IBAM- International Business As Mission Biblical Entrepreneurship

What if the most important business strategy you need isn't found in the latest marketing advice, coaching program, or AI tool, but begins with seeking God's direction? In this Kingdom Impact Summit conversation, host Tom Carter welcomes Nadine Mullings, CEO and Partner of She Elevates Media, for an inspiring discussion about faith, entrepreneurship, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide business decisions. After more than 15 years in corporate America, Nadine faced an unexpected turning point when her position was eliminated in 2012. She chose to use her severance package as seed money to launch a marketing agency. What began as a professional transition gradually became a deeper journey of integrating her Christian faith into her business. Today, Nadine helps women of faith amplify their authority through books, podcasts, and summits. But her approach begins with one important principle: Be Spirit-led, not just expert-led. Nadine shares her daily business meetings with God, walks through the practical PRAYED Method, and explains why journaling, prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit matter in business. She also shares client experiences, including one woman who described activating her faith and another who reportedly reached $10,000 a month through Spirit-led business activities. Drawing from Matthew 7:7, Nadine challenges listeners to ask, seek, and knock, combining spiritual guidance with meaningful action. Whether you're building a business or navigating a new season of entrepreneurship, this conversation encourages you to seek God first and take faithful action. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Steve Adams Interview 01:03 Nadine Mullings Insights 03:18 Faith and Business Journey 13:11 Spirit-Led Strategy 19:54 Final Nuggets 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/MgIjDJExQjg 🌍 Join the mission here- www.thirdfish.org Five Key Takeaways 01 Be Spirit-led, not just expert-led. Before turning to business coaches, marketing experts, or AI tools, Nadine encourages Christian entrepreneurs to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. External resources can be helpful, but she believes spiritual direction should come first. 02 Make time for a daily business meeting with God. Nadine uses journaling and the PRAYED Method: Praise, Review and Reflect, Ask, Yield, Engage in Scripture, and Declare. This creates intentional time to seek direction before beginning her workday. 03 Entrepreneurship is a faith journey. After losing her corporate position, Nadine used her severance package to begin her entrepreneurial journey. Over time, she learned to share her faith openly through her business rather than keeping her professional and spiritual lives separate. 04 Spiritual growth can shape how entrepreneurs show up in business. Nadine shares two client experiences: one woman described activating her faith through daily spiritual practices, while another reportedly reached $10,000 in monthly business revenue after acting on what she described as spiritual downloads. 05 Faith requires action: Ask, Seek, Knock. Drawing from Matthew 7:7, Nadine encourages business owners to ask God for direction, seek the right people and resources, and take practical action through activities such as sales calls, client follow-ups, and requesting help when needed.

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your calling isn't a lack of opportunity, but the decision to finally begin? In this episode of the IBAM Podcast, host Tom Carter welcomes Sebastian Uzcategui, founder of Stocks University, for an inspiring conversation about faith, financial education, entrepreneurship, and finding freedom through purpose-driven work. Growing up as an only-child immigrant in the United States, Sebastian watched his family endure exhausting 12-hour shifts while searching for the American dream. Those experiences motivated him to explore investing and entrepreneurship as pathways toward financial independence. Today, Sebastian shares how he's using financial education to help others, including Christian students and church leaders, pursue greater financial stability. He explains how his investing work has helped support churches and mission trips, and why he believes wealth means far more than money. The conversation also explores the challenges Sebastian faced while building his business. Drawing from Proverbs 10:22, he shares how putting his faith, voice, and business purpose first led to an unexpected turning point in his entrepreneurial journey. And his greatest lesson? Just start. Whether you're considering a new business, seeking financial independence, or learning to live your faith more boldly, Sebastian's story offers encouragement to take that first step. 3. Five Key Takeaways 01 Financial education can help break cycles of struggle. Sebastian believes a lack of financial knowledge contributes to ongoing financial instability. His approach prioritizes education and helping students see results before charging for his services. 02 Business success can support Kingdom work. Sebastian describes how investing has enabled him to generate funds for church leaders, churches, and mission trips, connecting financial progress with his desire to serve others. 03 Wealth is about more than money. Reflecting on Proverbs 10:22, Sebastian describes wealth in terms of freedom, prosperity, family, and relief from the struggle of simply surviving. 04 Putting faith and purpose first can change how you approach business. Sebastian recounts how embracing public speaking, Christian values, and the purpose behind his business preceded a fourfold increase in his business. 05 Don't let perfectionism keep you from starting. Sebastian's most memorable advice comes from a question he heard at 18: "At what point is procrastination, disobedience?" His answer is simple: start, accept that you'll stumble, and learn as you go. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/h6HZxEd4WJs 🌍 Join the mission here- www.thirdfish.org

What if your business could do more than generate sales? What if it could transform lives and advance God's Kingdom? In this episode of the Kingdom Impact Summit Podcast, host Tom Carter welcomes Christopher Harold, founder of God's Masterpiece and the self-proclaimed Kingdom Marketing Superman, for a conversation about building a business with God instead of simply working for Him. With more than 20 years of digital marketing experience, Christopher shares how personal struggles, burnout, and a season of spiritual realignment changed his approach to business. His defining revelation? Moving from sales funnels to soul funnels—shifting the focus from chasing income, influence, and conversions to creating meaningful transformation and making disciples in the marketplace. Christopher walks through his five-stage Soul Funnel framework: Attract, Engage, Convert, Transform, and Multiply. He explains how Christian coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs can grow their businesses while honoring biblical principles and fulfilling their God-given assignments. The conversation also gets deeply personal as Christopher shares how business success and failure affected his identity, why he had to learn to separate his worth from his results, and how keeping God first transformed his perspective. He closes with three principles for Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs: Alignment, Identity, and Assignment. Whether you're growing a business, navigating challenges, or searching for deeper purpose in your work, this conversation offers encouragement to pursue impact beyond income. Five Key Takeaways 1. Move from sales funnels to soul funnels. Business isn't only about making sales. Christopher challenges Christian entrepreneurs to use their marketing, offers, and services to make disciples and create Kingdom impact. 