Episode 348 - The $6K Startup That's Transforming African Mobility | Jared Fulks
From Dallas Uber Rides to Uganda Motorcycles: How One Partnership Is Transforming African MobilityJoin host Henry Kaestner as he sits down with Jared Fulks, co-founder of PureFlow, for an inspiring conversation about building Kingdom businesses in emerging markets. From four consecutive Uber drivers from different African countries in Dallas to empowering thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers in Uganda, this episode reveals how God orchestrates divine appointments in everyday moments and business ventures alike.Discover how PureFlow started with just six motorcycles and $6,000 in a small Ugandan town and has grown into a hospitality-focused finance company serving thousands. Jared shares powerful lessons about the value of partnership born from prayer, the unexpected advantages of tier-two and tier-three cities, and why sometimes the best place to test a business idea isn't Silicon Valley—it's Africa.Key Topics:Divine appointments: Four African Uber drivers in 24 hours and what they reveal about staying spiritually presentStarting with six bikes: How Colin emptied his savings and received 250 applications in 24 hoursPartnership as a "God idea": Why prayer preceded partnership and the power of detailed operating agreementsTier-two and tier-three city advantages: Building trust and community away from capital citiesHospitality over finance: Reframing PureFlow as a hospitality business that creates places people want to return toLow-cost probes in Africa: Testing 100 ideas with a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.Living remotely while building locally: Managing a Uganda-based business from Atlanta through intentional engagementThe football club strategy: Winning tournaments as customer acquisition and brand buildingPressing the gas: Why not to subsidize yourself with philanthropy too soonNotable Quotes:"Partnership is not a good idea. It's a God idea. It is woven into the fabric of how we were created. Nobody would argue that we're created for people. And so why would we assume any different?" - Jared Fulks"If the business collapsed tomorrow, and it all just failed, which I hope it doesn't, I don't think it will. But if it did, the thing that I would take away most would be not the amazing people we've been able to hire, the thousands and thousands of people we serve, but it truly is the friendship and the brotherhood that I have with him." - Jared Fulks"Start with where you are, with what you have... He lost $6,000. Like to most people listening to this podcast, it's not gonna kill you to lose $6,000." - Jared Fulks
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Episode 345 - The 4 Human Needs Every Employee Has at Work | Stephen Phelan
Building Faith-Driven Culture: The Four Human Needs Every Team Member HasJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Stephen Phelan, Chief Spiritual Integration Officer for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, in the iconic red-walled Movement Mortgage offices. Stephen shares practical, proven strategies for creating workplace cultures that truly love and value people—addressing the crisis where 98% of Gen Z feels burned out at work.Drawing from over a decade of experience at Movement Mortgage, Stephen reveals the four fundamental human needs every employee has and how meeting them transforms both culture and business outcomes. From launching "Love Works" benevolence programs to implementing mentoring systems that make disciples, this episode provides actionable steps any business can take, regardless of size.Key Topics:The four fundamental human needs every employee has when they come to workHow to implement "Love Works" programs that create authentic community (from 5-person teams to 57,000 employees like Hobby Lobby)Why mentoring isn't another burden for entrepreneurs—and who should actually lead itBuilding small groups in business that mirror successful church modelsCreating cultures where 91% of stressed Gen Z workers find life and purposeFrom "sneaky Jesus" conversions to baptizing employees: real transformation storiesPractical systems for loving teammates, customers, and communitiesNotable Quotes:"People that are walking through your doors, they have four fundamental human needs. Here's the first one - when they come in, they want to have friends at work." - Stephen Phelan"We all want these relationships at work. And as a follower of Jesus, you want to be able to say yes to Jesus." - Stephen Phelan"Jesus snuck up on me at movement, people just started loving me, and they started living out the things that they believed." - Stephen Phelan (sharing employee testimony)
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Episode 344 - Why Francis Chan Asked God NOT to Make Him Rich | Francis Chan
Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with bestselling author and pastor Francis Chan for a profound conversation about the tension between building and being, success and faithfulness, and the danger of running on life's treadmill without stopping to ask why. Speaking from his experiences in Hong Kong's fast-paced culture, Francis shares vulnerable insights about his own journey from mega-church pastor to someone seeking deeper relationship with God.This episode challenges entrepreneurs to examine their motivations, embrace dependence on God, and discover the freedom that comes from living with eternal perspective. Francis opens up about his decision to give away book royalties, the wisdom of Proverbs 30:7-9, and why he believes entrepreneurs have a unique opportunity to live differently and impact others through their choices.Key Topics:Breaking free from the cultural treadmill of endless achievement and busynessWhy Francis