Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Mark Vroegop, President of The Gospel Coalition, for a timely conversation about the growing but often disconnected faith and work movement. Mark brings a rare dual perspective—thirty years of pastoral ministry combined with deep understanding of entrepreneurial leadership—to address why two of society's most driven groups struggle to connect.This episode tackles the practical barriers keeping pastors and entrepreneurs apart, explores how lament and waiting can transform both business loss and leadership pressure, and offers concrete steps for churches ready to empower their entrepreneurial members beyond "parking vests and coffee." Mark vulnerably shares from his own journey through grief and gaps, providing a biblical framework for navigating the uncertainty that defines both pastoral and entrepreneurial life.This episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast was filmed at the Main Street Summit, the perfect gathering for ambitious Christian entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders seeking to deepen the integration of their faith and work. Learn more and sign up to be notified for Main Street Summit 2026: www.mainstreetsummit.comKey Topics:Why pastors and entrepreneurs miss each other despite obvious synergiesThe demanding reality of pastoral ministry most business leaders never seeHow business leaders can provide invaluable insight churches desperately needLament as a language for processing business failure, betrayal, and lossWaiting on the Lord: Learning to lead through gaps and uncertaintyBuilding strategic plans that include space for divine interventionPractical pathways for pastors and entrepreneurs to bridge the divideNotable Quotes:"How can we help business leaders know how to be good churchmen, if you will? And from my seat as a person who's in pastoral ministry for thirty years, how can pastors do a better job of serving business leaders, especially entrepreneurs?" - Mark Vroegop"Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust." - Mark Vroegop"Waiting on the Lord is learning to live on what I know to be true about God when I don't know what's true about my life." - Mark Vroegop

Solving Big Problems Together: Uganda's Four-Pillar Model for Community TransformationJoin host Justin Forman in conversation with Andrew DeVaney, founder of As One Africa, for an inspiring discussion about what it takes to solve interconnected problems in rural Uganda. From his friendship with a rural educator to building a four-pronged model serving 50,000 patients, 4,000 students, and 5,000 farmers annually, Andrew shares how empowering Ugandans to solve Ugandan problems creates sustainable transformation.This episode explores the power of earned revenue models over aid dependency, the importance of treating beneficiaries as customers, and why time in the game matters more than quick wins. Discover how collaboration, storytelling, and Kingdom partnership can address some of the world's most pressing challenges.Key Topics:Uganda's demographic advantage: 80% under 30, 50% under 18The four-pillar model: schools, health centers, farms, and businesses working togetherWhy "catching a thief requires sending a thief" - the power of local problem-solversEarned revenue vs. aid dependency: treating beneficiaries as customers with voiceHow competition and feedback loops drive innovation and dignityThe interconnectivity of rural poverty: education, healthcare, agriculture, and employmentBuilding sustainable models that don't depend on foreign fundingPraxis lessons: balancing venture building with soul care for long-term impactNotable Quotes:"The young people that are coming up, they're now being educated, they're going to school, they desire a different opportunity within the country that they live in, and expect better from their leaders." - Andrew DeVaney"Ugandans empowering Ugandans. This is something that there's this self perpetuating feedback loop that pushes Ugandans to want to do more." - Andrew DeVaney"Time in the game is going to be such a big deal. For entrepreneurs, for investors, for problem solvers." - Andrew DeVaney

