever made and his passion for giving back and using his success to support causes. Is debt always bad? You have to listen to hear Joe’s personal thoughts on the subject. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Joe recounts how while making good money from his job, he accumulated huge debts from unchecked spending.
- How was Joe able to pay off his debts in three years?
- What made Joe determined to put his finances in order?
- What’s Joe’s special talent that proved crucial to the success of his business endeavors?
- Joe talks about his passion for marrying the gift of getting with the gift of giving.
- Joe’s advice on how pastors and church leaders can leverage the strengths of entrepreneurs and business owners for the advancement of God's kingdom.
- Joe discusses "I Was Broke. Now I'm Not." - its origin and how it became the core of everything that he does - book publishing, speaking engagements, financial tools and coaching, investing, etc.
- Joe’s advice for employed individuals who want to start a business.
- What is the greatest business decision that Joe has ever made?
- What’s a failure or setback in Joe’s journey that teaches a key lesson?
- How do you determine a good and reasonable margin in real estate for a profitable and long-term successful outcome?
- Why is it important to define and live by your ‘why’ in managing your money?
- Joe’s advice on cultivating generosity in our businesses and in our life?
- “Is debt always bad?” Joe offers his perspective on the matter.
Tweetables:
“I have abandoned the phrase “I can't afford that” and replaced it with “How can I afford that?” That opens up the mind to think about other ways of achieving.”
“If you put a line item in your personal budget that says ‘intentionally bless others’, you get opportunities to intentionally bless others.”
“Debt with a great margin and a lot of good math can be an excellent way to build wealth.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. website
Monday Money Tip Podcast
Fully Funded Life
Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom by Robert Kiyosaki
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Joe Sangl
Joe is a leading teacher of personal finances. It is his passion to help people accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances.
He is the founder of I Was Broke. Now I’m Not., the president and CEO of INJOY Stewardship Solutions, and Co-Founder of Fully Funded.
Joe is a graduate of Purdue University (BS in Mechanical Engineering) and Clemson University (MBA). He is the author of several books and has been featured in Money Magazine. He has been privileged to share his passion with hundreds of thousands of people throughout North America through Financial Learning Experiences, personal finance messages, and one-on-one financial coaching sessions.
Joe resides in Anderson, South Carolina with his bride, Jenn, and their three children.
In this episode, we talk to Andy Corley who highlights the work of Prison Fellowship International, which operates in 118 countries to provide a range of programs and interventions to help restore prisoners' lives, help their families, and successfully integrate them back into the community. We tackled some misconceptions people have about incarcerated individuals and the need to see them as human beings who have made mistakes and may have faced difficult circumstances in their lives. Listen now and gain a compelling insight into the transformative impact of prison ministry. Hear his powerful message of hope and redemption reminding us that everyone can change and grow, regardless of their circumstances.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Andy introduces himself and talks about a project that he’s excited about right now.
- Andy shares details of his life story - his education, early corporate career, entrepreneurial start-ups, and initial involvement in the prison ministry.
- How did Andy become CEO and president of Prison Fellowship International?
- Andy reflects on his role and his calling to serve in the Prison Fellowship International and why the prison ministry resonates with his heart, values, and beliefs.
- Andy discusses the work that Prison Fellowship International does - its programs for the incarcerated and their families, and the impact they are creating on the people that they reach.
- Andy talks about the vision and future plans for Prison Fellowship International.
- What does Andy wish people knew about prison ministry?
- Andy shares stories of transformation that give him hope and inspiration to continue and expand the programs of the prison ministry.
- How can people support and get involved in the Prison Fellowship International ministry?
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Prison Fellowship International website
Restorative Justice Exchange website
Prison Fellowship website
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Andy Corley
As President and CEO of Prison Fellowship International, Andy leads the work of PFI among the family of national affiliates in 116 countries to achieve the vision of breaking the cycle of crime and restoring lives, worldwide, through Jesus’s love. Andy values working alongside brothers and sisters who passionately care about prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. He also enjoys connecting with key ministry partners to build relationships and share about the impactful work God is doing through their generosity and work.
Andy has more than 30 years of leadership experience from global companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. He developed his strategic thinking and leadership skills while serving in various management and director roles for global construction groups, including Lafarge and Hanson Brick Europe. Throughout his career, Corley transformed a number of underperforming companies and divisions into award-winning enterprises. Having a passion for Christian ministry, Corley continues to serve as an advisor and board member to several internationally focused, faith-based organizations. Prior to his appointment as President and CEO, Andy served as Treasurer on Prison Fellowship International’s Board of Directors for seven years.
Andy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Liverpool. He lives in beautiful Derbyshire, England, with his wife, Andrea, near their grown children. In his spare time, Andy enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing sports, and going for a good run.
What does it mean to truly live and walk by faith in the Lord? In our latest episode, we talk to Jill Monaco of Jill Monaco Ministries who shares her journey pursuing a life of faith shaped by profound encounters with God and strengthened in its core despite the traumatic experiences she suffered. Jill's story is a testament to the transformative power of faith.
Join us as we delve into Jill’s life story - from leaving her career in musical theater to traveling around the country to do ministry work to starting a ministry to help people find freedom in Christ. Jill's life experiences give us insight into what it means to live and walk by faith in God.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jill shares details of her life story - her upbringing, personal encounters with God as well as painful experiences that caused her to become a confused teenager and young adult.
- She talks about her decades-long career as a professional actor, narrator, and voice-over talent before moving on to serve in the Christian ministry.
- Why does Jill say that God has “strong-armed” her into ministry?
- How did Jill overcome the adverse effects of the spiritual and physical abuses she experienced within the church?
- What were the signs and miracles in Jill’s life that made her determined to pursue God despite her dire experiences?
- How did the Jill Monaco Ministries come about?
- Jill shares personal stories of trusting God and walking by faith.
- What is Freedom Coaching and the Freedom Coaching Model developed by Jill?
- Jill’s greatest investment, successes and failures, and unexpected lessons learned from her life journey.
- Jill’s advice on how to grow in generosity, and trust in the Lord and his provisions.
- Jill answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jill Monaco Ministries website
Jill Monaco on Facebook
Jill Monaco on Twitter
Jill Monaco on Instagram
Miranda's Mirror by Jill Monaco
Single Matters Online Magazine
The Jill Monaco Show Podcast
Graham Cooke
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Jill Monaco
Jill Monaco is the founder and CEO of Jill Monaco Ministries™, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has a passion to encourage people to pursue the presence of God and find freedom in Christ. She is a speaker, best-selling author, and Professional Christian Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF). She serves on the Board of Reference for the International Christian Coaching Institute (ICCI) as a Mentor Coach for new coaches and is certified in several coaching assessment tools.
Jill Monaco developed Freedom Coaching®, a coaching model that blends hearing God, prayer, and coaching tools. Her first book The Freedom Coach Model® went to #1 on the Amazon bestseller list. Jill Monaco Ministries also serves singles by publishing the online magazine, SingleMatters.com.
Jill hosts the podcast The Jill Monaco Show™ and she has been featured on LIFE Today with James and Betty Robison, the Boundless Podcast (Focus on the Family), and has taught webinars for singles with Christian Mingle. She has spoken on stage at Disney Night of Joy, Creation Fest, and the Experience Conference about the need for Bible translation.
Will a double bottom line in real estate investing work? Our guest today operates in this realm – achieving significant ROI for investors and creating a major Kingdom impact. How do they do it? We will have the answers in this episode.
Keith Dunkin, co-founder, and CEO of Waymaker, a Christ-centered multifamily investment platform joins us to talk about Waymaker's innovative investment thesis, which uses data, technology, and world-class operations to create new assets or make existing ones better and make a difference in people’s lives in partnership with Apartment Life while achieving significant returns for investors. You'll hear about Keith's personal journey and his experience in the multifamily space and how his faith and generosity have played a central role in his life. Tune in now and learn how Waymaker creates kingdom impact and why community is good for both people and business.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Keith recounts how Waymaker came about and how a partnership with Apartment Life was formed.
- Keith cites some statistics and information on the impact that Apartment Life has created over the years.
- How Apartment Life creates meaningful relationships among tenants and stronger communities within the multifamily residential spaces that it manages and its positive effects on the business side of apartment ownership.
- Keith talks about Waymaker and its current business model.
- Keith highlights that the double bottom line - financial returns and Kingdom impact - is attainable as long as there is a high-quality investment opportunity offered by a values-aligned group.
- What is the most significant investment that Keith has ever made?
- Keith reflects on his life, shares mistakes committed and lessons learned.
- How does Keith view and exercise generosity?
- How is generosity built into the system of Waymaker?
- Keith answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“The double bottom line - financial returns and kingdom impact - is absolutely attainable. It starts with a high-quality exceptional investment opportunity brought by a values-aligned group.”
“One of the biggest challenges that we must solve as a country is we are lacking in truly affordable housing.“
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Waymaker website
Apartment Life website
JPI website
Madera Residential
J Turner Research
Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Keith Dunkin
Keith Dunkin is a co-founder of Waymaker, an investment platform focused on serving people and delivering outperformance to investors through new developments, acquisitions of opportunities with significant returns, asset management, technology, and community engagement in partnership with Apartment Life. With the goal of transforming communities with the love of Christ in a fund that pursues compelling, risk-adjusted financial returns, Keith and his partners aim to leverage mission and technology to create positive resident living experiences and drive yield for investors.
Keith has more than 20 years of experience in multifamily including 17 years as senior vice president of the Asset Optimization platform of RealPage, a $10 billion multifamily technology firm.
Do you make a positive impact in your community through your generosity? Would you like to cultivate a legacy of generosity to pass down to your descendants? Join us as we sit down with Crosland Stuart, founder of Crosland & Company to discuss the importance of generational generosity.
In this episode, Crosland shares how her family instilled in her a commitment to stewardship and generosity emphasizing the importance of integrating faith into daily life. She talks about the challenges of passing down generosity to the next generation while highlighting the importance of educating and involving children early on. She reflects on her personal journey of generosity and how investing time in people's lives through discipleship and mentoring can have a greater impact than just monetary donations. Listen to the inspiring conversation now as you continue to enrich your journey through stewardship and generosity.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What is one thing that Crosland is passionate about or excited about right now?
- Crosland gives snapshots of her background and upbringing.
- Crosland discusses generosity across generations as lived out within her own family.
- Crosland talks about how other foundations succeeded at passing generosity down to the next generation.
- Crosland reflects on past failures of not practicing generosity well and the lessons learned from them.
- What are the ways that we can practice generosity outside of the typical money-giving?
- Crosland discusses the idea of good citizenship which stems from faith and generosity to the local community and has been passed down by Crosland’s grandfather to the succeeding generation.
- An example of acts of generosity that were passed down as a legacy to the younger generation.
- Crosland’s thoughts on the great wealth transfer and how we can turn it to be a blessing.
- Crosland answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“Generosity is not a function of wealth; it is a function of the heart.”
“It's not our dollars that are going to make the difference, it's our time. It doesn't matter how big your checks are, you need to be investing in people's lives.”
“Practice humility, generosity, gratitude, and joy. They're like muscles, if you don't use them, they atrophy.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Nuance Podcast
Legacy, LLC website
Crosland Stuart on LinkedIn
Perception Ministries
"Knowing God" by J I Packer
"Humility" by Andrew Murray
"Gentle and Lowly" by Dane Ortlund
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Crosland Stuart
Crosland Stuart is the founder of Crosland & Company, LLC which is engaged in multiple business lines that includes communications, literary representation, foundation consulting, and family business interests. She is also a literary agent and project development specialist with Legacy, LLC. She also serves as chairperson of the E.B. Kennedy Scholarship Program Board of Directors of the E.C. Stuart Foundation which has partnered with Erskine College to annually award full scholarships for the past sixty years.
How can an investment be a tool for social or spiritual good? Investing becomes redemptive when investment capital is directed toward companies or projects that align with the investor's values and contribute to social, spiritual, or environmental causes. Redemptive investing is not just to earn a financial return but also to create a positive impact on individuals and communities through socially and spiritually responsible business practices and investing strategies.
In this episode, we hear from Derek Kessen of Heron Ventures (formerly Legacy Ventures Partners), a redemptive company that provides debt and equity investments specializing in frontier and emerging markets. Derek talks about their philosophy of redemptive investing prioritizing the common good, and making a positive impact on the world while still generating returns. Derek offers insight into the challenges and opportunities of investing in redemptive business ventures, as well as the importance of intentionality and discipleship in investments. Click now and learn how they are working to reach their goal of creating jobs, and seeing economic and social flourishing.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What’s one thing that Derek is passionate about right now?
- Derek talks about his background, education, and his first job dealing with mortgage loans.
- What made Derek quit his first job?
- How Derek landed a job with the “good guys of finance”?
- What is a redemptive company and how did Derek grow professionally and spiritually?
- What made Derek leave the company after 13 years?
- Derek discusses the consulting company they’ve established, its mission, and its goals.
- What type of investments does the company make in businesses?
- Derek shares stories that highlight the redemptive side of investing.
- Derek tells his personal story with the redemptive business as a backdrop, how he has grown and changed as well as his journey of generosity.
- What is the most important thing that Derek would want to be remembered for?
- Derek answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Derek Kessen on LinkedIn
Authentic Lives: Overcoming the Problem of Hidden Identity in Outreach to Restrictive Nations by Thomas Hale
The Steward Investor by Don Simmons
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Derek Kessen
Derek is the Managing Partner of Legacy Ventures Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in Small & Medium Enterprises ("SMEs") in frontier and emerging markets in Africa and Asia. He also provides consulting and entrepreneurship training as the Founder of OnCenter Consulting in Chicago and a Core Team member of B4T.org in South Africa.
Derek has volunteered for the Mizzou Alumni Association for 13 years as an officer of the alumni chapter board in Chicago. As the chapter President (2011-2013, 2017-2019), Derek established a scholarship endowment, which has now grown to over $40,000. In 2013, Derek received MAA's Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Award following the transformation of the Chicago chapter’s digital platform.
Derek studied Finance at Mizzou and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
In this episode, we hear from Jeff Rutt, the founder of HOPE International, a nonprofit that provides Christ-centered microfinance services to help alleviate poverty in 24 countries around the world.
Listen now and come away with a deeper understanding of the power of faith, generosity, and service to transform lives.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What are the keys to the growth and success of his business?
- What is Jeff’s rule of thumb for debt to equity ratio?
- What are the three core principles that guide Jeff in running the company?
- What strategies does Jeff’s company use to mitigate risks in the construction industry brought about by economic and market fluctuations?
- How does Jeff’s faith impact his leadership in the business?
- Why did Jeff give away a significant portion of his company to a donor-advised fund as it is now 89% owned by charity?
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jeff Rutt on LinkedIn
Keystone Custom Homes
HOPE International website
Peter Greer
Generous Business Owner Podcast
National Christian Foundation
Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Mission Drift by Peter Greer
Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Laws of Lifetime Growth by Dan Sullivan and Catherine Nomura
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch
Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton
The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
What is your role in advancing the kingdom of God? Do you know and understand your calling? Our episode today may hold the key. John Rinehart joins us to talk about Gospel Patrons - someone who is personally and financially involved in supporting Christian leaders who proclaim the gospel. You may not be a preacher, a pastor, or a minister but God has prepared a part for you to play.
John shares the concept of being a gospel patron, which is the subject of his book and ministry, and tells stories of gospel patrons who have made a significant impact in advancing God's kingdom. He reflects on the joy that comes with giving and how it is a quick path to finding true joy in one's life. Learn why living for oneself and advancing one's own agenda is not a path to true happiness and recognize the traps that hold us back from being gospel patrons.
Key Points From This Episode:
- John shares one thing that excites him in this season of his life.
- John gives an overview of his personal background.
- John explains the “gospel patron” - the concept, the book, and the ministry.
- John shares stories of real-life gospel patrons who have created a great impact in advancing God’s kingdom.
- John discusses the beginnings of the “gospel patron”.
- What are the highlights and successes that John experienced while building the Gospel Patrons ministry?
- What is the greatest joy of being a gospel patron?
- What are the traps that hold us back from being generous gospel patrons?
- John discusses the pervasiveness of materialism in America and how people need to learn to steward and use them for the glory of God.
- What is the most important thing that John would want to be remembered for?
- John answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“When God raises up someone who's going to be the messenger, He's also going to raise up someone who's going to carry the means.”
“If you want to be happy, the way to find happiness is to learn to be generous, to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, take a step of faith, to love and bless people.”
“We make mistakes, we hurt people's feelings. We don't do things the way we wish we could do them. We have regrets and we learn from them. But don’t get stuck in the fear of failure. Don't get stuck in the mistakes that we've made in the past. Keep going. Keep getting up. That's the mark of courageous and strong leadership.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Gospel Patrons website
Purchase the book: Gospel Patrons by John Rinehart
Purchase the book: Giving Together by John Rinehart
YouVersion Bible apps
Craig Groeschel's Leadership Podcast
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About John Rinehart
John is the leader of Gospel Patrons. He started his career in business, pivoted to seminary, and took his greatest step of faith to write the book "Gospel Patrons." Since then, God has used John's books and speaking to help many business leaders and professional people find their unique calling within God's kingdom. He and his wife Renée have a son and a daughter and they love traveling the world.
