Solving the World's Greatest Problems

Why We're Solving the World's Greatest Problems

There are 1.8 million nonprofits in the United States and only about 4,500 publicly traded companies. That gap is the whole problem — too many good hearts, not enough coordination. In the first episode of Solving the World's Greatest Problems, co-founders Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman sit down together to launch a bold new chapter of the movement they started eight years ago.

Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman co-founded Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor, growing a global movement across 130 countries and 55,000 foundation course participants. In this launch conversation, they trace the journey from stewardship to generosity to investing — and cast vision for why the next chapter isn't about giving more, but deploying differently.

Key Topics:

This isn't a rebrand — it's a reordering. God doesn't need anyone's five loaves and two fish. He wants the people who hold them, deployed toward the fight He's already in. Eight Funds are live right now, and more foundation courses are launching every month this fall.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform. Then join the solvers at solving.org.

• Chuck Bentley, CEO of Crown Financial Ministries and founder of the Christian Economic Forum, explores innovative solutions to global food insecurity
• Featured story of Craig Deall, whose Foundations for Farming program has reached 1.6 million small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe
• Discussion of Africa's agricultural potential, with 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land
• Insights from Ndidi Nwuneli on Africa's agricultural ecosystem and potential for transformation
• Case study of Kentegra, a US-Kenya company revolutionizing farming through sustainable pyrethrum flower cultivation
• Overview of how solving food scarcity creates cascading positive effects in education, entrepreneurship, and community development
• Call to action for investors and donors to support sustainable agricultural initiatives

Acknowledgements 

Special thanks to Chuck Bentley for hosting and narrating this episode, to Craig Deall for sharing his powerful story of forgiveness and transformation, Ndidi Nwuneli for her strategic insights on African agriculture, Richard Okello of Sango Capital for his perspective on investment opportunities, and the President of Madagascar for highlighting the implementation of Foundations for Farming in his country. Additional gratitude to the team at Crown Financial Ministries and the Christian Economic Forum for their support in producing this episode.

In this episode, we explore how solving major global challenges doesn't always require grand gestures or massive resources—it starts with taking the first step. Through Suzanne Daniel's remarkable journey, we learn how small beginnings can lead to significant impact.

• 00:00:06 - Introduction: The parallel between IKEA instructions and tackling global problems
• 00:02:31 - Suzanne's background and early life in New Jersey
• 00:03:28 - Her initial career aspirations as a veterinarian and early signs of philanthropic thinking
• 00:04:28 - The unexpected transition into philanthropy through her father's foundation
• 00:06:54 - Development of the Bridge Scholarship program in Haiti
• 00:08:25 - The pivotal moment at a Haitian manufacturing facility
• 00:09:37 - Learning the complexities of impact investing
• 00:12:43 - Balancing family life with philanthropic work

"The spirit is working while we're sleeping." - Suzanne Daniel

"These founders didn't start companies because they love business. They started their companies because they loved helping people and employing people and growing opportunity for people." - Suzanne Daniel

Guests: Andy Crouch, Amy Crouch, Jonathan Haidt, Tristan Harris

Adults spend an average of 4.5 hours on their smartphones every day.

The scale of our addiction to technology is only getting worse. In our lives and the lives of our children, smart devices suffocate us. We struggle to turn away and turn them off.

What can we do to solve technology addiction?

It’s not about looking the other way. Technology will always be with us. Christians can shape it in a redemptive direction while also keeping it in its proper place.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you see parallels between historical cigarette marketing and current technology marketing? What lessons can we learn from this comparison?
2. The episode mentions creating "rules where there is misery." What areas of your digital life might benefit from clearer boundaries?
3. How can families implement technology boundaries without creating resentment or resistance from children?

Pornography is viewed regularly by 64% of Christian men and 30% of Christian women.

Porn sites receive more monthly traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and X combined. In fact, according to researcher and author Jay Stringer, people watched 4.6 billion hours worth of pornographic videos on a single site in just one year. Or roughly 5,000 centuries’ worth of time.

What can we do to solve sexual brokenness?

Creating real solutions that are biblically based, scientifically informed, and gospel-centered isn’t just a responsibility—it’s an opportunity for revival and growth.

Join us in October to hear the story of a group of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs and Investors who set out to bankrupt Porn Hub, one of the largest distributors of pornographic material. Learn how these efforts are working to cripple a $97 billion industry.

We recognize the difficult stories shared in this episode. If you are a survivor of abuse and looking for help, please go to justicedefensefund.org/#find-help.

“Note: The audio and story of Laila Mickelwait is sourced from the linked video & interviews.

A recent report from the World Economic Forum forecasts a shortfall of 14 million jobs.

Unemployment is costly. The adverse effects of joblessness correlate with deteriorating mental and physical health and increased mortality.

A good and meaningful job on the other end of the spectrum, can be what an individual needs to find financial security and purpose.

What are the dominoes that need to fall to solve joblessness? In this episode, we’ll travel around the world, to see how Christians are building, giving, and investing in ways that create jobs.

Why is the name of Coca-Cola more recognizable than the name of Jesus around the world?

According to their claims, Coca-Cola has reached over 90% of the world’s population, leaving only 780 million who haven’t heard the gospel of a fizzy drink. The popular brand name is the second most understood word in the world, right after “okay.”

The numbers for Christianity aren’t even close. The Good News of Jesus Christ has yet to reach 3 billion people and more than 7,000 people groups. 

What can we do to solve gospel poverty?

In this episode, we hear from David Platt, Mart Green, Bobby Gruenewald, and more as we explore how an Oklahoma bookstore owner found massive wins in the Bible translation, how a smartphone app can increase bible access, and how translators are laying down their agency flags for the sake of a unified vision. 

Where to donate: https://illuminations.bible/give/

Research cited: https://joshuaproject.net/ 

“We have power and we have to discern how we use that power with like-minded Christians.”—Bill Wichterman

Close to half of the people in the world have had little or no exposure to the Gospel.

9.2% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day.

More than 150 million children work in dangerous or exploitative conditions, and 40 million people are enslaved, which is more than at any other time in history.

800 million people suffer from hunger. And 1 in 10 people on the planet lack access to clean water.

These are just some of the problems plaguing our world today. What can we as faithful followers of Christ do? Let’s be clear—without God, we could do nothing. But he continues to reveal a way forward for us. And his Church is winning.

Join us for our premiere episode as we introduce you to a growing movement of Christians who are building, investing, and giving to solve the world’s greatest problems.