Join host Justin Forman for a milestone conversation with Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft, as they celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. From refusing bribes that led to bankruptcy, to refusing to work Sundays during WWII, to growing from a $39 million company facing the Great Recession to surpassing $1 billion—this is a masterclass in values-driven leadership that stands the test of time.Bill shares the dramatic "God moments" that convinced him to become the fifth CEO in five years at a broken company, and how a controversial service trip to Mexico became the turning point that saved the culture. Discover why Correct Craft sends employees around the world on company-funded mission trips, how they navigate tough stewardship decisions while maintaining strong faith values, and what it takes to build for the next hundred years.Key Topics:The WWII story: Building 420 boats in 23 days without working SundaysSpending 20 years of profits to repay legally discharged bankruptcy debtsTwo unmistakable "God signs" that led Bill to Orlando: a house sale and a tutor's callWhy the Mexico service trip (that everyone opposed) saved the companyGrowing from $39M to over $1 billion through culture and strategic planningThe Culture Pyramid: Building Boats to the Glory of God, Making Life BetterBalancing stewardship excellence with faith values in difficult decisionsGlobal expansion to 70 countries—including surprising markets like NamibiaVertical and horizontal acquisition strategy without outside capitalMaking decisions for the next 25 years, not just short-term winsNotable Quotes:"I believe we're alive today as a company because of that first trip." - Bill Yeargin"We're not just trying to help the people that we're going to serve, we're trying to help our own team too. We've seen so many lives change on our own team over the years." - Bill Yeargin"You don't make it a hundred years by being over on God's side. You gotta do the things we're supposed to do. Trust God, honor him. Let him bless us." - Bill Yeargin

Join host Justin Forman in Nairobi, Kenya, as he sits down with Jean-Paul Nageri, co-founder of KaFresh, for an extraordinary conversation about finding divine solutions hidden in plain sight. When Jean-Paul watched his father's banana harvest spoil while waiting for traders, he didn't just see a problem—he saw a calling. What followed was a journey of "God Engineering" that led to a breakthrough preserving produce 10x longer using only natural plant oils.This episode explores how entrepreneurs can look to creation itself for answers to massive problems, why cold storage isn't always the answer for Africa, and how one biotech solution is transforming food security for millions. From Genesis 1:29 inspiration to cutting-edge agricultural innovation, this conversation reveals how faith, science, and entrepreneurship combine to solve real-world challenges.Key Topics:How watching his father lose 50% of harvests to spoilage launched an entrepreneurial journeyThe "God Engineering" discovery: unlocking preservation secrets from orange peelsWhy expensive Western solutions (cold storage) don't work for African farmersKaFresh breakthrough: Extending tomato shelf life from 1 week to 3+ months at room temperatureThe $1 trillion problem: Sub-Saharan Africa loses 37% of food production to post-harvest spoilageFrom synthetic chemicals to natural plant oils: reversing the globalization of food preservationHow monks in 1800s monasteries pioneered natural food coating techniquesBuilding an agricultural biotech platform: From preservation to accelerated seed germinationMaking insects "invisible" to produce instead of killing them with pesticidesUganda's 2 million smallholder farmers and the mindset shift that changes everythingNotable Quotes:"I like to use the term God Engineering. He literally leaves clues, but you have to have that discernment to be able to see the clues." - Jean-Paul Nageri"Why me, why me, why not some other big company? But that's God's plan. He normally takes the underdogs." - Jean-Paul Nageri"Anything that is good for you should be easy to pronounce." - Jean-Paul Nageri

Beyond the Bumper Sticker: What It Really Means When God Owns Your BusinessJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Bertie Lourens, founder of a waste management company that has transformed the lives of 2,300 people across South Africa. Bertie shares his extraordinary journey from near bankruptcy to transferring majority ownership of his company to God—not as a symbolic gesture, but as a legally binding decision that fundamentally changed how he runs his business.This episode moves beyond the bumper sticker phrase "God owns my business" to explore what actually happens when you transfer 51% of shares to a non-profit entity representing God as your majority shareholder. Bertie vulnerably shares how pride nearly destroyed everything, how two miracles gave his business a second chance, and why the most freeing decision he ever made was giving up control.Key Topics:From pride to bankruptcy: How success became Bertie's greatest spiritual dangerThe radical obedience of legally transferring majority ownership to GodSetting up Neko Capital: Making God a legal shareholder through proper structureHow boardroom questions change when asking "What does our Shareholder want?"The Elon Musk thought experiment: Understanding the value proposition of divine partnershipWhy stewardship "with Him" is fundamentally different than "for Him"Raising children without entitlement when God owns the family businessBreaking free from the founder's burden: The unexpected freedom of surrenderNotable Quotes:"Whatever I do for Jesus is wrong. Whatever I do with him is right. That just changed my world." - Bertie Lourens"I have never in my life been more free than after the moment when I transferred those shares." - Bertie Lourens"The comfort of the security—the financial security that I have, that I can see in my future because of this—is what entraps us." - Bertie Lourens