Having a business founded with a mission can create a sense of meaning and fulfillment for its founders. If the business is not just focused on financial success but also on transforming lives and communities through entrepreneurship, it can give a stronger sense of purpose and motivation to succeed, it helps build a positive reputation, and creates trust with stakeholders leading to a more productive and successful business. Such is the story of Taylor Blom and Next Door Photos.
Taylor Blom had a clear goal of using business to advance God's kingdom with the hopes of creating freedom, fulfillment, and flourishing. Through faith and partnerships, he brought his vision to life with Next Door Photos now operating in over 70 locations in North America, capturing media for real estate, while employing men and women rescued from trafficking or at risk of exploitation in locations such as Kenya, the Philippines, and Nepal. Listen to how Taylor brings purpose and passion to business while empowering lives and transforming communities!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What's one thing that Taylor is excited about at this time?
- Taylor shares his personal background and the genesis story of his company.
- How did the integration of faith into business start for Taylor?
- Taylor describes the process of faith and business integration in the local and international contexts.
- Taylor shares his vision for his company and his plans for growth.
- Taylor tells a story that illustrates the impact the company creates for its employees on a global level.
- Some of the challenges that Taylor experienced in managing the business.
- What is one thing that Taylor learned from his business that he didn't expect?
- What’s one failure that taught Taylor a significant lesson?
- What will Taylor want to be remembered for in his lifetime?
- What is Taylor’s key piece of advice for life?
- Taylor answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“We want this business to be used to advance God's kingdom.”
“Freedom, fulfillment, flourishing.”
“I want to grow and build a successful business while making an impact. I don't have to choose between the two.”
“I had no idea how hard it was gonna be. But at the same time, I had no idea how fulfilling and meaningful it was going to be too.”
“The greatest challenges have provided some of the biggest learning opportunities.”
“You're gonna get knocked down, you're gonna make the wrong choice, you're gonna walk through the wrong door and the quicker that you can realize that, learn from that, pivot, and move on, the better.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Next Door Photos
Taylor Blom on LinkedIn
Business Made Simple
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Taylor Blom
Taylor photographed his very first home in the fall of 2010 (with his new iPhone 4) while working as the Director of Communications at a property management company–and hasn’t looked back since. With a background in sales and marketing, Taylor launched Front Door Photos, a real estate photography company, in 2012 which later was acquired by Next Door Photos–which he co-founded in 2015. As NDP continues to scale, Taylor’s focus on growth–in revenue, people, and overall impact, helps the company move forward under a shared vision to see business used as a force for good–both locally and globally.
We continue with the concluding part of our interview with Mark Whitacre. In this episode, Mark shares stories of his eight-and-a-half years in prison and reflects on his life in confinement as the most productive years of his life. Mark discusses the ensuing relationships with key people who introduced him to God, transformed his life, and enabled him to find freedom in prison.
Mark speaks about his personal journey of being addicted to materialism, greed, and ego, and how God transformed his heart to enable him to find peace, freedom, and purpose in prison. He shares about his current work with t-factor and the Faith-at-Work movement as he has dedicated his life to servant leadership. Having lived his life full circle and fully appreciating his life purpose, he now helps business leaders and owners to leverage their influence within their businesses for God's kingdom. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Mark's powerful story.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Mark tells the story of his life in prison and reflects on the eight-and-a-half years of incarceration as the most productive years of his life.
- What did Mark consider as the real prison in his lifetime?
- How does Mark characterize his relationship with his wife, Ginger, throughout the years?
- How did Mark’s family survive the years of his imprisonment?
- What are the t-factor and the Faith-at-Work movement?
- Why is the workplace the best place for ministry work?
- How can business leaders and owners leverage their influence within their businesses for God's kingdom?
- What are some key pieces of advice on how business leaders can make a difference in the workplace?
- Mark reflects on his remarkable story from being addicted to materialism, greed, and ego to God’s transformation of his heart teaching him how to live as a servant leader.
- What is Mark’s key piece of advice on living a life of purpose?
- Mark answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“Those eight years in prison at $20 a month were the most productive years of my life.”
“Evangelism and discipleship are the purposes of our lives.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Mark Whitacre website
Operation Timothy
Corporate Chaplains of America
Coca Cola Consolidated
Faith At Work Network
Surprised By Faith by Dr. Don Bierle
Life In The Presence of God by Kenneth Boa
Limping With God by Chad Bird
t-factor
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
Few people’s life stories are as spectacular as Mark Whitacre's to merit a Hollywood movie and a Discovery Channel documentary. With a cinematic landscape characterized by excesses of wealth, power, and corporate greed, and a thrilling fall and redemption arc, it’s hard not to be enthralled. Today, Mark joins us to tell his remarkable story.
In this first episode of a two-part interview, we'll hear how God radically intervened in his life, from a university student who rejected faith to becoming an ultra-successful corporate executive and eventually getting caught up in a massive price-fixing case and becoming the highest-level corporate executive in U.S. history to become an FBI whistleblower. Listen as he reflects on his journey to the top of the biotech industry, his rise at ADM, Archer-Daniels-Midland achieving opulent material wealth and success to his downfall as we end this episode with Mark preparing to serve his eight-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Mark shares snapshots of his personal background and life story, the cinematic, thrilling parts of it were turned into a movie, “The Informant!”
- Mark grew up attending church with his parents but becomes an atheist as he pursued his Ph.D. in biochemistry and entered the biotech industry abetted by the belief that a scientist cannot believe in God.
- At 32, Mark becomes division president and corporate vice president at ADM, Archer-Daniels-Midland, a $70 billion Fortune 500 company, makes seven figures annually, gets his own private jet, and buys the former CEO's mansion.
- Mark’s wife, Ginger, becomes a Christian, and takes care of their 3 kids but longs to live a simpler life as a good steward for God.
- After two years at ADM, Mark was let in on the company’s illegal activity – an international price-fixing cartel on food additives and becomes involved.
- Upset that Mark has become involved in fraud, Ginger pressures Mark to turn himself in and report the crime to the FBI.
- In exchange for immunity, Mark agrees to become a cooperating witness for the FBI, acts as an informant, and wears a wire for three years from 1992 to 1995 to monitor the meetings of the cartel.
- The case of one of the largest international cartels in history was prosecuted.
- Mark experiences intense stress and fear for his and his family’s life while acting as an FBI informant.
- While an FBI informant, Mark embezzles millions of dollars from his company, loses his legal immunity, is offered a six-month plea agreement, refuses it, and fights his case in court.
- Mark loses his legal battle and prepares to go to prison for eight and a half years.
Tweetables:
“Greed blinds you.”
“I couldn't understand how she was always so content with what she had. What I wanted was more and more.”
“Prison is going to be the beginning of your life. And you're going to find your true purpose in life with the journey you're ready to start.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Mark Whitacre website
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Mark Whitacre
Mark Whitacre is the highest-level executive to ever turn whistleblower in U.S. history. His undercover work with the FBI during the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) scandal was the inspiration for the major motion picture, "The Informant," starring Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre and was the inspiration for the Discovery Channel Documentary, titled "Undercover". Drawing from his unique history, Mark provides one-of-a-kind insight into corporate ethics, corporate greed, and the warning signs of flawed corporate leadership.
“We are just the money managers.” As good stewards of God’s resources, our lives are governed by this dictum. We listen to God’s voice and obey HIs bidding as He tells us where to direct the material resources that He’s entrusted to us. We make certain lifestyle choices to ensure that our needs are met while also being mindful that we are summoned by God to partake in His generosity.
In this episode, we interview Beverly Grant who shares her journey to financial freedom and living a life of purpose. Beverly made certain lifestyle choices to ensure that her kids got their education while being faithful to her goal to give 10% and save 10%. Beverly finds joy in giving and shares that her worth is not determined by what she has but by what she gives. Listen now and be inspired by her story as she reflects on her experiences growing up poor, achieving success in the corporate world, and now working tirelessly to help marginalized children and single mothers aiming to create a tremendous impact on African American youth.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What is Beverly most excited about right now?
- Snapshots of Beverly’s life story, key highlights, and formative life experiences.
- How Beverly’s career in sales and marketing influenced her current mission.
- How Beverly’s life has been guided and disciplined by the principles that define needs, wants and desires and fortified by a life of generosity.
- Where does Beverly find significance in life?
- What is the ‘why’ behind Beverly’s mission?
- Beverly talks about the success that she has achieved in her career and the factors that helped her succeed.
- Beverly shares the vision and the purpose for which God called her.
- What impact will Beverly’s mission have on the target beneficiaries of the programs which are particularly focused on African American youth?
- What are some of the highlights and failures in Beverly’s life that have taught her key lessons?
- What’s one thing that Beverly wants to be remembered for in her life?
- What’s a turning point in Beverly’s life that motivated her to invest time, resources and energy into her mission?
- Beverly shares a tip on how we can be more generous and grow in generosity.
- What is the single greatest piece of advice that Beverly can offer about life in general?
- Beverly answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“That is such a great place to live, live in needs, be careful to approach wants, and desires is a danger zone.”
“Be generous of heart and generous of spirit.”
“Not everything's about you.”
“It’s not about me, it's all about the team.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Inspiring Hope Fund: Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Greater Cincinnati Foundation Giving Circles
Rosemary's Babies Co.
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Beverly Grant
Beverly A. Grant is a former Consumer Products Goods executive who exemplifies generosity in every area of her life. Currently, she serves as an active community volunteer who gives her time to for-profit and nonprofit boards. She resides in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the mother of four wonderful sons and four grandchildren.
Our life is a journey with many unexpected twists and sharp turns. Mostly though, we are caught up in the humdrum of the mundane and the ordinary, living our lives uneventfully. But, no matter what phase or stage in life we are now, whether we have a deep relationship with God, a lukewarm affiliation, or even a total disconnection, God is there, waiting and pursuing.
Our episode today presents Aaron Kim of Kairos Capital who has led a spectacular adventure of life as he discovers, moves away, and then, re-discovers God, and obeys His calling. A global citizen and a prodigal son, Aaron recounts the gripping stories of his life’s journey, his search for truth, and his daring spirit. Click now and hear how he faced God's relentless pursuit and gave in to his call to a purpose greater than he’d ever imagined.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Aaron shares the story of his journey of discovering, losing, and re-discovering his faith and relationship with God.
- How did God pursue Aaron?
- The miracle story of Kairos Capital’s founding.
- What’s Aaron’s vision for Kairos Capital?
- Aaron talks about the mission side of Kairos Capital.
- How did Aaron’s relationship with money evolve?
- How obedience to God’s call can become a desert experience and may seem to be illogical and pointless from our perspective.
- Why Aaron was inspired to tell the story of his relationship with God in a book.
- Aaron answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“At the most vulnerable time, the one thing that you reach out to is the very thing that you've been running away from the longest time."
“Though it may look impossible in the beginning, pursue the calling in your life and never give up. It's worthwhile and definitely rewarding.”
“It is all because of His grace that God pursues anyone.”
“I came to understand the importance of generosity and one aspect of generosity is to understand, this is not my money, that whole idea of stewardship.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Aaron Kim on LinkedIn
Kairos Capital website
Pursued by the Maker: A Global Citizen's Journey into the Heart of God by Aaron H. Kim
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Aaron Kim
Aaron Kim is a born-again Christian, a husband, a father of four, and a modern-day renaissance man. A Korean born in Germany, Aaron is a polyglot who lived in more than 10 countries before the age of 30.
Growing up, Aaron was influenced by diverse cultures and international education spanning three continents learning several languages. He then started a career with the leading global financial institutions on Wall Street, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Two decades later, as a seasoned financial professional, Aaron set up Kairos Capital in Singapore as a response to God who relentlessly pursued him with a calling, Aaron's purpose in life is to finance the Great Commission.
Aaron earned a Tourism & Hospitality Management Degree from Klessheim Salzburg Austria. His bachelor’s degree in Finance was awarded by Hawaii Pacific University. He earned two MBA degrees from INSEAD, and Tsinghua University in Beijing China. Aaron enjoys interdisciplinary contemplation and writing and keeps himself fit with a spectrum of sports activities from triathlon to golf. Aaron and his family currently reside in Seoul, Korea.
What does faith accomplish? The Bible tells us inspiring stories of people who had great faith and how God used them to do great things for Him. In the concluding episode of our two-part interview with Morgan Jackson, senior vice president of Faith Comes By Hearing ministry, we continue the story of Jackson’s great faith and trust in God that allowed them to continue their mission to bring the word of God to the people of the world in their own language.
In this episode, Morgan explains the arduous process that goes into the production, translation, recording and dramatization of the scripture in thousands of the world’s languages and the distribution of these materials to people groups. He tells stories of how people receive and react to the recordings and lays down the obstacles and challenges they’re facing in accomplishing their goals. Click now and find out how hard they are working to reach their goal of translating, recording, and providing the word of God in every language that needs it by 2033.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Morgan details the processes involved in the production and distribution of the translations of the scripture in thousands of the world’s languages and people groups
- How Faith Comes By Hearing partners with like-minded organizations and utilizes technology to achieve the goal by 2033.
- The obstacles and challenges they have encountered in operating the ministry.
- The current needs of the ministry for which support is desired.
- What is a Proclaimer and why is it a most critical need in reaching the unreached?
- The most influential persons in Morgan’s life and their impact on him.
- The greatest lesson Morgan learned about leadership.
Tweetables:
“We're living in a generation that will see the Earth covered with the Word of God as the waters cover the sea and we will see scripture in every single language of the world. Now, not without malice, not without death, many will die in this process. Many will suffer but we're on that journey.”
“What better way to propagate the gospel than just God's word, dramatized, word-for-word in the mother tongue with one device that they can use to disciple, share, and evangelize.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Faith Comes By Hearing
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Pioneer Bible Translators
American Bible Society
Bible.is
YouVersion
The Proclaimer
Word for the World
Biblica
Youth With A Mission
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Morgan Jackson
Morgan Jackson is passionate about God’s Word and getting it to people across the world in a way they understand. He serves as Senior Vice President of Faith Comes By Hearing, where he’s worked for decades with partners to record Audio Bibles in the languages of the world.
Morgan is the son of Faith Comes By Hearing founders Jerry and Anet Jackson, and he learned from an early age the importance of uniting the Body of Christ and overcoming obstacles to share the Word of God. He has traveled to more than 80 countries so far to make that happen.
Getting God's Word to every person in every location or community in the world is a challenge and a mission for all Christians. The challenge lies in communicating with people groups who speak different languages while others cannot read printed materials at all. Because the majority of the world’s population learns by hearing and half are functionally illiterate, it is only through oral scripture translation in their mother tongue that people can hear with their hearts and learn the word of God.
The Faith Comes By Hearing ministry has been working on this mission for the past fifty years. Morgan Jackson, its current senior vice president and son of ministry founders, Jerry and Anet Jackson, joins us today in part 1 of our 2-part interview to tell us the impact that the ministry creates for the people groups that they’ve been reaching. Having recorded and dramatized the New Testament in 1740 languages, Faith Comes By Hearing in partnership with similar organizations, has provided God's Word in audio and video for over 80% of the world's population. Find out how they do it and don’t miss the remarkable story of the Jackson family’s extraordinary journey of faith. Hear it now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Morgan shares his personal background and his unique childhood.
- How Morgan’s unique upbringing led and guided him to his current mission and preoccupation.
- The story of the founding of “Faith Comes By Hearing”, an audio bible recording ministry by Morgan’s parents.
- How did Morgan’s parents' remarkable journey of faith and complete trust in God influence Morgan in his personal journey?
- What propelled Morgan to leave his businesses and join his parents in the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry?
- Morgan talks about the work of the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry, how, in partnership with various organizations, it has been reaching the unreached by getting them to hear the Bible in their own language and the impact and growth it brings to people.
Tweetables:
“My dad taught us how to pray and to be quiet and listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts so we can hear God's voice.”
“If you give them a printed Bible, they can't read it. But when the Word of God is brought to them in the heart language, their lives are transformed.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Faith Comes By Hearing
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Pioneer Bible Translators
American Bible Society
Answers To Prayer by George Muller
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Morgan Jackson
Morgan Jackson is passionate about God’s Word and getting it to people across the world in a way they understand. He serves as Senior Vice President of Faith Comes By Hearing, where he’s worked for decades with partners to record Audio Bibles in the languages of the world.
Morgan is the son of Faith Comes By Hearing founders Jerry and Anet Jackson, and he learned from an early age the importance of uniting the Body of Christ and overcoming obstacles to share the Word of God. He has traveled to more than 80 countries so far to make that happen.
