Faith Driven Entrepreneur

The MyPad CEO: David Green on Building Legacy Beyond Business In this remarkable conversation, Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green sits down with host Justin Forman at the company's Oklahoma City headquarters to share the story behind one of America's most distinctive faith-driven businesses. From humble beginnings in a 600-square-foot store to leading an $8 billion enterprise with over 1,000 locations, David's journey reveals what happens when stewardship replaces ownership. At 84 years young, David still carries his trusty "MyPad" (a paper notepad) instead of a computer, operates as CEO, and shows no signs of slowing down. This episode explores the pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of true ownership, the Supreme Court case that tested his family's convictions, and the generational framework that ensures Hobby Lobby's mission extends far beyond profit. Key Topics: From pastor's son to retail pioneer: The journey from five-and-dime stores to Hobby Lobby The Supreme Court case that cost $1.2 million per day—and why they'd do it again Why closing on Sundays and rejecting Halloween cost millions but gained something greater The backyard prayer that changed everything: "What would you do if the Jones family owned it?" Building a family constitution: How 48 family members align around eternal values The danger of generational wealth and why no Green family member gets anything they don't earn Giving half of all earnings away: The mathematics of trying to "out-give God" Legacy planning with a thousand-year horizon Notable Quotes: "God gave you everything you need, any good thing that's in your life. God gave you. I need to be at a point where I died of myself and said no, no, no, this is not mine. I'm a steward." - David Green "If you think it's yours, then you're gonna guide it. But if you really feel like God has given this to you to be a steward of what belongs to him, I think that's a good starting spot." - David Green "We want to make sure we're tied into someone's life for eternity, because they're gonna be very comfortable if they don't know Jesus." - David Green

Behind the Dude Perfect Story: Parenting Entrepreneurs with Purpose What does it take to raise children who pursue Kingdom impact rather than fame and fortune? In this intimate conversation, Larry and Diann Cotton—parents of the Dude Perfect founders—pull back the curtain on the parenting journey behind one of the world's most successful entertainment brands. From backyard basketball trick shots to a $100-300 million partnership, the Cottons share how they recognized and nurtured their children's unique gifts while keeping them grounded in faith. Discover how they navigated the tension between encouraging creativity and maintaining wisdom, celebrated individuality rather than comparison, and prayed for contentment over riches. This episode offers profound insights for any parent raising entrepreneurial kids, revealing how to be a cheerleader without being a rescuer, how to recognize God's unique story for each child, and why the greatest investment isn't in their success—but in their soul. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Train up a child in the way that they should go, and when they're old, they won't depart from it. That means according to their bent—you start seeing the way this child is wired and reinforce that." - Larry Cotton "God is writing their unique story. As a parent, just come along and be in it with them—encourage them, cheer them on, no matter what we think about it." - Diann Cotton "If you're doing it to gain wealth, fame, or attention, those things will fall apart at some point. There needs to be a higher and more long-term purpose behind it." - Larry Cotton

From Victory Lane to Life's True Finish Line: NASCAR Legend Carl Edwards on Fame, Family, and Finding God Join host John Coleman for an intimate conversation with NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, recorded at the Main Street Summit in Carl's hometown of Columbia, Missouri. Carl shares his remarkable journey from sweeping floors at a NASCAR truck team to becoming one of the sport's most celebrated drivers—and why he walked away from it all at the height of his career. This episode goes beyond the back flips and victory celebrations to explore the deeper questions of identity, purpose, and what it means to truly succeed. Carl vulnerably discusses the intoxication of fame, the moment he realized he'd built his life on sand, and the divine intervention that led him to faith through an unexpected encounter on a mountaintop. From racing with legends like Mark Martin and Jimmy Johnson to the life-changing phone call that made him rethink everything, Carl's story is a masterclass in knowing when to accelerate—and when to walk away. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "I had actually wet myself completely just because I was completely shaken by what I'd experienced." - Carl Edwards (on his conversion dream) "I'm gonna keep racing for another 10 years. I'ma 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." - Carl Edwards "If you haven't seen God walking beside you your whole life, you're blind." - Stephen Garber to Carl Edwards