2. Build through the five stages of a Soul Funnel. Attract with authority and anointing, engage through Spirit-led messaging, convert with God-honoring offers, transform through meaningful outcomes, and multiply through systems and processes. 3. Don't let business results determine your identity. Christopher shares how his struggles taught him that God's love doesn't increase with business success or decrease with failure. Identity must be grounded in Christ, not income. 4. Prioritize alignment, identity, and assignment. Christopher's three guiding principles encourage believers to seek God's Kingdom first, understand who they are in Christ, and faithfully fulfill their calling in the marketplace. 5. Recognize your business as an opportunity for ministry. Christopher explains that Zoom meetings, social media platforms, and everyday business relationships can become opportunities to demonstrate biblical principles and reach people beyond the walls of a church. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/MLvziKI8HAs 🌍 Join the mission here- www.thirdfish.org

What if growing your business didn't require more hustle, more followers, or more time spent on social media? In this inspiring Kingdom Impact session, Gabe Cox, goal planning and business strategist, host of the Pursuing Goals, God's Way podcast, and founder of the Red Hot Accountability Club, challenges faith-driven entrepreneurs to rethink what success really means. In January 2023, Gabe stepped away from social media for both business and personal life. Just one month later, her podcast grew by 400%. But she doesn't credit a clever marketing strategy. She points to obedience, renewed focus, and following God's direction. Drawing from Romans 12:2, Gabe explains why Kingdom success isn't measured by likes, followers, or endless activity. Instead, it's about meaningful relationships, lives changed, and fruit that lasts. You'll discover how to redefine ROI through God's lens, including the importance of return on time invested (ROTI). Gabe also shares practical ways to build influence through collaborations, referrals, and long-form content without depending on social media algorithms. She explains why focusing on one platform, one offer, and the next right step can produce more meaningful progress than trying to do everything at once. If you've been feeling stretched thin by constant posting, endless to-do lists, or the pressure to be everywhere, this conversation offers encouragement and practical direction. The takeaway? Kingdom impact doesn't come from doing more. It comes from obeying what God has already placed in front of you. 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Redefining ROI 05:11 Practical Strategies 09:18 Long Form Content 11:59 Focus and Obedience 15:20 Next Steps Five Key Podcast Takeaways 1. Redefine ROI Through God's Lens Kingdom success isn't just about dollars, followers, or reach. Gabe challenges entrepreneurs to measure meaningful conversations, lives changed, testimonies, referrals, and lasting fruit. She also introduces ROTI: return on time invested. 2. Obedience Matters More Than Hustle After leaving social media in January 2023, Gabe experienced 400% podcast growth in one month. She attributes the experience to following God's direction and being able to focus on what mattered most, rather than simply quitting social media. 3. Build Influence Through Relationships, Not Algorithms Genuine collaborations, warm introductions, referrals, and excellent service can create meaningful business opportunities. Gabe encourages entrepreneurs to identify 10 potential collaborators and look for ways to serve each other's audiences. 4. Choose One Platform and Create Content That Lasts Podcasts, blogs, and YouTube videos can continue serving audiences long after publication. Rather than spreading yourself across every platform, Gabe recommends choosing one primary channel, remaining consistent, and repurposing content intentionally. 5. Steward Your Time and Focus on the Next Right Step Busyness isn't the same as fruitfulness. Gabe recommends starting the week with prayer, reviewing how time was spent, creating a stop-doing list, batching work, and selecting one priority to pursue over the next 90 days. Recommended podcast positioning: Lead with the tension between business growth and social media exhaustion. Use Gabe's personal story to capture interest, then emphasize the deeper message: obedience, meaningful relationships, focused stewardship, and eternal Kingdom impact. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/9w0K0m_hR5Y 🌍 Join the mission here- www.thirdfish.org

What happens when your business is growing, but you begin asking a deeper question: “Lord, who do you want me to serve?” In this conversation, Tom Carter sits down with Garrett Maroon , founder of Two 10 Realty Group and The Faithful Agent, to talk about what it looks like to live out Christian faith honestly and openly in business. Garrett shares how he entered real estate in 2014, went five and a half months without selling a house, nearly quit several times, and eventually built a thriving business. But his story became about much more than professional success. After losing his mother in 2022, Garrett began seriously questioning what God wanted him to do with his work. That journey led to The Faithful Agent, a community and podcast serving Christians in real estate. Garrett discusses why faith cannot simply be turned on and off depending on the room, why Christian professionals need community and accountability, and why profitability should not automatically be confused with faithfulness. He also challenges the traditional business scoreboard of income, sales, and recognition. Instead, he encourages leaders to consider the legacy they are building through their faith, marriages, families, and the way they steward their work. This conversation is an honest look at humility, leadership, discipleship, and what it means to keep the gospel at the center while building a business. 00:11 Introduction 01:05 Garrett's Background 02:55 Defining Ministry Moments 06:00 Impact on Agents 07:00 Overcoming Challenges 10:37 Personal Growth 18:12 Concluding Reflections 5 Key Takeaways 1. Your faith should not be something you take on and off. Garrett describes his faith as inseparable from who he is. When asked not to discuss Christianity during a podcast appearance, he explained that his faith was not a “backpack” he could simply remove depending on the environment. 