We’ve heard stories of Christian entrepreneurs facing the dilemma of having to choose between full-time business and full-time ministry. Not that there should be a tension point because as many entrepreneurs have proven, one can step into one’s purpose and pursue those entrepreneurial dreams while leading others to Christ and creating a far greater impact in the world.
Today, we hear the story of entrepreneurial dreams fulfilled while creating opportunities for people to thrive and engaging them for Kingdom initiatives. Pureflow’s Collin Wenrich and Jared Fulks offer us lessons on building a business, driven by faith and powered by people who are determined to set themselves free from oppressive business practices. Find out how through Pureflow’s lease-to-own motorcycle program in East Africa, hundreds of families have been wheeled out of poverty through financial literacy and living a life enriched by faith.
Key Points From This Episode:
- The founding story of Pureflow, a social and spiritual impact enterprise financing income-generating assets for people in East Africa.
- The lease-to-own motorcycle program that teaches members financial literacy and engages them in Kingdom initiatives.
- A snapshot of a day in Pureflow’s headquarters.
- How Jared got involved in the organization.
- The team composition that operates the business and mission activities in six different locations of Pureflow.
- How Pureflow activities are funded.
- The vision for Pureflow and plans for future growth.
- The top challenges in scaling and operating the business and mission.
- The process of selection for Pureflow members and onboarding employees.
- Why building relationships and joining together at the table is crucial to the success of Pureflow.
- Collin and Jared answer the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“When there are multiple believers gathered, we see some powerful things happen.” – Jared Fulks
“We build relationships. We become transparent. We share struggles and challenges.” – Jared Fulks
“The vision is to create opportunities for people to thrive. And the focus is that we finance income-generating assets for people who don't have access to affordable financing.” – Jared Fulks
“The higher the risk, the more intentional the relationships need to be.” – Jared Fulks
“Pureflow is a small little thread of a bigger canvas and a story that's being woven that we get the opportunity to be a part of.” – Jared Fulks
“We want to inspire other people with that same opportunity that God has laid upon our hearts.” – Collin Wenrich
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Pureflow website
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Collin Wenrich
Collin is the founder and CEO of Pureflow, a for-profit, social and spiritual impact company with operations in Uganda. His experience in non-profit leadership and international development with an emphasis on asset financing ignites his passion for job creation and social impact enterprises. Born and raised in California, Collin attended Liberty University and pursued commercial aviation until he was sent on an adventure and mission to Uganda where he started a ministry, and eventually founded Pureflow.
About Jared Fulks
Jared is a partner at Pureflow focusing on US growth and development. Growing up as a pastor’s kid in Columbus, Ohio, Jared went to college to play basketball but after an injury ended up moving to Liberty University in Virginia. Jared held sales and marketing posts in the tech industry in Atlanta but ministry work beckoned and he joined Collin at Pureflow in 2020.
Like all business owners, you want your company to achieve success. You offer excellent products and deliver extraordinary customer service. But is the company you’ve created offering the same exceptional care for your employees? Don’t forget that creating a workplace where employees feel nurtured and cared for is a critical piece of your road map to success.
In today’s episode, Chris Patton of His Way At Work, gives us a look at how companies can cultivate a caring culture in the workplace. As a business owner who has successfully reconciled his drive for business success with his spiritual responsibility, Chris offers guidance to leaders who want to build and nurture a caring company with an eternal perspective. If you want to create a company with a strong culture that values its employees and strives to serve and not only to succeed, click now because this episode is for you!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Chris’s overview of his background, his current location, and his current work.
- Chris shares the exciting part of his work in the last week.
- Chris’s life story and his family business
- What is Chris’s life mission and how did he discover it?
- How did Chris initially fulfill his mission to “add silhouettes” within his business and company?
- How does Chris propagate his mission within his current workplace?
- Chris’s advice for entrepreneurs and business owners who are starting to build their companies.
- How to find accountability partners and mentors.
- What is Chris’s greatest success in his work or business?
- Chris cites a failure in his career and the lessons learned from it.
- Chris answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
His Way At Work website
Eternal ROI Podcast
Send an email to Chris Patton
Business By The Book by Larry Burkett
Wisdom-Based Business by Hannah J. Stolze
God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer
C12 Group
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Chris Patton
Chris Patton is the Global CEO of His Way at Work, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming company culture and implementing Christian principles in the workplace. Formerly, he was President/CEO and third-generation owner/partner of his family’s automobile business in LaGrange, GA. He is also the author of a blog – ChristianFaithAtWork.com. By including the resources accumulated over his years of learning to use the business as a vehicle for ministry, as well as real-life examples from his experiences, Chris teaches readers of his blog how to run their business from an eternal perspective.
Every investor searches for the best investment opportunity that will give the highest return for their capital. For faith-driven investors, however, figuring out where to invest your money does not only consider financial returns but cares deeply about the how, where, and why behind investment strategies. For Christ-following investors, a great investment promotes human flourishing, creates a greater spiritual impact, and integrates investing and giving.
In this episode, David Simms, founder of Talanton, a Kingdom-impact investment firm, sheds light on investment opportunities that create jobs and bring hope to people living in poverty. David contends that God who owns everything should be a part of the way we invest and that our investments must impact the world for His glory. Ready to make the greatest investment of your lifetime? Listen now and gain valuable insights.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Snapshots of David’s early life
- David shares an overview of his passion project.
- The Genesis story of Talanton
- How David’s life story unfolded to fulfill the mission that God has given him.
- What’s the number one need in the world according to a global survey?
- What is one of the most surprising things that David has learned from his business mission work?
- David’s advice on how to learn soft skills that are critically relevant in running an organization.
- What is faith-driven investing?
- What is the greatest investment that David has personally made?
- What’s David’s one failure that listeners can learn from?
- What is the biggest thing David has learned about generosity and growing in generosity?
- As fiduciary of God's money, how can investments be leveraged for Kingdom impact?
- David answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“A faith-driven investor is somebody who has recognized that the Lord owns it all. It's not just about our giving, it's about our stewardship of all of the resources.”
“I can't imagine meeting Jesus having spent 97 and a half percent on myself. It just does not seem like ‘well done, good and faithful servant’”.
“There's a disciplined way to start building our giving muscle. When you have money to give, you have the opportunity to go and bless and be blessed by pouring money into ministries that are doing great work. That's the joy of our life.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Talanton
David Simms on LinkedIn
Faith Driven Investor website
Alan Barnhart
About David Simms
David Simms is Managing Partner and Founder of Talanton, a Kingdom-impact investment firm. He focuses on opportunities to create jobs, bring hope, and transform lives for people living in poverty in the developing world, with a special focus on East Africa. Talanton mobilizes purpose-driven and generally tax-deductible investment capital through a unique model into a pooled Kingdom impact fund where the investments generate scalable, sustainable, and transformational impact by being invested in growth-stage companies creating good jobs in the developing world. Investment returns then flow back into the donor-investors’ donor-advised fund, family foundation, or source of origin thereby preserving and growing the donor’s capital for future giving or other investing.
Money is a necessity and let’s admit it, it matters to everyone. But, in the Christian world, there are diverse beliefs about wealth, money, and spending, some of them opposing, that we find ourselves struggling to reconcile our beliefs with the way we create wealth and handle money. What are your thoughts about money and spending? Are you aware of the role money plays in your life? And what does the Bible say about money?
Alex Cook of Wealth With Purpose joins us today to help us ponder these questions. He asserts that getting a biblical worldview of wealth and money is as crucial as getting your heart right. The Bible, Alex says, gives us great truths to steer us through the ways we think about our money and our spending. Click now and let’s get into money matters in light of God’s truth.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Alex’s current location and preoccupation.
- Alex shares the backstory of how he got involved in business ministry.
- What led Alex to give up his business and start his business ministry?
- The challenges and rewards of trusting and fulfilling God’s calling and growing in the process.
- Alex’s definition of Christian stewardship and some practical ways that stewardship can be implemented in our lives.
- What are some barriers to growing in generosity and obeying God in stewardship?
- Alex’s advice on retirement and “finishing the race”.
- Alex’s top advice for people wanting to grow in generosity and impact.
- Alex answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“If you're going to preach and teach on money, you need to be in good shape with money.”
“Does your money-spending reflect a heart that's sold out to God?”
“Good stewardship starts with how you spend your money. Are you spending it wisely?”
“Christians need to reflect God's character. So, if God is generous, we need to be generous.”
“Move more toward having that internal focus and directing our budgets toward things that are going to last rather than temporal things.”
“We need to get rid of this scarcity mentality that once it's given, it's gone. God has no lack of resources.”
Links Mentioned:
Wealth With Purpose
Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
The Kingdom Investor Podcast on LinkedIn
About Alex Cook
Alex Cook is the CEO & Founder of Wealth with Purpose, an organization that equips Christians to honor God with their finances, by teaching them sound financial planning skills based on the wisdom of the Bible. Alex is passionate about helping Christians ensure that their financial house is in order so that they can fulfill the purposes for which God has called them.
He is regularly quoted in Secular and Christian media, including the Australian Financial Review, Vision FM, Hope 103.2FM and has also appeared as a guest expert on TV programs such as Sky Business – Your Money, Your Call.
As business owners, we often get caught up in the thick of things, chasing after larger profits, attracting more clients, keeping up with the latest marketing trend to build a bigger and better business. Why don’t we take a pause and ask ourselves, what are we pursuing by doing what we’re doing? Is it really our priority to achieve worldly success at all costs?
We talk to Jeff Thomas of Arkos Global Advisors today to help us gain some perspective on setting our business and life priorities. Recounting highlights of his successful professional career, Jeff reveals that he eventually found himself putting God in the backseat while he focused on the little gods of material wealth and worldly success. Let’s listen and discover more insight into Jeff’s journey of discovering God’s purpose for him, his shift to running a God-centered business, and his vow to put the Big "G" first in everything that he does.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jeff shares his family background and growing-up years.
- Jeff talks about his 30-year professional career in accounting, finance and wealth management and how it eventually led to dissatisfaction and feeling unfulfilled.
- The genesis story of Arkos Global Advisors, Jeff’s nontraditional wealth management firm.
- Jeff’s journey of discovering God’s purpose for him.
- Jeff’s shift of focus from pursuing worldly success to God-centered pursuits
- What made Jeff realize that he was putting “the little ‘g’ god” above God?
- The setback of losing the culture war in a big public company as Jeff obeyed God’s bidding to scale.
- Why and how did Jeff start a podcast?
- Jeff’s big failure that taught him a great lesson.
- What’s the greatest investment that Jeff ever made?
- Jeff shares his vision for his business.
- Jeff answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
"You can't take it with you but you can send it ahead." - Randy Alcorn
“The greatest investment is generosity. It goes for eternity and you get joy today.”
“Why isn't there a Chick-fil-A of wealth management? Private, scaled, unbelievably profitable, great people want to work there, amazing service. And they're unapologetic where their principles come from.”
“There's a lot of noise on the consumer side so we need to make some more noise on the generosity side because it leads to a lot more joy.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Arkos Global Advisors website
Generous Business Owner Podcast
Trading Up: Moving From Success to Significance on Wall Street by Jeff Thomas
The Wow Factor Podcast
Timothy Keller's Sermons Podcast
About Jeff Thomas
Jeff Thomas is the Founder/CEO of Arkos Global Advisors and the author of Trading Up: Moving from Success to Significance on Wall Street. He is passionate about helping clients connect their money with their purpose. His vision is to scale a God-honoring wealth management company where advisors who share common values collaborate to help families thrive across generations.
Jeff and his wife, Dolly, live in Houston and have two daughters. Jeff and Dolly stay very involved in their church, as well as several non-profit endeavors.
Entrepreneurship, when done well, creates a great impact on people, communities, and the world. Especially when grounded in faith, businesses go beyond profitability and aim for the welfare of employees and bring about the transformation of individuals, families, and communities.
In today’s episode, we talk to Tim Metzner of Coterie Insurance about his entrepreneurial journey. From co-founding two startup companies to striking out on his own to create a commercial insurance startup, Tim has been operating his businesses in the context of building a great culture and in fulfillment of the mission that God has called him to do. It is by attracting good employees and influencing and helping them flourish as persons that he creates a great impact on people, their families, and society. Click now and learn why earning money alone won’t keep your people committed to doing meaningful work for you.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Tim shares the highlight of his week, his background and how he got into entrepreneurship.
- How Tim made the decision to leave his tech job and start his own entrepreneurial journey.
- Tim talks about the two startup companies he helped found: Differential and Oceans.
- Tim talks about Coterie Insurance, his next business venture that merges insurance and technology.
- How the merging of faith and business gets an entrepreneur through business challenges.
- How can entrepreneurs impact and change the world?
- Tim shares failures that taught him valuable lessons.
- Tim talks about his vision for Coterie.
- Tim answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“When employees feel empowered, listened to, and cared for, when you have a great culture, they're more productive, they are more loyal, they want to come to work. There's a different level of energy and impact that they have on their work and their co-workers that they wouldn't have otherwise.”
“Whatever that next big thing is, you should work hard for it but bring God into it.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Tim Metzner on LinkedIn
Tim Metzner on Twitter
Coterie Insurance
OCEAN
Differential
About Tim Metzner
Tim Metzner is co-founder of Coterie, an API-based commercial lines insurance startup. Coterie empowers agents and brokers to secure coverage for small businesses faster and easier than ever. Previously, he was co-founder of Differential, a leading digital product studio, and of OCEAN, a faith-based non-profit organization that teaches, mentors, invests in and gathers entrepreneurs around both business and biblical principles critical to their success. Tim is currently an active member of the Board of Directors for all three organizations. In addition to his direct contribution as a co-founder, OCEAN and Differential have spawned dozens of venture-backed organizations that have raised millions and created hundreds of jobs.
Tim is very active in the Cincinnati entrepreneurial community which, among other efforts, has included bringing Startup Weekend to Cincinnati, serving on the Advisory Board for NKU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, serving as an EIR for the University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab, as well as being an active mentor to entrepreneurs and students in the region.
In addition to his volunteer and entrepreneurial endeavors, one of his greatest joys and challenges is co-leading his four young children (Nolan, Owen, Faith, and Emma) with his wife, Kristy.
If you are giving money or material resources to the poor, you are helping them overcome their problems in life, right? Perhaps, but maybe not, inevitably. Donating money, clothes, food and other materials does help the poor and needy but have we ever paused and asked them how our help truly affects them? For all we know, our efforts to help may have unintentionally done more harm than good.
Our guest today shows us a different perspective on helping the poor. Dr. Brian Fikkert of the Chalmers Center challenges us to veer away from considering the poor as problems to solve and projects to fix and instead see the dignity in everyone and understand people’s highly relational nature with fully integrated body and soul all reconciling to God. He dares us to ask questions that will help us understand how to extend genuine help and compassion that creates a long-lasting impact. Start listening now and learn better ways to help the poor.
Key Points From This Episode:
- The highlight of Brian’s week
- Brian’s backstory
- How does Brian define poverty and what are the proper strategies to alleviate it?
- Why people who want to alleviate poverty should understand that people are highly relational beings and body-soul integrated.
- The four intertwined relationships in a person’s life - God, self, others and creation.
- Brian’s advice for church planters in low-income communities.
- What is God’s framework for change that ministries and community development workers must adopt to attain genuine human flourishing?
- Brian answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“We tend to define poverty as a lack of material things so as a result, our solutions for the poor tend towards material things.”
“The human being isn't just a body and we're not just a body that holds a soul. We're highly integrated body-soul relational things, and that really shapes every intervention we should use with the poor.”
“The foundation for helping the poor might be a shared meal once a week. Building a community is central to poverty alleviation.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Send an email to Brian Fikkert
The Chalmers Center
When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn't the American Dream by Brian Fikkert and Kelly Kapic
Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development by Bryant Myers
You're Only Human by Kelly Kapic
Books by Timothy Keller
About Dr. Brian Fikkert
Dr. Brian Fikkert is a professor of economics and the founder and president of the Chalmers Center at Covenant College. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He has been a consultant to the World Bank; he is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals and co-author of five books. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland—College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.
It is remarkable how small random decisions you make can take you to the most unexpected places that define a lifetime vocation. Take, for example, saying yes, albeit reluctantly, to an invitation to a trip to an unfamiliar country in an unexplored continent. Who knew that even an unenthusiastic “yes” could forever change one’s life?
Today, let’s listen to the story of a life changed by saying yes to God. Doug Cobb, managing partner at the Finishing Fund, joins us to talk about the journeys he’s taken in his life - from finding great success setting up tech startup companies and selling them at gainful margins to leveraging business success to advance God’s work in the world. His most epiphanic journey, however, took him to Africa. Click now and listen to why this trip changed his understanding of himself and the world and defined the trajectory of his life.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Doug’s personal and family background.
- The highlight of Doug’s week.
- A summary of Doug’s career.
