Why Kingdom Factor Has Been Essential to My Leadership and Calling

For most of my life as a leader, I’ve carried a lot of responsibility—often quietly, and often alone. I’ve learned the hard way that leadership, especially when faith and purpose are involved, can be incredibly isolating if you let it be.

That realization is what eventually led me to Kingdom Factor.

Wearing Two Hats—and Feeling the Weight of Both

On a daily basis, I operate in two very different worlds. One is nonprofit ministry. We work with men in addiction recovery through a 12-month discipleship, life skills, and work program. We house them, feed them, employ them, and walk alongside them as they rebuild their lives from the ground up.

The other is a for-profit landscape company called Hope Grows. That business exists not only to generate revenue, but to employ these men—teaching them work ethic, teamwork, responsibility, and consistency.

In theory, the two organizations complement each other beautifully. In reality, they often operate on very different rails, creating constant tension, pressure, and decision fatigue. For years, I tried to navigate that tension on my own.

Eventually, I realized something had to change.

Discovering I Needed Help—and Community

I joined a Kingdom Factor group about 15 or 16 years ago. At the time, I was at a crossroads—not just professionally, but spiritually.

“I discovered pretty early that being an entrepreneur or business leader can be pretty isolating,” I’ve said often. “And I needed help. I still need help today.”

Back then, I was wrestling with a fundamental question: How do you actually run a business the way Christ would want you to? I didn’t know where to find people who were asking—and living out—that same question.

Kingdom Factor became that place.

Fifteen-plus years later, I can honestly say, “I’m still learning every single month that I go to group.” That alone should tell you something about the depth and longevity of the value.

Real Conversations That Lead to Real Results

One of the defining characteristics of Kingdom Factor is that it goes far beyond theory. The conversations are deep, personal, and rooted in real-life challenges.

Several years ago, I was researching and developing a product—trying to navigate patents, intellectual property, and a process I had never been through before. I brought the challenge to my peer group.

Someone in the room had already been down that exact road.

They said, “Hey, you need to head down this path. I know some people I can connect you with.”

That single conversation probably saved me a year of development time and tens of thousands of dollars. That’s not hypothetical value—that’s tangible business impact that came directly from trusted relationships and shared experience.

Double the Insight, Double the Impact

One of the unique blessings of my current Kingdom Factor group is its diversity. I’m surrounded by entrepreneurs, business leaders, and nonprofit leaders—people who understand both sides of the world I live in.

Because of that, I often say I get to “double-dip.”

Depending on whether the issue I’m facing is ministry-related or business-related, I can receive wisdom, accountability, and spiritual counsel from people who genuinely understand the context. That kind of tailored insight is rare—and incredibly valuable.

Unexpected Blessings Through Relationship

Kingdom Factor is not a networking group. But when relationships are deep and authentic, connections happen naturally.

Over the years, members of my Kingdom Factor community have served on boards, opened doors, and helped align both business and ministry opportunities. One experience in particular stands out.

Toward the end of last year, a fellow Kingdom Factor member—someone who deeply resonated with the mission of our addiction recovery ministry—stepped up in a significant way with financial support.

We’re still a young ministry. We’re scraping, clawing, and figuring things out as we go. That support came at exactly the right time, heading into winter, and it was nothing short of a massive blessing.

That didn’t happen because of a pitch. It happened because of relationship, trust, and shared values.

Why I Keep Showing Up—Even When I’m Busy

People often ask me how I make time for Kingdom Factor. My calendar is full. Ministry doesn’t shut off at 5 p.m. Business demands are constant. The needs are real and often urgent.

My answer is simple: if there wasn’t value—big value—I wouldn’t do it.

“Every single month, I walk away from the meeting with some nugget,” I’ve said. “There are a lot of withdrawals from my tank during the month, and I go back in there and I get filled back up.”

Kingdom Factor is one of the few commitments on my calendar that almost nothing bumps. I look forward to it. And if I ever had to choose, I’d give something else up first.

Filling the Tank the Way It’s Meant to Be Filled

As leaders, we spend most of our lives giving—serving employees, customers, families, ministries, and communities. If you’re not intentional about getting filled back up, burnout isn’t a possibility—it’s a certainty.

What Kingdom Factor provides is different from church, different from worship, and different from casual relationships. It’s real conversation.

We don’t talk enough anymore—especially in the Christian business community. In Kingdom Factor, we debate. We disagree. We challenge one another. And somehow, we do it in a way that builds trust instead of tearing it down.

There is something powerful about sitting across the table from someone, looking them in the eye, and speaking truth—or receiving it. That kind of connection is life-giving, and it’s becoming far too rare.

Why I Would Encourage Anyone Considering It

If you’re busy—and if you’re a leader, you are—you might wonder if you can afford the time. I would tell you this: you already have the time.

Vet it like you would any other investment. But know this—I’ve looked, and you won’t find this model anywhere else.

You won’t be disappointed.
You will grow.
And you won’t have to lead alone.

After more than 15 years, Kingdom Factor continues to shape how I lead, how I steward responsibility, and how I align my work with my faith. For me, it’s not optional—it’s essential.