From $10 to 1 Billion Prayers: How Hallow Sparked a Prayer Revolution Join host Justin Forman for an unforgettable conversation with Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, the world's #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app. Starting with just $10 in a bank account, Alex and his team have facilitated over one billion minutes of prayer and reached 27.5 million downloads—all while maintaining a steadfast focus on authentic faith over business metrics. Alex shares his raw journey from falling away from faith in college to encountering Jesus through contemplative prayer, and how a heartbreaking note from his aunt—who lost her son—convinced him that even if just one more person found hope through Hallow, it would be worth dedicating his life to. This episode explores the intersection of technology and spirituality, the courage to spend everything on a Super Bowl commercial, and why prayer isn't therapy—it's a relationship with an invisible God who transforms everything. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "There is a crazy belief that I think there's an invisible dude here and I talk to and listen to him every day, all day, and especially in times of silence." - Alex Jones "If we're all praying, if we are all as close to the Lord as you can be, like if we're all saints—that's the game." - Alex Jones "Prayer is not a therapy thing. It's not a self-help thing. It's not talking to yourself. It's a relationship you have." - Alex Jones

Redefining Wealth: Beyond the Financial Scoreboard with Sahil Bloom Join host Justin Forman for a transformative conversation with Sahil Bloom, content creator, investor, and author of The Five Types of Wealth. In an era where society increasingly questions traditional definitions of success, Sahil offers a framework that resonates across faith lines and cultural boundaries—showing entrepreneurs how to build truly wealthy lives beyond just financial metrics. From his own journey of chasing external validation through career achievement to discovering a more holistic definition of success, Sahil shares the pivotal moment that changed everything: realizing he would only see his aging parents 15 more times. This conversation explores how ambition channeled toward service creates fulfillment, why seasons of imbalance are necessary for building, and how the questions we avoid hold the answers we seek. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "You're going to see your parents 15 more times before they're gone. That was the moment that changed everything." - Sahil Bloom "A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without it, you're never going to be enough with it." - Sahil Bloom "The answers you seek in life are found in the questions that you avoid." - Sahil Bloom

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Steve Stenstrom, President of Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO), for a compelling conversation about the explosive intersection of faith and sports. After 55 years of faithful discipleship in the locker room, PAO is witnessing an unprecedented moment where athletes are boldly proclaiming Christ on the world's biggest stages—and the data reveals why this matters more than you might think. From a women's cricket semi-final watched by 500 million people to NFL press conferences, athletes are using their platforms to declare what matters most. Steve shares why he believes pro sports represents "the greatest ROI potential on the planet" for gospel impact, reveals shocking data about unreached athletes globally, and unpacks how the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics present a once-in-a-generation opportunity for faith-driven entrepreneurs and ministry leaders to collaborate.

Join host Justin Forman with Mark Grunden and Josh Seabaugh for a pivotal conversation about the unprecedented opportunity emerging at the intersection of church and entrepreneurship. Recorded during Faith Driven Entrepreneur's staff retreat in Charleston, this episode unpacks groundbreaking Barna research revealing that society trusts entrepreneurs twice as much as pastors—and why this isn't a threat, but rather the church's greatest partnership opportunity. Mark brings unique insight from seven years at Saddleback Church pioneering marketplace ministry, while Josh shares lessons from a decade as a campus pastor before joining FDE full-time. Together, they reveal why starting with entrepreneurs—rather than broad "faith and work" initiatives—creates sustainable momentum that cascades throughout entire congregations and communities. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Entrepreneurs are trusted two times more than pastors. I don't know if the influence of pastors is actually waning, but I think it's more that the impact of entrepreneurs are actually increasing because people are tired of talk in our society. They're looking for people of action." - Mark Grunden "If you get a pastor alone, he's intimidated by the entrepreneur. If you get an entrepreneur alone, he's intimidating by the pastor, which is why I'm excited that we can be the bridge." - Josh Seabaugh "If you start with everybody, you'll never get the entrepreneur. But if you start with the entrepreneur, everybody will follow." - Mark Grunden