- The factors that led to Doug’s success in business.
- Where does Doug find significance in life?
- The story of how God shaped Doug from a heart and generosity perspective.
- What is The Finishing Fund and what’s the vision that God has put in Doug’s heart?
- Stories of the Finishing Fund's impact on people groups in remote areas of the world.
- What’s the next stage for The Finishing Fund?
- The biggest challenge to finishing the great commission.
- Steps needed to take The Finishing Fund 2.0 to fruition.
- Lessons that Doug learned from failure.
- Doug answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“Lives only make sense in retrospect”
“I'm really thankful for the times when I said yes to God and stepped out.”
“I have seen how God has over and over again, answered my prayers, provided what we've needed, introduced me to people, build relationships, have money show up that I hadn't even asked for.”
“It's not enough to just declare, “yes, this will work”. You have to take the leap.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Finishing Fund
Finishing The Task FTT
Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Douglas Cobb's 1-2-3 Handbook Release 2.3
And Then The End Will Come by Douglas Cobb
About Doug Cobb
Doug Cobb is the managing partner of the Finishing Fund, whose mission is to “make disciples of every nation”. He has been working with Finishing the Task and the Issachar Initiative for a decade. Doug and his wife, Gena, are members of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he teaches the Word by Word Sunday school class and serves as an elder.
What is the significance of the gospel in our lives? Is the gospel alive in the moment by moment humdrum of an ordinary day? What does having a relationship with God even mean? Will the gospel really help us transform ourselves and our lives?
We dive deep into this topic in our episode today with our guest, Kaitlin White. Kaitlin bears witness to the transformation that came about in herself, her identity and her life when she began a relationship with God and put her full trust in the gospel. She also talks about the bible being the foundation of truth and the most supportive document of human history, hence, its trustworthiness. Click now to learn more about the transforming power of the gospel and be inspired!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Kaitlin explains what the gospel is.
- How has the gospel changed Kaitlin’s life?
- How does the gospel transform our identity?
- How does the gospel shift the things we put our trust into?
- How do we know that God is faithful?
- What are prophecies and how do they prove God's faithfulness?
- Why is the bible the most supportive document in all of human history?
- Why is the bible trustworthy and is the foundation of truth?
- What does being in a relationship with Christ mean and how does one establish it?
- What can people invest their lives in to reach as many people with the gospel and change eternity?
- Kaitlin answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“There isn't true security outside of Jesus's promise to us.”
“We have to recognize our own state of not being able to fix ourselves. Because if we keep going on and on, like, we can do it by ourselves, then we don't need the Lord. We don't need a savior.”
“Practicing spiritual disciplines is the first step.”
“If you are spending 80 hours a week at your job, and not investing in your children, then you're wrong.”
“It’s up to you to make sure your children have godly parents.”
"It's not about me."
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Send an email to Kaitlin White
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
About Kaitlin White
Kaitlin is Kids Ministry Director at Center Point Church leading nursery, preschool, and elementary ministries. She loves discipling volunteers, parents, and young women and helping them take another step in their faith. Kaitlin is married to Daniel and they have a daughter and a son and currently expecting their third child.
Do your investment dollars serve God’s purpose? As investors, it is our responsibility to ensure that the companies or sectors that we are putting our money into are engaged in businesses and practices that reflect our moral and ethical values and promote God’s kingdom. But, avoiding “sinful investments” is not enough. Shouldn't our portfolios be holy as well?
Investment advisor Don Simmons of Steward Advisors Group joins us today to talk about sanctifying our investment portfolio by integrating faith into how we invest our financial resources. We should go beyond simply shunning errant businesses and start pursuing God’s redemptive purposes by investing in “great commission companies”, he says. Listen now and find out how you can simultaneously achieve your investment goals while fulfilling God’s purpose and making Him known in the marketplace. Start building a holy portfolio now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Overview of Don Simmons’ endeavor to promote business as a tool for mission and ministry.
- Don explains the meaning and nature of “oikonomos”.
- Where did Don gain the perspective and understanding of God's ownership and stewardship?
- How Don defines impact investing.
- Don’s backstory of how he got involved in business as a mission and impact investing.
- Unexpected lessons that Don learned from his journey through faith-driven investing.
- What is Don’s general rule of thumb for fixed investments versus variable portfolios based on age which can also be applied to kingdom-focused investments?
- ROI when investing in virtuous companies versus vice-type businesses
- What is the best investment Don has ever made with his time, talents, and treasure?
- Don talks about Steward Advisors Group.
- An example of impactful investment in Ethiopia
- Don cites some setbacks that taught him valuable lessons.
- Don answers the mentor-minute questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Steward Advisors Group
The Steward Investor
Faith in the Halls of Power by Dr. Michael Lindsay
Books by Randy Alcorn
Books by Ron Blue
About Don Simmons
Don is a thirty-year veteran investment advisor and CFP® Professional managing nearly a quarter billion dollars of assets through the boutique investment firm he founded in 1988. Don knows about the power of using investment capital to build people and communities through transformational businesses. He served with a London-based economic development fund where he coordinated a global management team that deployed dozens of mentors and coaches as well as financial capital to businesses in more than twenty countries among the most impoverished communities in the world.
For individuals, Don combines his expertise in portfolio asset allocation, his diligent study of the Scriptures regarding our role as stewards of God’s money, and his passion to teach people the power their assets can have when deployed to expand God’s kingdom.
As business leaders, entrepreneurs, employees, and even ministry and church leaders, we all, at some point, reach a period of burnout, right? The relentless drive to pursue our duties and daily tasks sometimes lead us to a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion leaving us overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to clearly see our goal and our vision. But as sons and daughters of God, aren’t we called to live a life of peace and serenity while pursuing productivity in doing God’s work? Why then do we feel burned out if what we’re doing is God’s mission for us?
We explore this topic today with our guest Mindy Caliguire of Soul Care. With the realities of burnout rearing its head among people in ministry, herself once included, Mindy sees the critical need to address the issue. She suggests methods of centering oneself to avoid falling into weariness and breakdown. She details ways and programs that her organization offers help to people who are finding themselves stuck and in need of change and restoration.
Key Points From This Episode:
- An overview of Soul Care.
- Mindy’s background and the pivotal moment that led her to found Soul Care.
- How systemic the realities of burnout are for people in ministry and how this can be avoided.
- Best practices to overcome burnout.
- What changes has Mindy seen in people’s lives with the help they received from Soul Care?
- Mindy’s advice on how to slow down and be still.
- How our drivenness and busyness prevent us from hearing God.
- Surprising lessons Mindy learned from her journey of needing soul care to providing soul care.
- Ways that Mindy helps leaders through programs and Whisper Ranch.
- Mindy answers the Mentor Minute Questions.
Links Mentioned:
Soul Care
Discovering Soul Care by Mindy Caliguire
Spiritual Friendship by Mindy Caliguire
Simplicity by Mindy Caliguire
STIR: Spiritual Transformation In Relationships by Mindy Caliguire
Download Free ebook: Write For Your Soul: The Hows and Whys of Journaling
Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
The Great Omission by Dallas Willard
Listen to today’s episode with Dr. Richard Baxter of Alabama Tongue-Tie Center and find some answers. Having gained an eternal perspective on his business and life mission early in his career, Richard’s dental practice was shaped and influenced by his quest to fulfill God’s purpose for him. His dental office in Alabama carries all the touches of his mission to build a Christian-based office with the primary goal of serving kids and families troubled by tongue-tied conditions as well as reaching out to unreached and unengaged people groups. Click now and be inspired by his stories.
Key Points:
- How Richard started his dental career and why he focused on tongue-tied children?
- How his mission with Tongue Tie has had global reach.
- Richard talks about the unreached people groups and how he got introduced to the call to finish the Great Commission.
- Richard describes what it is like being under David Platt’s tutelage.
- How did having an eternal perspective early on impact the way Richard planned his life and career?
- What is Reach the Rest and what impact has it created?
- What is the M Power approach and how teaching skills to indigenous groups help open doors for evangelizing?
- How Richard designs, brands, and operates his office with the intention to be Christian-based and inclusive in orientation.
Links Mentioned:
Alabama Tongue-Tie Center
Tongue-Tied Academy
Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More by Richard Baxter
Reach the Rest
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt
Pray the Word Podcast with David Platt
Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Miracle at Tenwek: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury by Gregg Lewis
About Richard Baxter DMD, MS
Dr. Baxter is the founder and owner of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center. He is an internationally recognized speaker on tongue ties, instructor of the comprehensive course Tongue-Tied Academy, and author of the best-selling book “Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More.”
Dr. Baxter enjoys spending time with his wife, Tara, who is a nurse practitioner, and his three girls, Hannah, Noelle, and Molly. And, since he had a tongue tie himself, and all three of his daughters were treated for tongue- and lip-ties at birth, this field is a personal one.
Have you defined the big-picture vision of your business? Often immersed in the day-to-day grind of business, many entrepreneurs become focused only on short-term profits that they fail to define and cultivate the vision and ideals that will guide and propel their business forward. With a roadmap of where you want your business to go in the future and what type of everyday work your team should be doing, it will be easier for you to inspire your team and empower them to actively work toward realizing your vision. How, then, do you develop your big-picture vision?
Continuing our conversation with Matt Stone of SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate today, we discuss Matt’s big-picture vision for his business and his life. Learn how Matt went through the process of asking critical questions to be able to define his business vision anchored on what God has called him to do. Find out how by cultivating confidence in their vision, Matt motivates his team to adopt a kingdom perspective in decision-making and strategies-building.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What systems and processes have been helpful in running Matt’s company?
- Matt’s advice for those struggling with relying on one’s own strength versus trusting God and allowing Him to do His work.
- Matt shares the vision that God has put in his heart.
- Matt talks about a failure that listeners can learn from.
- What is the greatest investment that Matt has ever made?
- The key factor that contributed significantly to Matt’s journey of generosity.
- What’s one thing that Matt wants to be remembered for?
- Matt answers the Mentor Minute questions.
Tweetables:
“My vision has gotten quite bigger. It is to understand that God has opened up my eyes to the fact that all that we're doing, as we're here, is building His kingdom.”
“I'm looking at everything from a bigger-picture vision of “we're all in this together for Kingdom growth.”
“My discipleship starts at home before I go out and giveaway to the rest of the world.“
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate
Matt Stone on LinkedIn
Buildout
Asana
Three Mile an Hour God by Kosuke Koyama
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Matt Stone
Matt Stone, CCIM, SIOR, MBA is the Managing Director of SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate. Since 2006, Matt has been the trusted advisor for many clients in transactions within the retail, office, industrial, multi-family, and hospitality product types. Matt personally oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, brokerage of commercial investment properties and user properties, as well as property management. He has worked with banks, private investors, and as a receiver to help with asset management and evaluation for distressed loan purchasing, workouts, REO disposition, and general opinions of value. Matt and his team continue to perform property management and bookkeeping services for retail, industrial, office, and multi-family properties throughout Central Kentucky.
In our quest for life success, too often we struggle with the need to chase money and wealth versus the desire to pursue God’s kingdom as if there is a guilt-ridden disjoint between them. However, engagement in business for financial rewards can be viewed in two ways - ownership and stewardship. Ownership says that we can possess material assets and do with them what we wish while stewardship, a biblical principle, tells us that we are entrusted with a life, with gifts, and with material assets that belong to God, not owned by us, and for which we are responsible and accountable.
Our guest today, Matt Stone of SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate, sheds light on what stewardship means for business leaders. Sharing his own journey of discovering and pursuing his life mission, he recounts the process and the struggles in discerning what God has called him to do. What shapes his mindset and influences his decisions is always rooted in the conviction that God is the owner of all the talents, resources, and opportunities. Click now and let’s challenge ourselves to connect everything we do in all aspects of our lives with what God is doing in the world.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Matt talks about an interesting deal that he’s been working on recently.
- Matt’s personal background and how he came to faith.
- Matt discovers his relational talent and devotes himself to vocational ministry with students and young people.
- How Matt sorted through what God is calling him to do.
- How did Matt get into the real estate business?
- The story of how Matt achieved worldly success and significant business growth while focusing on building God’s kingdom.
- What is Matt’s advice for people who are struggling with their missional and financial focus?
- Examples of what it means to steward God's company for His purposes?
Tweetables:
“Have people around you that can speak truth into your life that can lead you through a Bible study, or that can disciple you, or that can encourage you as you process and struggle through what it means to have your identity in Christ.”
“Don't focus so much on what you do, focus on who you are in Christ and being in Him.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate
Matt Stone on LinkedIn
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Matt Stone
Matt Stone, CCIM, SIOR, MBA is the Managing Director of SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate. Since 2006, Matt has been the trusted advisor for many clients in transactions within the retail, office, industrial, multi-family, and hospitality product types. Matt personally oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, brokerage of commercial investment properties and user properties, as well as property management. He has worked with banks, private investors, and as a receiver to help with asset management and evaluation for distressed loan purchasing, workouts, REO disposition, and general opinions of value. Matt and his team continue to perform property management and bookkeeping services for retail, industrial, office, and multi-family properties throughout Central Kentucky.
With a plethora of nonprofit and charitable organizations that exist today, how will you know which ones are creating an impact for those they help? Is there a way to know which programs actually work and are making a meaningful difference in the lives of some of the poorest people in the world? What does it cost to improve the standard of living of a family? How about transforming a community? Can a dollar even make a difference?
Our guest, Dr. Ravi Jayakaran of Medical Ambassadors, will help us answer these questions and more in today’s episode. With vast experience leading international poverty reduction programs, Dr. Ravi takes us into the workings of impactful participatory development programs that integrate the social, economic, cultural, and spiritual upliftment of individuals and families, and the transformation of communities. Listen and be inspired by Dr. Ravi’s stories while learning how you can become a better, smarter giver.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Snapshots of Ravi’s professional and missional background.
- Ravi’s story and testimony.
- The pivotal moment when Ravi realized what God wants him to do and discovered his life mission.
- Ravi’s career path as a participatory development expert brought him to various parts of the world and to the US where he now heads Medical Ambassadors International.
- What does Medical Ambassadors do?
- Who do they serve and how do they create a lasting impact with their programs?
- Why integrated development of word and deed is a crucial component of Medical Ambassadors’ principle.
- Ravi shares the key to growing in generosity.
- A story that shows the impact that Medical Ambassadors is making in healing and transforming communities.
- Ravi answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“At those crucial stages in our life when God brings transformation, it also means a new direction.“
“Anyone partnering with us, that's what they're investing in, seeing the kingdom come into individuals, into families and into a whole village.”
“Sometimes, we can go, sometimes we can give but all the time we can pray.”
“The safest way to make your money secure is to invest it in God's kingdom.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Medical Ambassadors International
Dr. Ravi Jayakaran on LinkedIn
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Dr. Ravi Jayakaran
Dr. Ravi I. Jayakaran is the President of Medical Ambassadors International. He is a committed Christian leader with well over three decades of experience leading international poverty reduction and strategic development programs. He is the Catalyst for Integral Missions for the Lausanne Movement. Dr. Jayakaran has worked in senior management positions in the corporate sector, international NGOs, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in SE Asia.
Dr. Jayakaran has lived and worked long-term in India, Cambodia, China and the US and provided technical support in more than 23 countries on issues of Transformational Development, Integral Mission, Relief & Development, Participatory Poverty alleviation and development, Public Health, and prevention of trafficking. Besides the Accord Network board, Ravi serves as a member of the board of directors on several other boards, including the Chalmers Center, Manyata Ministries, and Forward Edge International. Ravi and his wife Vimla live in Ripon, California. They have two grown-up sons who know and love the Lord, and are married and have families of their own.
We all want meaningful work. Studies have shown meaningfulness to be a critical aspect of work performance, commitment, and satisfaction for employees beyond paycheck and rewards, opportunities for promotion, or working conditions. But, where and how do people find meaning in their work?
Our guest, Case Thorp of The Collaborative, shares his knowledge and expertise today to give us guidance on why and how we should pursue meaning in our work and in our life. He presents several ways The Collaborative helps employees and professionals to merge work, business, and faith in order to find deeper life meaning. He says if we want cultural and social renewal, then, we should become agents of change through conversations in the workplace, across industries, and institutions.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Case shares his personal background.
- What is The Collaborative, its origin, and its mission?
- How does The Collaborative carry out its mission?
- How did Case’s family background influence his career path?
- What unexpected lessons did Case learn along his journey to fulfill his mission?
- How does Case encourage involvement from different participants in the church?
- Case’s contact information
- What failure in Case’s journey has taught him a great lesson?
- Common reasons why people are unresponsive to invitations to attend missional formation programs.
- When is mentoring an effective tool for discipleship?
- Case answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“It's through the well-formed integration of our faith and work that leaders shape institutions best.”
“We, as the church, are missing a good bit of our call if we're not taking those top-level C-suite kinds of folks and discipling them deeply and well.”
