Guests: Zac Sicher (Fund Manager, Hunger & Joblessness — Solving the World's Greatest Problems) and Rebecca Yuschak (Grants & Operations Lead — Faith Driven Investor) Host: Justin Forman with Henry Kaestner

Key Topics:

• How philanthropic "first-loss" capital unlocks markets that investment capital alone cannot reach — and why the greatest innovations of the last 50 years started with charitable dollars
  
   
• The Jenga block framework: why attacking one structural pressure point in a complex problem (trafficking, hunger, housing) can cause the entire broken system to collapse
  
   
• The $14–16 trillion housing gap vs. $592 billion in annual US charitable giving — and why charity alone can never close it
  
   
• How Solving the World's Greatest Problems Collaborative Giving Funds work as professionally managed donor-advised funds — 100% of contributions deployed into the field
  
   
• Africa's structural hunger crisis: 378 million people facing solvable food insecurity, a 20x corn yield gap between Zimbabwe and the US, and 30–40% post-harvest food waste — and the market innovations targeting each
  
   

Notable Quotes:

"There is no shortage of money willing to chase profitable solutions. There is no shortage of money willing to follow. There is an immense shortage of money willing to go first." — Zac Sicher

"Capital, when structured properly, has the ability to solve the world's greatest problems. Not exclusively, but to play an important role in solving these problems." — Zac Sicher

"Charity alone was never gonna get us there in many of these times."

 — Justin Forman

Host Justin Forman sits down with author and theologian Randy Alcorn — founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries and author of 65 books including Treasure Principle, Heaven, and Law of Rewards — for a conversation that challenges some of the most deeply held misconceptions in Christian life and investing culture. From the Protestant Reformation's unintended legacy on how we think about reward, to a vision of the new earth that reframes the very purpose of stewardship, this episode is essential listening for anyone who wants their financial decisions anchored in eternity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Protestant Reformation's unintended impact on how Christians misunderstand reward — and why Scripture actually celebrates God-given incentives for faithful stewardship
• Why happiness and holiness are not in conflict, and how getting this wrong has distorted how faith-driven investors relate to wealth, generosity, and purpose
• Heaven and the new earth re-examined: What resurrection bodies, physical work, and eternal creativity reveal about stewarding resources now
• The Ebenezer Scrooge model of generosity: How true conversion produces radical, joyful giving — not reluctant obligation
• Randy Alcorn's "eternal perspective" framework — the common thread through 65 books — and how it applies to every investment and stewardship decision

Notable Quotes:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." — Randy Alcorn (quoting Jim Elliot)

"God has not simply called us to holiness. God has called us also to happiness and there is no conflict whatsoever between them." — Randy Alcorn

"It is more blessed to give than to receive — the word translated 'blessed' is the Greek word Makarios, which means happy-making. It is more happy-making to give than to receive." — Randy Alcorn

About Randy Alcorn: Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM) and the bestselling author of 65 books, including Treasure Principle (over 1 million copies sold), Heaven, and Law of Rewards. A former pastor turned full-time writer and speaker, Randy's life work centers on one unifying theme: eternal perspective. He gives away all royalties from his books to support missions and ministry, living out the very principles he writes about.

Host Richard Cunningham is joined by co-host John Coleman and market experts Matt Monson (Public Equities, Sovereign's Capital) and Brian McClard (CIO, Blue Trust) for the March 2026 edition of Marks on the Markets. With Operation Epic reshaping global energy dynamics, AI rewriting the rules of markets and labor, and private equity at a critical inflection point, this panel of seasoned investors offers grounded, faith-driven perspective on navigating one of the most complex macro environments in recent memory.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The geopolitical and market implications of Operation Epic in Iran — and what it means for global oil supply and the Strait of Hormuz
• Why 75% of S&P 500 gains over the past three years came from just 41 AI-linked stocks — and why that era may be ending
• Small cap vs. large cap: the longest large-cap outperformance streak in 100 years, and why the rotation may finally be here
• AI and the labor market: separating fear-driven headlines from real economic data
• Private markets outlook — where to be bullish, where to exercise caution, and the private credit warning signs

Notable Quotes:

"If you were to take $600 billion in capex spending in 2026 amongst four companies… that's $300 billion worth of brand new depreciation that will flow through income statements for those four companies combined that needs to be offset with brand new AI profit." — Matt Monson

"Godliness with contentment is great gain… it's so easy to get wrapped around the axle with what we have or don't have and how we're progressing at building our own people." — Brian McClard

"What would it look like to answer the question before you get asked the question? You say, here I am, send me — and then you wait and see where he's gonna send you." — Matt Monson

About the Guests:

Matt Monson leads Public Equities Investing at Sovereign's Capital, bringing deep analytical rigor to faith-aligned portfolio construction across small, mid, and large cap markets.

Brian McClard is Chief Investment Officer at Blue Trust, a wealth management firm built on biblical principles, advising high-net-worth individuals and families on stewarding capital with eternal perspective.

John Coleman is co-host of the FDI Podcast, a principal writer on human flourishing at HBR, and author of the newly released Good Money — a framework for integrating money, investing, giving, and spending around a flourishing life.

Host John Coleman sits down with Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the nationally syndicated Faith-Fi radio program, to explore how biblically-wise financial advice has moved from the fringes to the forefront of Wall Street—and what that means for the trillions of dollars in Christian hands today.

From a founding cohort of 16 advisors to a network of 4,000, Kingdom Advisors is building an entire industry where faith and finance fully integrate. Rob shares the trends, data, and vision that make this one of the most exciting moments in the history of Christian investing.

Key Topics:

• How Kingdom Advisors grew from 16 CFPs to 4,000 advisors and the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation
• Why faith-based investing demand jumped from 20% to 50% of CKA searches in a single year—and what that signals for the market
• The $22 trillion gap: Christians hold $22T in public markets but only ~$170B is in faith-based investments
• AI, robo-advice, and the irreplaceable role of the values-based financial advisor
• How collaborative giving funds and strategic generosity are the next frontier for Kingdom capital
• The great wealth transfer and preparing the next generation of stewards
• Why 11 Christian universities are now training the next wave of Kingdom Advisors

Notable Quotes:

"There's 22 trillion in the hands of Christians in the public markets today. And we've got, best case, 170 billion in faith-based investments in public market offerings. So the need and the opportunity is massive." – Rob West

"When you go into a values conversation, AI can't replicate that." – Rob West

"When we see money as a tool to advance God's kingdom—yes to enjoy, yes to provide—but to give generously, to invest strategically… we're just gonna help God's people experience kingdom impact in a way perhaps they never have considered." – Rob West

Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they sit down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, for a deep dive into the state of US manufacturing and the reshoring revolution transforming American industry. From the deck of an aircraft carrier to the shop floor to private equity boardrooms, Steve brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build manufacturing companies that strengthen both portfolios and national security.

Key Investment Topics:

• The economics of reshoring: Why major manufacturers are bringing supply chains back to the US
• LFM Capital's operator-led approach to buyout private equity in manufacturing
• How tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping investment opportunities
• Why aerospace, defense, and B2B manufacturing offer compelling risk-adjusted returns
• The role of leadership and operational excellence in driving EBITDA margins and enterprise value
• Interest rates, deal flow, and the creative structuring required in today's PE market

Powerful Quotes:

"We won World War One and Two predominantly because we had a strong industrial base that could step up and pivot when the country needed it. We're woefully unprepared for World War Three." - Steve Cook

"It costs more to hire an English-speaking manager in China than it does in the US today. Labor cost equilibrium is happening faster than anyone expected." - Steve Cook

"The absolute worst form of ownership I've ever seen is 50/50. Someone has to make the final decision - that's true in a company and true in a marriage." - Steve Cook

Episode Description:

What does it take to rebuild American manufacturing in an era of global uncertainty? Steve Cook knows firsthand. As a former Navy fighter pilot who flew combat missions during Desert Shield, then an operations leader at Dell managing 2,200 manufacturing employees, Steve brings unparalleled shop floor DNA to private equity investing. Now leading LFM Capital - a buyout firm exclusively focused on US manufacturing - he's witnessing the early stages of a reshoring revolution that could reshape both the American economy and investment portfolios.

This episode cuts through the headlines to reveal what's really happening on the ground with US manufacturing. Steve explains why companies are finally bringing production back home, which industries offer the most compelling opportunities, and how LFM's operator-first approach generates returns by elevating leadership and operational excellence rather than financial engineering. From the impact of Liberation Day tariffs to the quiet convergence of global labor costs, from AI's limited role on today's shop floor to the creative deal structures emerging in a higher interest rate environment, this conversation delivers actionable insights for investors seeking exposure to the manufacturing renaissance.

Steve also vulnerably shares lessons from Genesis on leadership, partnership, and the biblical principles that shape both his marriage and LFM's investment philosophy - including why 50/50 ownership structures consistently fail and what that reveals about decision-making authority in both business and family.

Guest Background:

Steve Cook is Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm investing exclusively in US manufacturing companies. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and MIT's Leaders for Manufacturing program, Steve flew F/A-18s off aircraft carriers for seven years before transitioning to operations leadership roles at Dell and venture-backed technology companies. At LFM, he leads a team of operators and engineers who partner with manufacturing CEOs to build enterprise value through operational excellence, not financial engineering. Steve and his wife Shannon live in Nashville and are active members of Long Hollow Church.

Carl Edwards, NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of the 75 greatest drivers of all time, sits down with host John Coleman to share his remarkable journey from a Columbia, Missouri Volkswagen shop to the pinnacle of motorsports—and his courageous decision to walk away from it all at age 36.

This conversation goes far beyond racing. Carl vulnerably discusses the dangers of building identity on performance, the cost of fame, and the miraculous moment on a mountaintop that transformed his understanding of faith. He opens up about stewarding wealth with a scarcity mindset, prioritizing marriage over children, and why he risked his family's entire $18,000 life savings on a single race car.

Key Topics:

• The entrepreneurial hustle required to break into NASCAR from Missouri
• Building and losing identity through professional success and public image
• Walking away from a championship-caliber ride and guaranteed income to prioritize family
• A powerful conversion story involving Stephen Garber and a mountaintop ambush
• Wrestling with generosity and stewardship after growing up with financial scarcity
• Why loving your spouse well is the greatest gift you can give your children

Notable Quotes:

"I'm gonna keep racing for another 10 years. I'm going to hit my head another 25 times. 30 years from now, I'll be on the other end of this phone. My son will be sitting on the stairs. I don't know my kids. They'll resent me for everything I did. And I'll have given my life away." - Carl Edwards

"If my mom didn't take that risk with everything she had and hang onto it that loosely, it was her life savings. I mean, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." - Carl Edwards

"In my soul, when it made no sense to anyone else, I knew that this thing driving a race car was important to me, I loved it purely, and chasing that became such a wonderful adventure that yielded so much fruit." - Carl Edwards

Key Investment Topics:

• Market outlook after three straight years of 20%+ returns and where opportunities lie in 2026
• The Mag 7 dominance: Will small and mid-cap stocks finally see their rotation moment?
• Federal Reserve policy expectations and why current rates may be historically appropriate
• Private equity and IPO markets thawing after years of constrained liquidity
• Geopolitical shocks to watch: Iran, Venezuela, and international market divergence
• AI's impact on productivity, employment, and whether we're entering a new economic era

Notable Quotes:

"Breathless is probably one word. Just coming off three straight years like that, you always wanna protect on the downside. You wanna think about how things can go wrong. And when they don't for a third year in a row, you wanted to catch your breath and really take stock of what just happened." - Brandon Pizzurro

"This is the Lord's capital that we're all stewarding, and we need to remember that as we kind of start the year off again. We have a charge here for our investors, but I think it's important to take a moment and be present, be thinking about why you're doing what you're doing." - Brandon Pizzurro

"We are people under authority and it's easy to forget that sometimes. When we receive word from God, whether that be through scripture, whether that be through prayer or insight or inspiration, we are intended to execute against that will." - John Coleman

About the Guests:

Brandon Pizzurro serves as Managing Director at GuideStone Capital Management in Dallas, Texas, bringing sophisticated market analysis with a faith-driven perspective on stewardship and investing. John Coleman is a Managing Partner at Sovereign's Capital and regular co-host of the Marks on the Markets series, known for his thoughtful integration of economic analysis with Kingdom principles.

This episode offers both tactical market insights and strategic wisdom for faith-driven investors navigating what promises to be a consequential year in financial markets.

Key Investment Topics:

• Understanding the J-curve of investing and why seed capital requires patience before bearing fruit
• The convergence of giving, investing, and building into unified asset allocation focused on mission
• First-loss capital strategies: How philanthropic capital can unlock larger investment tranches
• The urgency of African investment: Addressing 80% of the world's poor by 2030 through market-driven solutions
• Redefining risk from an eternal perspective rather than purely financial metrics

Powerful Quotes:

"We're planting these seeds and the seeds are planted in the ground and they go down. And with the J-curve, all of a sudden it's underground, it doesn't look like it's great, and then it comes back up someplace further away, far enough away from where you planted it so that maybe you don't even get credit for it." - Henry Kaestner

"It's not a failure of the system, usually, in terms of people using the platform God's given them. It's usually a failure of nerve." - Luke Roush

"The tragedy is when you go into some of these dark places, tragically we find that darkness is more coordinated than the church." - Justin Forman

Episode Description:

Six years into the Faith Driven Investor Conference journey, the movement has reached an inflection point. What began as storming and forming is now transforming into coordinated action as investors, advisors, and fund managers converge around a unified mission: solving the world's greatest problems under God's power for His glory.