Join host Justin Forman in Boulder, Colorado, for a powerful conversation with Tim Tebow and Wes Lyons at the Clapham gathering—where 150 entrepreneurs are uniting to disrupt one of the world's darkest evils: human trafficking. This episode explores how for-profit ventures, nonprofit organizations, and churches can collaborate to create an unprecedented counter-trafficking industry worth billions.Tim shares the heartbreaking story that launched his anti-trafficking work: his father's decision to purchase the freedom of four girls at an underground pastor's conference. Wes reveals how entrepreneurs are building sustainable businesses that fight trafficking—from training frontline healthcare workers to creating digital safety for children—proving that mission and profit can powerfully align.Discover why "looking again" at those society overlooks is essential to stopping traffickers, how apathy is the real enemy, and why living an extreme life for Christ matters more than living a balanced one.Key Topics:The origin story: How Tim Tebow's father rescued four girls and launched a movementUnderstanding trafficking vs. sexual exploitation: Different motives, different solutionsBuilding the counter-trafficking industry: How for-profit businesses are seeding a $5B market by 2030The Clapham model: Learning from William Wilberforce's dense network approachHealthcare's hidden opportunity: 90% of trafficking victims interact with medical professionals 15-18 times before identificationWhy being made in God's image means "image being," not "image bearer"The case against living a balanced life—and for living an extreme oneEagle Venture Fund's strategy: Treating counter-trafficking like counter-cybersecurityNotable Quotes:"My dad is one of my biggest heroes and role models because he's not someone that can look the other way and do nothing." - Tim Tebow"You can be for profit and for purpose and for people. Like that can happen." - Tim Tebow"People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy. We have to be passionate believers, passionate about the cause of Christ, passionate about hurting people, not apathetic people that someone else is going to do it." - Tim Tebow"Traffickers target the people that the church gave up seeing." - Justin Forman

At the Gutenberg Moment: How AI is Reshaping Faith, Technology, and Kingdom ImpactJoin host Justin Forman for a pivotal conversation with Pat Gelsinger in Boulder, Colorado, exploring how faith-driven leaders can steward the most transformative technology cycle of the modern era. From his 45 uninterrupted years in tech to his transition into investing and leading Gloo, Pat shares profound insights on navigating seasons of life, building the faith technology platform, and positioning the church to ride—not watch—the AI wave.This episode tackles critical questions about fragmentation in the faith ecosystem, the power of unified action, and why showing up "bigger" matters for Kingdom influence. Pat unpacks Gloo's mission to make AI suitable and trustworthy for the faith community, the surprising results of flourishing AI benchmarks, and his audacious vision: educating every child on the planet within the next 10-15 years.Key Topics:The painful yet purposeful transition from 45 years at Intel to a new season of investing and impactWhy next-generation entrepreneurs are "spiritual but not religious" and what that means for businessGloo's mission: Building the faith technology platform at a Gutenberg momentHow AI can accelerate mission—from conquering 7,000 languages to custom education for every childThe flourishing AI benchmarks: Measuring models against human flourishing (and why DeepSeek leads)Why the church is the "largest fragmented industry on planet Earth" and how to show up biggerTransforming the Bay with Christ (TBC): 900 churches united in one of America's least churched regionsThe critical shift from "for Christ" to "with Christ" in transformation workNotable Quotes:"We're at a Gutenberg moment. Will we the church be captivated, accelerated, mission empowered by AI? Or will we sit on the outside watching?" - Pat Gelsinger"Next-generation entrepreneurs—they're not religious, but they're spiritual. There's a deeper spiritual expectation and they really care about the soul implications of business success." - Pat Gelsinger"If we educate the 300 million children living in poverty today, I think I will have done more to eliminate poverty than any other single thing you could do—and I believe we can do that in the next decade." - Pat Gelsinger