“Sometimes you have to convince somebody they're sinful before they can understand the gospel”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Collaborative website
Send Case Thorp an email
Nuance Podcast
The Collaborative on Facebook
The Collaborative on YouTube
The Collaborative on Instagram
The Collaborative on LinkedIn
The Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Case Thorp
Case is the Senior Associate Pastor for Evangelism at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and leads The Collaborative team. Originally from Atlanta, Case has served as a pastor in New Jersey, Texas, California, and Louisiana. He writes, blogs, and presents for the growing faith and work movement while serving as the Made to Flourish Network co-director for Orlando. Case attended Oxford College (AA), Emory University (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin in Missional Ecclesiology).
Case is married to Jodi, and blessed with three children, Alexandra, Charles, and Brooks. They have enjoyed downtown Orlando as their home since 2005. He enjoys the arts, urban design, politics, cycling, and swimming.
Is there a true measure of success? Although society, media, and some people would have us think otherwise, success is not defined by the number of material things you have amassed or how high you have risen in your career but is very much a personal measure. How we measure success is determined by many factors that affect our lives, our needs and aspirations as we move through the stages of life, and ultimately, how happy and satisfied we are with the life we are living.
Our guest today, Pete Vanderveen of Triumph Performance Academy, opens a discussion about success in business and in life. He challenges us to look at measures of success from a fresh perspective which encompasses not just individual success but also that of others and the community. Find out how Pete has dedicated his life to helping leaders become their best selves so they can create powerful teams and powerful businesses, and live empowered lives in a holistic way. If you’re looking for fulfillment in life and want to thrive as an entrepreneur and a family leader, then this is for you.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Pete talks about his personal background and career trajectory.
- What was the catalyst that changed Pete’s mindset about building businesses based on the value of love for others?
- What’s the key to Pete’s success in business ventures and industries that he’s engaged in?
- How does Pete define success?
- What part of Pete’s life has he seen the true meaning of success?
- What lesson did Pete learn from his real estate failure?
- Where does Pete find the most meaning and significance in his life?
- What's the greatest investment that Pete’s ever made?
- What is the key to growing in generosity?
- What does Pete personally invest in to make the greatest impact on the world?
- What is one thing that Pete wants to be remembered for fifty years from now?
- Pete answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“To have a healthy company, we have to help individuals live their best life in a biblical principle.”
“Help people find true success by making them realize that they themselves are the value, not what they are accomplishing.“
“God didn't promise tomorrow; He gave us today. So, today I need to live and lead with love and I need to live with gratitude which means every moment counts.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Triumph Performance Academy
Pete Vanderveen on LinkedIn
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Pete Vanderveen
Ops Executive, Fractional COO, and Executive Coach Pete Vanderveen has a lifelong passion for helping and empowering businesses, teams and leaders. Pete founded Triumph Performance Academy, which helps high-performing men find fulfillment in life and thrive as fathers and husbands while maximizing their business success. He partners with high-level executives, leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs through one-on-one coaching to help them navigate their way through and flourish in sustainable businesses and careers.
Does more money make people happier? Although many studies show that, on average, wealthier people are happier, there are as many indicators that making lots of money will not inevitably boost happiness. It’s actually how you spend, save, and think about money that defines how much joy you get from it.
The key is to learn from people who have made mistakes about money and break down the misconception that equates more money with fewer problems and more happiness. This is the topic of our conversation today with Francis Simms of NorthCoast Asset Management. As a financial planning expert who advises high-net-worth families on retirement planning, income generation, and risk management, Francis has gained valuable insights on money, time and relationships and finding meaning and significance in life.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Francis shares some highlights of his week.
- Francis gives snapshots of his life and background.
- Francies explains the work that he does with NorthCoast Asset Management.
- What has been the most surprising thing Francis learned about the people that he has worked with?
- What’s the biggest misconception people have about money and investing?
- What’s the biggest mistake that people make with money and investing?
- Where does Francis find meaning and significance in life?
- What is the greatest investment that Francis has ever made?
- What big failure did Francis gain the most lesson from?
- Francis shares a pivotal moment in his journey of generosity.
- What’s the biggest paradigm shift in Francis’ journey of generosity?
- Francis’ top piece of advice
- Francis answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“It's more about time and relationships than it is about resources.”
“Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.”
“A lot of people go through life not really having an idea of why they are where they are.”
“It’s a misconception that money solves more problems than it creates.”
“Money is the last card that people play.”
“...enjoy the ride.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Francis Simms on LinkedIn
North Coast Asset Management
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Francis Simms
Francis Simms, MBA, AAMS®, is a Senior Vice President with NorthCoast Asset Management covering the state of Florida. Francis’ expertise focuses on building meaningful relationships and partnering with clients to develop specialized solutions around retirement planning, income generation, and risk management. He has over a decade of financial consulting experience that extends across multiple asset classes. Francis is a native Floridian and started his career by serving over five years in the US Air Force, where he administered the anti-terrorism program in combat zones. Over the next 11 years, Francis served as Vice President and Senior Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab helping clients reach their financial goals. His financial planning acumen combined with staunch conviction in client service has led him to be the trusted advisor for many families.
Optimism about small towns and small-town businesses is rising. Small Biz Survival, the small town and rural business resource, cites that the pandemic-driven population shifts, the rise of remote work, improvements to infrastructure, and real estate developments revitalize and inspire the resurgence of America's small towns. There’s no doubt that the collective effort of community leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and the people who empower businesses and leaders are making an impact.
Our guest today, John Marsh, is one business leader who has made it his mission to redeem irreplaceable real estate in small towns across America. For the last 25 years, he and his wife, Ashley together with their team, have breathed new life into Opelika, AL, whose blueprint for development is now inspiring other small towns to achieve their own vision for restoration and revival.
Key Points From This Episode:
- John introduces himself and his beloved hometown, Opelika, Alabama.
- How have John and his wife Ashely helped restore and revitalize Opelika in the past 25 years?
- The formative experiences that shaped John and his career trajectory
- What’s John’s and Ashely’s secret to working well together in business as husband and wife?
- What is the key to John’s success in real estate and his other businesses?
- What roles do John and Ashely, respectively, play in running their businesses?
- John’s children’s involvement in their business
- John’s vision about Opelika and how it unfolded
- What other cities is John’s company working on to revive and flourish?
- How does John work with other patrons who have a similar vision for their cities?
- Unexpected lessons that John learned along his journey
- What is the greatest investment that John has ever made?
- What’s the key that helped John grow in generosity?
- The number one question to ask your loved ones to strengthen your relationship
- John answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“Our life is light shining through broken things that have been made whole again.”
“We believe that God has given us something incredible to steward which is the ability to save cities and small towns.”
“Money has never been our problem. Money follows vision, vision doesn't follow money.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Marsh Collective
Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About John Marsh
John Marsh is the co-founder of Marsh Collective, host of the Redemptification Podcast and investor helping steward over $1.5b in redemptive real estate in 12 small towns (with populations of 800-180k) around America. Over the last 25 years, John and his wife, Ashely, have guided over 60 startup businesses in various industries, such as hospitality, construction, real estate investing, advertising, and multiple restaurants. John and Ashely have renovated 280+ buildings within ten blocks of downtown Opelika to help save their city. Today, John's current focus is helping others make generational differences in communities and companies by helping patrons bridge the gap between redeeming vision, financial sustainability, and execution to pioneering a new asset class of real estate that they have dubbed as "Irreplaceable Real Estate." John and Ashely with their two sons and their families call Opelika, Alabama home.
Did you know that there is a virtual reality language tutoring platform that allows you to learn a new language by conversing live with real people while combining language, cultural awareness, and community? Ever heard of the life science company that adopted an equitable business model to provide life-saving products and medical services to people in low-income countries? What about the SaaS application that brings transparency to modern-day slavery in supply chains and protects people by showing which suppliers are high risk for human rights abuses?
These are just some of the products of entrepreneurs that are changing the world. In this episode, Wes Lyons of Eagle Venture Fund talks about helping audacious entrepreneurs launch and scale companies that move the world forward. Through a proven venture builder model, entrepreneurs who embark on helping solve tough issues like modern-day slavery, healthcare for the poor, and financial inclusion, find support and resources from Eagle Venture. Click now and find out how Wes and his partners are changing the world one entrepreneur at a time.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Wes gives snippets of his background and the founding of Eagle Venture Fund.
- The formative experiences that shaped Wes and the trajectory of his career.
- Where does Wes find meaning in his life?
- Wes shares the vision that God has put in his heart.
- What is Eagle Venture Fund, what does it do, and what impact does it make?
- Examples of entrepreneur partners of Eagle Venture Fund that are creating an impact on the world.
- What’s the greatest investment that Wes has personally made?
- Wes shares an unexpected lesson gained from his journey of building a venture capital firm.
- What lessons did Wes learn from failures?
- How faith-driven impact investing is growing and maturing.
- Wes answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“As investors, we are part of a movement to discover something more whole and beautiful than just growing wealth. We have power that we can deploy on behalf of the vulnerable, the weak, and the suffering.”
“It takes a lot longer to build anything of value than I think most people give it any credit for.”
“It is fun to change the world. It's brilliantly fun to do it with friends.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Eagle Venture Fund
The Navigators
Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch
FRDM
LivFul
Evidencity
Immerse
Becoming Whole by Brian Fikkert
Completing Capitalism by Bruno Roche
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
As entrepreneurs, you keep busy schedules, do many tasks simultaneously, and are constantly on the chase for profits and money. What do you pray for when you pray? Do you struggle to ask God for favors for your business or does it come easy? Is there a divide between your spiritual life and your business life?
We dive deep into the topic of merging secular business and supernatural business in this episode with Paul Moore of Wellings Capital. Having struggled for decades with a false dichotomy of his business life and spiritual life, Paul has come to the realization that doing secular business such as real estate melds and unifies the business of promoting God’s kingdom as it provides a unique platform for entrepreneurs to reach out to more people that any pastor can. Listen now and find out how with $500 million in real estate acquisitions, Paul has become even more passionate about doing business supernaturally. If you want to be inspired by stories of faith, successes, failures, and God’s faithfulness and constancy, this episode is for you!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Paul’s earlier notion of a dichotomy between the spiritual life and the business life
- Paul’s realization that business life and spiritual life coexist and should be lived fully and passionately
- Paul shares his personal background - education, career, early businesses, and search for ministry.
- How Paul pursued balancing his business interests with the supernatural business of pursuing God within the church and outside of the church sphere
- The story of Matt McPherson and why God is always present in our lives if only we ask
- Paul shares about his business and how he became successful as an investor.
- What does Paul think is the key to his business success?
- What unexpected lessons did Paul learn along his business journey?
- What’s the best investment that Paul has ever made with his time, talent, and treasure?
- What is Paul’s biggest failure in his career?
- Paul’s advice on how to grow in generosity
- What’s one thing that Paul would like to be remembered for?
- Paul answers the mentor-minute questions.
Tweetables:
“I want to be as passionate about doing well in business and doing business supernaturally inside the four walls of the church and outside of the church sphere.”
“God is really trustworthy. I stopped counting a long, long time ago the times that God bailed me out, that God bailed our family out.”
“I don't think God is a vending machine in the sky. He's not obligated to us, we're obligated to him.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Wellings Capital
Matt McPherson
The Inspiring Life of George Müller
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Exodus Cry
AIM Agape International Missions
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls | Human Trafficking Documentary on YouTube
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
As someone who wants to give generously with greater impact, wouldn’t you want to have information on how your dollar makes a difference in the lives of the people you’re helping? Wouldn’t you be a more cheerful and inspired giver when you see how your money changes lives? There is data and information that can tell you if you are creating a greater impact with your giving as there are independent organizations that have made it their mission to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of charitable organizations.
We are joined today by Jay Dykstra of Bless Big to talk about assessing the cost-effectiveness of nonprofit and charitable organizations. Veering away from traditional methods of evaluating charities, these organizations like Bless Big, use progressive metrics when reviewing track records of nonprofits. As Jay highlighted, we should learn how to invest our resources in ways that both create financial interests and more importantly, greater human impact. After all, says Jay, that’s where Jesus spent a good amount of his time - creating a greater impact on the lives of people.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What led to the founding of Bless Big and how did it start?
- What is Bless Big’s mission, scope and purpose?
- Why do Jay and his wife maintain their practice of setting a cap on their own personal expenditures?
- What metric does Jay use in measuring the impact of non-profit operations both secular and Christian?
- Jay’s advice for parents who want to develop in their kids the mindset that giving to others outside of oneself is normal and should be practiced.
- What gift has Jay given that has created the most impact?
- What three organizations does Jay find merit for advocacy investing and are part of Bless Big charities?
- How can one be generous with one’s influence?
- What kinds of failures did Jay encounter in their mission and what did he learn from them?
- Jay’s advice on how to grow in generosity.
- The most influential person, book, podcast, and information that has impacted or changed the course of Jay’s life
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Bless Big
Faith Comes By Hearing
Helen Keller international’s Vitamin A Supplementation Program
Never Thirst
Charity Navigator
GiveWell
Charity Watch
ECFA
ROI Ministry
Effective Altruism
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
About Jay Dykstra
Jason “Jay” Dykstra is an experienced medical doctor, board certified as a diagnostic radiologist. He is the founder of Bless Big, a free and simple online hub maximizing the research-proven impact of charity donations. He is also the founder of worldwidehousechurch.org which organizes free small group or house church meetups anytime, anywhere, and with whoever is safest and from which a user-friendly database of global teachers/topics, worship options, and high-impact charities are offered. Jay is also the author of Healing Hereafter, a free ebook series exploring rational and refreshing answers to many difficult faith questions at jasondykstrawrites.com.
Countless people want to give generously to causes and non-profit organizations locally and internationally but they just don’t know where to look or how to start. Sometimes, the lack of knowledge and indecision leads to unpleasant giving experiences, hesitation to give, or inability to give at all. It is therefore important for individuals, couples, families, or organizations to have a giving plan to causes and nonprofits that speak to their hearts and minds and that reflect their values and interests.
Our guest, Steve Kaloper of DoingGoodBetter, joins us today to shed some light on some issues and challenges about wealth and asset stewardship, and philanthropy. He maintains that having a giving plan is just as crucial as having a business plan for corporate and financial pursuits. If you‘re one of those people afflicted by analysis paralysis in charitable giving or if you just want to be a smarter and more strategic giver who wants to understand how your contribution makes a difference, this episode is for you. Click now and start listening.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Steve shares his personal and family background.
- Steve opens up about his personal mission work and shares his life's mission purpose statement.
- Steve’s early career and early involvement in mission work.
- Why it is important to have a family conversation about wealth and assets as well as about stewardship and giving.
- What has been the pivotal moment that God used to change Steve’s heart about stewardship, giving, and dedicating his life to mission work?
- What has been the most surprising thing that Steve has learned in his kingdom-centric journey?
- How does Steve help individuals, couples, and families in identifying and crafting their giving plan?
- What does Steve think is the biggest barrier to unlocking that kingdom capital?
- Steve talks about DoingGoodBetter, the giving foundation he started with his wife Shannon.
- Steve answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
"I love being able to get people together. I feel that that's what God's given me as a calling.”
“There’s an unbelievable hunger for men to figure out how to do life with their spouse and to have their wife involved in doing good and stewardship.”
“The conversation is going to take place about wealth and assets. It just depends if it's going to take place over the coffin or on the kitchen table. It's up to us to decide.”
“Recognizing that we have just been given a talent, and we should put it to good use. Recognizing that our talent is 100% God's, our resources are 100% God's and that the time that we've been blessed with is God's timing and it can be taken away at any second. And so, maximize it. That to me is the trigger, so unleash it.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Doing Good Better
Email Steve Kaloper
About Steve Kaloper
As founder and CEO of DoingGoodBetter & Development Services Group, Steve partners with non-profit organizations both domestically and internationally. He also serves high-capacity families with an investment banking model for philanthropy. Steve has over 20 years of experience in marketing, developing strategic relationships in the private, public and non-profit sectors having served over 600 organizations and families globally. In 2010, Steve and Shannon started their giving fund, The DoingGoodBetter Foundation. In 2015, he authored his first book, “The Journey Into DoingGoodBetter!” As Co-Founder and CEO of the Kingdom Capital Group, Steve developed the concept of Impact Philanthropy, a results-oriented approach to giving—and a key aspect of the New Wave of Philanthropy.
More often, successful business leaders and entrepreneurs who build massive wealth portfolios intend to bequeath their assets to their children and grandchildren. With the sheer amount of wealth built by business leaders of our generation, the next generation is poised to take over $10 trillion (yes, with a “T”) worth of business assets. Are they ready to take the reins?
