SUMMARY 

What do we do when God asks us to make business risks for His kingdom? This episode dives into the world of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) with two incredible stories of how God leads ordinary people into extraordinary ventures.

In the first half, we sit down with Matt Barnes, an ETA who acquired a laundry service, as he shares his story of how the Lord guided him into and through this journey of business ownership. In the second half, you'll hear a live recording from our annual Business for the Common Good event, where Denver Institute founder Jeff Haanen interviews another ETA, Bob Larkin. Each entrepreneur brings a unique perspective on integrating faith into business, creating caring work environments, and the risks and rewards of following God’s call in the marketplace. Together, their stories highlight the importance of community, wisdom, and a vision for businesses that prioritize both employee well-being and spiritual growth.

HIGHLIGHTS 

On Ownership as Shepherding

"We bought a small business and we're functionally the shepherds or pastors of this group of people, most of which don't find themselves in church. And we think that that's an incredible opportunity to glorify the Lord in excellence in what we do, provide a service to the front range, and then care for our employees and their families while we do it." - Matt Barnes

On Risk

 "....First and foremost is surrendering to the Lord's will. Treatment tech belongs to the Lord. It's very obvious to me in how he brought the business to the table, right? That's a huge blessing to look at one business and that be the business that you acquire and allow it to grow. And so every day I can look at Treatment Tech and say, this is yours, Lord. When things are going well, you're blessing us. When things are challenging, you're teaching us. And In both circumstances, you're drawing us closer to you, and I'm open to both of those." - Bob Larkin

RESOURCES 

• Download the episode transcript here
• Learn more about Matt Barnes redemptive business story here from Christ At Work or this video by Aquiring Minds 
• Nominate a Founder or Mentor for our upcoming Denver Redemptive Lab this Fall November 12 to 14, 2025. Learn more about this 40-hour retreat intensive HERE.
• The 5280 Fellowship is a 5-month learning community of spiritual formation, theology for work, and professional development that equips early- to mid-career Christian professionals to more faithfully engage their work. Applications for the 2026 cohort open on Monday, Sept. 1!
• If you enjoyed the interview with Bob Larkin, join us at Business for the Common Good 2026 as we celebrate our 10th year of gathering business leaders on the Front Range.

Summary

In this episode of the Faith and Work Podcast, we delve into the profound insights shared by Dr. Uli Chi at the Business for the Common Good annual event. As we navigate an era inundated with information and artificial intelligence, Dr. Chi challenges us to seek wisdom—a rare and invaluable asset. Through personal stories and biblical teachings, he explores the essence of wise leadership, emphasizing that wise leadership is human leadership. He also highlights the surprising spiritual discipline of sleep as essential for wise leaders. Join us as we uncover how to cultivate wisdom in our lives and lead with purpose for the common good.

Wherever you’re listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we’re doing here. It’s a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us. 

On humility

"Humility is the noble choice to forego your status, deploy your resources, or use your influence for the good of others before yourself."

On rest

"Being wise means recognizing the gift of being finite creatures, not least by containing our compulsion for ceaseless work."

• Download the episode transcript
• Uli Chi references an image that was projected during the event. You can view that painting HERE. 
• Learn more and register to attend Business for the Common Good 2026

SUMMARY 

In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, Ross Chapman is joined by Matt Randerson of Barna Group to offer a sneak preview of the Trends at Work data report set to be released soon. Drawing from this new research, Matt unpacks key themes—like influence, compassion, and change—that are reshaping workplace culture across the U.S. You’ll hear what the data reveals about employee well-being, faith integration, and what really drives retention and satisfaction at work. Whether you're leading a team or just starting out, this episode will challenge and equip you to shape culture in ways that reflect God’s heart for your workplace.