This preview episode unpacks the conference theme "Seeds vs. Silos," challenging investors to move beyond accumulation mindsets (the barns and silos of our age) toward scattering seeds that grow underground before bearing fruit in unexpected places. Henry, Justin, and Luke explore how the J-curve of investing mirrors spiritual growth—requiring faith during the valley period when capital is deployed but results aren't yet visible.

The conversation addresses critical shifts in the faith-driven investing ecosystem: the three-sided marketplace now including river guide advisors, the convergence of philanthropic and investment capital into unified asset allocation maps, and real-world examples of first-loss capital unlocking larger investment opportunities in emerging markets. With top-quartile performers now visible across virtually every asset class—from multifamily real estate to African venture funds—the movement has matured beyond feel-good stories to demonstrable excellence because of, not despite, biblical values. The hosts issue a clarion call for urgent action in Africa, where 80% of the world's poor will live by 2030, and challenge investors to rethink risk from an eternal perspective rather than merely financial metrics.

Join host John Coleman on the set of The Chosen in Midlothian, Texas, for an unprecedented conversation with producers Chris Juen and Chad Gundersen of Out of Order Studios. From the Sanhedrin throne room itself, Chris and Chad share the untold story of how a crowdfunded Jesus project became a global phenomenon reaching 520 million people—and what it means for faith-driven investors seeking to impact culture through entertainment.

Key Investment & Industry Topics:

• Why entertainment investment requires a platform approach, not one-off project bets
• How The Chosen scaled from $0 budget for episode 5 to a multi-season global franchise
• The three investment pillars for cultural impact: spark the next generation, build infrastructure, create content
• Why investors should think like oil drillers: invest in a slate of 10 films, not just one
• The unpredictable nature of entertainment returns and how to approach risk wisely
• Building production companies that operate between $1M-$150M budgets with studio-level quality

Powerful Quotes:

"I'm tired of crappy Christian content. God doesn't want your crap. He calls us to be excellent." - Chad Gundersen

"Christians yielded culture, then got mad when culture went bad. Fine, it's risky, but is it worth the risk?" - Chris Juen

"Platforms, not projects. How do you get around the most excellent people in the industry who have a slate of content and invest in that diversified platform?" - John Coleman

About the Guests:

Chris Juen and Chad Gundersen are the co-founders of Out of Order Studios and executive producers of The Chosen, the largest crowdfunded media project in history. Chris brings 20 years of studio experience from major productions including Contact, Spider-Man, and Polar Express, while Chad contributed 20 years of independent filmmaking expertise. Together, they've pioneered a hybrid production model that delivers studio-quality content at independent budgets—proving that faith-driven content can compete at the highest levels of entertainment while maintaining both artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility.

Their production philosophy centers on creating environments where cast and crew are valued, where believers and non-believers alike can experience the gospel through excellent storytelling, and where investors can participate in cultural transformation through strategic, well-managed capital deployment.

Key Investment Topics Discussed:

• US economic resilience despite tariff concerns and employment volatility
• The AI revolution and its impact on mega-cap valuations and energy demands
• Continued illiquidity in private markets and the wait for distributions
• Housing affordability crisis and growing wealth inequality concerns
• Interest rate environment returning to historical norms after post-GFC anomaly

Powerful Insights:

"Bible sales are up 41% this year. There's this real sense that younger people in particular have realized that they need some sort of purpose and meaning that they're lacking."

"We're in this how moment. People generally understand that their work matters. They know that their capital can make a difference. But they're questioning, well, how do we do it?"

"If we lost everything tomorrow, doesn't matter. We know that the most important thing we have is Jesus."

This episode provides essential perspective for faith-driven investors navigating uncertainty while maintaining eternal focus. From the maturity of faith-driven investment strategies across asset classes to the intersection of affordability challenges and Kingdom opportunities, this conversation equips investors to approach 2026 with wisdom, hope, and missional clarity.

Key Topics:

Why Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurship globally (4x more than Europe) yet women receive only 2% of capital

How Arura Capital's $20M Fund One delivered top-quartile returns above global benchmarks while creating 205,000 jobs and $150M in value chain revenue

The $150 billion capital gap facing African SMEs and the arbitrage opportunity in overlooked founders

Digital transformation as Africa's leapfrog strategy - from embedded finance to B2B commerce platforms serving 150,000 retailers

Why now is the best time to invest in Nigeria despite (and because of) recent policy reforms

Powerful Quotes:

"To live life where it's only about you is a very, very boring life, I think. You really wanna be able to showcase legacy. You really want to be able to showcase how has it impacted that woman who would have never had access to capital if we didn't show up."

"Female founders actually generate more revenue than their male counterpart. For every dollar invested in a startup, a female founder returns 2.5 times more revenue than her male counterpart."

"If you're an investor that's allocating capital, you can no longer afford to ignore or avoid the African continent, because this is really where the growth in the next 30 to 50 years is gonna come from."

About Adesuwa: 

Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes is the founder and Managing Partner of Arura Capital, a pioneering private equity fund investing in female-founded, female-led, and female-focused businesses across Africa. After a successful career at J.P. Morgan, she launched Arura in July 2019 to address the massive funding gap facing female entrepreneurs on the continent. Her Fund One raised $20M and has delivered top-quartile returns while creating measurable social impact across Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Adesuwa was the first woman in Nigeria to raise over $10M for a private equity fund and is passionate about using capital redemptively to transform lives across Africa's value chains.

Key Topics:

• How faith-driven GPs are creating operational value in the current higher-for-longer rate environment
• Spiritual integration practices: broad-based employee ownership and workplace chaplaincy
• The explosive growth of secondary markets addressing liquidity needs
• Private market trends across healthcare, education, and other sectors
• Building cultures that serve employees, investors, and Kingdom purposes

Notable Quotes:

"If not us, who? If not now, when? The Lord has given each of us an opportunity to be impactful in the spheres where he has us operating." - Luke Roush

"You got to step into a space and create real value with the operations of the company that you're partnering with, or you're just not going to be an outperformer in private equity venture capital for much longer." - Andrew Behrman

"I would just challenge folks to really land into the ways that they can love on their investment teams and their portfolio companies." - Jonathan Carvalho Pruna

Episode Description:

More than 130 faith-driven fund managers gathered at Wheaton College for the 3rd Annual Faith Driven Investor Fund Manager Gathering, representing a movement that spans venture capital, private equity, real estate, and private credit. This episode takes you inside that catalytic gathering, where vulnerability, operational excellence, and spiritual integration practices took center stage.

Richard Cunningham leads a conversation with Luke Roush (Managing Partner, Sovereign's Capital), Andrew Behrman, and Jonathan Carvalho Pruna from Sovereign's fund-to-funds team. Together, they unpack key themes from the gathering: how operational value creation is becoming the primary driver of private equity returns in today's rate environment, why secondary markets are experiencing explosive growth, and how faith-driven managers are pioneering spiritual integration through broad-based employee ownership and workplace chaplaincy programs.

The episode features insights from panels covering healthcare and education investing, secondary markets, real estate strategies, and founder care in venture capital. Hear how Riverside Value Fund is rolling out employee ownership across portfolio companies, how Brinley Fire Services employees are living out faith-driven culture through chaplaincy, and why the democratization of private markets is creating new opportunities for Kingdom-minded capital allocators.

Whether you're a fund manager seeking community, an LP evaluating faith-driven strategies, or an investor curious about integrating faith and finance, this episode offers a compelling vision for how God is moving through the private markets.

Key Topics: • The shift from philanthropic "passion projects" to commercially viable platform-based investing in entertainment • How Wonder Project raised $100 million from faith-driven investors to unlock hundreds of millions more from Amazon and Sony • Why investing in platforms (not individual projects) creates sustainable cultural impact • The business infrastructure required to make faith-driven content commercially successful • How to apply private equity rigor to entertainment investing while maintaining creative authenticity

Powerful Quotes:

"My philosophy right now is bet on platforms, not projects. How can I ally with teams that are producing at the highest level of what they do and allow them to do the hard work of sorting through projects across multiple different projects." - John Coleman

"The studio system puts $250 billion into content around the world every year. A lot of people have made a great deal of money in these production studios, but Christians had not really cracked the code." - John Coleman

"If these projects are philanthropic, that money runs out one day. If you can create a return on investment consistently enough to get institutions confident in this as an asset class, that will unleash more capital." - John Coleman

About John Coleman:

John Coleman is a leading investor in the faith-driven entertainment space, helping to raise capital for platforms like Wonder Project that partner with major studios including Amazon Prime Video and Sony. His investment philosophy emphasizes backing proven teams and platforms rather than individual projects, applying venture capital rigor to create commercially sustainable faith-driven content. Coleman believes that by applying business discipline to entertainment investing, the faith community can unlock institutional capital and create a self-sustaining ecosystem that shifts culture while generating market-rate returns for investors.

Key Topics:

• Federal rate cuts and their impact on private credit markets and real estate
• The bifurcation of the US economy: wealth creation at the top versus challenges for lower-income households
• AI revolution's early effects on employment across different sectors and wage bands
• Private markets landscape: venture capital resurgence, private equity stagnation, and real estate headwinds
• Tariffs, H-1B visa changes, and the reshoring debate's practical implications
• Faith-driven investing movement update: growth in ETF options, impact measurement frameworks, and theological deepening

Notable Quotes:

"The workforce in this country is so mobile relative to other parts of the world, willing to move for economic reasons... there's so much entrepreneurial drive, and this impetus to create and create new ideas and new products." - Tim Macready

"I'm of the personal opinion it would actually be quite healthy for financial markets if we saw a 10, 15% correction over the next 12 months or so concentrated in those really highly valued growth stocks at the top end." - John Coleman

"We're seeing more products, more assets, more options. We're also seeing a deepening of the recognition of integrity, impact integrity, of authenticity, of being able to articulate not just, hey, we're a Christian organization and we're investing, but what that means in practice." - Tim Macready

Episode Description:

As Q4 2025 begins, faith-driven investors face a paradox: soaring public markets alongside economic bifurcation, technological disruption, and policy uncertainty. This October Marks on the Market episode brings together three seasoned investors to dissect what's really happening beneath the surface of headline numbers.

Richard Cunningham, John Coleman, and Tim Macready examine the Fed's recent rate cut against the backdrop of a government shutdown, 3.8% GDP growth, and inflation that refuses to fully retreat. The conversation moves beyond macro headlines to explore what matters for faith-driven capital deployment: Are small and mid-cap stocks finally poised for their moment? How will AI's early employment impacts ripple through different economic strata? What does authentic impact measurement look like as the faith-driven investing movement matures?

The discussion tackles private markets with particular nuance. Venture capital is resurging as IPO markets reopen, but private equity remains sluggish as firms wait for better exit conditions. Real estate continues working through its post-pandemic adjustment, while private credit faces questions about sustainability as rates potentially decline. John shares profound reflections from a recent World War II historical tour, connecting lessons about human courage and evil to today's calling for faithful stewardship. Tim provides encouraging updates on the faith-driven investing ecosystem's growth, including new ETF launches and the Christian Impact Framework's development for authentic impact measurement.

This episode explores the compelling investment thesis for Africa, the evolution of risk perceptions, and why faith-driven investors should seriously consider African markets for both commercial returns and kingdom impact.

Key Investment Topics:

• Africa's growth trajectory now matching China's economic expansion
• Currency stabilization across major African economies for the first time in history
• Private equity opportunities in a market with 35 years of institutional development
• The critical minerals opportunity beyond traditional gold and platinum
• Why African political risk perceptions are 10-15 years outdated

Powerful Quotes: "Africa today provides an opportunity for commercial returns which the faith driven investor is interested in and high level of impact with variety." - Richard Okello

"I think a faith driven investor needs to lock in on what they are called to do with the money that they are entrusted with." - Richard Okello

Richard's story demonstrates how God orchestrates divine appointments—from a scholarship opportunity through a friend's sacrifice, to meeting a dean of admissions in Wales, to joining Bridgewater the only year they recruited three-year graduates. Now managing nearly $600 million in assets, Sango Capital focuses on private equity, venture capital, and private credit across select African markets, delivering institutional-grade returns while driving meaningful economic transformation across the continent.

Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they take their first deep dive into the energy markets with two legends from the Permian Basin in Midland, Texas. Jordan Strebeck of Fortress Energy Partners and Chas Perry of PBEX offer insider perspectives on oil and gas investing, geopolitics, and how energy production enables human flourishing globally.

This Marks on the Market episode explores the technological revolution that transformed American energy independence, the capital discipline reshaping the industry, and why natural gas could be the key to both domestic prosperity and global development.

Key Topics:

• The Permian Basin's role as America's energy epicenter - producing half of US oil within 200 miles of Midland
• Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology that revolutionized unconventional oil recovery
• Capital discipline versus "drill baby drill" - why the industry learned to prioritize shareholder returns
• Geopolitical implications of US energy independence and LNG export capacity
• How abundant natural gas could enable cheaper electricity and AI infrastructure development
• Energy density and human flourishing - why hydrocarbons remain essential for economic advancement

Notable Quotes: "OPEC doesn't really care a whole lot about what we think. And I've learned also, like President Trump, neither he nor anyone in his administration, has called and ask me my opinion." - Jordan Strebeck

"You can't always rely on [renewable energy]. Natural gas, we've got a ton of it in the United States. All of us on this podcast will be dead and gone before we're out of fossil fuel." - Chas Perry

"There is no such thing as an economically advanced economy that does not require energy." - Jordan Strebeck

In this powerful discussion, President Chakwera reveals how God called him from the pulpit to the presidency, his vision for transforming Malawi from an aid-dependent nation to an investment-driven economy, and the critical role faith-driven investors can play in Africa's development. He shares candidly about the importance of shifting from poverty alleviation to wealth creation, the untapped potential in Malawi's agriculture, tourism, and mining sectors, and why partnership—not paternalism—is the key to unlocking Africa's vast resources.