Our guest today, Keith Atneosen of Freedom Summit Consulting, weighs in on the topic of transitioning wealth to the next generation. Having advised several high-net-worth business owners and families in planning and preparing the transition of business stewardship to their heirs, Keith highlights a key aspect - the passing on of wisdom before transmitting wealth. Above all, he brings attention to using wealth for kingdom purposes and the importance of teaching this to the next generation. Click now and learn how we can help the future generation to become better stewards of God’s resources.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Keith shares his personal background, his education, and early career
- Pivotal moments in Keith’s life that urged him to examine his life trajectory
- How did Keith realize his calling of helping people in stewardship and legacy planning and business coaching as well as in major life transitions?
- What’s Keith’s definition of success?
- In what areas of his life has Keith had the greatest success?
- What has been the most surprising thing that Keith has learned in his kingdom-centric career journey?
- What has been the biggest misunderstanding about money that Keith has come across the most?
- How can we change people's mindsets about their unrelenting pursuit of material success?
- What has been the most damaging mistake people make with money and their biggest regret people around money and investing?
- What’s Keith’s key advice to people who want to steward their business and their wealth in ways that promote God’s kingdom?
- Keith’s contact information
- Keith answers the lightning round questions.
Tweetables:
“Pass on wisdom first before wealth. A hammer is a fantastic tool but a hammer in a 3-year-old's hands can cause great harm. We need to equip them to steward those tools."
“Mistaking financial success as the complete, holistic understanding of success is a huge trap.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Freedom Summit Consulting
"Fulfilled" by Kathryn and Michael Redman
About Keith Atneosen
Keith Atneosen is the founder of Freedom Summit Consulting LLC and a FocalPoint Business Coach. He assists closely-held business owners with planning and preparing to transition the stewardship of their business. In addition to exit planning, Keith coaches clients in value acceleration and developing the next generation of leadership.
Following over two decades of various management and sales roles in financial services and hardlines retail, Keith founded Freedom Summit Consulting in 2021. He earned his Master of Science in Financial Services through The American College and completed the Executive Development Program through the University of Washington Foster School of Business. In 2004 Keith’s wife, Lauren, lost her parents in a car accident. Out of this experience, Keith was compelled to help others work through major transitions, steward financial resources, and plan for future life events. He authored the short book “The Life in Your Years” which addresses the importance of stewardship and legacy planning. Keith and Lauren live in Hayden, Idaho, with their children. They enjoy being involved in church ministries and exploring the outdoors.
When it comes to being part of a group or an organization, accountability is one of the most desired traits that a member should possess. Whether you like it or not, your boss, your colleagues, your partner, your team members, and your community expect accountability as well as the responsibility from you as you fulfill your role to achieve your common goal. The same is true when you’re trying to attain your personal goals. But, it is hard to be accountable to yourself when you are alone in your journey, right?
Stuart Grazier and David Gutierrez of Storehouse Mastermind and Storehouse 3:10 Ventures, join us today to talk about helping others find, define, and live their “why” through a process of accountability that works. They help men find their highest and best through deep conversations of faith, giving, family, service, leadership, including entrepreneurship, financial literacy, real estate, and business. Listen now and learn how with partners and mentors, men can honor accountability in pursuit of an abundant life imbued by faith, family, service, and financial freedom.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Stuart and David share their respective personal and family backgrounds.
- How David and Stuart’s decades-long friendship translated into business partnerships.
- Why they started investing in real estate while still on active duty in the navy
- What’s David‘s horrible real estate investing experience that forced them to start their own business and drove them to create a better experience for their network?
- Why they built a business model centered around core values and serving God’s purpose and mission
- What were Stuart’s and David’s formative experiences that predisposed them to generosity and giving?
- David and Stuart share personal stories of generosity and their chosen charitable organizations to give to.
- How and why David and Stuart started the Storehouse Mastermind group
- How the mastermind group helps members in various areas of life to become better husbands, better fathers, and better leaders
- David talks about Storehouse 3:10 Ventures
- What’s David’s and Stuart’s vision for the Storehouse mastermind group and business ventures?
- David’s and Stuart’s advice on concrete steps that one can take to grow in generosity, in business, in pursuing God's kingdom
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Storehouse Mastermind
Storehouse 3:10 Ventures
Warriors Heart
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker
Gospel Patrons by John Rinehart
Giving Together by John Rinehart
The Go-Giver series by Bob Burg and John David Mann
The Wealthy Gardener by John Soforic
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Mission work needs funds in order to bring the Gospel to regions of the world where Jesus’ name isn't widely known. But what could be a source of funding that is sustainable and makes a stronger impact on the communities we are trying to reach? What if we use business ventures so that local business proprietors, communities, mission workers, customers, and everyone linked to the business can know the love of Jesus?
That’s what our guests today, Brandon and Jessica Hotz of Elevate and Activate Global, are doing - using kingdom business and its funding model to spread the Gospel. By helping start small businesses in developing countries, they are able to reach impoverished, hard-to-reach communities, teaching skills and providing meaningful jobs and steady sources of income to people in need — all while doing mission activities and sharing the word of God. Listen now and get to know how Jessica’s and Brandon’s unique business ministries are helping improve communities, building meaningful relationships, and addressing social and economic needs along with spiritual needs.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Brandon and Jessica share their personal background and how they started their mission project.
- The pivotal moments in Brandon and Jessica’s lives that put them on the trajectory to their mission
- How Brandon and Jessica met and what led them to take their first mission trip
- The springboard that launched their first nonprofit
- How the first business was started and how they’ve since helped over 300 families start small businesses to support their ministries and their families across 20 countries.
- What is Kingdom Business Training and why Brandon and Jessica designed a curriculum to help others replicate their kingdom business model and kingdom-building ministry?
- Jessica shares the process and criteria for selecting partners
- What is the most surprising thing that Jessica and Brandon learned along their journey?
- Brandon and Jessica talk about the global church and what mission organizations and leaders are pursuing to complete the Great Commission.
- The top challenges to finishing the Great Commission in this generation
- Brandon’s and Jessica’s advice on how to get involved in Kingdom mission and be better stewards of God’s gifts and resources
- Brandon and Jessica share the vision that God has given them and how they’re accomplishing that vision.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Elevate
Activate Global
About Jessica and Brandon Hotz
In their early 20s, Brandon and Jessica Hotz started a leather goods company called Elevate to help solve the problem of sustainably funding ministries in unreached countries. Out of that successful business, they started a nonprofit organization, Activate Global, to train and equip mission leaders in over 20 countries. Through these leaders, they have started 312 businesses to fuel ministries in some of the hardest-to-reach areas in the world. When Brandon and Jessica aren't traveling the world, they find their home base in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Being a business leader isn't easy. Often, business leadership or entrepreneurship has been described as difficult and challenging but also exciting and rewarding. It also comes with a lot of power that, if not wielded with care, will cause harm to the leader and to the people he or she leads. That’s why entrepreneurs, especially newcomers, need guidance navigating the complex world of business.
Our guest today, Luke Dooley of Ocean Programs, champions the cause for building strong, kingdom-centric entrepreneurs who will lead healthy, strong, vibrant workplaces and flourishing communities. He argues that only business leaders who are healthy in mind, body, and spirit can build strong businesses. If you think massive revenue and a Fortune 500-worthy brand means the ultimate success, you better listen now and find out why reaching the peak can be cause for alarm.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Luke’s personal and family background and upbringing
- Planting a church at the age of 21
- How creating and curating experiences where people encounter transformation has been a through line in Luke’s life
- Luke’s present work with Ocean Programs and the organization’s goals and mission
- Ocean’s programs and how they help nurture strong business leaders and build businesses that contribute positively to communities
- How Ocean selects partners and participants in their programs
- What’s Luke's greatest fear when business leaders reach their pinnacle of power?
- Why entrepreneurial enterprises that solve a specific problem are the ones that become successful
- Unexpected lesson that Luke learned from being at the helm of Ocean Programs
- Why private businesses are the places where the revitalization of the church can happen
- The goal or project that Luke’s working on right now
- The one thing that God’s teaching Luke this season
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Luke Dooley on LinkedIn
Ocean Programs
About Luke Dooley
President and CEO of Ocean Programs, Luke Dooley, desires to see people understand their place in a larger story. He operates under the belief that living and leading well informs and influences the world around us. This is what motivates him to create spaces and content that compel people to live and lead in ways worth following. Specializing in relationship building, character judgment, networking, creative consulting, and coaching, Luke also enjoys leveraging network connections both locally and globally to further the Ocean Programs mission.
Giving isn’t only about money; it is only a part of a much bigger picture and purpose. If we want to create a deeper and lasting impact on the people that we’re helping, then we need to put not just our money but more importantly, our effort and action into the cause. Giving goes beyond writing a check because, beneath the motivation, genuine help comes from involving oneself in the mission and actually doing what needs to be done.
In our concluding episode with David Burton, we focus our attention on strengthening commitment to the mission through exposure and action. He maintains that for money to make a sustainable impact not only to the receiver but more so for the giver, it must bring with it continuous involvement of the giver to the cause and to the people that you help and also, constant engagement with mission workers. Listen now and learn why just writing a check to a charity often doesn’t offer the same commitment, joy, and fulfillment that involvement and action give to the giver.
Key Points From This Episode:
- David shares a story to emphasize the importance of exposure to strengthen commitment to missions.
- David’s advice on how to combat consumerism that prevails in our society today.
- Why writing a check or donating money to a charitable organization should be combined with action and actual immersion in the mission field.
- What does taking action and being exposed to mission programs and media do to your soul and well-being?
- How do David and his family use their time, talents, and treasure to promote God's kingdom?
- What's something that many people in the nonprofit world should be aware of when asking for support?
- The framework and criteria that David uses when deciding where or who to give support
- David answers our lightning round questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Amachi Program
Gospel Patrons John Rinehart
National Christian Foundation
Journey of Generosity (JoG)
The Finishing Fund
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
Burton Property
About David Burton
David is the owner of Burton Properties LLC for 28 years along with being a partner in several other LLCs in the Kentucky area. Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, he received his degree from Virginia Tech. David is a business owner and a real estate investor with a heart for ministry, with one foot in the ministry world and the other in the business world. Aside from Burton Properties, he owns restaurants and a few other business ventures.
David is married to Mary Beth for 38 years and together they have three children and four grandchildren.
Given the choice between pursuing a high-paying career and taking on volunteer work post-college education, what would you choose? The choice may be obvious for the majority of us. But for someone who sees the world differently, throwing oneself into volunteerism offers a unique opportunity that only those who seek godly rewards will pursue.
In the first episode of our 2-part interview with David Burton, we explore the subject of volunteering in pursuit of God’s kingdom. David brings a unique perspective to the intersection of faith and work as he has built a career as a volunteer in campus ministries for most of his life while engaging in the real estate business. Listen now and learn how a self-described “professional volunteer” who refuses to keep up with the Joneses navigated a society that puts a premium on wealth building.
Key Points From This Episode:
- David shares snippets of his personal and family life.
- Why David chose to work in campus ministry right out of college
- How David branched out to real estate investing
- Why David and his wife chose to continue volunteering full-time in campus ministry even while their real estate investments expanded to commercial real estate and restaurants.
- David describes his and his wife’s work week and how they balance their time between business and volunteer work.
- David’s advice on how not to grow weary of everyday mundane tasks of volunteering
- How David got his first real estate deal despite having only a modest income from ministry work to start with.
- How David scaled his real estate investments and expanded to other business ventures.
- What’s the one failure in investing and business that taught David a costly lesson?
- Key factors that changed the trajectory of David’s faith walk that led him to volunteer work and investing in God's kingdom.
- David’s observation on how society and commercialism gear us toward discontentment with what we have and why it is crucial to be exposed to life’s realities.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Campus Crusade for Christ
Burton Property
About David Burton
David is the owner of Burton Properties LLC for 28 years along with being a partner in several other LLCs in the Kentucky area. Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, he received his degree from Virginia Tech. David is a business owner and a real estate investor with a heart for ministry, with one foot in the ministry world and the other in the business world. Aside from Burton Properties, he owns restaurants and a few other business ventures.
David is married to Mary Beth for 38 years and together they have three children and four grandchildren.
We are stewards of God’s resources – this has always been the way we, Christians, understand our relationship to God and our possessions. Because the Bible makes it clear that God is the true owner of everything, all that we have comes from him and we have a responsibility to manage His resources wisely on his behalf. But, how do we become good and joyful stewards of God’s resources?
Our guest today, Todd Harper, of Generous Giving Foundation, sheds light on what makes a joyful and wise steward of God’s resources. Having worked closely with high-net-worth families and individuals in creating a national movement of generosity for more than two decades, Todd has gained a deep understanding of the qualities of a joyful and wise steward. He describes how a wise steward thinks and acts while using resources, skills, gifts, and time in ways that matter to God. We’ll look at examples of how to work toward becoming a good steward as Todd also shares some stories and Bible verses to encourage you in your journey of godly stewardship.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Todd introduces himself and gives background information about Generous Giving, an organization that he co-founded to start a national movement of generosity.
- Why and how Generous Giving was created and its present reach and scale.
- What are the “Five P's of a Transformational Experience” in the giving journey?
- How did God prepare Todd for his role in Generous Giving?
- The catalyst that God used to shift Todd from pursuing his own wealth to investing in His kingdom.
- What book was significant and influential to the founders of Generous Giving and the growth of the organization?
- What are Todd’s top ten observations about joyful and wise stewards?
- What did Todd observe as the barriers that hinder people from being cheerful givers?
- What’s Todd’s advice for people who want to start experiencing the joy of generosity?
- Todd explains what God's economy is.
- Todd answers the lightning-round questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Click to Find out more about our upcoming event: "Crafting Your Kingdom Investing Thesis"
Generous Giving
Journey of Generosity
Mover of Men and Mountains by R. G. LeTourneau
Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
About Todd Harper
As founder of Generous Giving, Todd has been actively engaged in spreading the biblical message of generosity for 20 years. In his current role as co-founder, Todd focuses on mission-related activities: strengthening and developing relationships with champions, facilitating JOGs and training, and contributing to program and story development.
If you think donating money to charity gives you joy, think again. Wouldn’t you want to experience greater joy and deeper fulfillment? Rather than sharing the delight of the game as a spectator sitting in the stands, why not become the player who runs the field so you can live and feel the absolute joy of doing and achieving?
Our guest today, Bill Moritz, of From Success 2 Significance Foundation, helps individuals and families experience greater joy and meaning that emanate from a life of giving and active service. He made it his mission to break down the barrier between professional players and observers, between givers and doers, by providing avenues for people to actively participate and make a bigger impact in the world. Catch our conversation and find out how you can live happier, more meaningful lives be getting involved.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Bill’s educational background and career in law and education
- How did Bill get into managing charitable foundations?
- How are donor-advised funds utilized for charitable activities under Bill’s foundation?
- Why Bill’s foundation teaches donors not only to give but, more importantly, to serve.
- Why Bill established the organization “From Success 2 Significance” and how it helps donors actively participate and not just donate.
- A pivotal story that shifted Bill’s focus to pursuing God’s kingdom
- In what areas of his career and personal life did Bill find the most success?
- Do people experience more joy when serving and giving their time than when just giving money?
- Why it’s important to have a Christian worldview that involves serving and experiencing what other people in need go through.
- How Bill is passing on the true legacy of the value and excitement to serve others to his grandchildren.
- What is a good way to start getting involved and engaged in charitable activities?
- Bill’s advice to people who want to make a bigger impact in the world.
- Why is there a plateau in the giving stream and how can this be resolved?
- Bill answers the lightning-round questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
From Success 2 Significance website
The New Horizons Foundation
Joy to the World Foundation
About Bill Moritz
V. William “Bill” Moritz, J.D. practices law in Colorado Springs, Colorado, specializing in estate planning, non-profit organizations and business law with the law firm of Moritz and Associates, PC. He is Lead Attorney for From Success 2 Significance which provides information to empower Generous Families to live a more significant life.
Bill also established the New Horizons Foundation, a community foundation in Colorado Springs, and serves as its Executive Director and he established Joy To The World Foundation and serves as its President. He also serves on the Daily Hope and Purpose Driven Publishers Board of Directors.
He has worked with many different non-profit organizations over the past 20 years, including The Navigators, Baptist Bible College and Seminary, Harvest Workers, Christian Broadcasting Network, International Bible Society, Compassion International, Oral Roberts University, Seattle Pacific University, Young Life, The Christian and Missionary Alliance Denomination, Summit Ministries, Christian Blind Mission International, HCJB World Radio, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Mission of Mercy, Thailand Ambassadors of Christ and the YMCA. He has also written the book, Unlocking The Full Potential of Your Assets; Creative Uses of the Charitable Remainder Unitrust.
Every investor wants to grow their money and build wealth in their lifetime and yet, it seems that nobody in the final stages of their life wished they had spent more time with their money or the pursuit of it. There are bound to be regrets for working too hard, losing touch with family and friends, giving up hobbies and leisure pursuits or putting off their happiness. Yet most people do not live their lives with this in mind. What gives?