wishes he could tell his younger self to focus on the main commands of ScriptureThe danger of coveting in entrepreneurship and how to combat it through eternal perspectiveLearning to be quick to listen, slow to speak in a world that rewards constant talkingHow entrepreneurs can use their success as a platform to live counter-culturallyThe relationship between taking risks of faith and experiencing deeper fellowship with GodWhy Francis asked God not to make him rich and what that prayer teaches usNotable Quotes:"He tells me whether I eat, drink, whatever I do, do it all for the glory of God, and so even now, are the words coming out of my mouth giving glory to him." - Francis Chan"Don't you want to be a person that is known for their love and to be so much like Christ, who didn't consider equality with God something to be held on to." - Francis Chan"You don't want to be lazy with what God's given you, I would just challenge you to go, Hey, once you're on that road to success and it's actually happening, you have an incredible opportunity to live differently." - Francis ChanÂ
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Episode 343 - From World Cup Anchor to Tech Founder: Serving 40M People | Benjamin Fernandes
From Sports Anchor to FinTech Pioneer: Building Payment Infrastructure for the Next BillionJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Benjamin Fernandes, founder of Nala and Rafiki, for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, rejection, and revolutionizing cross-border payments. From covering the World Cup as a 21-year-old sports anchor in Tanzania to building infrastructure that serves millions across Africa and Asia, Benjamin's journey is filled with divine appointments, Stanford miracles, and the grit required to solve problems for the next billion customers.This episode explores the massive diaspora remittance market ($129 billion to India alone), the entrepreneurial challenge of building FinTech infrastructure in emerging markets, and why the greatest export from developing nations might just be talent. Benjamin vulnerably shares the power of rejection as fuel, the importance of gratitude, and why sometimes you have to build the bridge for the next 200 entrepreneurs coming after you.Key Topics:The $129 billion remittance market and why diaspora communities are economic powerhousesFrom failing high school to Stanford MBA: A miracle story of divine provisionBuilding payment rails in Africa vs Asia: Infrastructure challenges and opportunitiesWhy 30-35% of Nala customers are entrepreneurs funding businesses back homeThe power of rejection letters as entrepreneurial fuelGoing church to mosque: The gritty early days of customer acquisitionHow migrants enable local economies to thrive in exponential waysNotable Quotes:"There's something that's very powerful when someone tells you you can't do something." - Benjamin Fernandes"With privilege comes responsibility." - Benjamin Fernandes"I don't believe the lowest income region the world should be charged the most amount for fees, for payments." - Benjamin Fernandes
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Episode 342 - From Isolation to Impact: Connecting Entrepreneurs in Church | Carey Nieuwhof
Breaking the Silence: Why Pastors and Entrepreneurs Need Each OtherJoin host Justin Forman for an enlightening conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, leadership expert and former lead pastor, as they tackle one of the most important conversations in the modern church: bridging the gap between pastors and entrepreneurs. From his unique perspective of having served in both pastoral ministry and entrepreneurial ventures, Carey reveals why there's mutual intimidation between these two groups and how churches can unleash the untapped potential of their entrepreneurial members.This episode explores the crisis of community in entrepreneurship, why 50% of retired CEOs die within two years, and how churches possess the "convening power" to create lasting connections. Carey shares practical insights from leading churches that are successfully engaging their business leaders beyond "handing out programs and parking cars."Key Topics:The entrepreneurial isolation crisis: Why there's "no default community" for business leadersMutual intimidation: Why pastors feel inadequate around entrepreneurs and vice versaThe spiritual gift of entrepreneurship: Learning from the Apostle Paul's business modelMoving beyond volunteer tasks to meaningful engagement for high-capacity leadersHow churches can serve as "incubators" for Kingdom-minded business venturesThe difference between "real friends" and "deal friends" in entrepreneurial communitiesPractical steps for pastors to start entrepreneur-focused ministriesNotable Quotes:"I think for entrepreneurs, there's no default community. You're on your own. It's sort of the hero's journey. You start by yourself, that pioneer spirit. Within two years of retiring as a CEO, 50% of CEOs are dead." - Carey Nieuwhof"Pastors are thinking, I don't make a million dollars a year like I haven't got staff and employees like you do. I don't feel like I measure up, and I don't know, I've talked to so many pastors who are like, I know this guy or woman could give $3 million I'm terrified of making the ask." - Carey Nieuwhof"You've got some in your church, and they don't know how to contribute, and they're feeling alone and they're feeling isolated." - Carey Nieuwhof
Faith Driven Entrepreneur exists to encourage, equip, empower, and support Christ-following entrepreneurially-minded people worldwide with world-class content and community. Here, you'll find conversations with business leaders from around the world who will share how their faith affects their work.
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