From Dallas Uber Rides to Uganda Motorcycles: How One Partnership Is Transforming African MobilityJoin host Henry Kaestner as he sits down with Jared Fulks, co-founder of PureFlow, for an inspiring conversation about building Kingdom businesses in emerging markets. From four consecutive Uber drivers from different African countries in Dallas to empowering thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers in Uganda, this episode reveals how God orchestrates divine appointments in everyday moments and business ventures alike.Discover how PureFlow started with just six motorcycles and $6,000 in a small Ugandan town and has grown into a hospitality-focused finance company serving thousands. Jared shares powerful lessons about the value of partnership born from prayer, the unexpected advantages of tier-two and tier-three cities, and why sometimes the best place to test a business idea isn't Silicon Valley—it's Africa.Key Topics:Divine appointments: Four African Uber drivers in 24 hours and what they reveal about staying spiritually presentStarting with six bikes: How Colin emptied his savings and received 250 applications in 24 hoursPartnership as a "God idea": Why prayer preceded partnership and the power of detailed operating agreementsTier-two and tier-three city advantages: Building trust and community away from capital citiesHospitality over finance: Reframing PureFlow as a hospitality business that creates places people want to return toLow-cost probes in Africa: Testing 100 ideas with a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.Living remotely while building locally: Managing a Uganda-based business from Atlanta through intentional engagementThe football club strategy: Winning tournaments as customer acquisition and brand buildingPressing the gas: Why not to subsidize yourself with philanthropy too soonNotable Quotes:"Partnership is not a good idea. It's a God idea. It is woven into the fabric of how we were created. Nobody would argue that we're created for people. And so why would we assume any different?" - Jared Fulks"If the business collapsed tomorrow, and it all just failed, which I hope it doesn't, I don't think it will. But if it did, the thing that I would take away most would be not the amazing people we've been able to hire, the thousands and thousands of people we serve, but it truly is the friendship and the brotherhood that I have with him." - Jared Fulks"Start with where you are, with what you have... He lost $6,000. Like to most people listening to this podcast, it's not gonna kill you to lose $6,000." - Jared Fulks

Beyond Harps and Clouds: Rethinking Heaven, Work, and EternityJoin host Justin Forman and author Jordan Raynor in Dallas for a paradigm-shifting conversation about what heaven actually looks like—and why it matters for your business today. Jordan unpacks how cultural half-truths about eternity rob entrepreneurs of purpose in the present and hope for the future, revealing a biblical vision of the new earth that changes everything.Discover why most Christians spend more time planning vacations than thinking about eternity, how redemptive Excel spreadsheets can be more heavenly than harps, and why understanding our eternal work with Christ unlocks joy and freedom in business right now.Key Topics:Half-truths about heaven that rob entrepreneurs of purpose and hopeWhy "matter doesn't matter" is terrible theology (and worse business philosophy)The new earth: God's promise to make earth our perfect and permanent homeHow work in eternity transforms how we work todayFinding freedom from hurry by understanding eternity is "now in session"The "someday maybe / new earth" folder: Making peace with unfinished symphoniesWhy Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21-22 should excite every entrepreneurNotable Quotes:"Most Christian entrepreneurs I know are not excited about ideas of harps and clouds, which frankly scares the crap out of most people, Christians included." - Jordan Raynor"If our ultimate reality is working with King Jesus on earth, guess what? Eternity is now in session." - Jordan Raynor"Most Christians I know have spent more time thinking about a single week-long vacation than they have thought about the nature of eternity." - Jordan Raynor