Key Investment Topics Discussed: • The transition from aid to investment: Creating sustainable economic growth through strategic partnerships • Malawi's ATM strategy: Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining as key investment sectors with massive potential • Infrastructure development as the critical enabler: From 11% to 75% electricity access by 2030 • The $1 trillion+ opportunity in rare earth minerals, including the world's largest rutile deposits • Why Africa's youth demographic (average age 18 in Malawi) represents an unprecedented investment opportunity

Powerful Quotes from President Chakwera:

"Investing for me is using what God has given me in order that I might be a blessing to other people."

"We need to re-engineer ourselves and how we look at all these resources and say, how do we now become a productive oriented community, rather than a consumption oriented one?"

"A faith-based investor recognizes that we've got to build on the trust we have, and then our dealings will not be based on any corrupt practices."

President Chakwera's journey from pastoral ministry to presidential leadership offers unique insights for investors seeking both financial returns and Kingdom impact. His vision for Malawi to become "an inclusively wealthy, self-reliant, upper middle income economy" by 2063 presents compelling opportunities for faith-driven capital to make a transformative difference in one of Africa's most beautiful and resource-rich nations.

Key Investment Topics Discussed:

• Federal Reserve rate decisions and their 4.25-4.50% range - are we seeing appropriate monetary policy?

• Trump administration tariff strategies with the EU, Japan, and their impact on inflation vs. economic growth

• Market valuations at the 97th percentile historically - what this means for future returns

• The breakthrough GENIUS Act providing regulatory clarity for dollar-backed stablecoins

• AI's disruptive potential across industries and job markets - opportunity or threat?

Notable Quotes:

"We're paying 40% more now for earnings than we were 10 years ago, as we're looking at 22 times forward earnings. I think US returns going forward are likely to be more muted than what we've experienced the last five or 10 years." - Brian McClard

"Anytime you have a spirit of fear, it's really originating from a lack of control. He's not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind." - Brian McClard

This marks-on-the-markets episode provides essential investment insights for faith-driven investors navigating today's complex economic landscape. Richard, John, and Brian bring decades of investment expertise while maintaining a biblical worldview on stewarding capital in uncertain times.

Please note that the views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Faith Driven Investor.

Key Topics Discussed

• The current state of global advocacy and the retreat from international cooperation
• How the flattening of USAID affects Africa and global stability
• The power of individual voices in shaping policy (PEPFAR example)
• Investment opportunities in Africa's food ecosystem
• Why Africa is the continent of the future with 2.5 billion people by 2050
• The role of faith-driven investors in transforming African agriculture

Notable Quotes

• "You interact with Africa every day, whenever you have a cup of coffee, when you have a chocolate bar, it's not a continent of lack, it's a continent of opportunity."
• "We've been too dependent on a few men and their ideologies, and we've kind of drifted away from the foundations of our faith."
• "$1 invested today saves $103 in defense action."

Key Takeaways

• Every individual has a voice that can influence policy decisions
• Africa's food ecosystem presents significant investment opportunities across the spectrum
• The continent's young workforce (70% under 35 by 2050) represents the future global workforce
• Faith-driven partnerships can create sustainable change beyond government programs

In this July 2025 episode of Marks on the Markets, we dive deep into the venture capital landscape with two battle-tested VCs who've weathered the storm from COVID boom to AI revolution. 

Key Themes Explored

The "Quiet Freakout" Phenomenon

• Why even well-funded startups are secretly terrified about the next 6-18 months
• How AI has created a "boxing match during an earthquake" for entrepreneurs
• The unprecedented uncertainty facing venture founders in 2025

The Great Liquidity Crisis

• Why LPs haven't seen distributions in years and what it means for new funding
• The IPO market's slow reopening and what it signals for exits
• How the DPI (distributions to paid-in capital) drought is reshaping the industry

AI's Seismic Impact

• Why this technological shift dwarfs previous internet revolutions
• The emergence of AI-native companies and what it means for traditional software
• Why we're likely underestimating AI's transformative power

The Hardware Renaissance

• How software commoditization is driving investment toward "hard tech"
• The rise of American dynamism and defense technology startups
• Why friction is becoming the new competitive moat

Faith-Driven Innovation

• Learning from social media's mental health failures
• Why Christian entrepreneurs feel called to shape AI's development
• Biblical frameworks for understanding technology's role in society

Standout Quotes

"Everybody is quietly freaking out. You might have money in the bank, you might have venture backers, and yet everybody's quietly freaking out because you just don't know what's going to happen in three months, six months, three years." - Jake Thomsen

"We are on the precipice of what could be the biggest series of technological changes in human history... more radical than at any point in history." - John Coleman

"I continue to believe we are much more likely to underestimate the impact of AI than we are to overestimate it." - Rob Go

"We kind of missed the boat in social media... We can't miss the boat with AI. Believers have to step in." - Jake Thomsen

Deep Dive Segments

The Venture Market Transformation (03:22-15:36) Jake Thomsen provides a masterclass overview of venture's roller coaster ride from pre-COVID normalcy through the 2021-22 bubble, the 2022 crash, banking crisis, and today's AI-driven uncertainty.

Four Forces Reshaping Early-Stage Investing (15:36-25:00) Rob Go breaks down the industry's permanent structural changes: maturation and concentration, Y Combinator's dominance, mega-fund competition, and the AI supercycle's 20-30 year horizon.

The Optimist vs. Realist Debate (25:00-35:00) John Coleman makes the bull case for venture while Rob and Jake wrestle with ground-level challenges, exploring the disconnect between macro optimism and micro struggles.

Hardware's Moment (35:00-45:00) Why the pendulum is swinging from pure software plays to capital-intensive "hard tech" solutions, and whether this represents a fundamental shift or temporary trend.

Faith and Technology (45:00-49:07) A powerful discussion on how Christian entrepreneurs are approaching AI development with lessons learned from social media's unintended consequences.

Guest Profiles

Jake Thomsen - Partner at Sovereign's Capital, focusing on faith-driven founders and early-stage ventures. Previously worked in venture capital and strategic consulting.

Rob Go - Co-founder and Partner at NextView Ventures, a seed-stage VC firm. 15+ years in venture capital with investments spanning consumer, enterprise, and frontier tech.

Key Takeaways for Investors

1. The Power Law is Real: Top quartile VCs still dramatically outperform public markets, but the gap between best and worst performers has widened to 2,000+ basis points.
2. Timing Matters: We're in the infrastructure phase of the AI revolution—similar to early internet days where enabling technologies capture initial value before applications flourish.
3. Defense Through Friction: As software becomes commoditized, companies with hardware, services, or regulatory moats may prove more defensible.
4. Liquidity Patience Required: The venture asset class needs patient capital as exit timelines extend and public market windows remain selective.
5. Values-Driven Advantage: Founders building with clear ethical frameworks may have competitive advantages in an AI-dominated future.

Resources Mentioned

• Hallow (Catholic prayer app)
• "God Looks Like Jesus" by Greg Boyd
• All-In Podcast
• Y Combinator
• Reindustrialized Conference (Detroit)

Connect with Our Guests

• Jake Thomsen: Sovereign's Capital
• Rob Go: NextView Ventures

In this celebration episode, Faith Driven Investor founders Henry Kaestner and Luke Roush take us back to the very beginning—from their first meeting at Joe's Diner in Durham (famous for hot dogs with mustard, chili, or just hot dog) to building Sovereign's Capital and eventually launching a global movement that now spans nearly 100 countries.

The Origin Story Behind the Movement:

• How a matchmaker pastor named J.D. Grear connected two investors who would change everything
• The "Eastern Block Bodega" problem: too little product on the shelf and no line of customers
• Why turning away 99 out of 100 entrepreneurs led to a "heartbreaking" realization
• The Holy Spirit moment that shifted everything from scarcity to abundance thinking

From Fund to Movement:

• The transition from Sovereign's Capital to Faith Driven Entrepreneur to Faith Driven Investor
• Why they decided to expose their own LPs to competing fund managers
• The infamous John Porter story from Rwanda and what it taught them about being "tight-gripped"
• How a gathering at a French bistro with 25-30 leaders sparked something bigger

The Philosophy That Changed Everything: Henry and Luke dive deep into the shift from traditional "biblically responsible investing" (focused on what to avoid) to "faith-driven investing" (focused on what to support). This isn't just about screening out "sin stocks"—it's about actively seeking investments that promote human flourishing and build God's kingdom.

Global Vision and What's Next:

• Why Africa represents the most exciting investment opportunity of our generation
• The math that doesn't add up: $100+ trillion in managed assets globally, but only a couple hundred billion in explicitly faith-aligned products
• Why 60% of Americans identify as Christian but the investment numbers don't reflect it
• The "top of the second inning" reality: we're still incredibly early in this movement

Key Insights for Investors:

• The power of being known for what you're FOR rather than what you're against
• Why "one size fits one" when it comes to faith-driven investing approaches
• The importance of seeking Godly counsel, prayer, and Scripture in investment decisions
• How spiritual integration looks different across asset classes (even oil and gas)

What started as a simple conversation about avoiding "ill-gotten gain" evolved into something much bigger—a framework for investing as an act of neighborly love. Instead of just screening out tobacco and pornography, Eventide began hunting for companies that actively serve their customers, employees, and communities.

The results speak for themselves. Robin shares stories of biotech companies getting kids out of wheelchairs, trucking firms that let 90% of drivers sleep at home every night, and businesses that prove you don't have to choose between doing good and doing well. The data backs it up too—19 years of research shows values-based investing performs just as well as traditional approaches.

This isn't feel-good investing. It's a fundamental rethinking of what stewardship looks like when you're managing serious capital. Robin's new book "The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World" releases July 22nd, and this conversation reveals why he believes we're still in the first inning of a movement that could reshape how Christians think about money, work, and calling.

Richard Cunningham and John Coleman sits down with Matt Monson, Partner of Public Equity at Sovereign's Capital, to dissect the most pressing issues facing investors today. The conversation begins with Moody's recent downgrade of US creditworthiness and what it signals about America's unsustainable fiscal trajectory—a $36 trillion debt problem that's finally getting the attention it deserves.

Market Concentration and Hidden Risks The hosts dive deep into the Magnificent Seven phenomenon, revealing why having 30% of the S&P 500 concentrated in seven companies creates more portfolio risk than most investors realize. Monson shares his framework for analyzing tariff impacts across revenue and supply chains, while Coleman explains why this isn't just about stock picking—it's about understanding correlated risk factors that could catch investors off guard.

Tariffs: Beyond the Headlines Moving past the political rhetoric, the discussion explores the real-world impact of trade policy on American businesses. From the company sourcing 100% of its goods from China to the complex web of global supply chains, listeners get an inside look at how tariff uncertainty is forcing businesses to stockpile cash and delay investment decisions. The hosts examine whether the current 90-day pause with China signals a path toward resolution or deeper economic disruption.

Middle East Partnerships and AI Infrastructure The episode takes a strategic turn as Coleman and Monson analyze Trump's Middle East tour and the massive foreign direct investment commitments in AI infrastructure. They discuss why these partnerships matter for America's technological competitiveness and how they fit into the broader geopolitical and economic picture.

Federal Reserve in an Impossible Position With inflation pressures from tariffs and a still-strong labor market, the Fed faces an unprecedented challenge. The hosts explain why rate cuts seem unlikely despite market volatility, and what this means for mortgage rates, business investment, and the broader economy.

Faith-Driven Investing Insights The conversation concludes with practical insights for faith-driven investors, including Monson's compelling math on why your investment balance sheet—often 100 times larger than annual giving—represents an enormous opportunity for kingdom impact. The hosts share how the movement is evolving beyond traditional ESG frameworks toward employee flourishing and cultural excellence.

Key Topics Covered:

• US credit downgrade implications and fiscal sustainability
• Magnificent Seven concentration risks and portfolio diversification
• Tariff impact analysis and business uncertainty
• Federal Reserve policy constraints and rate outlook
• Middle East AI partnerships and foreign investment
• Small vs. large cap performance cycles
• Faith-driven investing trends and cultural impact

This episode offers both macro-economic analysis and practical investment insights for anyone seeking to understand how current events will shape markets and investment opportunities in the months ahead.

Brent shares his transformation from an achievement-driven atheist to a faith-focused entrepreneur, highlighting how his approach to private equity challenges industry norms with long-term capital, zero debt, and transparent fee structures. Throughout the conversation, Brent reveals how vulnerability and authentic relationships have been crucial both in his personal faith journey and in building a successful investment firm.