2. The most profitable decision is not always the most faithful decision. Garrett challenges Christian business owners to stop assuming that the decision producing the most money must automatically be the right decision. Instead, he encourages them to ask what faithfulness requires. 3. Success needs a different scoreboard. Money, transactions, and professional statistics can easily become the primary measurement of success. Garrett encourages leaders to think about what they want their lives and legacy to represent beyond business performance. 4. Community should include accountability. Garrett believes Christian business leaders need people who are willing to speak honestly into their lives. His community is designed not only to encourage believers, but also to challenge them when their priorities begin moving in the wrong direction. 5. Business can shape the person building it. Garrett describes entrepreneurship as a humbling experience that has exposed his own pride and continually challenged him to keep the gospel central. Building the business has also become part of his own spiritual growth. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/yl5rNKfNgMs Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What happens when building a business becomes less about forcing your own plan and more about surrendering to God’s direction? In this Kingdom Impact Summit conversation, business strategist Buki Ekeowa shares the journey that took her from working in the City of London to entrepreneurship, property, YouTube, coaching, and helping women grow businesses online. Her path was not a straight line. After leaving her job in response to what she believed God was telling her, Buki experienced seasons of success, setbacks, experimentation, and plenty of questions. Eventually, she reached a place of surrender: “Not my will, but yours be done.” That posture changed the direction of her business. Buki shares how she felt led to start a YouTube channel even though being on camera did not come naturally. By simply sharing what she had learned, new opportunities began to open. Steve and Buki also explore what Kingdom impact can look like through ordinary business. It is not only about openly presenting the Gospel. It can mean serving people well, solving real problems, working with excellence, building trust, and allowing transformation to be demonstrated through the way you show up. Buki also introduces the O-I-L framework connected to her book Beyond Abundance: offering yourself in surrender, imagination with God, and launching out with your gifts. This conversation is an invitation to stop hiding what God has given you, stay open to His direction, and let your business become a place of service, excellence, and Kingdom impact. 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Meet Buki Ecoa 02:21 Finding Purpose 03:35 The Journey Begins 06:14 Uncovering Framework 09:13 A Leap of Faith 11:09 Surrender to God 15:42 Business Excellence 24:42 Faith and Work 26:45 A Personal Touch 30:13 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Surrender can change the direction of your business. Buki describes surrender as the posture of saying, “Not my way, Lord, but yours,” while remaining open to new directions, ideas, and actions. 2. Stop assuming God’s direction will look like your plan. Buki resisted starting YouTube because it did not seem like an obvious path to building a business. Yet sharing what she had learned eventually opened the door to coaching. 3. Kingdom impact happens through service. A business does not have to be overtly Christian in every interaction to serve people for Christ. Buki emphasizes solving problems, helping people, and showing up with a posture of service. 4. Excellence builds bridges. The conversation highlights how doing excellent work can build trust, create conversations, and open opportunities to share how God has worked in your life. 5. Use the “oil” God has already given you. Buki connects the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4:1–7 with the gifts and expertise God has placed in people. Her encouragement is to recognize those gifts, stop hiding them, and launch out with them. Buki explicitly describes surrender as being open to God’s direction, letting go when needed, embracing new ideas, and acting boldly despite discomfort. Her YouTube story and its connection to coaching appear earlier in the conversation. The service, excellence, and Kingdom-business discussion comes from the later portion of the interview. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/Y5v2OceCoYw Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What does it take to go from being the world’s best-kept secret to becoming an influential trusted authority? In this episode, Ann Marie Cross shares how coaches, consultants, and multi-passionate entrepreneurs can clarify what makes them unique, uncopyable, and unforgettable—and position themselves as the choice versus just a choice for their ideal clients. At the center of the conversation is a simple formula: Clarity + Consistency + Time = Momentum. Ann Marie explains why clarity must come first, including clarity around your ideal client, your message, your positioning, and the expertise you want to become known for. She also unpacks the five pillars of her Core Business Foundations: your lucrative niche, signature brand, signature system, signature programs, and digital asset. Drawing from her own business journey—including what she describes as her worst business failure and the podcast that unexpectedly generated two four-figure clients—Ann Marie shows how challenges, milestones, and lived experience can become part of your unique message. You’ll also hear how to create an umbrella statement, identify three core themes, develop focused content topics, find your “tip of the spear,” and use a digital asset such as a self-evaluation or quiz to help potential clients identify their gaps. If your expertise is broad but your message feels unclear, this episode offers a practical way to bring greater focus to your brand, message, and visibility. ▶️ Watch the full long-form video: https://youtu.be/W3jtZlyI5g4 🌍 IBAM: Join the mission: www.ibam.org 5 Key Takeaways 1. Clarity + Consistency + Time = Momentum. All three matter, but Ann Marie emphasizes that clarity is the starting point. 2. Your message needs focus . Becoming an influential trusted authority requires consistency not only in how often you communicate, but in what you consistently become known for. 3. Build the foundations before relying on more marketing . The five Core Business Foundations discussed are your lucrative niche, signature brand, signature system, signature programs, and digital asset. 4. Find your “tip of the spear.” One specific area of expertise can become the conversation starter that helps you cut through the noise and connect with what your ideal client is already struggling with. 5. Your story can strengthen your authority. Significant challenges, markers, milestones, and results can form an “invisible thread” that validates the methodologies and steps you now teach others.

