This podcast is a behind the scenes look at the launch of my online teaching ministry "Unlock Your Gifts." So far, there have been stories of God moving in unexpected ways, periods of doubt where I question everything I’m doing, discouragement in the face of stern opposition from an unlikely enemy, and some tough decisions regarding when to be faithful and when to use common sense.

The journey has just begun, and the ending has yet to be written. Only God knows how this will turn out in the end…

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

In this episode I take you through my journey from restless to purposeful, from confused to laser-focused. I examine what it means to wake up every day inspired by what you're about to do and I uncover an alternative way of doing ministry that has HUGE implications. It's not every day you get a second chance in life, I wasn't about to waste mine.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up:www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax:www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

(Hint: It's probably not what you would think)

In this episode, I meet with my web development team to hammer out the details of what my new ministry will be about and ask my wife Andrea how she feels about spending $4,000 on a website.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

Why would church leaders oppose a volunteer minister asking for financial compensation for their work?

How can I move forward when the very people I'm trying to help are opposing me?

Answering these questions is critical to the survival of my new ministry.

Scripture references:

Leviticus 23:22 - Leave the edges of your field unharvested

Proverbs 11:1 - Use balanced scales in your business transactions

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 - Those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

Televangelist sound clip provided by (ironically) www.youtube.com/muslimsince2003

History is littered with ministers whose marriages disintegrated because they were too focused on pursuing ministry excellence and didn't properly prioritize the relationships in their life.

As my online ministry starts to take form, I too find myself slipping into this "tunnel vision." Will I realize my mistake in time to save my marriage or will I achieve my dreams only to realize I gave up too much to get there?

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

Would I become an expert in helping Christians discover God's calling for their life or would I go down as an imposter? A fraud?

This internal battle came to a head as I prepared for the most important speech of my life, played out on the biggest stage I could imagine.

Find out if I crash and burn or pass with flying colors as I deliver the closing keynote speech at the 2017 UNBOXED Conference.

Learn more about the UNBOXED Conference at www.unboxedconference.com

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

Will it become the wild success I'm hoping it will be?

Will I keep the momentum I gained from Unboxed and have a successful launch week?

Or will it sputter along on life support with no direction and no future?

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax

There was a new opportunity to work for my church, but it wasn't as straightforward a decision as I initially thought.

With it came a deeper question, one I would need to wrestle with for a while: is it better to be faithful or wise?

The answer was much harder to discover than I ever could have anticipated.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, or Stitcher. Learn more at www.ministrystartup.com

"I believe that the church's best days are yet to come. And I believe it's ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things that will get us there."

Theme song was written and performed by Flow Up: www.facebook.com/flowup623

Other music was written and performed by Michael Parallax: www.soundcloud.com/michael-parallax