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Mark Vroegop, President of The Gospel Coalition, for a timely conversation about the growing but often disconnected faith and work movement. Mark brings a rare dual perspective—thirty years of pastoral ministry combined with deep understanding of entrepreneurial leadership—to address why two of society's most driven groups struggle to connect. This episode tackles the practical barriers keeping pastors and entrepreneurs apart, explores how lament and waiting can transform both business loss and leadership pressure, and offers concrete steps for churches ready to empower their entrepreneurial members beyond "parking vests and coffee." Mark vulnerably shares from his own journey through grief and gaps, providing a biblical framework for navigating the uncertainty that defines both pastoral and entrepreneurial life. This episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast was filmed at the Main Street Summit, the perfect gathering for ambitious Christian entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders seeking to deepen the integration of their faith and work. Learn more and sign up to be notified for Main Street Summit 2026: www.mainstreetsummit.com Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "How can we help business leaders know how to be good churchmen, if you will? And from my seat as a person who's in pastoral ministry for thirty years, how can pastors do a better job of serving business leaders, especially entrepreneurs?" - Mark Vroegop "Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust." - Mark Vroegop "Waiting on the Lord is learning to live on what I know to be true about God when I don't know what's true about my life." - Mark Vroegop

Solving Big Problems Together: Uganda's Four-Pillar Model for Community Transformation Join host Justin Forman in conversation with Andrew DeVaney, founder of As One Africa, for an inspiring discussion about what it takes to solve interconnected problems in rural Uganda. From his friendship with a rural educator to building a four-pronged model serving 50,000 patients, 4,000 students, and 5,000 farmers annually, Andrew shares how empowering Ugandans to solve Ugandan problems creates sustainable transformation. This episode explores the power of earned revenue models over aid dependency, the importance of treating beneficiaries as customers, and why time in the game matters more than quick wins. Discover how collaboration, storytelling, and Kingdom partnership can address some of the world's most pressing challenges. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "The young people that are coming up, they're now being educated, they're going to school, they desire a different opportunity within the country that they live in, and expect better from their leaders." - Andrew DeVaney "Ugandans empowering Ugandans. This is something that there's this self perpetuating feedback loop that pushes Ugandans to want to do more." - Andrew DeVaney "Time in the game is going to be such a big deal. For entrepreneurs, for investors, for problem solvers." - Andrew DeVaney

Join host Justin Forman for a milestone conversation with Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft, as they celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. From refusing bribes that led to bankruptcy, to refusing to work Sundays during WWII, to growing from a $39 million company facing the Great Recession to surpassing $1 billion—this is a masterclass in values-driven leadership that stands the test of time. Bill shares the dramatic "God moments" that convinced him to become the fifth CEO in five years at a broken company, and how a controversial service trip to Mexico became the turning point that saved the culture. Discover why Correct Craft sends employees around the world on company-funded mission trips, how they navigate tough stewardship decisions while maintaining strong faith values, and what it takes to build for the next hundred years. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "I believe we're alive today as a company because of that first trip." - Bill Yeargin "We're not just trying to help the people that we're going to serve, we're trying to help our own team too. We've seen so many lives change on our own team over the years." - Bill Yeargin "You don't make it a hundred years by being over on God's side. You gotta do the things we're supposed to do. Trust God, honor him. Let him bless us." - Bill Yeargin

Join host Justin Forman in Nairobi, Kenya, as he sits down with Jean-Paul Nageri, co-founder of KaFresh, for an extraordinary conversation about finding divine solutions hidden in plain sight. When Jean-Paul watched his father's banana harvest spoil while waiting for traders, he didn't just see a problem—he saw a calling. What followed was a journey of "God Engineering" that led to a breakthrough preserving produce 10x longer using only natural plant oils. This episode explores how entrepreneurs can look to creation itself for answers to massive problems, why cold storage isn't always the answer for Africa, and how one biotech solution is transforming food security for millions. From Genesis 1:29 inspiration to cutting-edge agricultural innovation, this conversation reveals how faith, science, and entrepreneurship combine to solve real-world challenges. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "I like to use the term God Engineering. He literally leaves clues, but you have to have that discernment to be able to see the clues." - Jean-Paul Nageri "Why me, why me, why not some other big company? But that's God's plan. He normally takes the underdogs." - Jean-Paul Nageri "Anything that is good for you should be easy to pronounce." - Jean-Paul Nageri