Can you build a purpose-driven business without returning to hustle, grind and exhausting work hours? In this episode, Kingdom business coach Gail Root shares what she has learned about entrepreneurship, calling and Kingdom impact in the second half of life. Gail reflects on her own entrepreneurial journey and the realization that, although she was a believer, she once viewed her business ambitions as something unworthy of God’s attention. That changed when she felt called to coach Christian women and began approaching business as a partnership with God. She explains three important shifts she helps women make: releasing the hustle, reclaiming their calling and building systems that create greater rhythm and flow. The conversation also explores stewardship. Gail discusses money, time, social media, automation and AI as tools that can be used for good when they remain in their proper place and are governed intentionally. She also shares how Kingdom principles can reshape marketing and sales. Marketing becomes less about amplifying yourself and more about helping the people you are called to serve hear you. Sales becomes an invitation rather than something pushy, spammy or driven by anxiety over the outcome. Throughout the conversation, Gail returns to the importance of seeking God first, working from rest, staying connected through fellowship and allowing purpose, peace and joy to coexist with meaningful marketplace impact. 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Second Half Life 03:23 Purpose Driven 05:11 Biblical Insights 08:38 Empowering Tools 18:17 Sales Approach 20:57 Kingdom Principles 22:00 Global Mission 5 Key Takeaways 1. Release the hustle. A successful, purpose-driven business does not have to require constant hustle and grind. Gail encourages women in the second half of life to embrace a different rhythm that allows room for peace, joy, family, travel and meaningful work. 2. Reclaim your calling. Experience matters. Gail describes the second half of life as a season in which wisdom, clarity and what a person has already walked through can equip them to serve others through their calling. 3. Build systems that create rhythm and flow. Systems can help create greater freedom. Gail especially highlights automation as a tool that can save time and allow entrepreneurs to spend more time with people instead of behind screens. 4. Steward the tools you have been given. Money, time, social media, automation and AI are all discussed as tools. Rather than fearing or demonizing them, Gail encourages intentional self-governance and using them for good while keeping God first. 5. Shift the way you see marketing and sales. Marketing does not have to be about self-promotion. It can help the people you are called to serve see and hear you. And sales, Gail says, is simply an invitation—one that builds through relationship while leaving the outcome with God. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/Q8kfr-4T47E Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

Can business success and wholehearted faith really belong together? In this episode, Tom Carter talks with entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, and King’s Council founder Rylee Meek about his journey from pursuing financial success to building businesses from a biblical worldview. Rylee shares how, by 2019, he had reached what felt like the financial pinnacle of his companies while feeling spiritually bankrupt and deeply unfulfilled. That season forced him to wrestle with a question that had followed him for years: Could he be successful and still be a good Christian? His search took him back to Scripture, including Joshua 1:8, and ultimately helped shape the King’s Council, a ministry focused on discipling entrepreneurs through a biblical framework. Rylee also walks through the business framework he sees in the Genesis creation account—from vision and atmosphere to structure, order, momentum, multiplication, dominion, and Sabbath. He explains how entrepreneurs can use that framework to identify where their businesses may be out of alignment. The conversation also explores fear, indecision, wise counsel, and the difference between constantly asking God for clarity and having faith to take the next step. As Rylee puts it, “God blesses our footprints, not our butt prints.” If you are an entrepreneur, business leader, or someone considering stepping into business, this conversation offers a challenging look at what it means to pursue excellence, steward your gifts, and bring Kingdom culture into your work. 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Riley Meek's Journey 05:38 Discovering Purpose 09:58 Impactful Business 13:05 Framework for Success 22:00 Practical Advice 24:15 King's Council 26:07 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Financial success does not automatically produce fulfillment. Rylee describes reaching a financial high point in 2019 while feeling spiritually bankrupt and asking whether that was really what life was about. 2. Scripture can shape the way entrepreneurs build. Rylee says studying Joshua 1:8 and the Bible for himself changed how he viewed success, business, and stewardship. 3. Genesis provides a framework Rylee applies to business. He connects creation with vision, atmosphere, structure, order, momentum, multiplication and dominion, and Sabbath. 4. Fear can keep entrepreneurs trapped in indecision. Rylee encourages seeking counsel and wisdom while refusing to stay stuck on what he calls “the fence of indecision.” 5. Faith does not always come with complete clarity. Rylee explains that his prayer shifted from asking God for constant clarity to asking for faith to move in a direction while trusting God with the outcome. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/gNSrYDGGn5I Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What happens when faith stops being something you practice only on Sunday and becomes part of how you lead, work, and serve every day? In this episode, Tom Carter speaks with Michelle Schaffer, founder of Kingdom Alliance, author, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur, about bringing Christ boldly into the marketplace and using business as an opportunity for discipleship. Michelle shares her journey from keeping her faith relatively quiet in her early career to building a faith-centered community focused on personal development, professional growth, leadership, and discipleship. She explains why she believes business can reach people who may never walk into a church or attend a Bible study—and why the way believers lead can give others an opportunity to encounter Christ. Michelle also opens up about the structure behind her academies, including studying Scripture, weekly activations, accountability, engagement, biblical affirmations, and putting what participants learn into action. She shares the remarkable transformation of one reluctant participant whose life changed through the discipleship experience. The conversation also explores Kingdom identity, leadership modeled after Jesus, pursuing wisdom and excellence, overcoming complacency, and using your voice in a way that encourages others to use theirs. For Michelle, the goal isn't simply to create people who receive information. It's to develop people who activate what they learn—and ultimately become disciples who raise up disciples. 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Meet Michelle Schaefer 02:27 Michelle's Story 11:58 Discipleship Success 19:48 Michelle's Books 22:51 Practical Tips 26:52 Global Impact 30:16 Conclusion Five Key Takeaways 1. Business can become an opportunity for discipleship. Michelle believes people who may never enter a church or Bible study may still interact with believers through business—and can encounter Christ through those relationships. 