HIGHLIGHTS 

On vulnerability in the workplace 

"Vulnerability about what's happening in our personal lives I think the idea of bringing more of our full selves into the workplace that does have complexity with it for sure but it goes back to that idea that the workplace is starting to take on more weight and expectation and so when we are experiencing something on the weekend or we're experiencing a challenge within our family or personal lives we are more inclined to probably want to bring that into the workplace. And so I know that requires more energy of all of us, but I think it's our opportunity, whether we are individuals or managers, to recognize that vulnerability is a part of the human experience. It's a part of the way that God designed us. Vulnerability opens us up to care for one another, to administer compassion, as we talked about in the framework. And so for all of us, how can we actually help cultivate a sense of trust and vulnerability in our workplaces because it's pretty essential to the experience."

On the CEO experience

"...20 % of CEOs say that they always are often are feeling lonely at work and 19 % are saying, they always are often feeling burned out. Those numbers are very similar for non-CEOs. So maybe there's comfort in recognizing, hey, loneliness and burnout is a common shared experience, whether you're the CEO or you're a manager or an individual contributor."

RESOURCES

• Download the episode transcript
• If this topic interested you, you can explore more the more about the Trends @ Work report and similar studies at https://www.barna.com/trends-at-work/ 

YOU'RE INVITED

• Culture is what you’re really leading: A gathering to explore new research on how your workplace is forming people and gain leadership insights to help you lead a thriving organization.
• Wednesday, August 27, 2025
• 7:30 am - 9:30 am
• Greenwood Community Church, 5600 E Belleview Ave.,Greenwood Village, CO 80111
• Cost: $30, full breakfast included

SUMMARY 

In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, Ross Chapman welcomes Robin John, CEO of Eventide Asset Management, to discuss his new book The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World. Robin shares how his personal journey—from growing up in India to working in finance—shaped his vision for investing that advances the common good. He offers a biblical framework for aligning your financial decisions with values that honor human dignity and promote justice. This conversation invites you to see investing not just as a way to grow wealth, but as a meaningful opportunity to join God’s redemptive work in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS 

On values

• "...it doesn't matter what Robin John's values are. What I really want to do is to try to explain what I see in the Bible. What are the values that I see God wanting us to promote in the world? And ultimately, the freedom and dignity of all people is something that really matters to God. And so life at all stages, it's very much connected to that as well. And so for us, we want to be investing in companies that promote life, that promote dignity, that promote freedom, and that could mean freedom from addiction."

On generosity

• "Our generosity should be holistic. You know, when a person chooses to be a teacher, when they can become an investment banker, they've made a decision to love their community. That is God-honoring decision. Maybe the investment banker can make more and give more, but generosity, think as Christians, we have to be careful not to measure generosity only by what we give away. It's how we live our lives. It's where we choose to work, how we choose to work, how we choose to make our money, where we choose to invest or allocate capital. These are all generosity decisions. And then we should give away our money as well. That's part of generosity."

RESOURCES

• Download the episode transcript
• Order The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World by Robin John before July 22, 2025 and receive a 20% discount for pre-ordering. LINK HERE to pre-order with discount or order on Amazon HERE.
• Learn more about the book, Robin John & Eventide at GoodInvestor.com
• Read the Biblically Responsible Institute's Investing Study HERE

YOU'RE INVITED

Join author Robin John & Denver Institute for a book launch celebration

• Monday, November 17, 2025
• 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Denver Institute Office 8100 E Arapahoe Rd, Suite 303 Centennial, CO 80112
• Cost: Free; registration required. All guests will receive a free copy of Robin’s book!
• RSVP HERE

SUMMARY

In this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, hosts Joanna Meyer and Brian Gray engage with metallurgist Chloe Johnson, exploring her unique journey in the sciences, the pressures of achievement, and the intersection of faith and science. Chloe shares her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, the importance of humility, and how art can bridge the gap between technical work and creativity. The conversation emphasizes the need for balance in scientific work, the pressures faced in the industry, and offers encouragement for those pursuing careers in science.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS 

On truth:

• "All truth is God's truth."