Beyond the Bumper Sticker: What It Really Means When God Owns Your Business Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Bertie Lourens, founder of a waste management company that has transformed the lives of 2,300 people across South Africa. Bertie shares his extraordinary journey from near bankruptcy to transferring majority ownership of his company to God—not as a symbolic gesture, but as a legally binding decision that fundamentally changed how he runs his business. This episode moves beyond the bumper sticker phrase "God owns my business" to explore what actually happens when you transfer 51% of shares to a non-profit entity representing God as your majority shareholder. Bertie vulnerably shares how pride nearly destroyed everything, how two miracles gave his business a second chance, and why the most freeing decision he ever made was giving up control. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Whatever I do for Jesus is wrong. Whatever I do with him is right. That just changed my world." - Bertie Lourens "I have never in my life been more free than after the moment when I transferred those shares." - Bertie Lourens "The comfort of the security—the financial security that I have, that I can see in my future because of this—is what entraps us." - Bertie Lourens

Join host Justin Forman in Boulder, Colorado, for a powerful conversation with Tim Tebow and Wes Lyons at the Clapham gathering—where 150 entrepreneurs are uniting to disrupt one of the world's darkest evils: human trafficking. This episode explores how for-profit ventures, nonprofit organizations, and churches can collaborate to create an unprecedented counter-trafficking industry worth billions. Tim shares the heartbreaking story that launched his anti-trafficking work: his father's decision to purchase the freedom of four girls at an underground pastor's conference. Wes reveals how entrepreneurs are building sustainable businesses that fight trafficking—from training frontline healthcare workers to creating digital safety for children—proving that mission and profit can powerfully align. Discover why "looking again" at those society overlooks is essential to stopping traffickers, how apathy is the real enemy, and why living an extreme life for Christ matters more than living a balanced one. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "My dad is one of my biggest heroes and role models because he's not someone that can look the other way and do nothing." - Tim Tebow "You can be for profit and for purpose and for people. Like that can happen." - Tim Tebow "People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy. We have to be passionate believers, passionate about the cause of Christ, passionate about hurting people, not apathetic people that someone else is going to do it." - Tim Tebow "Traffickers target the people that the church gave up seeing." - Justin Forman

At the Gutenberg Moment: How AI is Reshaping Faith, Technology, and Kingdom Impact Join host Justin Forman for a pivotal conversation with Pat Gelsinger in Boulder, Colorado, exploring how faith-driven leaders can steward the most transformative technology cycle of the modern era. From his 45 uninterrupted years in tech to his transition into investing and leading Gloo, Pat shares profound insights on navigating seasons of life, building the faith technology platform, and positioning the church to ride—not watch—the AI wave. This episode tackles critical questions about fragmentation in the faith ecosystem, the power of unified action, and why showing up "bigger" matters for Kingdom influence. Pat unpacks Gloo's mission to make AI suitable and trustworthy for the faith community, the surprising results of flourishing AI benchmarks, and his audacious vision: educating every child on the planet within the next 10-15 years. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "We're at a Gutenberg moment. Will we the church be captivated, accelerated, mission empowered by AI? Or will we sit on the outside watching?" - Pat Gelsinger "Next-generation entrepreneurs—they're not religious, but they're spiritual. There's a deeper spiritual expectation and they really care about the soul implications of business success." - Pat Gelsinger "If we educate the 300 million children living in poverty today, I think I will have done more to eliminate poverty than any other single thing you could do—and I believe we can do that in the next decade." - Pat Gelsinger

From Dallas Uber Rides to Uganda Motorcycles: How One Partnership Is Transforming African Mobility Join host Henry Kaestner as he sits down with Jared Fulks, co-founder of PureFlow, for an inspiring conversation about building Kingdom businesses in emerging markets. From four consecutive Uber drivers from different African countries in Dallas to empowering thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers in Uganda, this episode reveals how God orchestrates divine appointments in everyday moments and business ventures alike. Discover how PureFlow started with just six motorcycles and $6,000 in a small Ugandan town and has grown into a hospitality-focused finance company serving thousands. Jared shares powerful lessons about the value of partnership born from prayer, the unexpected advantages of tier-two and tier-three cities, and why sometimes the best place to test a business idea isn't Silicon Valley—it's Africa. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Partnership is not a good idea. It's a God idea. It is woven into the fabric of how we were created. Nobody would argue that we're created for people. And so why would we assume any different?" - Jared Fulks "If the business collapsed tomorrow, and it all just failed, which I hope it doesn't, I don't think it will. But if it did, the thing that I would take away most would be not the amazing people we've been able to hire, the thousands and thousands of people we serve, but it truly is the friendship and the brotherhood that I have with him." - Jared Fulks "Start with where you are, with what you have... He lost $6,000. Like to most people listening to this podcast, it's not gonna kill you to lose $6,000." - Jared Fulks