James Lenhoff, our guest for today, opens up a discussion about building wealth beyond money and living life with no regrets. Encountering hundreds of ultra-wealthy people saddled by regrets in their later years, James took on the mission to protect people from the remorse and pain that compounds over time and help them live happier lives. Listen now and find out how to live your life with deeper meaning and fewer what-ifs and could-have-beens.
Key Points From This Episode:
- James’ family and career background
- What problem did James see that led him to start his business?
- How James’ company helps their clients not only with financial planning and wealth management but more importantly helping them live life to the fullest.
- What areas of James’ life did he find the most success in and key lessons that he learned?
- How James found and lives out his mission to help people live life with no regrets
- How the reason for our existence is directly linked to generosity.
- How James helps clients to realize and live out the truth that we are stewards and not owners of our money and resources
- How having a deeper understanding of stewardship and ownership help us overcome emotional and spiritual issues of wealth.
- How James’ book “Living A Rich Life” and podcast “The Rich Life” provide tools to help change the conversation about money, help people change their relationship about wealth and allow them to experience the joy of generosity.
- What are the generosity circuit breakers and why recognizing them helps break the barriers to generosity.
- How does James invest his time, talents and treasure to further God's kingdom?
- James’ advice on how to take generosity to the next level and building a legacy
- Why it’s important for James to help his clients to recognize that experiences will always be worth more than things.
- James answers the lightning-round questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Living A Rich Life website
Get the book: Living a Rich Life: The No-Regrets Guide to Building and Spending Wealth
Wealthquest website
About James M. Lenhoff
James earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Miami University in 2000. Before joining Wealthquest, James spent five years with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network as a Financial Representative. He spent most of that time training other Financial Representatives in financial planning techniques. James earned the right to use the CFP® mark in 2004. James is passionate about the emotional and relational aspects of money. He is on a mission to change the conversation about money. He is the author of “Living a Rich Life: The No-Regrets Guide to Building and Spending Wealth”. He is also the host of The Rich Life Podcast.
James has been married to his wife, Amy for over 20 years. They have three children. Max, Wes, and Mia. He enjoys golfing and running. He is very active in service projects through his church including financial literacy education programs, and missions work in Haiti.
What would you do if you suddenly found yourself with an extra $100,000 to spend or use as you please? How would you spend it? Some will keep it locked in a safe as savings for the rainy days while others will invest in stocks, bonds, or real estate, preferably with 30% annual return. Or would you rather become a Kingdom Investor in God’s kingdom with a promised hundredfold return? But, what exactly is a Kingdom Investor?
Listen to our episode today where our host, Daniel White, answers that question. He takes a deep dive into what a kingdom investor is and the three key traits they possess. Daniel examines the biblical passages that characterize a kingdom investor looking into what Jesus says about money and our relationship with it. Click now and find out which one topic Jesus spoke most about that can help us gain riches beyond material resources.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Money is one of the things that Jesus talks about the most in scripture.
- Key traits of a kingdom investor as characterized by Jesus himself in the scriptures
- First key trait: having a kingdom perspective (Matthew 6:19)
- Second trait: being kingdom focused (Matthew 13:44)
- Third trait: being kingdom driven (Matthew 19:16)
- How Daniel and his wife Caitlin have experienced the truth of the passages in their lives and are enjoying God’s promise and blessings as kingdom investors
- Daniel stresses the importance of evaluating our motives for building wealth: Is it to advance our own agenda or to advance God's kingdom and bring Him glory?
Tweetables:
“Money is one of the things that Jesus talks about the most in scripture.”
“The only thing that will have eternal significance is our soul.”
“A lot of times, we idolize money, and we pursue money, and we worship money but that he wants us to worship Him, not money.”
“We really do have to grow in our trust in God because we're no longer trusting in money. There's that void and so we feel like we have to trust in something.”
“It's not about all of this good work. It's not all about following the law. It's about coming into a relationship and accepting this free gift that I'm (Jesus) offering.”
“The kingdom of God is worth more than anything this earth could offer.”
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Send an email to Daniel White
Daniel White on LinkedIn
About Danel White
Daniel White is an entrepreneur and real estate investor who strives to add value to others through leveraging the power of business and investing to greatly improve the lives of many. He grew up in a big family, working hard from a young age, and has started three businesses.
Daniel believes that God has created everyone for a purpose and that each one of us has God given ability's that when fully utilized can have a global impact!
God has given him and his wife a love and compassion for others that has driven them to do everything they can to find ways to help bring the life-changing hope of the Gospel to a broken and hurting world.
Why do some people give with ease and joy and why do others think twice? There could be many barriers when it comes to being generous, including financial capability, personal circumstances, upbringing, fears, cultural background, or just having the scarcity mindset of “I have to hold on to every dollar”. Generosity starts with embracing the mindset that everything we have belongs to God. The sooner we realize that we are God’s channel for his generosity, the sooner we’ll overcome the mental barriers to giving, awakening the genuine joy of generosity in our lives.
In this episode, David Clinton, co-host of The Kingdom Investor Podcast, talks about how to awaken the joy of generosity in each of us. He talks about his personal journey to overcoming the scarcity mindset, discovering the path to generosity, and fulfilling his mission to help people find the joy of giving. Here’s an intimate look at his life as a family man, a businessman, and a charitable giving coach whose passion is to see worldly resources be used to advance God’s Kingdom. Listen to the stories of David and Daniel and be inspired!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What impacted David the most this summer?
- What's a fun thing that David did with his family this summer?
- David shares his personal background, his formative years in college, and God’s revelation to him of his mission in life
- How David and his wife met
- How David got into real estate investing
- David shares his own journey of generosity
- What's the biggest challenge for people who want to be more generous and who want to take that step towards generosity?
- How David helps people overcome the barriers to cheerful giving and help them participate in creating a more significant impact in God’s kingdom
- David shares the vision that God has given him for funding the fulfillment of the great commission, the great commandment, and the creation mandate
- Some lessons about generosity in action
- David recommends the book “Giving Together” by John Rinehart
- What’s one skill that David's working on right now?
- What’s one thing that God is teaching David this season?
Tweetables:
“I had this vision, this dream to give money away in a big way. I found out that real estate is the way. It has made more millionaires than any other industry in the world.”
“Whether you're making 10 grand a year or way below the poverty line, or you're making $10 million, there are people who still have that scarcity mindset of ‘I don't know what I'm going to get paid next, I have to hold on to every dollar.’”
“To think that you're going to make a bunch of money and give later in life is to say that I know what to do with my money better than God does.”
“That's the hardest thing to overcome - realizing that none of this is mine. My house, my truck, my kids, my relationships, it's all God's, and I'm here to be a manager. When we can embrace that, it frees us up so much.”
“When we let go and release what God has put in our hands, He is happy to bless us with more.”
“What are the barriers to being a cheerful giver? Sometimes it's that scarcity mindset. Sometimes people are just overwhelmed with so many options of organizations and people to support.”
“It's harder to give a million dollars away than to earn a million dollars.”
“I love to help people figure out, where do you fit? What excites you? What problems really bother you in the world? And how can we go after that?”
“The only way we can break the power of the love of money is to give it away, to release it. It can't have a hold on us if we refuse to hoard it.”
“I just want people to feel that joy that comes with giving.”
Meet Daniel White, the host of The Kingdom Investor Podcast!
In this episode, you’ll hear about Daniel’s life story - from the miraculous infancy to the entrepreneurial teenage years to mission-affirming ministry to redemptive real estate investing and now he’s been called by God to host a podcast and help build His kingdom. Listen to stories from his heart, get to know what’s on his mind, and discover what kindles his passion.
Daniel has dedicated his business and his life mission to create sustainable funding for missionary work, impact more lives and fulfill the vision that God has put in his heart - the completion of the great commission in this generation. Join Daniel and David Clinton in the conversation.
Key Points From This Episode:
* What’s been the most interesting part of Daniel’s year so far?
* Daniel talks about his childhood and his upbringing in the construction and entrepreneurial world
* Daniel’s miracle story as a baby and how it strengthened his faith and commitment to his life purpose
* How Daniel started and ran his own business at 17
* Daniel’s first mission work in Chicago where God planted the seed for his mission
* Daniel drops out of college, gains the best thing out of it (his wife), and starts his own construction business
* How Daniel used his business as a mission field
* From construction, Daniel transitions to real estate investing via fixing and flipping, BRRRR method, rentals, etc. and earning active and passive income from it
* How’s Daniel’s deepening relationship with God taught him that wealth, money, and success should be used to serve and glorify God and build His kingdom
* How Daniel uses his income and profits from business to fulfill his mission to provide funding and support to missionary work
* Daniel details the process of real estate multifamily operation and how investors can help fund missions.
* What’s the key to unlocking the generosity within Christians?
* Daniel networks with people who have similar vision and mission as his to bring their stories to The Kingdom Investor podcast and serve as inspiration for listeners
Tweetables:
“What's even more powerful is to hear the stories from amazing leaders that we got to meet who have started 70 churches or manage 20 Hope Centers and feed 3,000 kids a day, and just hearing how God is working.”
“I really got to see firsthand how difficult it was for missionaries to raise support and the challenges with funding missions. That really started to give me a passion to create a better way, by using business and investing and creating a better model for funding missions.”
“Why I'm doing this is really to create passive income for missions. We would take the cash flow from our properties or the profit at the end of the month, and we would give it to a missionary. And so we could sustainably fund different missionaries that we want.”
“We're all going for the same vision and goal, ultimately, to glorify God and make him known.”
“The vision that God has put on my heart is creating sustainable funding in a better funding model, changing the way that we give so that it is possible to fund the completion of the Great Commission in this generation.”
“I felt like God was calling me to start this podcast. And I said, okay, I'm gonna do it, and we are starting it. I would say it's definitely more about living in relationship with God and allowing him to lead the walk.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Send an email to Daniel White
Daniel
The problem with the pursuit of wealth, success, and fame is that it tends to displace God in our lives. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). Where does your heart lie? Is your life defined by the material things that you possess? Do you measure success by your rank and title? Let God’s love for you transform your life from the earthly measure of wealth to finding true fulfillment in pursuit of His kingdom.
In our conversation today, our guest Bob Reinhart talks about being fundamentally transformed by encounters with Jesus. Reflecting on the pivotal moments of his life, Bob had always trusted God, enabling him to discern God’s bidding even in the toughest of times. Listen to Bob’s stories and find out why helping hurting people has become more fulfilling than making money or being successful. Hear how with constant communication with God, he’s found his life’s purpose, surrendering earthly wealth, leaving profit-amassing pursuits, and living his life for the enrichment of God’s kingdom.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Bob shares his background story, his corporate career, his real estate business
- Becoming a Christian, he became interested in planting churches, joined the church staff, and eventually became a pastor while his real estate business took a dive and slumped.
- What period of Bob’s life had been formative in his life journey?
- Bob’s difficult transition from a failed real estate business to full-time ministry, from earthly riches to working for God’s kingdom
- Area of his life that Bob considers most successful and of which he’s most proud of
- Why helping hurting people is more fulfilling for Bob than making money or being successful or having prestige
- How Bob uses his time, talent, and treasure to serve and glorify God and further His impact on the world
- Bob’s advice on how to grow personally in our relationship with the Lord as the foundation for impacting our nation
- Moving from California to Kentucky, Bob compares how people and the community are different.
- How the Lord changed Bob’s heart and aligned him towards living a more generous, giving fruitful life, being in tune and listening to the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him to influence his life decisions
- How does Bob think we, as Christians, can make a bigger impact in the world?
- What does Bob think about leaving a legacy?
- Bob answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“I don't care about my legacy. All I care about is when I'm standing in front of Jesus, and He says to me, “well done”. So, I'm asking him, keep me, teach me, show me, direct me, guide me. What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go? And help me do that.”
“Lord, I don't think you're using me in a very effective way. I am willing and available to you to do whatever it is you want me to do. I don't care what it is, I will do it.”
“I became very interested in people who are hurting, and who are lost. The Lord has gifted me with the gift of evangelism and that became my focus. I led a ministry that focused on all kinds of hurts, habits, and hang-ups.”
“I was a multi-millionaire. I became pretty wealthy during that time, but it all just seemed to me to be a kind of fruitless endeavor.“
“Once I got into ministry and started helping hurting people, that was so thrilling to me. I enjoy that way more than I ever enjoyed making money in real estate. If I had to make a choice, I would never go back to real estate. I would never go back to any kind of enterprise that focuses on making money, or being successful or having prestige.”
“The morality levels in this country have changed. What's good is now being called bad, and what's bad is now being called good. I see this disturbing trend and I can see that we need to have revival in this countr
Wouldn’t it be awesome if all of us would receive a roadmap from God for each of our lives? A blueprint that would tell us what His plan is for us and all we need to do is follow step by step. Alas, life and its turns always seem to leave us dazed, confused and unknowing of what to do next. But the truth is, God knows what He wants for us and he is guiding us and planting seeds in our hearts if only we ask Him. God sees, hears, and answers our prayers. All we have to do is put Him in charge of our lives, even our businesses.
Proverbs 16:3 “Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.” proclaims this truth and who better to manifest the beautiful meaning of this passage than our guests today - Ken and Rachael Wick. Partners in business and partners in life and both life-long educators, Ken and Rachael have experienced God’s hand at work in all aspects of their lives. Now focused full-time in real estate investing that creates a positive impact in the communities they support, the Wicks, putting God in charge of their business and life, always find ways to make things work for the greater glory of God’s kingdom. Listen now and be inspired to discern the Lord’s guidance for your path.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Ken and Rachael share their personal background as educators and as real estate entrepreneurs.
- The formative life experiences that shaped Ken’s and Rachael’s present station in life
- How Ken and Rachael define success in their lives
- How God revealed to Rachael the charitable mission that they need to undertake when they started to transition to multifamily syndication and consequently, their transition from success to significance
- How their success in multifamily business corresponded with their increasing number of child sponsorships
- Incidents that taught Ken and Rachael lessons to be prudent in business, always trust the Lord and always work for a win-win business deal for all parties involved
- How going into the real estate business allowed Ken and Rachael to openly and freely talk about the Lord, share their faith and help other people as well
- How Ken and Rachael, through their life of prayer, see God’s hand at work in their business, their charity, and life in general
- Ken’s life-transforming experience that determined and decided his life path
- How they utilize a donor-advised fund to have a system for giving
- Ken’s and Rachael’s advice on how to grow in generosity
- How Ken and Rachael invest their time, talents and treasure to further God’s kingdom and how they create a legacy for the next generation
- Why mentoring others in the real estate path has become a passion for Rachael and Ken
- Ken and Rachael answer the lightning-round questions
Tweetables:
“God formed us. He helped us understand how to trust Him with our money. And that evolved into, being able to say, we can sponsor six children. We have no idea but God does. God will show us the way.” - Rachael Wick
“We just follow God's steps, one by one. He doesn't show us the whole picture. You know, I still probably worry too much about what the next step is. But he's always faithful to show one step after another.” - Rachael Wick
“How did you get to the point you are at? By whose grace is the blessings you receive?” - Ken WIck
“I continue to ask myself why am I still here? I had a 4% chance of surviving. It must be something. I shouldn't be here but I am. There’s a reason.” - Ken WIck
“ If you think you're going to fail, if you think you're not significant, I would encourage you to remember that in the Bible, God uses the insignificant people among us to do great things for His kingdom.” - Ken Wick
“There are tons of ways to give back that don't involve money. I encourage you to talk to God and see what he puts in your heart and fol
More and more, we hear stories of businesses serving as platforms for the mission to further the Kingdom of God. The for-profit company working side by side with the non-profit sector, business managers taking on missional leadership roles - these have become channels to transform people’s lives and tools to build spiritual capital. It is not so much about what we do but how we use the tools in business that God has placed into our hands to help others.
Our conversation today with Dan Lewis, ACNA priest, Christian Foundation director, university and seminary professor, kingdom netweaver, author, speaker explores the intertwining of business and mission. Dan talks about doing mission and ministry in a nonprofit situated within a for-profit company. He harks back to his career trajectory that straddles the sacred and the secular, merging business and mission to build spiritual capital and further God’s kingdom. Listen now and find out how you can integrate your mission within the industry you’re in and follow God’s leadership in your life.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Snapshots of Dan’s life, faith, and career.
- Dan’s life trajectory leads to integrating for-profit and not-for-profit, business and mission, management, and missional leadership.
- How God has redefined success in Dan’s life and led him to utilize businesses for kingdom purposes.
- How Dan has been able to use time, talent, and treasure to invest in God's kingdom.
- What does SHAPE stand for, why must we be aware of it?
- The giving framework used by Dan as head of the charitable arm of a for-profit company.
- Dan shares the key to growing in generosity.
- Why it’s important for parents to develop their kids’ consciousness and spirit of generosity and to model and set examples of giving.
- How to make an impact not only locally but also around the world through life-on-life discipleship.
- Dan’s advice on building a legacy of faith, and a godly legacy for future generations.