Flipping the Script: How Entrepreneurs Can Rewire Their Mental SoundtrackJoin host Justin Forman for an intimate conversation with bestselling author and entrepreneur Jon Acuff in his Nashville home office. Surrounded by international editions of his books and personal reminders of his journey, Jon shares hard-won wisdom about the mental battles every entrepreneur faces—and how to win them.This episode dives deep into the soundtrack constantly playing in every entrepreneur's mind, exploring practical strategies to retire broken thought patterns and replace them with empowering ones. From his early days with "Stuff Christians Like" to building an 11-book writing career while scaling his business, Jon reveals the mindset shifts that separate successful entrepreneurs from those stuck in cycles of self-doubt.Key Topics:Why entrepreneurs need new levels of fear at new levels of growthThe "CEO of your actions, not outcomes" mindset that changes everythingHow to retire broken soundtracks and build empowering thought patternsThe difference between burnout and boredom in entrepreneurial lifeBuilding sustainable rhythms when transitioning from solopreneur to team leaderCreating practical tools for meaningful family conversations about entrepreneurshipWhy resilience is just giving yourself permission to start againNotable Quotes:"You should always have new levels of fear at new levels of growth. If you tell yourself, 'I've beaten fear forever,' guess what you feel like when you find new levels of fear? You feel like a failure." - Jon Acuff"I'm the CEO of my actions, not the CEO of my outcomes." - Jon Acuff"Great thoughts turn into great actions. Great actions turn into great results." - Jon Acuff

Building Faith-Driven Culture: The Four Human Needs Every Team Member HasJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Stephen Phelan, Chief Spiritual Integration Officer for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, in the iconic red-walled Movement Mortgage offices. Stephen shares practical, proven strategies for creating workplace cultures that truly love and value people—addressing the crisis where 98% of Gen Z feels burned out at work.Drawing from over a decade of experience at Movement Mortgage, Stephen reveals the four fundamental human needs every employee has and how meeting them transforms both culture and business outcomes. From launching "Love Works" benevolence programs to implementing mentoring systems that make disciples, this episode provides actionable steps any business can take, regardless of size.Key Topics:The four fundamental human needs every employee has when they come to workHow to implement "Love Works" programs that create authentic community (from 5-person teams to 57,000 employees like Hobby Lobby)Why mentoring isn't another burden for entrepreneurs—and who should actually lead itBuilding small groups in business that mirror successful church modelsCreating cultures where 91% of stressed Gen Z workers find life and purposeFrom "sneaky Jesus" conversions to baptizing employees: real transformation storiesPractical systems for loving teammates, customers, and communitiesNotable Quotes:"People that are walking through your doors, they have four fundamental human needs. Here's the first one - when they come in, they want to have friends at work." - Stephen Phelan"We all want these relationships at work. And as a follower of Jesus, you want to be able to say yes to Jesus." - Stephen Phelan"Jesus snuck up on me at movement, people just started loving me, and they started living out the things that they believed." - Stephen Phelan (sharing employee testimony)

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with bestselling author and pastor Francis Chan for a profound conversation about the tension between building and being, success and faithfulness, and the danger of running on life's treadmill without stopping to ask why. Speaking from his experiences in Hong Kong's fast-paced culture, Francis shares vulnerable insights about his own journey from mega-church pastor to someone seeking deeper relationship with God.This episode challenges entrepreneurs to examine their motivations, embrace dependence on God, and discover the freedom that comes from living with eternal perspective. Francis opens up about his decision to give away book royalties, the wisdom of Proverbs 30:7-9, and why he believes entrepreneurs have a unique opportunity to live differently and impact others through their choices.Key Topics:Breaking free from the cultural treadmill of endless achievement and busynessWhy Francis wishes he could tell his younger self to focus on the main commands of ScriptureThe danger of coveting in entrepreneurship and how to combat it through eternal perspectiveLearning to be quick to listen, slow to speak in a world that rewards constant talkingHow entrepreneurs can use their success as a platform to live counter-culturallyThe relationship between taking risks of faith and experiencing deeper fellowship with GodWhy Francis asked God not to make him rich and what that prayer teaches usNotable Quotes:"He tells me whether I eat, drink, whatever I do, do it all for the glory of God, and so even now, are the words coming out of my mouth giving glory to him." - Francis Chan"Don't you want to be a person that is known for their love and to be so much like Christ, who didn't consider equality with God something to be held on to." - Francis Chan"You don't want to be lazy with what God's given you, I would just challenge you to go, Hey, once you're on that road to success and it's actually happening, you have an incredible opportunity to live differently." - Francis Chan 

