Insert Preview

Episode 200 marks a major milestone—not just for the podcast, but for an entire movement that's reshaping how investors think about capital, impact, and stewardship.

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)

In Christ, you are not at the mercy of your every urge. You aren’t a sitting duck for the next wave of temptation to take you down. Spiritual Fitness Coach Shannon explains that there IS an escape hatch!

The Word Revealed: Jesus' Power, Provision, and Promise takes you and your discipleship partner through John, chapters 5–6, inviting you to reveal your thoughts to each other and to the people in your world!    

As our thanks for your gift today, you’ll receive two copies—one for you and one for your study/discipleship partner. For your gift of any amount.....

Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.

Everyone worships something, but can we worship God however we want? Dr. John examines God's specific instructions to Israel about where and how to worship, emphasizing that God—not us—chooses the terms of worship. A challenging message about submitting our preferences to God's design and the importance of corporate worship over individualistic spirituality.

Living the Moral Life: A Practical Application for Every Generation: Morality cannot be reduced to a bumper sticker. Neither is it the sum total of our debates, campaigns or banners. Morality is presented by how we live. The book of Deuteronomy is a second presentation of God’s Law. It contains three sermons by Moses, as Israel stands on the border of the Promised Land. In this series, Dr. John highlights chapters 12- 17 in which Moses emphasizes living out God’s commands for a moral life. Why should we listen? Because living a moral life speaks louder than any bumper sticker.

A Christian radio ministry founded by Lester Roloff in 1944. Visit roloff.org for more resources from Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises.

“Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” — Ecclesiastes 4:4

Ecclesiastes shows us how even good work can go wrong when driven by envy. What starts as diligence can quickly become a pursuit of status. Today, we’ll look at how chasing approval leaves us empty—and how God invites us into something much greater.

The Bible Project says Ecclesiastes “targets all the ways we try to build meaning and purpose in life apart from God.” It gives voice to the Preacher, who carefully exposes the emptiness of paths like pleasure, wealth, and status. In recent weeks, we’ve looked at the idols of pleasure and accumulation. Today, we turn to the idol of status.

This one can be harder to spot. The line between excellence and envy is thin. Ecclesiastes 4:4 says, “Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor.” That’s a striking thought. Our motivation may not be love of the work or calling—it’s often the quiet urge to compete. To keep up. To be seen.

That’s what status does. It whispers, You’re not enough—unless others notice you. And without realizing it, our careers, spending, and even our generosity, can become ways of proving our worth.

“Keeping up with the Joneses” isn’t just a saying—it’s a way of life for many. We compare houses, vacations, schools, and the pressure to match others can lead to debt, burnout, and dissatisfaction with what God has already provided.

And in our digital age, the pressure’s amplified. Social media showcases only the highlight reel, not the debt, exhaustion, or stress that often accompany it. But we still scroll and wonder, “Why not me?”

Ecclesiastes answers that longing with honesty. In verse 8, the Preacher describes someone who works tirelessly, builds wealth, but has no one to share it with: “There is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches…” It’s a picture of success without joy. Activity without peace. A full schedule, but an empty soul.

However, he then offers a better alternative. In verse 6, we read: “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” In other words, it’s better to have less with peace than more with anxiety. That’s not laziness—it’s wisdom. A life lived with margin, grounded in God’s provision.

This is the invitation Ecclesiastes extends: not to give up on excellence, but to anchor it in the right place. When our work flows from a love for God and a desire to serve others, it becomes a blessing, not a burden. It becomes worship.

We don’t need applause—we need peace. And in Christ, we already have it. His approval is not based on performance. It’s based on grace. That frees us from striving to be seen and lets us rest in being known.

Maybe that’s where you are—tired, overextended, wondering what you’re chasing. Ecclesiastes invites you to step off the treadmill of comparison. You don’t have to strive for identity. You already have it in Jesus.

We often see examples of this. A professional sacrifices evenings and weekends to climb the corporate ladder, only to feel lonely at the top. A family maxes out their budget to project an image, while tension quietly builds at home. These aren’t just stories—they’re warnings. And they echo Ecclesiastes’ caution about what we’re trading in our pursuit of more.

Sometimes this isn’t just about envy. It’s about fear—fear of being unseen, of being left behind. So we push harder, hoping success will quiet that fear. But only God can give the peace we’re looking for.

Contentment doesn’t mean quitting. It means redefining success

Are you concerned that today’s culture will crush your kids’ and grandkids’ faith? In this program, Chip talks about this pressing issue with his friend Aaron Pierce, head of the international missions organization Steiger. Aaron shares his ministry’s mission to reach young people all over the globe with the gospel, and why this next generation is ready to receive the hope only Jesus can offer.

I. Hope for the Next Generation

A. Chip's Heart for the Next Generation

B. Their Disengagement from Faith

II. The Cry of a Generation

A. Aaron's Passion for Global Youth

B. Devastating Consequences of Secular Humanism

C. The Church's Role and Perceived Disconnect

III. Steiger Ministry Focus for re-engaging the Next Generation

A. Empowering the Church & leaders with a missionary mindset

B. Building geniune relationships

C. Creating discipleship pathways

Broadcast Resource

• Download Free MP3

Additional Resource Mentions

• "I Choose Joy" Book
• "I Choose Joy" Home Church Study

Mid Year Match

• Mid Year Match

Connect

• 888-333-6003
• Website
• Chip Ingram App
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Partner With Us

• Donate Online
• 888-333-6003

About Aaron Pierce

Aaron Pierce is the International Mission Director of Steiger International, a rapidly-growing, worldwide mission organization that is called to reach and disciple the Global Youth Culture for Jesus. Steiger is active in over 100 cities around the world within the regions of Europe, Eurasia, Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, South America, Australasia, and North America.