2. Faith is meant to move from information to action. Her discipleship approach combines studying Scripture with activations, accountability, engagement, workbooks, and biblical affirmations. 3. Leadership should point back to Jesus. Michelle says everything in her programs models the leadership of Jesus and continually turns participants back to the Word of God. 4. Kingdom identity can influence every area of life. She describes seeing participants change careers, start businesses and ministries, improve relationships, increase income, and reconsider where God was calling them to focus. 5. Believers should resist complacency. Michelle encourages Christian business leaders to keep learning, pursue wisdom and excellence, actively pursue Christ, find a community that pushes them forward, and live their faith beyond simply showing up at church. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/1YUF-UwIZEw Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What happens when following God means walking away from everything familiar and starting again with almost nothing? In this episode, Steve Adams sits down with author, redemption speaker, and transformational storyteller Selvin Hicks to hear a remarkable story of adversity, faith, business, and purpose. Selvin shares openly about being arrested 19 times, carrying 12 felonies and five misdemeanors, and spending much of his twenties working in the secular entertainment industry. Then his life began to change. After stepping away from his businesses and spending months seeking God, Selvin felt led to leave Atlanta and move to Tampa—with just $199 to his name . Now, while rebuilding his life and business, Selvin is serving people experiencing homelessness through food and clothing campaigns and using his entrepreneurial work to support that mission. Steve and Selvin explore how business can disciple us, why difficult seasons can break pride and deepen faith, and how adversity can help remove the masks that keep us from living authentically. Selvin also explains the principles behind discovering your true North Star , removing the mask, and aligning purpose with action. For entrepreneurs walking through uncertainty, Selvin leaves one clear encouragement: pray your way through it . Keep God at the center when you make the plan, when you launch, and when the hard seasons arrive. 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Inspiring Stories 01:11 Selvin Hicks' Journey 03:22 Personal Transformation 06:27 Finding Purpose 14:11 Challenges and Faith 24:01 Coaching and Guidance 27:23 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways Adversity can become preparation for purpose. Selvin views much of what he experienced earlier in life as preparation for what he is walking into now. Business can disciple you. Selvin says the harshness he experienced in business created a longing for something more and ultimately pointed him toward God. Removing the mask is part of discovering your calling. Selvin explains that you have to move beyond the facade and become honest about who you actually are before identifying your true North Star. Knowing where you are going changes everyday decisions. A clear guiding direction makes it easier to determine whether individual choices align with the person you are striving to become. Prayer belongs at every stage of entrepreneurship. Selvin encourages believers to pray before making plans, while building their businesses, and throughout difficult seasons—not merely after trouble arrives. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/9eSDwqWrM5E Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What if the way you run your business could create opportunities for conversations that go far beyond business? In this episode, Tom Carter speaks with Scott Beebe, founder and head coach of Business on Purpose , about building businesses around biblical principles while helping owners move from chaos toward greater clarity and purpose. Scott shares the four foundational areas his team focuses on with business owners: purpose, people, process, and profit . He explains why these four areas can either become cornerstones of a healthy business or sources of pain when they are neglected. One of Scott's central ideas is simple: “ Your process is your product. ” Products can look similar from one company to another, but the process through which they are delivered can become a meaningful differentiator. The conversation also explores vision, mission, unique core values, the difference between principle-based and strategy-based leadership, and Scott's own journey through seminary, sales, pastoral ministry, nonprofit work in Nigeria, and eventually business coaching. Scott also shares a powerful story of a successful business owner who admitted, “I've got everything I've ever wanted and I could not be more unsatisfied.” Years of excellent coaching created the trust that opened the door to a deeper conversation about Jesus. You'll also hear Scott's perspective on profit, generosity, scaling a coaching business, the challenges of people and money, spiritual disciplines, and removing technological distractions so leaders can make space for quietness and walking with Jesus. 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Kingdom Impact 01:36 Guest Scott Beebe 04:18 Empowering Businesses 06:00 Business Story 08:46 Business & Faith 13:06 Core Values 24:54 Distraction & Focus 26:08 Get in Touch 27:32 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Your process can become your differentiator. Scott argues that in many businesses the product itself may be a commodity. What differentiates the business is the process through which that product or service is delivered. 2. Purpose, people, process, and profit are foundational. Scott describes these as the “four Ps.” They can function as foundational cornerstones—or become four areas of pain when they are not intentionally developed. 3. Build from enduring principles, not only changing strategies. Strategies can change as circumstances and innovation change. Scott emphasizes grounding business leadership in principles drawn from God's Word. 4. Excellent work can earn the opportunity for deeper conversations. Scott's story about one of his team's clients illustrates how years of being a “world class coach” created enough trust for a two-hour conversation about the gospel. 5. Faith and business cannot be completely separated. Scott says life and business “necessarily intersect.” What happens at home follows us into work, and what happens at work follows us home—making spiritual disciplines, quietness, and time with God's Word especially important. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/wRvBbiXwS-0 Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What if the story you have been holding back is exactly what someone else needs to hear? In this episode, Devin Shubert shares how an unexpected experience involving Willie Robertson became a powerful confirmation of his calling, his approach to influence, and the reason he believes entrepreneurs need to stop hiding their stories. Devin introduces the SOS Method: Social Media, Opportunities, and Stages —a simple approach to becoming more visible, building meaningful relationships, and getting your message in front of more people. For social media, he breaks the strategy down even further with the ABCs: Attention, Beliefs, and Call to Action. Get people’s attention. Be bold enough to shift beliefs. Then clearly tell people what to do next. But influence is not only about attracting customers. Devin explains why people who never buy from you can still become dedicated followers, advocates, referral partners, collaborators, and connections who open unexpected doors. His challenge is to prioritize relationships over busy work and recognize the opportunities already around you. He also shares what entrepreneurs need when they want to take their message to bigger stages, including a clear niche, a signature framework or talk, a place of influence, and speaker or media materials. The episode closes with Devin’s deeply personal story of nearly losing his life, the moment he believes Jesus told him he still had a story to tell, and the mission that followed. His challenge is simple: Stop hiding. Start sharing. Don’t take your story to the grave with you. 00:00 Welcome & Introduction 01:15 Inspiration & Achievement 04:14 Adoption Story 09:30 SOS Method 17:13 Power of Story 26:29 Voice & Influence 35:21 Legacy & Mission 36:11 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Your Presence Online Should Match Your Calling Offline Social media is a place to intentionally share your message, story, and business. Devin challenges listeners to stop posting simply for likes and start posting for legacy. 2. Use the ABCs of Social Media Devin’s framework is simple: A — Attention: Give people a reason to stop and notice you. B — Beliefs: Be bold enough to shift what people believe. C — Call to Action: Give people a clear next step. 3. You Don’t Need More Followers—You Need the Right Relationships Not everyone who connects with you will become a customer. They may instead become an advocate, referral partner, collaborator, supporter, or someone who introduces you to another opportunity. 4. Take Your Story to Stages Stages can include podcasts, summits, panels, virtual stages, and physical stages. Devin encourages people to prepare their message so they are ready when opportunities appear. 5. Your Story Is Not Just About You Devin’s closing message is that your story can meet someone else’s need. His challenge is to stop hiding what you have lived through and start sharing it with the people who need to hear it. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/52C23g5HT4A Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

Is building wealth compatible with faithful Christian living? In this episode, David and Jason Benham explore what the Bible says about wealth, work, multiplication, and Kingdom impact. They explain that wealth is not the problem. The deeper issue is our motivation for gaining it and our intention for using it. Drawing from Scripture, they outline three biblical aspects of wealth: the reason, the requirement, and the reward. The reason is to provide for family and future generations while promoting God’s Kingdom agenda. The requirement is faithfulness, which they describe as multiplication. The reward is income, inheritance, and influence. The brothers also challenge the divide between sacred and secular work. They share how they came to understand that believers in the workplace are ministers right where they are, are already on mission, and can view their work as worship. Using the image of a bucket and a river, they distinguish riches from wealth and explain why they pursued both business growth and investment income. They also recount the loss of their HGTV show and the moment they realized a promised platform had become more important than the One who gave it. Through business success, public opposition, fear, repentance, and renewed courage, their message remains clear: believers were made for impact. Income is not the final goal. It is a resource that can be leveraged to provide, promote, multiply, and advance truth in every area of life with boldness today. 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Wealth & Kingdom 06:49 Cultivating Resources 10:06 Rewards of Wealth 19:38 Mission & Ministry 30:58 Stand Boldly 31:55 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Wealth Is a Resource, Not the Source The Benham brothers define wealth as a financial resource that gives people options. God remains the source, while resources can be cultivated and used to provide for others and promote His Kingdom agenda. 2. The Reason for Wealth Is to Provide and Promote Biblical wealth has two purposes: providing for your family and future generations, and promoting God’s Kingdom agenda on the earth. When impact is absent, income can easily become an idol. 3. Faithfulness Means Multiplication Using the parables of the talents, David and Jason argue that faithfulness is not merely maintaining what has been entrusted to you. Faithfulness involves multiplying spiritual and financial resources. 4. Your Workplace Can Be Your Ministry Believers do not need a traditional ministry position to be in full-time ministry. They are ministers where they are, they are on mission, and their work can become worship. 5. Kingdom Impact Requires Courage Kingdom impact involves a collision between opposing forces. Believers should not shrink back to protect income, influence, or platforms. They are called to move forward by faith, stand for truth, and use what they have been given for impact. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/o-aNZtvT2WM Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What does it mean to lead a business as a Kingdom CEO? In this episode, business and podcasting coach Stephanie Gass shares how she moved from hustle, striving, and trying to build what she thought would succeed to operating in partnership with God. Drawing from 15 years as a full-time entrepreneur, she explains why God—not the business owner—is the true CEO and why major decisions should begin with prayer, stillness, and the question, “Lord, what would You have me do?” Stephanie organizes the conversation around three key practices: surrender, speak, and steward. Surrender means committing plans to God and refusing to carry the weight of business or ministry alone. Speak means recognizing that your voice is part of your assignment, whether you communicate through a podcast, a book, a training, or a room. Stephanie also shares how starting a podcast with simple equipment helped her reach more people in less time than years of short-form social media effort. Stewardship extends beyond money. It includes time, energy, family, health, boundaries, rest, and the capacity to serve well. Stephanie encourages Kingdom leaders to build rhythms of rest, work, and worship, and to plan their week around God first, family second, and business third. This episode is an invitation to stop striving, stop hiding, and stop burning out. Instead, lead with surrender, use your voice boldly, and steward what God has entrusted to you with wisdom, obedience, and trust, so work remains sustainable, peaceful, and aligned with the calling God has given you. 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Meet Stephanie 03:07 Operating as CEO 06:10 Surrendering to God 09:07 Speaking Boldly 14:56 Stewardship Talk 19:08 Final Thoughts 5 Key Takeaways 1. God Is the True CEO Kingdom leaders may carry important titles, but God remains the ultimate authority. Before making major business, hiring, ministry, or leadership decisions, bring the plan to Him, become quiet, listen, and ask: “Lord, what would You have me do?” 2. Surrender Makes the Burden Lighter Business and ministry become heavy when leaders try to carry everything alone. Surrender means actively partnering with God, committing plans to Him, and trusting Him to establish the way forward. 3. Your Voice Is Your Assignment Whether you speak through a podcast, a book, a virtual training, an in-person room, or written content, you are called not to hide. Fear, comparison, and concern about what others think should not stop you from sharing the message God has given you. 4. Long-Form Content Can Create Sustainable Impact Stephanie explains that podcasting allowed her to reach more people while spending less time than she had spent producing short-form social media content. A growing library of long-form episodes can build trust, generate leads, and continue reaching people in the future. 5. Stewardship Includes Your Whole Life Stewardship is not limited to finances. Kingdom CEOs must also steward their time, energy, health, family, rest, boundaries, and capacity. Sustainable leadership follows a rhythm of rest, work, and worship—and plans around God first, family second, and business third. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/JGWPtrDpivo Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