From Sports Anchor to FinTech Pioneer: Building Payment Infrastructure for the Next BillionJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Benjamin Fernandes, founder of Nala and Rafiki, for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, rejection, and revolutionizing cross-border payments. From covering the World Cup as a 21-year-old sports anchor in Tanzania to building infrastructure that serves millions across Africa and Asia, Benjamin's journey is filled with divine appointments, Stanford miracles, and the grit required to solve problems for the next billion customers.This episode explores the massive diaspora remittance market ($129 billion to India alone), the entrepreneurial challenge of building FinTech infrastructure in emerging markets, and why the greatest export from developing nations might just be talent. Benjamin vulnerably shares the power of rejection as fuel, the importance of gratitude, and why sometimes you have to build the bridge for the next 200 entrepreneurs coming after you.Key Topics:The $129 billion remittance market and why diaspora communities are economic powerhousesFrom failing high school to Stanford MBA: A miracle story of divine provisionBuilding payment rails in Africa vs Asia: Infrastructure challenges and opportunitiesWhy 30-35% of Nala customers are entrepreneurs funding businesses back homeThe power of rejection letters as entrepreneurial fuelGoing church to mosque: The gritty early days of customer acquisitionHow migrants enable local economies to thrive in exponential waysNotable Quotes:"There's something that's very powerful when someone tells you you can't do something." - Benjamin Fernandes"With privilege comes responsibility." - Benjamin Fernandes"I don't believe the lowest income region the world should be charged the most amount for fees, for payments." - Benjamin Fernandes

Breaking the Silence: Why Pastors and Entrepreneurs Need Each OtherJoin host Justin Forman for an enlightening conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, leadership expert and former lead pastor, as they tackle one of the most important conversations in the modern church: bridging the gap between pastors and entrepreneurs. From his unique perspective of having served in both pastoral ministry and entrepreneurial ventures, Carey reveals why there's mutual intimidation between these two groups and how churches can unleash the untapped potential of their entrepreneurial members.This episode explores the crisis of community in entrepreneurship, why 50% of retired CEOs die within two years, and how churches possess the "convening power" to create lasting connections. Carey shares practical insights from leading churches that are successfully engaging their business leaders beyond "handing out programs and parking cars."Key Topics:The entrepreneurial isolation crisis: Why there's "no default community" for business leadersMutual intimidation: Why pastors feel inadequate around entrepreneurs and vice versaThe spiritual gift of entrepreneurship: Learning from the Apostle Paul's business modelMoving beyond volunteer tasks to meaningful engagement for high-capacity leadersHow churches can serve as "incubators" for Kingdom-minded business venturesThe difference between "real friends" and "deal friends" in entrepreneurial communitiesPractical steps for pastors to start entrepreneur-focused ministriesNotable Quotes:"I think for entrepreneurs, there's no default community. You're on your own. It's sort of the hero's journey. You start by yourself, that pioneer spirit. Within two years of retiring as a CEO, 50% of CEOs are dead." - Carey Nieuwhof"Pastors are thinking, I don't make a million dollars a year like I haven't got staff and employees like you do. I don't feel like I measure up, and I don't know, I've talked to so many pastors who are like, I know this guy or woman could give $3 million I'm terrified of making the ask." - Carey Nieuwhof"You've got some in your church, and they don't know how to contribute, and they're feeling alone and they're feeling isolated." - Carey Nieuwhof

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Jordan Raynor to explore why most biographies fail to inspire and how reimagining these stories can transform faith-driven entrepreneurs. Through the lens of LEGO's miraculous founding story and innovative AI-powered storytelling, discover how play, perseverance, and proximity to our heroes can reshape how we view our calling in the marketplace.Jordan shares his mission to create "binge-worthy biographies" that compete with Netflix and TikTok for attention, revealing untold stories of mere Christians who weren't pastors but transformed industries. From CS Lewis's scandalous past to Ole Kirk Christiansen's Job-like trials in building LEGO, these stories prove that the same Holy Spirit who empowered history's heroes is at work in today's entrepreneurs.Key Topics:Why traditional biographies are "way too freaking long" and boringThe untold faith story behind LEGO's founding through fires, Nazis, and family tragedyHow AI video technology is revolutionizing storytelling for modern audiencesThe theology of play: Why entrepreneurs need permission to find joy in their workMoving from retreat to redemption: Why entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to engage darknessThe four counterfeit quests that distract from true Kingdom workNotable Quotes:"It wasn't the founder of Lego going to work every day. It was the Holy Spirit in him." - Jordan Raynor"We can play within the business. We can play within the four walls of the mission." - Jordan Raynor"Entrepreneurs every day say, I go into a space talking to people that don't think like me, don't act like me, don't talk to me, don't get me." - Justin Forman