Key Highlights:

• Brent's journey from atheism to faith and how it transformed his perspective on business, family, and achievement
• The dangers of "acceptable sin" that starts small but eventually leads to devastating consequences
• Why living in the light through authentic relationships is essential for both personal healing and business success
• How Permanent Equity's unique model of 30-year capital and no debt creates true alignment with business owners
• The concept of "cathedral thinking" - building something that may take generations to complete
• The importance of community and authentic relationships in combating isolation, especially for successful entrepreneurs
• Why achievement, control, and self-reliance can be more dangerous addictions than substances

Episode Highlights:

Understanding ETFs vs. Mutual Funds (2:31-4:42)

• Gibson explains the structural differences between ETFs and mutual funds
• Key advantages of ETFs: tax benefits, liquidity, transparency, and lower minimum investments
• How ETF structure makes diversified investing more accessible to everyday people

Jesus as a Model for Engagement (7:39-12:03)

• Gibson shares insights from her Kingdom Advisors conference presentation
• Examines how Jesus engaged with sinners rather than avoiding them
• Applies this model to faith-driven investing: avoid, seek, engage framework
• Makes the case for strategic engagement with companies rather than only screening them out

The "Sullivan Principles" and Christian Influence (12:03-15:19)

• Coleman discusses how the Episcopal Church's 1971 engagement with GM over apartheid led to industry-wide change
• How Christians can use capital ownership to influence corporate behavior
• The missed opportunity when Christians only avoid rather than engage

Research on Faith-Aligned Investing (20:50-24:24)

• Praxis research reveals significant gap between investor desires and advisor actions
• 70-85% of investors want values-aligned options while only 9% of advisors initiate these conversations
• Evidence that clients are making investments outside advisor relationships when values-alignment isn't offered

Tariffs and Market Analysis (29:01-41:42)

• Comprehensive breakdown of the Trump administration's tariff strategy and goals
• Analysis of four key administration objectives: reducing trade deficits, leveling playing fields, securing critical supply chains, and changing allies' position toward China
• Coleman's five-point framework for achieving a "soft landing" through modest and reciprocal tariffs

Market Outlook and Behavioral Finance (42:11-47:05)

• Disconnect between resilient economic data and fearful consumer/investor sentiment
• The phenomenon of "home bias" in investment portfolios
• The importance of maintaining business confidence to avoid recession despite uncertainty

Closing Thoughts on Human Dignity in Economics (48:33-53:19)

• Discussion of valuing human contributions beyond productive capacity
• Faith perspective on economic disruption from AI and technology advancement
• Biblical frameworks for approaching economic uncertainty with confidence

Join us for this special joint episode of the Faith Driven Investor & Entrepreneur podcast. 

Key Moments

• Travis shares his recent experience meeting Jack Nicklaus and John Maxwell, highlighting Nicklaus's emphasis on family over golf achievements
• The powerful story of Travis's brain tumor in 2016, requiring him to relearn basic functions
• His wife Jacqueline's cancer diagnosis and the emotional journey of shaving her head during chemotherapy
• The doctor telling Travis to "prepare as if she's gone" and taking his daughters to San Diego while contemplating single fatherhood
• How these health crises fundamentally changed his approach to business success and identity

Business Insights

• 49 Financial's three-pillar strategy: handling more complex issues, offering more services, and building more community
• The company's focus on young advisors (22-year-olds) in an industry where the average advisor is in their upper 50s
• How 49 Financial is addressing the industry-wide 9% retention rate for new advisors
• Travis's shift from "quantity over quality" to "quality over quantity" in building his business
• His vision for bridging the gap between aging advisors with trillions in assets and the next generation

Faith Perspective

• How facing mortality transformed Travis's relationship with God and clarity about priorities
• The role of childlike faith in entrepreneurship versus the challenges of maintaining bold faith as a business matures
• Using their platform to help clients turn "tax dollars into giving dollars" through strategic charitable planning
• The daily struggle of enjoying present moments while awaiting his wife's five-year cancer-free milestone

Quotable Moments

• "I think maybe a lot of entrepreneurs out there, it is so easy, even as believers, to make our business our identity. And it's such a sneak."
• "It puts you in a different place in your faith when each one of you experience the thought of losing the other one within a day."
• "If the business doesn't make it, it's okay. If the business does hit that growth goal, it's okay... I'm going home to my bride."
• "My heart and why 49, as long as I'm around, is going to be for the young person."
• "We're going to turn tax dollars into giving dollars."

• The fifth fastest market correction since WWII and what caused it
• Trump administration's economic strategy: taking pain upfront for potential gains later
• Tariffs as revenue generators vs. inflation drivers
• Rising recession probability (now 35-40%) amid continued uncertainty
• The "Magnificent 7" tech stocks' slowing cash flow and what it means for portfolios
• Geopolitical outlook for Russia/Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and China's vulnerabilities
• What could restore market confidence in coming months
• Future of M&A activity and IPO markets amid regulatory changes
• Faith-driven investing insights and the need for patience in volatile times

Bob shares his current recession probability assessment and what economic indicators he's watching closely. The discussion explores how the administration's aggressive early moves—particularly around tariffs and budget cutting—are creating short-term market turbulence but could potentially lead to economic benefits if properly executed.

The conversation concludes with personal reflections on patience, humility, and maintaining proper perspective as faith-driven investors during uncertain economic times.

Recorded on April 1, 2025

Episode Highlights:

• The divine intervention that brought John and Chris together at Center College in Kentucky
• How a single idea to buy 100 acres evolved into a strategy for acquiring thousands of acres
• Why the Mississippi alluvial aquifer makes the Mid-South an attractive region for farmland investment
• The price convergence thesis between Mid-South and Midwest farmland (currently 8,000 vs 15,000 per acre)
• How LandFund Partners differentiates itself through regenerative farming practices on 100% of their properties
• The implementation of cover crops and no-till farming to restore soil health
• The three-year timeframe to see results from regenerative practices in the Mid-South
• How building regional "pods" of farmland creates greater value than the sum of individual parcels
• The importance of being good stewards of both the land and community relationships
• Farmland as an inflation hedge and "gold with a coupon" that generates consistent cash flow
• The long-term appreciation potential of farmland (5.2% annually since WWII, 6.2% in their region)

Connect with LandFund Partners: Visit landfundpartners.com to learn more about their farmland investment strategy and regenerative approach to agriculture.

Key Points:

About Kingdom Advisors:

• Founded in 2003 by Ron Blue and Larry Burkett to help Christians plan and manage finances with biblical principles
• Serves as the gathering place for the Christian financial industry
• Offers the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation - the only designation for biblically-wise financial advice accepted by most major Wall Street firms
• Conference grew 40% in past two years to 2,700 attendees, significantly outpacing industry norms

Industry Trends:

• Financial advice evolving from product-driven to values-driven approaches
• Christian investors increasingly want their faith reflected in every domain of life, including money decisions
• Major financial firms recognize that connecting with clients at a values level creates better outcomes for everyone
• Industry acceptance of faith-based investing products and communities growing rapidly

Market Opportunity:

• Approximately 350,000 client-facing financial planners in the US
• Estimated 90,000 practicing Christians in the field (26%)
• Kingdom Advisors currently serves about 4,000 members with 1,700 having earned the CKA designation
• Christians hold an estimated $20+ trillion in investable assets

Next Generation Focus:

• 250 undergraduate students from 25 universities attended the conference
• Eight universities now offer CKA alongside CFP (Certified Financial Planner) programs
• With 38% of financial advisors retiring in next decade (average age 55), demand for next-gen advisors is high
• Students now graduating ready to enter the industry with faith-aligned perspectives from day one

Evolution of Faith-Based Investing:

• Moving beyond just "avoiding" certain investments to "embracing" impact investments
• Growing focus on deploying capital to solve problems and create positive change
• Increased emphasis on engagement through proxy votes and shareholder resolutions
• Next generation of inheritors viewing wealth differently, prioritizing impact alongside returns

Market Commentary:

• Despite current market volatility and uncertainty, biblical principles of economics and wealth creation provide stability
• Return to more normalized cost of capital (8-12% interest rates) reflects historical norms after decades of artificially low rates
• Faith-driven investors can find peace by anchoring to timeless truths rather than timely market fluctuations

Closing Wisdom:

• From Ecclesiastes 7:12: "Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves those who have it."
• True wisdom is not just intellectual mastery or best practices—it's knowing Christ personally

Featured Guest:

• Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the nationally syndicated Faith and Finance radio program

Resources Mentioned:

• Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference "Redeeming Money"
• Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation
• Faith and Finance radio program (faithfi.com)

The conversation explores how New Story is leveraging technology and entrepreneurial thinking to create sustainable housing solutions in developing nations. Brett discusses the challenges and opportunities of operating at the intersection of faith, innovation, and social impact, while sharing powerful stories of lives transformed through their work.

Key topics include:

• The genesis of New Story and Brett's calling to tackle the global housing crisis
• How faith informs New Story's approach to innovation and community development
• The role of technology in creating scalable housing solutions
• Building sustainable funding models that combine philanthropy with innovation
• Lessons learned from working in developing nations
• The importance of dignity and community in housing solutions
• How faith-driven investors can participate in transformative housing initiatives

This episode offers valuable insights for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in how faith-driven innovation can create lasting social impact while building God's kingdom through practical solutions to real-world challenges.

Richard and John walk through the amazing transformation happening in public markets, where Christians are moving beyond just avoiding harmful companies to actively engaging and building positive cultures. They share their enthusiasm for what's happening in faith-driven entertainment, including the much-anticipated House of David, and discuss how Christians are reclaiming their legacy of cultural excellence. You'll hear about exciting innovations in real estate investment through Apartment Life's powerful ministry model, and learn how venture capital firms like Eagle Venture Fund are tackling human trafficking head-on.

The conversation wraps up with John sharing his perspective on today's market dynamics, from groundbreaking AI developments to major policy shifts shaping 2025. Throughout their discussion, Richard and John highlight an inspiring truth: Christians can achieve remarkable success not despite their biblical values, but because of them. 

Introduction to guests Suzanne Daniel (Pilgrim Foundation) and Dana Wichterman (Impact Foundation), both speakers at the upcoming Global Faith Driven Investor Conference on February 7th, 2025

Discussion of their personal journeys: 

• Suzanne's transformation from traditional grant-making to impact investing, sparked by a pivotal experience with a Haiti-based enterprise
• Dana's initial resistance to faith-aligned investing and her eventual embrace of integrating faith with investment decisions

Exploration of the three key approaches to solving world problems: building, investing, and giving 

• How Pilgrim Foundation balances all three approaches
• The role of charitable capital in catalyzing transformational businesses

Insights on family stewardship: 

• Suzanne's experience discussing money and inheritance with transparency
• The upcoming book "Stewards Not Owners: The Joy of Aligning Your Money with Your Faith" by Dana and Bill Wichterman

Current state of faith-driven investing: 

• Progress in available investment options and advisory services
• Need for more accessible options for non-accredited investors
• Importance of developing spiritual metrics and standardized measurement frameworks

Details about the Global Faith Driven Investor Conference: 

• Date: February 7th, 2025
• Theme: Courageous Capital
• Featured speakers including Jeremy Lin
• 122+ global watch parties
• Registration available at Faith Driven Investor website

The discussion shifts to the implications of Trump's upcoming presidency, with particular focus on deregulation, M&A activity, and trade policy. Bahnsen offers a detailed critique of protectionist positions on the Nippon Steel deal, while Coleman provides perspective on global security implications. The episode also features insights from Coleman's recent piece on Pax Americana and the enduring strength of American innovation and economic leadership.

The conversation concludes with deeper reflection on purpose and meaning, drawing from Bahnsen's 2024 book "Full Time Work and The Meaning of Life," and exploring Christian perspectives on work as a divine calling rather than a curse. Both guests share powerful closing thoughts on God's work in history and the promise of new beginnings in 2025.

Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction and holiday reflections 09:45 - 2024 market review 18:30 - Current market valuations and concerns 27:15 - Trump administration and economic policy 35:40 - Discussion of Nippon Steel deal 42:20 - Global security and Pax Americana 48:15 - Work and meaning 53:30 - Closing reflections

• The evolution and impact of Faith Driven Investor's first standalone conference in 2024
• Why wealth isolates and how FDI is creating safe spaces for high-capacity investors
• Inside look at FDI+ launch weekends and the movement's expansion plans for 2025
• The three personas showing up to FDI: the intimidated, the scaling entrepreneurs, and the teachers
• Key partnerships forming with Next and Blue Trust
• Details on the upcoming February 7th, 2025 global conference themed "The Riskiest Thing is to Do Nothing"
• How watch parties have spread from Chicago to Ukraine, building unexpected communities
• Behind-the-scenes look at how FDI's leadership team is structured
• Closing reflections on obedience and seeing the Holy Spirit's movement in unexpected places

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Great Opportunity Report's findings on church growth and the critical role of real estate
• Analysis revealing that churches typically only utilize their buildings 5% of the week
• The stark contrast between business and church property ownership (12% vs 84%)
• Development of the Open Doors model for shared church spaces
• The concept of transforming church buildings into community hubs with multiple revenue streams
• The vision for democratizing faith-driven real estate investment through a Christian impact REIT
• Personal testimony of surrendering business plans and experiencing God's redirection

Notable Insights:

• Approximately $1 trillion in equity is locked in church buildings alone
• Current church property models often burden pastors with responsibilities outside their core mission
• The potential for shared spaces to create "divine collisions" and new ministry opportunities
• How investment capital (150x larger than donation capital) can be leveraged for kingdom impact
• The importance of maintaining Jesus as the central focus rather than the dream itself

Featured Guest: Nick Bonner brings extensive experience from CBRE, the Pine Tops Foundation, and various real estate ventures. His unique perspective bridges commercial real estate expertise with faith-driven investment strategies.

Please note that the views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Faith Driven Investor.

The discussion begins with Dr. Strohman shedding light on the alarming tactics used by the pornography industry to target children through seemingly innocuous platforms like educational apps and online games. She emphasizes the urgent need for better education and awareness to protect young minds from early exposure and potential addiction.