On achievement:

• "Be in love with science, be in love with what you're doing, but have no pressure that that's like your end all be all. And don't put so much pressure on yourself. I think it's really easy to follow the cycle of achievement. Where's your next accomplishment coming from? Are you on enough committees? Are you doing enough extracurricular work? And I fall into this trap all the time. Sometimes it's okay to just enjoy something and not get it done."

RESOURCES

• Download the episode transcript here
• Reigniting Awe: How a 5280 Fellow Inspires Artists and Scientists through Collaboration
• The Bible Project is a great tool that Chloe used when learning how to integrate her faith and work
• Chloe's Book Recommendation: The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton 
• If you liked this episode, check out WONDER: A Scientist’s Gift to the Church with Jennifer Wiseman Podcast
• Join us in Denver, CO July 19 for the public event for Christians thinking about Science: Science, Stewardship, and the Kingdom: A Public Lecture with Dr. Abram Bicksler

In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of ECHO, to explore how science, faith, and stewardship intersect in the world of sustainable agriculture. As part of our Voices from the Workplace series, Dr. Bicksler shares how his calling has led him from rural farms to the United Nations, all rooted in a commitment to creation care and serving the poor. Together, we discuss what faithful scientific work looks like, the church’s role in supporting those in the sciences, and why every occupation—including agroecology—can be a gospel-centered vocation.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS

On Your Skills

"We need every occupation to be a gospel-center occupation and to use your skills, your god-given gifts, the way that god has wired you to bring about the kingdom of God, right here and right now."

On the Role of the Church

"I’d love to see the church get more worked up about what's right in front of our faces, in terms of how is our pollution, how are the greenhouse gasses which we are polluting in the world, affecting our neighbors in Bangladesh? How are they affecting the ecosystems and the species that we are losing everyday? How are they leading increased droughts and unpredictability of rain that are causing famine and starvation of our global neighbors."

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."  

• Download the Episode Transcript Here
• Join us on July 19, 2025 in Denver at the American Scientific Affiliation public event to hear more from Dr. Bicksler. Open to all!
• Check out Biologos for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences
• Other Organizations mentioned: World Relief, World Vision 

In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we talk with Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy, about leading a clean energy company with purpose. Tom shares how his faith shapes his work in climate innovation, community impact, and workplace culture. From solar panels to leadership challenges, this conversation offers hope and insight for anyone seeking to do good work in a complex world.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS

On Hope

"One of the really cool things about this industry though, is that we get to take hope from the sun rising every morning. You know, like that is the source ultimately of all this energy we produce is the sun. And so, you know, a day like today, it's a beautiful spring day in Colorado, not a cloud in the sky, the sun shining. There's a lot of political headwinds and yet, you know, I wake up and I look out and like, well, okay, this is... You know, cause it's not just that it's producing solar energy in our projects, but it's this beautiful part of the world. And we get to benefit from that in multiple ways. So that's honestly a key source of hope. And I think that's one of the beauties of God's creation is that, you know, day by day we recognize it's not just about us, that what's in our heads is not the biggest thing out there. And there's all these reminders of that from creation."

On Motivation

"Well, I think it's always been in the mix... [of] seeing the beauty of creation around us and feeling like part of what I can do to live in a faithful way is to live in harmony with creation as best I can and honor and glorify the beauty of the world around us. So I think that's a big motivator for why I work in clean energy."