From Pastor to President: Transforming Africa Through Faith-Driven InvestmentJoin host Justin Forman from a stunning lakeside location in Malawi as he sits down with President Lazarus Chakwera, one of the rare world leaders who transitioned from pastoral ministry to the presidency. In this remarkable conversation, President Chakwera shares his extraordinary journey from leading the Assemblies of God for over 30 years to answering God's call to "pastor the nation."This episode explores the critical shift happening across Africa—from aid dependence to investment partnerships—and reveals why Malawi's vision for becoming an "inclusively wealthy, self-reliant economy" represents a blueprint for continental transformation. President Chakwera offers profound insights on how faith-driven investors can partner with African nations to create lasting impact while maintaining dignity and mutual respect.Key Topics:The miraculous journey from 30+ years of pastoral ministry to the presidencyWhy Africa is shifting from aid to investment—and why this matters globallyMalawi's ATM strategy: Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining as pathways to prosperityHow faith-driven investors can avoid exploitation and build trust-based partnershipsThe power of synergy: When pastors, entrepreneurs, and government leaders uniteNotable Quotes:"I didn't leave ministry. This is ministry." - President Chakwera"You cannot reap without sowing... we can prosper together, just like God can prosper everyone without him running out of stuff." - President Chakwera"Investing for me is using what God has given me in order that I might be a blessing to other people." - President Chakwera

Navigating Pandemonium: How Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs Can Rebuild Trust in a Broken WorldJoin host Justin Forman for a compelling conversation with Andy Crouch, bestselling author and senior fellow at Praxis, about the cultural moment we find ourselves in—one he describes as "pandemonium." In this thought-provoking episode, Andy unpacks why institutional trust has collapsed, what it means for entrepreneurs, and how the church's calling to serve offers a pathway forward.Drawing from his deep understanding of cultural dynamics and three-generation rebuilding cycles, Andy reveals why small businesses and the military are the only institutions maintaining trust above 50%—and what that means for Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs navigating uncertain times.Key Topics:Why our current moment is best described as "pandemonium" rather than chaosThe collapse of prestige hierarchies and rise of dominance-based leadershipHow COVID accelerated institutional trust erosion that was decades in the makingThe three-generation cycle of cultural rebuilding (lessons from Genesis)Why small businesses maintain high trust levels while other institutions failJesus's radical alternative to both dominance and prestige hierarchiesPractical strategies for lean, mission-focused entrepreneurship in uncertain timesNotable Quotes:"Institutionalism is when the actual mission of the institution becomes less important than just protecting the institution itself. You go off mission, and your mission becomes just protect our thing." - Andy Crouch"In the kingdom of God, anyone can be great because anyone can serve." - Andy Crouch (quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)"If you aim for community, sometimes you get community, but rarely do, but if you aim for mission, oftentimes community is just a natural byproduct, and you're probably gonna get mission too." - Justin FormanAndy Crouch is a bestselling author, cultural commentator, and senior fellow at Praxis. His books include "Culture Making," "Strong and Weak," and "The Tech-Wise Family." He brings decades of experience analyzing cultural shifts and helping leaders navigate complex societal changes with wisdom and faith.