Wes Lyons then introduces a unique perspective on fighting human trafficking by treating it as an economic problem. He explains how his fund, Eagle Venture Fund, invests in technologies designed to disrupt the business model of trafficking networks. The conversation explores various innovative solutions, from AI-powered tools that detect suspicious activities to platforms that help businesses avoid inadvertently supporting trafficking operations.

The episode also addresses emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence and deepfakes, highlighting real-world cases that demonstrate the evolving nature of online exploitation. Throughout the discussion, both guests stress the importance of collaboration between technology developers, businesses, and advocacy groups in creating effective solutions.

Despite the gravity of the subject matter, the conversation concludes on a note of cautious optimism. Our guests share encouraging developments in the fight against exploitation, including the power of educating youth and the potential for technology and business strategies to make a significant impact.

This episode offers listeners a comprehensive look at the intersection of technology, business, and social responsibility in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time. It challenges us to consider how we can all play a part in protecting the vulnerable and creating a safer digital world.

• The Genesis Story: How Patrick Lowndes' software exit led to pioneering research in frontier market
• Key Research Findings: Deep dive into Pragma's 2024 Investment Market Study examining over 100 funds
• Beyond Charity: Understanding the crucial shift from aid to sustainable business development
• The Local Edge: Why having boots on the ground and local leadership matters in frontier markets
• Strategic Deployment: Creative ways to use DAF assets and philanthropic capital for kingdom impact
• Featured Organizations: Transformational SME, Angel Investment Network, and other pioneering funds
• Resource Highlight: Download the complete 2024 Pragma Investment Market Study
• Scripture Focus: The team shares insights from Exodus, Matthew, and the Sermon on the Moun

• Job creation and upskilling have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities, providing stability, security, and opportunities for growth.
• Donor agencies have shifted their focus from pure aid to trade facilitation and capacity building, creating more opportunities for job creation.
• Collaboration and partnership among competitors and different stakeholders are essential in addressing global challenges and creating sustainable solutions.
• Investors and entrepreneurs can make a positive impact by aligning their passion and skills, seeking God's wisdom, and connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations.
• Having faith-driven investors on board can provide support, encouragement, and prayer during the entrepreneurial journey.

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Joint Release

04:03 Introducing Solving the World's Greatest Problems

05:09 Guest Introductions and Backgrounds

07:00 The Importance of Job Creation and Upskilling

16:25 Changing Perspectives and Collaborative Approaches

23:36 Impact Stories: Transformation through Job Creation and Upskilling

28:40 Advice for Investors and Entrepreneurs

35:59 The Power of Faith-Driven Investors

38:00 Conclusion

Takeaways: 

• The Fed's recent rate cut is a significant shift after a long period of high rates.
• Historically, rate cuts can correlate with recession, but the current economic indicators are mixed.
• The S&P 500's performance is heavily influenced by a few large-cap stocks, known as the Magnificent Seven.
• Private markets are experiencing sluggishness due to fewer exits and challenges in fundraising.
• Real estate markets are facing unique challenges, particularly in the office and residential sectors.
• The upcoming election is expected to bring volatility, with differing impacts on the economy depending on the outcome.
• Government spending inefficiencies are a pressing issue that needs addressing.
• Wisdom and discernment are crucial in managing financial resources effectively.
• Power and money should be viewed as tools for good, not ends in themselves.
• Praying for wisdom in financial decisions is essential for stewardship.

Chapters:

00:00Introduction and Overview of Q3 2024

02:55The Federal Reserve's Rate Cuts and Economic Implications

10:25Market Reactions and Predictions

14:18Public vs. Private Markets: Trends and Challenges

22:19Real Estate Market Dynamics

27:23Election Year Insights and Economic Commentary

43:05Wisdom and Stewardship in Financial Matters

They discuss Highmount's recent investment in Dude Perfect, a popular content creation group known for their Youtube channel and live shows. 

Jason shares his background and the importance of family in his life. He also highlights the trust and influence that Dude Perfect has built with families and the potential for future growth and expansion. The conversation explores the business model of content creation and the impact that faith-driven investors can have on culture through their capital.

They cover topics such as the performance of the S&P 500, the dominance of big tech companies, the potential for a small cap rotation, the impact of artificial intelligence on the market, and the possibility of rate cuts and inflation. 

The conversation also provides insights into the current trends and dynamics in the US markets and discusses the possibility of a soft landing for the economy, with declining rates and inflation reaching a more normalized level.

Brandon Pizzurro leads the investment-related lines of business within GuideStone. In this capacity, he serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of GuideStone Capital Management, LLC, the investment adviser to GuideStone Funds, and President of GuideStone Investment Services, which provides investment advisory services to nonprofit institutions. He is also an Interested Director of the Board of Directors of GuideStone Funds. Mr. Pizzurro is a member of the executive leadership team for the parent company, GuideStone, and chairs both the organization’s Committee on Faith-Based Investing, which directs GuideStone’s faith-based research efforts, and the Investment Management, Allocation and Risk Committee, which approves all new investments for use on the GuideStone platform. He is also a voting member of GuideStone’s Institutional Portfolio Committee. 

The four of them discuss the power and necessity of impact investing, the history and mission of Impact Foundation, and the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the charitable sector. 

Aimee also shares her recent experience testifying in front of legislators about rules surrounding donor-advised funds and gives practical next steps for those who want to get in the game with impact investing. 

They discuss the opportunities and challenges of investing in the continent, the importance of spiritual integration in business, and the potential for economic development in Africa. 

They also highlight specific examples of innovative solutions being developed by African entrepreneurs to address real problems in the region. The conversation emphasizes the need for mentorship and support for African founders and encourages faith-driven investors to consider investing in Africa.

Sam was formerly a CEO and co CIO, global head of Asia at Morgan Stanley before starting the fintech platform, Endowus. 

Today, Endowus primarily serves Asian markets with $5 billion in assets under management and has recently raised 95 million dollars in outside capital.

In this unique narrative-style podcast, we hear how the biblical story of Abraham and Lot inspired Sam Rhee to step aside from the role of his dreams for the sake of a colleague and how God used that sacrifice to pave a path for victory.

The three delve into the theology and purpose behind faith-driven investing, as well as the role of corporate engagement in influencing companies for good. 

The conversation also explores the growth and performance of the faith-driven investing market as well as key market trends. 

Tim also discusses his groundbreaking research about the effectiveness of and the opportunity for Faith Driven Investing around the world, providing listeners with practical insights that will help them get in the game.

Weldenfield is a real estate investment company that focuses on multifamily properties and deploys volunteers to live on-site and build relationships with residents. The goal is to create a social fabric and provide opportunities for gospel presentations. 

Chuck, Richard, and Luke dive into the importance of measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the impact of work and ministry, as well as the importance of taking risks and managing expectations in early-stage investing. 

Chuck also gives some guidance for believers looking to get in the game and steward their capital for the good of others and the glory of God. 

If you like this episode, please rate, follow, and share the show with others.

Conference Video Mentioned (Produced in partnership with Faith and Co.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loFM4eyMqxg&t=196s

The three of them discuss various topics related to the markets, including the performance of large cap stocks compared to small cap stocks, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on businesses, the current state of interest rates, and the implications of international conflicts on the markets. 

They also touch on the importance of corporate engagement and proxy voting for faith-driven investors. The conversation concludes with personal reflections on the significance of Passover and the lessons learned from Scripture.

Tony is the President and Chief Investment Officer of the Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors. In that capacity, Tony oversees all elements of the investment strategy and operations for the Knights, predicated on nearly two decades with that institution and a prior career in investment consulting with the Valuation Associates. Through his role with the Knights, he's also helping the Catholic Church more broadly continue to advance its thinking on faith based investing. 

Andrew is a professor of marketing and the founding dean of the Bush School of Business at Catholic University. In addition to a storied academic career, which we may delve into, Andrew has worked with institutions like McKinsey and Company and Procter and Gamble, published broadly, and as a leading thinker on faith based, faith based and principled entrepreneurship and investing alike.

The two join John to share about what it looks like for Catholics to engage in Faith Driven Investing both in the modern day and throughout history.

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors: https://www.kofcassetadvisors.org/

Busch School of Business: https://business.catholic.edu/

Each year, Bob outlines 10 market predictions for the coming months, and in this episode, he shares what he sees happening in 2024, how his predictions are looking after the first quarter, and how the election might affect the markets.

They’ll also discuss the importance of investing with a goal and supporting others, investing in the common good, and the role of wealth in the church. They also touch on market trends and Eventide's perspective, as well as healthcare investing and innovations.

If you like what you heard, please share, review, and follow the show.

The group connects like-minded investors with mission-driven entrepreneurs for mutual financial benefit, lasting impact, and meaningful relationships. 

And in this episode, Patrick is going to dive into the unique opportunities and challenges that come with angel investing.

He and Luke will also highlight some of the specific market trends to be aware of for anyone thinking about early stage investing.

Find the Potomac Angel Capital video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvRsD7xB9zM

If you like the content, please follow, rate, and share the show.

A lot of Faith Driven Investors believe that, but many of us struggle with a practical question.

Where do we start?

This is not a prescriptive or presumptuous movement, but in this podcast episode, we want to hone in on some of the themes and ideas people have been talking about this year and give you some practical and actionable takeaways.

John Coleman will join Richard Cunningham for an in depth look at how investors around the world can start to get in the game.

So in today’s episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, we’re going to hear Justin Forman and Henry Kaestner will share about the current state of Faith Driven Investing and show how you can get off the sidelines and get in the game, to be part of this exciting work. 

They mention a handful of videos and resources that we’ll link below

Dear Investor Video

Wichterman Story

Potomac Angel

Learn more about Groups

Our host, Luke Roush will be joined by Trevor Hightower to talk about investing in agriculture.

The two will talk about how this unique industry brings a ton of potential for positive returns and redemptive impact. They’ll also discuss how God has worked in Trevor’s life through setbacks, mentors, and unexpected opportunities.

They look back on major trends and topics like Artificial Intelligence or inflation and offer their reflections on what the Christmas season means to them.

Learn more about the ministry at Faithdriveninvestor.org

In this episode, experienced investor and advisor, Mark Klopp, joins our host John Coleman to answer these questions and more as he provides us with a basic overview of Angel Investing. 

For more, check out this page:

https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/angel-networks

The recent events in Israel and Gaza have made the brokenness of the world even more acute and visible.

There are a lot of thoughtful places where you might go to find perspective on politics, faith or even breaking news, but we wanted to bring something different to the table.

We’ve brought on two friends of the Faith Driven Movement, Mordechai Wiseman and Bader Mansour, to talk about what it’s like to lead businesses in the face of tragedy.

Bader Mansour is the founder of NAZDAQ, a company that develops data solutions in Nazareth. He comes from a unique perspective as both a Palestinian and an Israeli citizen. Most importantly, he identifies a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. 

As an executive for a network of 17 churches and one of the founders of a local seminary, Bader is also a recognized national leader within the Arab-speaking Christian community.

Mordechai Wiseman runs an investment fund and a consulting firm, and is the founder and chairman of Israel Firstfruits, an economic development agency for the local community of faith in Israel. He is also founder of the Messianic Business Fellowship, which is the only national network for marketplace believers in Israel, both Jews & Arabs. 

The two have worked together for many years, have a deep relationship that transcends ethnic roots, and are rooted in their love for Jesus. 

They graciously joined the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast for a conversation about how their faith has informed their perspectives on leadership, identity, and the current conflict. 

Find out more about the work they’re doing in this video that premiered at the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySOzMWsSc3U

Today’s guest, Mark Stoleson, has wrestled with this question before as the CEO and Partner of Legatum, a global firm that wants to improve people’s lives by increasing prosperity across the world. 

He joins us to talk about their approach, the power of building frameworks, and what it’s like to think globally about Faith Driven Investing.

Ascension Investment Management helps their clients reach socially responsible investment goals without sacrificing returns. They do this by delivering high-quality comprehensive investment solutions that enable clients to better carry out their mission by allowing them to focus on the big picture.

In this episode, David unpacks their approach in more detail, gives an overview of what he’s seeing in the market, and helps us understand the value of thematic investing. 

If you like this episode, be sure to follow, review, and share the show.

Relevant Links:

https://ascensioninvestmentmanagement.com/

How should we use it? What are the ethical considerations? Is it good or dangerous?

These are relevant questions for Faith Driven Investors as AI continues to be a topic for conversation in both the business world and the broader culture. 

That’s why we’re excited to feature James Cham on the podcast. 

James is an early-stage venture capitalist and a partner at Bloomberg Beta, a Silicon Valley-based firm that invests in the “new world of work.” Conversations about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are a big part of his day-to-day life. 

In this crossover episode, he talks with the Faith Driven Entrepreneur hosts about wrestling through the ever-changing landscape of technology with wisdom, discernment, and a redemptive vision of the world.

Justin is the Principal and Senior Analyst at Sovereign’s Capital where he focuses on Private Equity. Phil also works with Sovereign’s as a Venture Capital Partner.

The two join John to give an overview of private and public markets as we head into Fall.

Today’s guest is trying to fix that.

Adesuwa Rhodes launched her firm, Aruwa Capital, because she saw untapped investment opportunities in West Africa in the small to lower mid-market. Aruwa has a specific goal to close the gender gap in Africa and become a case study that shows the business value of investing in women as fund managers, entrepreneurs, consumers and stakeholders in society.

She joins the show from her home in Lagos, Nigeria.

We’ve got you covered with our monthly Marks on the Markets series on the podcast.

This week, Finny Kuruvilla of Eventide Asset Management joins us to talk about public equities with a specific focus on biotech and healthcare.