- Dan answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“How have I been able to use the time God's given me, I try and remind myself that I'm a vapor and then tomorrow's not guaranteed.”
“As our treasure is, as our time is, so is our hearts.”
“We shouldn't give under compulsion or obligation. We should give what our hearts determine because God wants a cheerful, hilarious giver.”
“Generosity is contagious. When you get around generous people, you tend to be more generous.”
“There's an eagerness in the younger generation, to not wait to get rich but to realize we are rich right now with God's resources, and that in God's economy, if we posture ourselves correctly, we're going to be in an adventure with the Lord.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dan Lewis on LinkedIn
NextToLead website
Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance by Bob Buford
A High Impact Life: Love your Purpose, Live with Passion, Leverage your Platform by Pete Ochs
Your Money Counts: The Biblical Guide to Earning, Spending, Saving, Investing, Giving, and Getting Out of Debt by Howard Dayton Jr.
Generous Giving website
While it’s true that in today’s culture and social climate, there is some disdain for wealth due to the many examples of its misuse and how it has caused corruption and evil, we cannot turn our backs on the positive aspects of wealth creation. God wants to provide us with wealth so we can use it to help others, fund projects that further His kingdom and influence here on earth, and leave a godly legacy for generations to come. Wealth doesn’t do us any good if we don’t put it to work and help us grow in faith.
In today’s conversation with Vip Vipperman, we talk about faith, entrepreneurship, and investing. He details his own journey of faith-driven investing and entrepreneurship and how it has deepened his faith and commitment to God’s call. Listen to how he, backed by his rich faith-driven experience, now helps investors and entrepreneurs grow in faith and collaborate in creating wealth in order to produce significant social and economic impact. Find out how investors and entrepreneurs can put charity alongside investments by having a vision bigger than creating wealth – and that is, generating a more meaningful kingdom impact.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Overview of Vip’s personal background and career.
- The story of Vip’s encounter with the Lord in middle school and how it has helped him go through high school as an uncool, “odd one out” student.
- After earning his master’s degree in Missiology, Vip works with the underground church in China while running a small consulting business to do outreach and ministry.
- How Vip was called by God to the business world in the US upon his return from China.
- How he got introduced to Lion’s Den in Alabama - a platform that provides investors and entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate in wealth creation while having a meaningful kingdom impact - and brought the concept to Dallas.
- How Vip thrives in the businesses he engages in and grows in his faith while in the business environment as well.
- Why investors and entrepreneurs need a community to be successful in the business.
- How Lion’s Den events grew in number across the country and continue to promote faith, entrepreneurship, and investing.
- Key pivotal moments in Vip’s journey from success to significance and his thoughts on how we can make that difficult leap of faith when God calls us to something bigger than ourselves.
- The biblical story of Barzillai, Chimham, and David and its analogy to an investor and entrepreneur relationship.
- In the framework of time, talents, and treasure in building God’s kingdom, which element does Vip gravitate toward?
- Vip’s advice on investments for individuals who want to grow in their generosity, impact more lives and leave a godly legacy.
- Various ways by which investors and entrepreneurs can channel resources to help different social causes and be able to put charity alongside investments.
- What’s one thing that Vip sees God doing around the world that he’s excited about?
- Vip answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“How do I want to steward it well without being just totally attacked by people from every side who are trying to get that money out of me?”
“It really helps if you find a cause or a place that you care a lot about.”
“What are you afraid of? What's keeping you from taking that step.”
“It’s interesting how sometimes you just hand something over to God completely and it really makes a difference.”
“To invest alongside entrepreneurs, to come along with them for the ride, you get to be a part of the journey and experience, some of the ups and downs of it and coach them through it but there's not quite the same pressure.”
“Who is this Chimham in my life, who's that person I'm mentoring or coaching, that entrepreneur or that group who I can put a little bit of capital
Often defined as the virtue of giving good things to others freely and abundantly - generosity, studies show, promotes social connections, improves relationships, and helps build a community. It is no coincidence then that when you practice generous giving, you perceive others in a more positive light and it fosters a sense of community, a feeling of interconnectedness with one another that leads to a deeper relationship with God.
Our conversation today with Ryan Smith opens a meaningful discussion about the biblical message of generosity. He talks about how, with God’s generous gifts in their life, he and his wife create pathways for generous giving to enable God’s graces to flow to others in their community. Find out how the Giving Group model steers their charitable causes and why a community with a cause inspires each other to make a larger impact for the kingdom of God. Listen now and be inspired.
Key Points From This Episode:
- A snapshot of Ryan’s life, education, career, and business.
- Attending a Generous Giving conference and meeting his hero becomes a pivotal moment in Ryan’s life of faith.
- The four criteria that make mobile home parks and storage facilities compelling assets for investing.
- Area of Ryan’s life where he sees the most success.
- Ryan’s biggest disappointment and what he learned from it.
- The pivot point in Ryan’s journey of generosity.
- Why excellence is a significant part of Ryan’s philosophy in work, business, and everything he does.
- How Ryan uses his time, talents, and treasure to make investments in God's kingdom.
- The Giving Group model that guides Ryan in his charitable causes.
- How Ryan finds people to join giving groups.
- Ryan’s advice to people who want to grow their business and investment so they can take their generosity to the next level.
- What’s the key to growing in generosity?
- How Ryan thinks we, as Christians, can have a bigger impact on the world.
- What Ryan is most excited about now and his vision for the future.
- Ryan answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“Our work is one of many forms of worship. So, to me, the byproduct of worship should be or the way we worship or the way we work should be excellence.”
“‘Who’ we're doing it for matters, not the ‘what’ we're doing.”
“Disappointments are the cost of doing business relationally.”
“Most people who are givers want to give more.”
“In our business, we're certainly not reckless in how we allocate capital, but in giving, it's fun that you can be reckless, and that you can give it away that you don't know how it's gonna turn out.”
“We didn't start by saying, here are our goals and our objectives. I had no idea what the need was, but it was just fun how it grew. How we grew together as a community through that effort was wonderful.”
“ I think the best thing that anybody can do is live their life in a way that people ask "why"?”
“We're tasked with throwing the seed, God does the rest.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Elevation Capital Group website
Ryan Smith on LinkedIn
Invest in Elevation Fund
Generous Giving website
Journey of Generosity
Tim Keller website
About Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith brings with him more than fifteen years of extensive business experience in market evaluation, property analysis, management systems, due diligence, finance, and more. Mr. Smith and his affiliates co-manage multiple invest
We often hear that we should be trying to fulfill our purpose in life. But, what does that even mean and how do you do that? Most of us go about our lives without actively thinking about what purpose we are trying to accomplish. But whether we know it or not, we seek meaning and purpose that will give us stability and a sense of direction. Ultimately, no achievement can bring the kind of fulfillment that comes with finding and living out your sense of purpose.
Our conversation today with Biff Buckley centers on finding and fulfilling one’s life purpose. Looking back at his life experiences, Biff pinpoints defining moments that enabled him to discern what God wants him to do. He says at every juncture in his life, he seeks God’s wisdom and guidance. He talks about key secrets to running a successful business and managing profitable investments. (Hint: It’s got something to do with generosity). Listen until the end to find out how Biff leads a full and meaningful life at 72 by devoting his time, talent, and treasure to help build God’s kingdom.
Clicking the play button now and be blessed by our conversation.
Key Points From This Episode:
- A snapshot of Biff’s life, career, and business.
- A life-changing event that affected the trajectory of Biff’s life.
- The key building blocks that God has used in Biff’s life that edified his life’s purpose and direction.
- Biff’s advice about ambition, purpose, and direction for young men starting early in their career.
- How Biff discovered his life purpose.
- What is a missionary in the marketplace?
- How Biff practiced servant leadership running his company.
- How does Biff invest his time, talent, and treasure now that he is not actively running a business and not worrying about income?
- Ways that Biff fully engages in ministry activities as he actively seeks opportunities to make a difference every day.
- The framework and process of giving that Biff follows as he practices generosity.
- Business secrets that helped Biff grow his business and allowed him to be more generous.
- Key things to growing Biff’s real estate investments that have allowed him to be more generous?
- How Biff gives support to foreign missions that try to reach the unreached and unengaged population groups of the world.
- Why Biff prefers listening to podcasts rather than reading.
- Biff answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“Life is a marathon. It's not a sprint.“
“What is servant leadership? Jesus, of course, modeled for us, leaving the throne of heaven to suffer and die for us because of love. So, I had to figure out how to do that in the context of an office situation.”
“I became somewhat like a pastor in the workplace and it's one of the things I actually ended up enjoying most. These were the people that I was directly responsible for, caring for them, and watching and seeing them learn to be successful.”
“The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, both spiritual truth and secular truth. So, I have developed a routine early as a believer to have a quiet time and devotional time every morning and ask the Lord for wisdom. I learned to depend on that.”
“The only way to be successful in real estate is the long haul. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a build well slow strategy.”
“If I'm loving God well, if I'm seeking Him and allowing him to form my character, then out of the overflow of that relationship with Him, I will love others well. Those two commandments, if I have a legacy, it would be built on that.”
“ I know what my assignment is from the Lord. I know what it is, and I'm doing it.”
“There is no problem that I would encounter, no circumstances that will come up that He won't give me an answer as to how to meet.”
About Biff Buckley
Biff Bu
Do your employees, tenants, stakeholders, and customers experience what God’s generosity feels and looks like when they deal with your business? Or do they see deceit, greed, and dishonesty? As real estate business owners and entrepreneurs, we are presented with opportunities to apply faith-driven practices and to share kingdom-focused generosity. All we need to do is step up and step out.
Our conversation today with Margaret Hartman focuses on building and leading a business steered with faith-driven principles and imbued by radical generosity as lived out by her family and practiced by the Hartman Income REIT company. She details how the company strives to make lives better for its employees, tenants, stakeholders, and beneficiaries of their foundation while reaping the rewards in their business and living a life of fulfillment glorifying God. Listen to how you can cultivate radical generosity and tell the world about God’s ownership over what we have and what we manage. Take that first step by clicking the play button.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Margaret’s personal background and information about Hartman Income REIT, the commercial real estate investment company founded by Margaret’s father, Al Hartman.
- The historical background of the Hartman company and the story of its founder Al Hartman.
- How the Hartman company weathered economic recessions including the Texas oil crisis in the past 40 years.
- Margaret tells the story of her father encountering Jesus, making a profession of faith in Christ, surrendering and realigning his life, heart, and business to God and His Kingdom.
- How the Hartman company practices biblical principles and generosity in running the business.
- Ways the company established charitable programs designed to help its employees, its tenants, and other institutions.
- How Al Hartman’s personal faith and life of prayer launched prayer initiatives in the company and permeated the company culture.
- How the company practices radical generosity led by the Hartman family who lives simply with an emphasis on the value of giving.
- Margaret’s advice on cultivating and strengthening the practice of radical generosity.
- The factors that influenced and deepened Al Hartman’s faith and generosity.
- How generosity enables us to make an impact on other people’s lives while building a legacy from generation to generation.
- Margaret shares a framework for financial stewardship.
- Margaret answers the lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“One of our core values is that we honor God in all that we do by operating a company in a manner consistent with biblical principles.“
“We just do anything we can to impact these tenants with the love of Christ.”
“His (Al Hartman) life is marked by radical generosity. Instead of tithing 10%, it's keeping 10% and tithing 90%.”
“We've had the opportunity to partner with what God is doing in the world.”
“For us as a family, we just see the value in giving versus receiving, and giving it away for the sake of something so great, to see someone's face when they hear the Gospel, hear the good news of Jesus Christ.”
About Margaret HartmanMargaret Hartman is an associate at Hartman Income REIT, a real estate investment company founded by Al Hartman, that has grown from humble beginnings into a leader in commercial real estate throughout Texas with 200 employees and over $800 million in assets under management over the last 38 years. Margaret started her career in the CRE investment industry working for a Houston-based CRE investment fund doing acquisitions, dispositions, and asset management before joining the capital markets team at Hartman focusing on raising joint venture and fund equity and heading the investor relations department. The Hartman family lives in Houst
Gain high returns, increase productivity, maximize profit, speed up transactions, build relationships with insiders, get into the boardroom – these are the typical goals of business owners who want to be hailed a success in their industry. To pursue these goals, you put in all your resources and efforts to build up equity, privilege, network, and influence. But, have you ever considered a higher form of success?
Our guest today, Lee Webb, owner of Alton Webb Commercial Real Estate, talks about a different kind of success in business. He shares his experience on leading his real estate business to profitability and success while answering God’s call to pursue a more significant earthly existence and build wealth in His kingdom. Listen now and find out how he embraces his role in planting new churches while not losing sight of his role in the marketplace to grow his business. Listen until the end and learn the ways to grow in generosity. Click the play button now and be blessed by our conversation.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Lee shares some personal and family information.
- Lee talks about his experience of being called by God to plant a church.
- Why discovering your calling, your passion, and your gifts and allowing God to use you for a higher purpose is crucial in the mission of planting churches.
- The mindset of a business owner who was called by God to serve and plant churches.
- How Lee is able to work on his business successfully while answering God’s call to plant churches.
- Why playing our roles and allowing others to perform theirs give us the opportunity to contribute significantly to the kingdom.
- How Lee is bringing together church planters, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.
- Why the greatest tool of evangelism is church planting.
- What is the trellis analogy?
- Ways to understand and grow in generosity.
- How Lee impacts people in the community.
- Lee answers lightning-round questions.
Tweetables:
“Instead of just doing what I want to do, and achieving the goals that I want to achieve, I became a little more interested in what God was up to.”
“Learn more about what your call is, what your passions are, what your gifts are, and then try to get into a position where you can play to those strings and allow others to play the role that they're supposed to play.”
“That's our most important commodity, the time God has given us.”
“Know your calling, understand the circumstances God has given you, think about your family in light of those things, and spend your time the most effectively you can.”
“If we’ll be willing to look around and think about people, we’ll get into a place where we won't struggle to find opportunities towards generosity. The more we practice it, (the more) we'll understand what Jesus meant when he said in Luke 12, don't be greedy.”
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Alton Webb Commercial Real Estate website
Christ Community Church, Shelbyville, Kentucky website
Southland Church website
Buy the book "Go Outside: Get Up. Get Out. Change the world!" by Alton Lee Webb
About Lee Webb
Lee has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with an emphasis in Business Marketing. Specializing in all facets of commercial real estate, Lee is a licensed real estate broker in KY and holds the CCIM designation. He is very active in the communities throughout the region and has served on various boards as a director. Lee was named to the 2005 Business First 40 Under 40 list, the
Welcome to The Kingdom Investor Podcast! A podcast made for you who want to grow and take your generosity to the next level, a show for listeners who want to create a greater impact in other people’s lives, in the community, and around the world and a channel for all who want to leave a godly legacy for generations to come.
Our preview episode today features a conversation between our main host Daniel White and occasional co-host David Clinton. Daniel and David share snapshots of their personal and professional background, their respective missions to achieve God’s purpose. And now, with The Kingdom Investor Podcast, they answer God’s call to bring you stories of leaders who have achieved success in business and are leveraging their success to expand God’s work and create greater Kingdom impact.
Listen now and get to know our hosts as we look forward to bringing you our first episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Daniel White introduces himself and his co-host David Clinton.
- What made Daniel want to start a podcast?
- Why Daniel and David chose to share stories of Kingdom-minded business leaders in the podcast
- Daniel shares his personal story, his business and career, and his passion to use business, investments, and skills to fund missions.
- Daniel shares his vision and mission to join God in His work to redeem the world and change lives in the community and around the world.
- David shares his personal story and his passion to create Kingdom impact, championing the great commission, and inspiring a spirit of generosity for people to invest their time, talents and treasures in God's kingdom.
- The Kingdom Investor Podcast unites Daniel And David to bring listeners two episodes per week.
- Listeners may ask questions about podcast topics, guests, and related matters by sending emails to Daniel or David.
- Be part of our podcast. Reach out, write a review, leave a rating, and share our show and be a blessing to others.
Tweetables:
“He (God) showed me and put a passion in my life to use business and the skills I learned from that to create a new model to fund missions.” - Daniel White
“My passion is to see worldly resources used for Kingdom impact as I champion the great commission, the great commandment and the creation mandate. My role in that is to awaken Christians on the joy and the freedom of being generous and removing the barriers that hinder cheerful giving.” - David Clinton
“This podcast makes it possible for you, our listeners to hear inspiring stories as we interview leaders who have been very successful in business and have leveraged their success for a greater purpose.” - Daniel White
“Our hope is this, to inspire and equip you as business owners and leaders to invest your time, talents and treasure in God's kingdom, faithfully stewarding all God has given you for the greatest Kingdom impact.” - David Clinton
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Daniel White on LinkedIn
David Clinton on LinkedIn
Send an email to Daniel White
Send an email to David Clinton
Find Me Faithful Foundation website