Join host Justin Forman for a crucial conversation with Dave Blanchard, CEO of Praxis, as they pause to reflect on where the faith-driven entrepreneurship movement stands today. In a year marked by uncertainty and rapid change, Dave shares insights from Praxis's annual letter, exploring how entrepreneurs can navigate challenges while staying true to their calling.This episode dives deep into the "moral ecology" that defines authentic faith-driven entrepreneurship - moving beyond buzzwords to examine what it truly means to build redemptively in today's marketplace. From practicing what we preach to embracing meaningful risk, Dave and Justin unpack the essential code that separates genuine Kingdom builders from those merely using faith as a marketing tool.Key Topics:The moral ecology of faith-driven entrepreneurship: 8 core principlesWhy "practicing what you preach" is the foundation of authentic leadershipThe three types of risk every entrepreneur must consider: money, comfort, and reputationHow to maintain Kingdom identity while building in the marketplaceThe difference between driven leaders and called leadersWhy people are eternal and projects are temporalNavigating the shift from faith being risky to mention to potentially exploiting itBuilding businesses that demonstrate redemptive practices, not just talk about themNotable Quotes:"People are eternal and projects are temporal. So how do we operationalize that?" - Dave Blanchard"Culture is not codified until someone loses their job because they violated it." - Dave Blanchard"There's a chance anytime the door opens up for us that we say, 'Oh, man, we felt exploited for so long by not being able to say this.'" - Dave Blanchard"When you find yourself exploding at a situation, something's gone haywire with your need for an outcome, your desire for control." - Dave Blanchard

When Church Meets Business: Unlocking the Power of PartnershipJoin host Justin Forman as he reunites with Mark Grunden, who brings a unique perspective from both the business world and pastoral ministry. Their unexpected connection at the DMZ in South Korea leads to a compelling conversation about why society trusts entrepreneurs twice as much as pastors—and how this presents an unprecedented opportunity for Kingdom impact.Drawing from groundbreaking research with Barna Group, this episode reveals how 70% of entrepreneurs believe that when churches and business leaders partner together, they can solve the world's greatest problems. Mark shares practical insights from his journey through missions, entrepreneurship, and ministry at Saddleback Church, offering a roadmap for churches ready to empower their entrepreneurial members.Key Topics:Why society respects entrepreneurs 2x more than pastors (and why that's an opportunity, not a threat)The faith and work movement goes mainstream: Insights from Lausanne 2024How Saddleback Church pioneered faith and work ministry since the 1990sBreaking the "parking jacket and coffee" ministry trap for high-capacity leadersWhy entrepreneurs are the natural first step for churches entering faith and workBuilding sustainable church networks that empower business leadersPractical tools: Foundation Groups and annual conferences that transform communitiesNotable Quotes:"Society at large, they respect entrepreneurs two times more than pastors of the community." - Mark Grunden"The way that we're gonna make a positive contribution or impact in the communities that our churches sit within, is really by empowering the entrepreneurs, business leaders of our communities and of our congregations to take that front row leadership voice." - Mark Grunden"Nearly seven out of 10 entrepreneurs believe that when the church and when business leaders and entrepreneurs kind of come together that man, there's a really good chance of solving some of the big problems of the world." - Justin Forman

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Sadiq Edu, co-founder of Pika, in Lagos, Nigeria, for an extraordinary conversation about faith transformation, entrepreneurial courage, and the power of data to lift nations. Sadiq shares his remarkable journey from being the grandson of a Sultan to encountering Christ through a series of miraculous events, including being baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.This episode explores how God works through business to address both spiritual and financial poverty, the challenges of building a fintech startup in Africa's informal economy, and the importance of staying true to your calling even when it costs everything.Key Topics:The miraculous conversion story: From Islamic royalty to follower of ChristBeing baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury after a divine appointmentBuilding Pika: Transforming Africa's $1 trillion informal retail sector through dataWhy you can't address spiritual poverty without addressing financial povertyThe cost of faith: Navigating family rejection while honoring God and spouseFrom Techstars rejection to acceptance: Trusting God's timing in businessHow bookkeeping apps can unlock credit, insurance, and economic development for 40 million tradersNotable Quotes:"You don't have the license to speak on someone's spiritual poverty until you've addressed their financial poverty." - Sadiq Edu"Entrepreneurship is pulling back all the noise to see what's true - whether in faith or business." - Justin Forman"If we lost everything tomorrow, doesn't matter. We know that the most important thing we have is Jesus." - Sadiq Edu