Today’s guest, Patrick Fisher has been working to provide profitable solutions to difficult social and environmental challenges since 2007. At that time, he left a successful career at JPMorgan to start Creation Investments, a global impact investing firm focused on developing economies.

He joins us today to talk about the state of emerging markets across the world and to provide a vision for others to get involved. You may recognize Patrick from episode 100, which is linked here: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/podcast-inventory/episode-100-patrick-fisher-and-the-big-deal-with-microfinancing

Want to learn more about how Christians can invest in emerging markets? Check out our series “Building Growth with Room to Magnify” here: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/video-library#building-growth

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow, review, and share the podcast.

On a special edition of Marks on the Markets, we play a little musical chairs and put John Coleman, who usually hosts the show, in the hot seat so he can field questions about the state of the markets so far in 2023.

He joins Richard Cunningham to talk about venture, the debt ceiling, AI, public markets, and more. Plus, Richard gives some exciting updates about what’s happening across the movement. 

If you like this episode, make sure to follow, review, and share the show.

While theological differences will always come up, we can still learn from their perspectives. That’s why we’ve invited Michael Eisenberg back on the show. 

Michael has joined us before both on the podcast and at the conference, providing us with incredible insight about how the Hebrew Scriptures give us practical wisdom in business. 

We welcome Michael back for an open conversation about how his Jewish faith influences his views of investing. 

Find the episode at the link in the comments and don’t forget to rate, review, and follow the show.

On a special edition of Marks on the Markets, we play a little musical chairs and put John Coleman, who usually hosts the show, in the hot seat so he can field questions about the state of the markets so far in 2023.

He joins Richard Cunningham to talk about venture, the debt ceiling, AI, public markets, and more. Plus, Richard gives some exciting updates about what’s happening across the movement. 

If you like this episode, make sure to follow, review, and share the show.

But do we let that affect our view of investing?

We understand the truth but still find ourselves going through our careers in isolation. 

We keep our guard up and our heads down. 

What would it look like to change that narrative? What would happen if we rallied around each other, both personally and professionally? What would that lead to?

Brent Beshore and Marcus Stroud join us today to talk about how they’ve found great joy in building a community of investors and to give practical guidance on how others can do the same.

Check it out wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to review, follow, and share the show with others.

Events mentioned in this video:

Main Street Summit: 

https://www.mainstreetsummit.com/

How can investors move forward responsibly? How can we care for the entrepreneurs we’ve invested in? How do we find hope in the midst of challenges?

We cover these questions and more in this month’s edition of Marks on the Markets.

Host John Coleman is joined by two leaders in the venture capital and growth equity space: Brandon Allen, Co-founder and Managing Partner at TXV Ventures and Phil Jung, Partner at Sovereign's Capital to discuss how they’re navigating the rocky state of venture capital and growth equity.

Like this content?

You can support us by rating, following, and sharing the show with others.

We tackle all three in this episode of the Faith Driven Investor podcast.

We’re joined by Michael Hall and Tim Hurley, two Christian leaders whose private organizations have partnered with public institutions to seek the common good in their communities. 

Michael does this as the VP of acquisitions for Launch Capital Partners, an impact private equity firm that welcomes refugees and internationals while promoting thriving communities through a relationship-oriented property management model and community partnerships.

Tim Hurley is the executive director of the Movement Foundation, which is the philanthropic vessel for Movement Mortgage to pour profits back into their communities. The organization focuses on funding much-needed infrastructure, education and support to underserved areas in the U.S. and around the world.

The two join us today to talk about how Christian organizations can partner with the government to advance the common good while sustaining profitable returns for their stakeholders

So how should we faithfully think through these recent events?

We tackle this topic on this special episode of Marks on the Markets.

Host John Coleman is joined by Justin Speer, a Principal and Senior Analyst on the Public Equities team at Sovereign’s Capital, and Zack Mansfield, who has over 15 years of experience working with high growth entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other members of the innovation economy. 

As the current Managing Director of Venture Banking Group at Signature Bank, Zack has a deeply personal connection to this conversation.

Join these three as they wrestle through challenging questions and discuss how they have found hope in Christ despite the instability surrounding all of us.

Mike Asem, who took a less-than-traditional road to investing, has experienced the wonderful highs and the challenging lows that come with being a venture capitalist. 

While the founding partner of M25–a midwest-focused early stage investment group–has plenty of success stories to share, he’s also graciously agreed to join us to talk about some of the less glamorous aspects of stewarding capital. 

Throughout the episode, he and our hosts, John Coleman and Luke Roush, open up about difficult questions like “how do you know when to let a venture go?” And “how do you protect your identity when you feel like a failure?”

Tune in to hear how we can wrestle through tough realities while maintaining hope in something bigger than our circumstances.

If you like the episode, feel free to share it with others, leave us a rating, and follow the show wherever you get your podcasts.

It is an international movement of leaders deploying capital for Kingdom impact. Our host John Coleman likes to joke that it’s been around for at least 5,000 years.

But even with its rich history, there has been an obvious uptick in activity in recent years.

Today’s Marks of the Markets episode functions as a “state of the movement” with two long-time advocates and practitioners of Faith Driven Investing: Henry Kaestner and Ross Roggensack. 

Check out the full episode to hear how the movement has evolved and where these leaders think it will go next.

Author and investor, Shundrawn Thomas has wrestled with this question in his career. Over the years, Shundrawn has run a trillion-dollar global fund and recently founded The Copia Group which offers a distinct approach to investing that marries the strategic investment of financial and relational capital with the holistic development of scalable business models.

In this episode, he opens up about how his firm makes and measures impact, the ways in which investing overlaps with pastoral work, and the Chicago food staple he likes best. If you like the content, give us a rating or share it with a friend and don’t forget to follow for new episodes every other week.

On this episode, we have frequent contributors Bob Doll and David Spika take us through their 2022 reflections and predictions for 2023. Bob is the Chief Investment Officer at Crossmark Global and David has the same role at GuideStone Investments. Both men bring incredible insight to the conversation.

Throughout the conversation, the two also chat about how Christian investors can think through layoffs, the potential recession, and ESG investing. David even makes a Super Bowl prediction. 

Check out the episode and don’t forget to rate and follow the show on whatever platform you use to listen.

That’s why Christian investors like Evan Baehr and James Tieng see the space as a way to promote human flourishing across various communities.

The two also discuss the unique opportunities available in education, their thoughts on less-traditional forms of learning, and who they listened to most on Spotify in 2022. It’s a light-hearted and insightful episode that you won’t want to miss.

Check out the whole episode and don’t forget to follow and rate the podcast on your favorite streaming platform.

Former NBA star Jeremy Lin and his business partner, Robert Kim believe so. The two of them, along with Patricia Sun, lead JLIN LLC, an organization dedicated to redefining love through entrepreneurship and investing. 

In this special episode of Faith Driven Investor, Jeremy and Robert join Henry Kaestner and Faith Driven Entrepreneur Africa host, Wen Li Lim, for a compelling conversation about their passion to use capital for good and why they chose to use investing in addition to philanthropy.

You can also hear more about Jeremy’s entrepreneurial efforts on the most recent episode Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast. 

Don’t forget to follow both shows on your favorite podcast streaming platform.

In this episode of Marks on the Markets, Jake Thomsen, and Ben Hames join host John Coleman to discuss the changes they see in the industry and what investors should consider as they start the new year.

The trio also debates about Elon Musk, the Metaverse, and whether or not Web 3.0 will live up to its hype. Someone even gets called a communist. 

It’s a jam-packed episode to kick off the new year. Make sure you follow the show on your favorite streaming service so you never miss another episode.

As the former chairman of the Clemens Family Corporation, Phil spent 14 years developing a succession plan for when he retired. Phil joins the Faith Driven Investor Podcast today to talk about the importance of legacy and how a family business can successfully and effectively be passed to the next generation.

Want to dig into more content with other like-minded investors? 

We created the Faith Driven Investor Foundation Video Series for you to discover how you can bring glory to God through your investments. Groups start in January 2023. Join one at https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/foundation-series.

As a CFP Professional with a degree in counseling and post graduate training as a portfolio asset allocation specialist, Don fuses professional portfolio strategy with investor psychology and behavior. 

Don joins our podcast to talk about his recently released book “The Steward Investor: Investing God's Resources for Eternal Impact.” Don shares that as Christians, we need to be on the forefront of planting business in economically difficult areas where issues like unemployment and human trafficking prevent human flourishing. Listen in as Don pushes the envelope on the role of Christians as stewards of God’s resources.

To learn more about The Steward Investor, missional investing, and news about Don’s speaking, sign up for his newsletter at https://thestewardinvestor.com/

Breaux and Jake dive into risk, regulation, venture capitalists, and tokenomics in this timely episode. They also tackle questions like: how can Faith Driven Investors think about crypto? What are global problems that blockchain technology is uniquely positioned to address? And what does it look like to be a person who seeks to love and serve in a place that has been defined by greed, and naivete?

Tune in to hear more, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insight from Christian investors.

Faith Driven Investor is dedicated to helping Christ-following investors, fund managers, and financial advisors proactively look for ways to use capital to impact the world for God’s glory. Get connected to other like like-minded investors at faithdriveninvestor.org

Investors might find it hard to explain their careers to their kids, but that’s not the case in the Harris household. There, faith driven investing runs in the family. 

Britt is currently the President, CEO, and CIO at UTIMCO, the largest public endowment in America, and his son, Matt, previously served as Vice President of the Blackstone Group and is now on the investment team at Draper Associates. 

In this episode, we talk to both of them about being part of a family with shared faith and passion to impact culture through investments. Listen in as Matt and Britt discuss their intergenerational perspectives on the state of the market, ESG investment, and being a saint in the boardroom.

In this interview from the 2022 Faith Driven Investor Conference, Pat talks about some of the most important lessons he’s learned as he’s sought to bring his whole self into the workplace over the years. 

He also gives insight into how leaders can balance their work and family life, empower their communities, and love their employees, partners, and coworkers who come to work with different faith backgrounds. Let’s listen in. 

If you weren’t there for the live event, you can still access the conference recordings here. Check out more from Faith Driven Entrepreneur Africa at africa.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org.

After traveling around the world to Uganda, Collin had a revelation as his calling zipped past him on the road in the form of a motorcycle… also known as a boda. Anyone who has visited this part of the world knows that motorcycles are the one primary way to get around. In fact, being a “Boda Boda” driver is one of the fastest growing occupations in East Africa–home to more than 1 million motorcycle drivers. However, after further research, Collin discovered that less than 20% of all these drivers actually own their motorcycles. And so began Pureflow. 

After investing a few thousand dollars of his own money and striking up a deal with only 6 boda boda drivers, Collin went pedal to the metal. Since launching Pureflow and partnering with Tom, Pureflow has grown to more than 100 drivers and counting. Together Collin, Jared and Tom share why they do and how they continue to grow without outscaling their culture, purpose and impact.

Bertie Lourens, CEO of WastePlan is here to share how their company is working to divert the vast majority of customers’ waste-stream from landfills and converting it into valuable, recyclable resources. They do this by employing hundreds of local workers, caring for their families, and investing in local schools to educate the next generation of South African leaders. 

And, as Bertie shares today, stewarding God’s creation has now grown into giving God a majority ownership stake in the company. Listen in to find out how...

A lot has happened in the in between decades, both in society and in Tom’s life in Silicon Valley. As the CEO of CrowdSmart, a business using AI & Collective Intelligence software platform to improve the accuracy of predicting investment success while reducing ingrained bias, he’s seen it all. 

Tune in and hear where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going...

Tim took us from the Garden of Eden to Narnia to Middle Earth and explained why the creative vision that created all of these places focuses on the beauty within them, and how it’s our responsibility as image bearers of God to take care of what we’ve been given to cultivate and care for.

His work as CIO of Brightlight has given him a unique platform to lead this conversation, and we can’t wait for you to hear the investing opportunities he’s seeing that have environmental stewardship at the forefront.

In today’s conversation, Mart shares where his passion for Bible translation started, the encouraging steps he’s seen in the effort to eliminate Bible poverty, and the power of what happens when competitors become collaborators.

When it comes to PE, Brent doesn't want to replace the founder. He doesn't want to run up debt. And he doesn't have a timeline for when he wants to sell. How does that work in practice? 

Hear the CEO and Founder of Permanent Equity tell you himself...

A journalist and venture capitalist, David couldn’t reconcile the fact that human slavery was happening in his own backyard. So, he decided to do something about it. The result is Not for Sale, a book where he breaks down how business can fix the $31 billion human trafficking epidemic.

Today, he’s with us to share that journey of how God opened his eyes to the brokenness in the world and gave him a vision for how to fix it.

Sue works for Salesforce as the Senior Director of Content Experience, and she was part of the team that started Faithforce San Francisco at Salesforce—an interfaith employee resource group. It’s one of the newest and the fastest growing Equality Groups at Salesforce with over 3200 members in over 20 regional hubs across 5 continents. 

In addition to sharing her best practices on her blog Leanership.org, today, Sue will share how Faithforce got started, how her personal faith influenced her involvement, and what it takes to start a successful Employee Resource Group.

While banking is a largely impersonal system set up to avoid risk by tying creditworthiness to capital instead of character, Collin and his team take a different approach. 

Inspired by faith that sees the infinite worth of each person, Guardian Bank provides a more humane view to the money lending process that provides hope for everyday households and commercial customers.

Andrew is the Portfolio Manager for the Shelton International Select Equity strategy. We had an interesting conversation with him about how he is operating in a non-Christian company but is now evangelizing the firm and the salespeople based on how he is managing his fund. 