• Download the Episode Transcript Here
• Learn more about Pivot Energy and their work
• Subcreation: a term popularized by J.R.R. Tolkien, refers to the act of creating or shaping something within a framework of existing reality, rather than creating from nothing, as God is said to do

In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, former Vectren CEO Carl Chapman shares how decades in the energy industry shaped his view of leadership, service, and faith. From navigating environmental challenges to investing in community partnerships and employee well-being, Carl offers thoughtful insights on balancing business priorities with a deeper sense of purpose, and reminds us that it's not that complicated to choose to "do the right thing" at any level of your leadership.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS

4 C's of Success:

1. Colleagues
2. Customers
3. Community 
4. Capital

On Community Impact

"That's true today. Customers, many of them, have a difficult time paying their utility bill. And that's something that you have to focus on. We can't just ignore that reality. And so what we saw was a couple of things. One was we thought that we would be able to help our communities. And maybe beyond what the typical business even sees, the utility business is heavily impacted by how strong their community is because of the customers there... So we felt strongly that this not only was the right thing to do, but was also the right business issue because we really could go in and help our communities. That meant we might have conservation programs and efficiency programs for our customers."

RESOURCES

• Download the Episode Transcript Here

Tariffs are back in the headlines—so what should Christians make of them? Economist Dr. Kenneth Barnes joins us to unpack how trade policies, rising prices, and global tensions intersect with our everyday work and Gospel witness. In a world where economic headlines stir fear, we explore how the gospel reframes our perspective and response. This timely conversation will challenge you to think biblically about policy, productivity, and peace.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS 

On Economies of Mutuality

"That has also uniquely given us the ability to create technology. And that's important because it's technology that ultimately creates wealth. And so what we do with that and how we treat our neighbors... all comes down to our means of exchange. And if our means of exchange is fair, if it's just, if it's genuinely relational and mutual, everybody benefits."

On God's Vision for the Economy

Ross Chapman: "If you had to summarize God's vision for economics in a sentence or two, what would it be? How could you make that as clear and understandable based on scripture? What would you say that is?"

Dr. Kenneth Barnes: "I would say: Just Flourishing."

RESOURCES 

• Download the Episode Transcript Here
• Books By Dr. Barnes: 
  • NEW - Sabbath as Resilience: Spiritual Refreshment for a Stressed-Out World
  • Redeeming Capitalism
• Economic Wisdom Project
• Free Denver Institute Download - Deep Rest: A Study of Sabbath
• Harvard Study on Flourishing - Explore the 6 Dimensions of Flourishing 

QUOTES

• “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” - Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
• “God doesn’t need your good works, but your neighbor does.” - Martin Luther

DICTIONARY OF TERMS

• Worker par excellence: being an example of excellence; superior; preeminent
• Egality: a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced
• Abberation: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome
• "Bretton Woods Agreement":The creation of a fixed currency exchange rate pegged to the gold standard
• Macheavellian: cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics
• Prescient: having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
• Impetus: the force or energy with which a body move
•  נוּחַ (nuach): The Hebrew word meaning "to rest" or "to be at rest". It can also imply settling down, remaining, or finding repose. 

Kathy Stewart, a longtime retail professional and personal stylist, who shares how God brings beauty and dignity into everyday retail spaces. Kathy reflects on how the sales floor can be a place of ministry—where stories are heard, confidence is restored, and people are seen as image-bearers of God. She also speaks to the redemptive value of beauty, the challenges of fast fashion, and the quiet power of faithfulness in the workplace. This conversation is a rich reminder that wherever people are, ministry can happen—even in the fitting room.

Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.

HIGHLIGHTS

On Beauty: 

"I just think in general, this whole conversation, and this is kind of my anthem of beauty is marked as vain, fake, complicated. These are the words we have pegged it as, and I just wholeheartedly disagree. That actually isn't what beauty is. We have distorted it into that. And I think there's a different way, right? When we put beauty on display, we actually reflect our creator. And we are made in his image."

On Being Too Much:

[Jesus said to me], "So you are one human out of nine billion just right now. So everything you got to give, it doesn't even pale in comparison to who I am and what I have to give. So my daughter, you reflect me, you bear my image, and I'm way more. I'm the galaxies. I'm the galaxies above the galaxies above the galaxies. So you can't be too much because you're a piece of me."

RESOURCES

• Download the episode transcript

• Join us at WWC25 Nov. 7, 2025!

• Uncharted International