John’s business journey did not begin with momentum, polished systems, or a clear strategic roadmap. It began with broken equipment, leaking roofs, outdated operations, regulatory pressure, and a company that was barely surviving. In this conversation, John shares how military discipline, perseverance, prayer, mentors, and a commitment to integrity helped him lead the family business through years of uncertainty. What started as one of the smallest companies in its category eventually became the largest, serving major retailers and earning vendor recognition. But this episode is about more than growth. John and Steve explore what it means to put faith into action, lead with excellence, care for employees, choose the right people, and continue doing the right thing even when others appear to prosper by compromising. John also reflects on the mentors who helped him avoid unnecessary mistakes, the responsibility he felt toward employees and suppliers, and the role Psalms and Proverbs played in keeping him grounded during difficult seasons. The conversation closes with a powerful reminder for Christian leaders: success does not remove struggle. Leaders still have to get up, press forward, and depend on God every day. John’s challenge is simple and practical: put your faith into action, talk less, do more, and never give in. 00:00 Introduction 01:01 John's Faith Journey 03:01 Family and Faith 04:20 Military Career 09:58 Business Struggles 14:04 Keys to Success 21:04 Balancing Family 27:33 Excellence and Faith 32:57 Business Growth 40:16 Transition and Legacy 49:50 Encouragement Five Key Takeaways 1. Perseverance often matters more than appearance or natural advantage John did not see himself as the strongest or most obvious candidate during military training, but he refused to quit. That same perseverance carried into business. 2. The right mentors can shorten the learning curve Retired industry professionals helped John identify practical improvements and avoid mistakes they had already experienced. 3. Faith should become visible through action Core beliefs have little value if they never affect decisions, leadership, integrity, or the way people are treated. 4. A company reflects the standards of its leader When leaders compromise, others often follow. When leaders pursue excellence and consistency, they set the tone for the organization. 5. Finishing strong requires continued dependence on God John does not present himself as someone who has mastered every challenge. His message is to keep pressing forward, get up after failure, and continue putting faith into action. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/L84hKxup4z4 Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What does it really look like to integrate faith into the everyday realities of business? In this episode, Steve Adams sits down with Chris Chancey, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Area National Christian Foundation, for a practical conversation about faith, work, risk, failure, generosity, and spiritual impact. Chris shares how his journey began with plans for traditional ministry, but while studying at seminary, his understanding of work began to change. Scripture helped him see business not as something separate from ministry, but as a place where people can serve, worship, grow, and influence others. That conviction eventually led Chris and his wife into entrepreneurship. One of the companies they built was a staffing agency that placed around 20,000 refugees into jobs across the United States over eight years and grew to 14 offices. Along the way, Chris wrestled with an important question: How can a company pursue meaningful spiritual impact while also remaining financially healthy? He shares a simple approach built around spiritual integration activities and spiritual formation outcomes, helping business leaders think intentionally about what they can do, what they can measure, and what they must ultimately trust God to accomplish. The episode closes with three practical encouragements for faith-driven entrepreneurs: pursue faith-aligned mentors, pursue faith-aligned capital, and practice intentional generosity. This is an honest conversation about persistence, stewardship, dependence on God, and learning to see business as a place of discipleship. 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Guest Intro 03:51 Bridging Ministry 07:57 Business and Discipleship 12:20 Business Journey 19:18 Tools for Business 24:10 Final Insights 32:02 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Business can be a place of discipleship Chris explains that business creates daily opportunities for dependence on God, growth, refinement, and faith. The pressures, decisions, risks, and uncertainty of business can draw a person closer to the Lord when they are open to that process. 2. Spiritual impact should be intentionally connected to the business model Chris describes the importance of identifying opportunities for spiritual impact within the existing mission, goals, relationships, and stakeholders of the company rather than creating activities that compete with the financial health of the business. 3. Measure the activities you can control and pray for the outcomes you cannot The conversation distinguishes between spiritual integration activities, such as prayer, devotionals, counseling, chaplaincy, or other intentional practices, and spiritual formation outcomes, such as people coming to faith or becoming involved in a local church. Leaders can measure whether activities happened while recognizing that spiritual outcomes are ultimately not theirs to control. 4. Persistence changes the meaning of failure Chris and Steve discuss how failure can become a source of learning when a person continues, adapts, and refuses to quit. As Steve puts it in the conversation, without persistence, failure becomes final and costly; with persistence, lessons can emerge from it. 5. Faith-driven entrepreneurs should pursue aligned relationships and generosity Chris closes with three areas of encouragement: work hard to find faith-aligned mentors, pursue faith-aligned capital before it is urgently needed, and practice generosity with time and resources. He also shares how generosity surrounding the sale of his business changed his perspective and eventually connected with his work at the National Christian Foundation. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/dgS4qUp-OV0 Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What if you do not have to leave business to enter ministry? In this episode of the Kingdom Impact Summit, Steve Adams sits down with Jim and Martha Brangenberg of I Work for Him for a candid conversation about faith, work, entrepreneurship, marriage, and purpose. Jim and Martha both committed their lives to full-time ministry as teenagers. For years, they believed that calling would eventually lead them into seminary or a formal church role. Instead, they built businesses, served clients, raised a family, and eventually discovered a truth that changed the direction of their lives: their work mattered to God, and their workplace was already a mission field. They share how that realization led to I Work for Him and a growing collection of podcasts, stories, and collaborative projects designed to encourage believers to live out their faith through their work. The conversation also explores how business can expose character, how pressure reveals what is inside us, and why serving employees, customers, vendors, families, and communities changes the way we think about business. Jim and Martha also open up about 39 years of marriage, working together, protecting family priorities, choosing friends wisely, apologizing quickly, and making prayer together a consistent part of their relationship. The episode closes with a challenge for those entering retirement: almost everyone knows what they are retiring from, but far fewer know what they are retiring to. 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Three Fish Principle 02:53 Jim & Martha's Journey 06:34 Faith and Work Insight 08:19 Cultural Mandate 15:02 Marriage and Business 20:28 Marriage Secrets 27:04 Ministry Overview 36:54 Conclusion 5 Key Takeaways 1. Your work can be ministry Jim and Martha spent years believing that meaningful ministry required leaving business for a formal church role. Their turning point came when they realized they were already in ministry through their work. 2. The workplace is a mission field The people believers interact with through calls, emails, clients, coworkers, vendors, and employees are not interruptions to ministry. Those relationships can become opportunities to live out faith. 3. Business reveals your character Pressure, conflict, deadlines, criticism, and unexpected moments reveal what is inside a person. The conversation challenges listeners to ask whether difficult moments bring out the flesh or the character of Jesus. 4. Business or ministry should not destroy your marriage Jim and Martha strongly reject the idea that success in business or ministry requires neglecting marriage and family. They emphasize prayer, shared time, family priorities, humility, forgiveness, and choosing relationships wisely. 5. Retirement should include purpose Through I Retire for Him, Jim and Martha challenge the idea that retirement is simply an extended vacation. Their question is direct: you may know what you are retiring from, but do you know what you are retiring to? Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/_6nF9YAvx9c Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

What if the local church is one of the most efficient engines for real community transformation—but often lacks the data, infrastructure, and grant readiness to access larger resources? In this episode, Steve sits down with Dave and Scott for a practical, faith-filled conversation about the role of churches in solving serious community needs. They discuss why local churches are relationally connected, volunteer-powered, and often more financially efficient than traditional systems. But they also unpack the hard truth: passion is not the same as preparedness. Scott explains why funders need concrete data, why grants are competitive, and why churches must be ready with fiscal controls, compliance, partners, and clear strengths before pursuing major opportunities. Dave shares how CityServe equips churches through a hub-and-pod model that helps local congregations distribute practical resources back into their communities. The conversation also turns personal as Dave and Scott speak to business owners, pastors, and leaders who know the loneliness of carrying responsibility. Whether you are leading a company, serving a church, or building community partnerships, the encouragement is simple and strong: keep your eyes on the Lord and serve others as unto Him. This episode is a grounded look at faith, funding, local church impact, public-private partnership, and what it takes for churches to deliver key societal solutions with integrity and excellence. It is both strategic and pastoral, with plenty of practical wisdom for leaders who want impact without mission drift. 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Church vs. Government 02:18 Church Efficiency 04:21 Faith-Based Solutions 07:13 City Serve Initiative 09:29 Grant Writing Tips 13:20 Leadership Advice 16:46 Conclusion 5 Takeaways 1. The local church is relational. Churches know local leaders, families, needs, and networks in a way large systems often cannot. 2. Churches are often financially efficient. Because they are used to operating without government money, churches know how to do a lot with limited resources. 3. Grant readiness matters. Funders want data, research, fiscal controls, compliance, and proof that an organization can manage larger dollars. 4. Partnerships are essential. Churches that want to pursue major funding need collaboration with other partners in the community. 5. Leadership must stay rooted in service to the Lord. Whether in business or ministry, the right heart comes from serving others as unto God—not simply reacting to people’s approval, flaws, or disappointment. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/M532g5VDOUk Listen to Part 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LLJH1IZf4t00P5mt4Rr9z?si=DOt0LmnhSVWFGFrEwu3Zjw Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org

In this IBAM Kingdom Impact Summit conversation, Steve Adams interviews Dave Pavlin and Scott Wead from City Serve about the powerful role local churches can play in meeting community needs. Dave shares his journey from the business world, where he and his family built one of the largest durable medical equipment companies for hospice patients in the United States, to helping launch City Serve after selling the company in 2016. He talks openly about the sense of emptiness that can follow business success and how his operational background now supports City Serve behind the scenes through entities, finances, HR, and organizational structure. Scott shares his path through nonprofit leadership, church planting, and pastoring in Orange County before joining City Serve. What drew him in was City Serve’s heart to support local churches. Along the way, he began writing grants, starting with a pilot project that won five out of six grants for about $9 million. Since then, the National Grant Center has approached major fundraising impact. Together, Dave and Scott explain how City Serve helps churches collaborate, become practical distribution networks, serve vulnerable people, and explore partnerships that can expand ministry impact. They discuss Farmers to Families, needs-based evangelism, transitional housing, after-school programs, marriage and family initiatives, recovery, prevention work, and the importance of helping churches become grant ready. This episode is a practical, encouraging look at what can happen when the local church is supported, equipped, and mobilized. 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Dave's Background 02:15 Scott's Journey 06:17 City Serve's Role 10:05 Innovative Projects 16:01 Conclusion 5 Takeaways Local churches can become powerful “last-mile” partners because they already have direct relationships in their communities. City Serve exists to support churches that are serving on the front lines, especially smaller churches with limited resources. Grants can open major opportunities, but churches need to be prepared to receive, execute, report, and stay accountable. Practical service — food distribution, housing, after-school programs, recovery, and family support — can create meaningful doors for ministry. Business and operational skills matter in Kingdom work, even when they happen behind the scenes. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/g3B-dyV7MYE Join the free Third Fish Academy at ThirdFish.org