Today, you’ll hear him describe how rather than joining a Christian-specific fund, he sees his current work as an opportunity to live out his faith.

You’ve heard of positive screens and negative screens, but Dave joined us to explore how Faith Driven Investors can invest at a high degree of excellence using both positive and negative screens, as well as using direct indexing to customize their filters. 

If you’re interested in public equities, or already involved, today’s episode is for you...

After making some initial investments in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he realized something: local businesses built by local capital have a great effect on local communities. 

Today, he’s the Founder and CEO of Blueprint Local where he’s working to create the best way for people to thoughtfully invest in their communities. On today’s episode, he’s going to teach us a new word—topophilia—and why that concept motivates his work.

Thousands of you attended, making it one of the most encouraging days since the start of the FDE and FDI movements. Well, if you missed last year’s event, don’t worry. Because we’re doing it again. 

Today’s episode is all about what you can look forward to at this year’s event, and the unique twist that’s going to make 2021 even better…

Following that, Alan embarked on 20 years​ of startup​ experience ​working on his own ventures, culminating in what he does today as a mentor for SOSV. Today’s episode will capture his story and his passion for mentoring the whole person. 

Jon and Andrew have had a passion for creating and making movies since they were young, and while we could talk shop about movies we love all day long, we asked Jon to pull back the curtain into the economics behind the big screen. 

How do filmmakers raise capital? Where do investors looking to get involved in entertainment? And of course, how does our Christian faith play into all of this? Listen in to find out...

Today’s guest is here to change that. Jimmy Song is a bitcoin advocate, developer and author who has been contributing to open-source bitcoin projects since 2013. 

On today’s episode he explores the ways in which the current monetary system is broken, what can be done to fix it, and how the ongoing transition to sound money may be a source of hope for a broken world.

In this episode, she challenges the common understandings of risk, reward, and time horizon in investing and posits “the only meaningful risk we can take is to disobey God’s commands or ignore His invitations.”

To hear more talks like this, join us this year at the 

2021 Faith Driven Investor Conference

 on September 9th.

Now, she’s a managing partner at Collab Capital—a group working to provide a viable pathway to sustained wealth for the black community. She’s an incredible story, a fascinating entrepreneur and investor, and someone we can’t wait for you to hear from...

That’s why after retiring from his career in the NFL and beginning an impact-focused fund, Derrick Morgan and KNGDM Group sought to be an example of giving back and building resilient communities. 

Hear him describe the importance of hope and resilience for life as a faith driven entrepreneur and investor.

Bryce was also the Executive Producer of a documentary about poverty, gang violence, and those trying to chart a new path through dance set in Guatemala City that premiered at the United Nations in April 2014 called BBOY for Life.

Today, he joined us to talk about one pocket investing, solving access problems, and defining what Faith Driven Investing really means...

If that doesn’t get you excited to hear about what Kwami has to share, then we don’t know what will. 

Listen in to hear how Kwami Williams is discovering entrepreneurial solutions that tackle the challenges faced by the poor and marginalized in our world today, especially on the African continent.

Useful Links:

Our Resilience Story

Up Close with Kwami Williams

Forbes 30 Under 30 2017: Social Entrepreneurs

Today, Ray is going to join Reuben Coulter, Director of Ecosystems for Faith Driven Investor, to share a bit about his passion of coaching extraordinary entrepreneurs to create legacies that go far beyond themselves. 

And together, they’re going to walk us through what it means to create networks of trust through the use of light touch due diligence—all the way from New York to Nairobi.

She is also a co-founder of AACE Foods, a Nigerian food processor. Ndidi is a leading authority on social entrepreneurship and, in addition being named as one of the 20 Youngest Power African Women by Forbes, in 2004 she was bestowed with the national honor, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian President. 

All that to say, through her work in food and agriculture, and as a leadership development mentor, Ndidi is building economies in West Africa that you’ll want to hear about…

Useful Links:

The Role of Faith and Belief in Modern Africa

Rage for Change

20 Youngest Power Women in Africa

Social Innovation in Africa

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (or E, as he goes by) is an entrepreneur from Nigeria who has founded several startups—one of which received funding from Mark Zuckerberg and another which has processed over $1.2billion in transactions—all of which he's going to tell us about. 

E is also a great example of why investors need to know about what's going on in the continent of Africa. Listen in to hear him tell you why.

He has lived every part of the entrepreneurial cycle and is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience. As part of this work, Ben also heads up the Venture Lab at Praxis, helping serial entrepreneurs research and develop new organizations from the moment of inspiration to incorporation. 

He has lived both the Faith Driven Investor and the Faith Driven Entrepreneur story, and we think you’ll enjoy hearing him talk about both.

He didn’t make it very far in the show (something he and his current wife are both grateful for!), but he did take that platform and use it for something else—namely, sharing his faith. He has written a book, started a Christian version of YouTube, but is here today to talk to us about Koch Disruptive Technologies, where he is looking for emerging high-growth technologies across a range of industries that are poised to be a benefit to society.

Today, we’re talking with Sue Alice Sauthoff who has recently joined the FDE/FDI team as our Community Manager. She’s going to share all the new initiatives intended to foster community among FDEs all around the world. 

We’re so excited she’s on the team, and we think after listening to this podcast, you will be too...

No investor can say yes to every deal that crosses their desk (nor should they!), but learning how to say no is a uniquely acquirable skill. Today, Jake Thomsen of Sovereign’s Capital is back after talking to us about Fundraising 101. 

He’s here to walk through some of the practices he incorporates in situations where he has to say no, and how these tips might serve you. 

Today’s conversation between Henry Kaestner and Jessica Kim gives both sides of the story. Jessica shares how setting unrealistic expectations hurts the entrepreneur’s ability to follow through and the investor’s ability to determine success. And Henry talks about the fundraising side of his entrepreneurial journey and what he now sees from an investor perspective.

Both sides are worth listening. Both sides have a lot to learn. Both sides can do a lot better. So, regardless of whether you’re an entrepreneur or an investor, today’s episode is for you.

“At Garden City, we’re reimagining existing service companies by ensuring workers are radically cared for and truly love their jobs. Service companies where innovation & technology is the norm. My hope is that decades from now thousands of service workers are thriving and together we built the future of service companies.” 

That’s his mission, that’s his vision. Listen in as he walks us through how God led him to where he is today...

Many of you have talked about how helpful it would be to connect the Faith Driven Investor world with the Faith Driven Entrepreneur world. Well, we heard you. And out of that has arrived something we are beyond excited to share with you. 

It’s called Marketplace, and it’s a space for like-minded investors to find faith-driven deals and funds that help them put real capital to work in a way that makes a real impact. On today’s episode, Henry will share the origin story behind it and you’ll get to meet Andrew Firman, who is helping make it all happen.

In his role with Generosity Path he focuses on mission-related activities: strengthening and developing relationships with champions, facilitating Journeys of Generosity (or JOGs) and trainings, as well as encouraging businesspeople to be generous. 

He’s here to share his personal story, to give us a primer on what it means to be generous, and explain why you never meet an unhappy generous person.

At the conference, Chip Ingram opened up with a talk about how Scripture can and should inform our investing strategy. It was so good, we couldn’t help but share it with you here. Go ahead and press play and enjoy all Chip has to say!

Week in and week out, we’ve recorded these conversations as we always do, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the guests that joined us as well as the grounding consistency that this routine has provided.

For those who have listened along all year, this will be a time to reflect on what we’ve heard. And for those who are just joining us, this will be a great place to find the episodes you need to listen to next. As always, thanks for joining us on the journey.

There was a time when he lived in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Dallas, and times when he was homeless. And while you’re going to have to hear the details from Marcus himself, one thing you won’t miss is the faith, perseverance, and sheer tenacity that Marcus shows in all aspects of his life, including his work at TXV Partners, which he’ll share more about today. 

But that's not the limit of Eric's expertise. He's done some great thinking about what spiritual integration looks like in their firm and how his faith guides him as he's part of stewarding a portfolio of over a billion dollars. We’ll let you hear the rest from him…

Rob West is the President of Kingdom Advisors and in addition to sharing their origin story and mission, he shared interesting insights into specific investment vehicles that Faith Driven Investors should know about. Check it out today...

Today is that day. Casey is here to talk to us about Movement Charter Schools and the work they're doing in Opportunity Zones. As always, Casey's enthusiasm is contagious, so we’ll let you tune in and hear for yourself.

John Denniston and Tom Blaisdell are our resident experts on long-term capital, and today, they’re going to break down the benefits of patient investing, the discipleship opportunities it provides, and how all of this relates to you, the Faith Driven Investor.

It goes without saying that 2020 has upended everyone’s expectations and many people’s financial security. So, what would happen if we viewed investing as an opportunity for redemption rather than selfish reward? Listen in to find out...

If you’re familiar with Opportunity Zones, or if this is literally the first time you’ve ever heard that phrase, today’s episode is a chance to get acquainted with something that can provide value to you, the investor, and to local cities across the U.S.

Hear him remind us that there is an ethical responsibility on the part of the investor to know the impact of their funds. He explores examples of how investors have used their influence to inspire significant world change and encourages modern-day faith-driven investors to do the same.

When it comes to integrating your faith as a financial advisor, these two are living it out in the real world. Their insights will be helpful for anyone who is a financial advisor, or for anyone who is looking for one.

Useful Links:

10 Tangible Ways to Integrate Your Faith as an Advisor

Investing as Ambassadors

You’ve heard a lot about the ups and downs of WeWork, but now we’re going to look at a panel of faith-driven experts who are leading the way in co-working and how it can provide economically and spiritually for those participating in it. 

Tune in to hear Trevor Hightower, Peyton Day, and David Salyers share their stories and what the intersection of their Christian faith and co-working looks like.

Useful Links:

Craftwork Coffee and Co-Working

The Roam Story

People Provide the Ultimate Competitive Framework

Neither of these questions has an easy or obvious answer, but today’s guest is a leading thinker in how we can make positive investments in developing countries. Efosa Ojomo is co-author of Prosperity Paradox, and he’s here to help us think about how to create prosperity. 

He was such a great podcast guest that we asked him to speak at 

the FDI event

 in a few weeks, so you’ll want to tune in today and then at the conference to hear everything he has to share.

Mike Silvestri taught us a lot about social impact bonds on this episode, and if you haven’t heard of these—or maybe you’re already familiar—it’s something you simply have to hear about it. The way he describes them, it’s a chance for everyone to win.

At the very least, Mike got our wheels spinning and helped us to think about a conversation that we may not have previously been involved in. We hope you can join us in this conversation moving forward.

What used to be a form of transitional housing has become the centers of communities where marriages start and kids are raised. Multi-Family Real Estate investing is continuing to be a dynamic place for Faith Driven Investors, and we want to make sure you’re aware of this trend. 

To do so, we’re talking today with David Snyder of Continental Realty Group and Steve Vecchitto of Advenir. Few people know more about the social and spiritual changes happening within the multi-family real estate space than them. Let’s listen in...

One of those people is Sid Mofya. Sid helps steward the Draper Venture Network, a global alliance of over 20 independent venture capital firms investing in outstanding entrepreneurs across the globe. 

Their team is the coordination hub for the collaboration between the funds and provides post-investment support to a portfolio of over 800 companies. His insight on investing is Africa is one you won’t want to miss.

As the CEO and Co-Found of Rising Tide Capital, Alfa Demmellash is working to help underserved entrepreneurs get the recognition and investment capital they need.

In this podcast, she took us on a journey to Ethiopia, Harvard, and Rwanda, and we think you’ll love every step of the way...

He talked to us about the work that he did during a time when unemployment in Ireland had hit 65% and how God called him to use his understanding of business to help the community around him. 

Our conversation with Malcolm is a reminder that Faith Driven Investing has hands moving in every corner of the globe and as faithful men and women steward what God has given them, lives change…

Chuck is the CEO of Crown Ministries, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of the Christian Economic Forum. His fingerprints are all over the Faith Driven Investor and Entrepreneur websites, and today’s episode is a reminder why. 

He’s been a faithful steward of this conversation, he freely shares his wisdom born out of experience, and our conversation with him today is one you’ll enjoy...

Dick Blanc is the Executive Director of Beyond: The Startup Accelerator at Cedarville University. He works alongside founders in the Accelerator by providing guidance and inspiration sourced from years of experience.

Steven Diedrich is the Executive Director of the Baylor Angel Network at Baylor University where they are helping engaged students receive a real-life education concerning the inner workings of angel investing.

If you’d like to reach out to Steven or Dick about getting involved with either of their programs, you an contact them via email:

Steven_Diedrich@baylor.edu

dblanc@cedarville.edu

He joined us today to talk about small business exit strategies, how investors and entrepreneurs alike can plan for them, and what it looks like to finish well.

As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Every Entrepreneur Needs to Think About Exit Strategy

Wade Myers Website

Eagle Venture Fund: Capital Works

He’s written two books—Under Our Skin, which addresses the racial divide in America and The New Dad’s Playbook, which is a must-read for any father with a newborn. He’s known for speaking truth and saying the tough things that need to be said in the moment. 

And in times like these, we’re grateful for his willingness to have an honest and real conversation. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

The Watson 7

Under Our Skin

The New Dad’s Playbook

Today’s guest is Ken Barnes. Ken works as the Director of the Mockler Center for Faith & Ethics in the Workplace at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is also the author of Redeeming Capitalism, which takes a look at our current capitalistic society through both a theological and economical lens. 