Beyond Harps and Clouds: Rethinking Heaven, Work, and Eternity Join host Justin Forman and author Jordan Raynor in Dallas for a paradigm-shifting conversation about what heaven actually looks like—and why it matters for your business today. Jordan unpacks how cultural half-truths about eternity rob entrepreneurs of purpose in the present and hope for the future, revealing a biblical vision of the new earth that changes everything. Discover why most Christians spend more time planning vacations than thinking about eternity, how redemptive Excel spreadsheets can be more heavenly than harps, and why understanding our eternal work with Christ unlocks joy and freedom in business right now. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Most Christian entrepreneurs I know are not excited about ideas of harps and clouds, which frankly scares the crap out of most people, Christians included." - Jordan Raynor "If our ultimate reality is working with King Jesus on earth, guess what? Eternity is now in session." - Jordan Raynor "Most Christians I know have spent more time thinking about a single week-long vacation than they have thought about the nature of eternity." - Jordan Raynor

Flipping the Script: How Entrepreneurs Can Rewire Their Mental Soundtrack Join host Justin Forman for an intimate conversation with bestselling author and entrepreneur Jon Acuff in his Nashville home office. Surrounded by international editions of his books and personal reminders of his journey, Jon shares hard-won wisdom about the mental battles every entrepreneur faces—and how to win them. This episode dives deep into the soundtrack constantly playing in every entrepreneur's mind, exploring practical strategies to retire broken thought patterns and replace them with empowering ones. From his early days with "Stuff Christians Like" to building an 11-book writing career while scaling his business, Jon reveals the mindset shifts that separate successful entrepreneurs from those stuck in cycles of self-doubt. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "You should always have new levels of fear at new levels of growth. If you tell yourself, 'I've beaten fear forever,' guess what you feel like when you find new levels of fear? You feel like a failure." - Jon Acuff "I'm the CEO of my actions, not the CEO of my outcomes." - Jon Acuff "Great thoughts turn into great actions. Great actions turn into great results." - Jon Acuff

Building Faith-Driven Culture: The Four Human Needs Every Team Member Has Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Stephen Phelan, Chief Spiritual Integration Officer for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, in the iconic red-walled Movement Mortgage offices. Stephen shares practical, proven strategies for creating workplace cultures that truly love and value people—addressing the crisis where 98% of Gen Z feels burned out at work. Drawing from over a decade of experience at Movement Mortgage, Stephen reveals the four fundamental human needs every employee has and how meeting them transforms both culture and business outcomes. From launching "Love Works" benevolence programs to implementing mentoring systems that make disciples, this episode provides actionable steps any business can take, regardless of size. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "People that are walking through your doors, they have four fundamental human needs. Here's the first one - when they come in, they want to have friends at work." - Stephen Phelan "We all want these relationships at work. And as a follower of Jesus, you want to be able to say yes to Jesus." - Stephen Phelan "Jesus snuck up on me at movement, people just started loving me, and they started living out the things that they believed." - Stephen Phelan (sharing employee testimony)

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

From Sports Anchor to FinTech Pioneer: Building Payment Infrastructure for the Next Billion Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Benjamin Fernandes, founder of Nala and Rafiki, for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, rejection, and revolutionizing cross-border payments. From covering the World Cup as a 21-year-old sports anchor in Tanzania to building infrastructure that serves millions across Africa and Asia, Benjamin's journey is filled with divine appointments, Stanford miracles, and the grit required to solve problems for the next billion customers. This episode explores the massive diaspora remittance market ($129 billion to India alone), the entrepreneurial challenge of building FinTech infrastructure in emerging markets, and why the greatest export from developing nations might just be talent. Benjamin vulnerably shares the power of rejection as fuel, the importance of gratitude, and why sometimes you have to build the bridge for the next 200 entrepreneurs coming after you. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "There's something that's very powerful when someone tells you you can't do something." - Benjamin Fernandes "With privilege comes responsibility." - Benjamin Fernandes "I don't believe the lowest income region the world should be charged the most amount for fees, for payments." - Benjamin Fernandes