Ken shared a history of the relationship between capitalism and morals, where the two began to separate, and what we can do to bring them back together. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Redeeming Capitalism Book

Why Redeeming Capitalism is Important

Imagining a Virtuous Capitalism

He is the Co-Founder of Convergint Technologies, which started in a basement in 2001, and is now the world’s largest electronic security firm with over 5,000 colleagues globally. He’s also been one of the leaders of this Faith Driven Investing movement over the past decade, and we’re thrilled to have him join us. 

We’re going to hear some of his journey towards Faith Driven Investing and the insights he has for those just starting the journey. As always, thanks for listening…

Useful Links:

Convergint

Make Fun Part of Your Mission

Impact Investing - Greg Lernihan

On today’s episode, he shared the story of the startup that spans from Jakarta to Silicon Valley and Washington DC. As you know, the Faith Driven Investor movement is a global one, and Luke provided some great insight on some of the snares and pitfalls, as well as trends he’s seeing emerging, as we head into the future.

As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Sovereign’s Capital

Impact Investing with Sovereign’s Capital

Creative Destruction and Work as Transformation

Jerry is a leading thinker in finance and economics and a frequent contributor for Forbes and Townhall. His writing has been influential in the Faith Driven Investor movement, and we think you’ll enjoy our conversation.

Tune in to hear Jerry’s thoughts on how to read the Bible, how to live like Jesus, and how to invest as faithfully as we possibly can. 

Useful Links:

Jesus’ Terrible Financial Advice

What Does Jesus Teach About Investing?

How God’s Work is a Model for Your Work

We’re bringing you this special episode because, had it not been for COVID-19, this weekend would’ve been the start of the NCAA Final Four. And Baylor is one of the teams who likely would’ve been competing for a title. In our conversation, Scott Drew let us in on the challenges he faced early in his career, the faith that carried him through it all, and how he’s responding to life’s most recent curveball.

So if you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Faith Driven Athlete podcast to hear from athletes like Kirk Cousins, Jeremy Lin, Adam LaRoche and more in the coming weeks. As always, thanks for listening...

Useful Links:

Scott Drew’s Long Journey to Success

FCA Recognizes Scott Drew with John Lotz Award

Scott Drew Remains Focused on Faith as Baylor Remains #1

That’s the question we posed to James Cham, a venture capital investor with Bloomberg Beta. He provided a unique and positive spin on everything happening worldwide, and we’re excited to share his encouraging words amidst these challenging days.

If this episode encourages you, we hope you share it with others who may need an uplifting word. As always, thanks for listening!

Useful Links:

An Interview with James Cham

@jamescham

James Cham LinkedIn

Todd is the lead pastor at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas. If that name sounds familiar to you it’s probably because you’ve heard Henry mention it in the intro to this podcast as the location for where we will be hosting our Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor Conferences this fall. In addition to being our host and a speaker at the event, Todd is also a great voice in the faith-driven conversation. 

His words of wisdom—or as his Twitter handle calls them, words from wags—are encouraging, challenging, and uplifting to all who hear them. And with our current events, we could all use encouragement. Like Todd shared, “worry is not our friend and panic is not our way…”

Useful Links:

Should Christians Be Anxious About Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is redefining the words Church and Worship

Real Truth. Real Quick

@wordsfromwags

In the book, Tom brought his theological insight into the realm of finance and investing. We talked to him about all of this as well as what the good news of Jesus means for economics. 

Marrying biblical study, economic theory, and practical advice, he presents a vision for church ministry that works toward the flourishing of the local community, beginning with its poorest and most marginalized members. Find out more in our conversation. As always, thanks for listening.

The Economics of Neighborly Love

Video of Tom Talking about the book

Tom Nelson TGC Breakout

They’re on a mission to pursue investments that make the world rejoice—and today, Finny is going to tell us just how they do that. With a unique background in healthcare, statistics, and investing—not to mention two postgraduate degrees from Harvard and one from MIT—Finny is the type of guest you just can’t get enough of.

As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Eventide

Priorities and Investing

Do You Know What You Own?

To Change the World by James Davidson Hunter

His name is Pete Ochs, and in addition to working as founder and chairman of an impact investing company, he’s also working to make Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Kansas the best prison in America. How? Well, we’ll let him tell you…

Pete is an expert when it comes to multiple bottom line investing—something many Faith Driven Investors are familiar with—and in this episode, he walked us through what that means, what it can look like, and how others can apply this approach to their own lives.

As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Jailhouse Business of Generosity

Inmate Confesses God’s Love at Seat King

Work as Flourishing in Prison

Enterprise Stewardship

You may have seen him on one of his frequent appearances on CNBC, and we were honored to have Bob join us last summer for the Faith Driven Investing gathering in Utah. The work he’s been doing for the best few decades has been instrumental in shaping the conversation this website is stewarding.

We owe a lot to Bob Doll and we’re excited to share the hard-earned wisdom his experience has yielded. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Bob Doll’s 10 Predictions for 2020

Bob Doll on Faith and Finances

Maintaining a Christ-Like Attitude with Bob Doll

Ambassadors Impact Network is a group of over 30 different members that are coming together to collectively invest in and encourage Faith Driven Entrepreneurs. Hear how they’re connecting faith-driven entrepreneurs with like-minded investors and how you can replicate their success in your own city.

This is a movement we’re hoping to see take off across the country, and we’re excited for you to hear Dean and Will share what they’ve learned in their experience. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Ambassadors Impact Network

Angel capital association

Creating Your Own Angel Investing Group

The way that Inspire has an impact as an active shareholder is encouraging and has led to some incredible stories. Well, today, we’re going to hear from that voice, and in addition to hearing his story, he’s going to share just what it looks like to invest with Biblical principles in mind.

As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Inspire Investing

The Biblically Responsible Investing Movement is Exploding

Inspire Ranked Among Top Ten Fastest Growing RIAs

Would You Write a Check to Planned Parenthood?

When it comes to time with Ron, it’s like sitting in front of a firehose. His extensive experience lends to the profound insight and wisdom he has about the current state of Faith Driven Investing and what’s to come. You won’t regret tuning in to hear the half hour he shared with us.

Whether you’re new to Faith Driven Investing, or whether you’ve been involved in this movement your entire professional career, you’ll love this conversation with Ron Blue. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Master Your Money

Thinking Right About Your Money

What’s Your Why? The Ron Blue Story

Principles-Based Investing: The Ron Blue Investment Framework

What we think you'll love most about this episode is hearing Tim talk about how he set out to create the “perfect, faith driven fund”. But then he realized…We’re all sinners. He’s a sinner, every company is led by sinners, and every customer is a sinner.

He talks openly about how that shifted his perspective, some of the tough decisions it led him to, and how he stewards that calling today. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

How Our Faith Affects the Way We Invest

Where Are the Christian Investors?

Why I Invest in Sinners

Donnie's contagious enthusiasm and passion characterized his tenure at the company, which he joined in 1980 at one of the entry-level management roles. He led Tyson Foods to be a company with a conscience, focused on feeding the world great, affordable food, while also making a positive difference in people's lives. On a national level, fewer high profile companies have utilized chaplaincy as a tool to care for a diverse workforce. 

As we think about how faith and chaplaincy intersect with the world of public equities we couldn’t think of anyone better to share about their experience. Tune in to hear Donnie talk about what it was like living out his faith in a publicly-traded company and some of his personal experience in Faith Driven Investing.

Useful Links:

Donnie Smith RightNow Media Videos

Truth at Work: Donnie Smith

Former Tyson CEO Focuses on Family Legacy

Now, if you’ve followed along with us for a while you may remember Peter Greer from an episode we did with him on the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast. If you haven’t already, we highly recommend listening to that interview. But in this episode, we’re talking specifically about his book Rooting for Rivals. 

Peter is going to explain why he believes that leaders in this Faith Driven Investing community can multiply their impact when they focus on collaboration and cooperation. He shares both anecdotal and analytical evidence to support his theory, and we think you’ll be glad you listened in…

Useful Links:

Rooting for Rivals Book

Rooting for Rivals Podcast

How to Slay a Dragon: FDE Podcast with Peter Greer

Despite new levels of financial and material success, it feels like America is a more depressed and divided country than ever. But what does this have to do with economics? And how should faith driven investors respond? Today’s guest, Brian Fikkert, has a Biblically-based economics lesson in store for us today that asks all the right questions.

How can we have unprecedented wealth and declining happiness? Why doesn’t material wealth automatically lead to human flourishing? And what does the economy, both locally and globally, have to do with our relationship with God?

Brian Fikkert takes cues from both the economy and the Bible, and as you’ll hear in this episode, when we merge those two things, we come to the realization that what happens to us physically, relationally, and economically affects us spiritually. 

Tune in to hear Brian Fikkert’s take on mainstream economic thinking and how everyone, no matter their income-level, can glorify God through the way they save, spend, and invest their money. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Practicing the King’s Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give

Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn’t the American Dream

The Chalmers Center

When you listen to her episode, you’ll hear the history of impact investing. While the term has been around since 2006, Aimee makes it clear that this idea has been around for much longer. And in addition to looking back, she also gives us an idea of where impact investing is trending next. She also discusses the value of truth-telling and how that relates not only to the way we interact with others, but to how we approach investing.

We’re so glad to have people like Aimee Minnich involved in this movement, and after you hear this episode, we think you’ll be excited to hear more from her in the future. 

Useful Links:

About Us - Impact Foundation

Impact Foundation - Annual Report

How Much Impact/Financial Return Will I Get from Impact Investing?

 Frank Chen is a self proclaimed former product and user experience design junkie with specialties in venture capital, artificial intelligence/machine learning, fund raising, product planning, product launches, product development process, enterprise software, UX design, Web hosting, and managed services. With a breadth of expertise like that, you can see why we were excited to have him on the show.

 In addition to all of that, Frank also shared a vision for what it could look like when investors view themselves as servant leaders. So often, we think of the relationship between entrepreneur and investor as a constant power struggle, but Frank upended that idea and offered a much more redemptive approach that we thought was so helpful.

It was a fun, enlightening and engaging conversation, which we hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening.

Useful Links:

Marc Andreessen on Why Software is Eating the World

GDP/Capita over the last 2000 Years

Frank Chen LinkedIn

If you don’t know, ERGs are groups within companies that foster community and conversation among like-minded people. Companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Toyota, and many more are creating these types of groups, so we’re grateful that Christeen dropped by to give us the inside scoop.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking for ways to foster faith-based conversations within your business, Christeen will tell you exactly what it takes to form these groups. Or, if you’re an investor looking to get involved with companies that already have ERGs, Christeen will help you understand why these groups are important and how they add value.

Apart from that, Christeen was also a fun person to spend time with, and we think you’ll find this episode one worth listening to. Enjoy!

Useful Links:

Christeen Rico LinkedIn

Companies with Employee Resource Groups

Work and Faith Workshop

Faith and Work Movement

In particular, Trae outlines what it means for an entrepreneur to be an outlier. He describes the difference between business ideas that fit into a certain pre-existing category and those that break every mold out there. He also shares cautionary advice about what not to do as an entrepreneur. His perspective as a venture capitalist is helpful to listen to for both investors and entrepreneurs alike.

But this podcast doesn’t stop there. As you know, we’re always approaching the conversation of entrepreneurship and investing from a faith-driven perspective. Trae is no exception. In this podcast, he talks about the different areas of theology and philosophy that inform his worldview. Specifically, he goes into detail about the innate tendency of all human beings to imitate something or someone. Here, he reminds us specifically of Ephesians 5:1, “Be imitators of God…”

When Trae talks about his relationship with God, you’ll hear both his personal faith journey—what it means to imitate Christ as a venture capitalist and how Silicon Valley opens the door for him to share his faith—and what he thinks about the global Christian movement. He invites listeners to consider what it would look like to be co-creators alongside God, with references to how God and Adam interacted in the Garden of Eden.

Our team had a blast catching up with Trae, as it felt like he covered dozens of topics with the fluency of an expert. His intellect and skill are on full display in this interview, but so is his spirit and heart behind what it means to be a faith driven entrepreneur and what faith driven investors can do to create value, not only for themselves, but for the world.

We hope you enjoy this episode and pray that it encourages you on your journey!

Useful Links:

Rene Girard Explains Mimetic Desires

Founders Fund

Trae Stephens Interview with Fortune

We believe this podcast is especially valuable to you for two reasons. One, you get to hear about an incredible business venture in Apartment Life. There’s no doubt you’ll be hearing more about them in the future, and we’re glad we get to share about them early on in this podcast. And two, you get to hear the heart behind the business. Pete Kelly is one of those business leaders who puts his heart into what he’s doing, and it shows in this interview.

We’re excited for you to hear about Apartment Life and the potential they have in the real estate market. But even more so, this podcast gives you the opportunity to hear from a business leader about how his values affect his business and how everything he does serves other people. Tune in and enjoy!

Useful Links:

Apartment Life

Faith Driven Investor - Real Estate

Interview with Pete Kelly

Neighborliness on Faith Driven Investor

This week’s episode features Henry Kaestner of Sovereign’s Capital and Aimee Minnich of Impact Foundation. Together they discuss the faith driven investing movement, what God has been and is doing, and what the future of this movement looks like.

As you listen, we hope you get as excited about the launch of the new Faith Driven Investor website and podcast as we are. Our hope is that both of these resources will help you on both your spiritual and professional journey. Check out the link below to see the new Faith Driven Investor site and don’t hesitate to let us know what you think! As always, we’re relying on you, our community, to make these resources the best they can possibly be.

Useful Links:

Faith Driven Investor Website

Faith Driven Investor Executive Summary

Faith Driven Investor Asset Map