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By Rich Sanders

Christian Capitalists walk a path that blends two powerful forces: unwavering faith in God through following His Son, Jesus Christ, and a deep commitment to sharing the blessings we have received from God with our poor and needy neighbors. It is not a contradiction to work hard and build financial prosperity—in fact, it is a sacred obligation to reflect God’s image, honor His blessings, and bless others in return. The Christian Capitalist Ethic offers a roadmap for living out a calling to work hard and give generously to the poor and needy in the name of Jesus Christ.

At the foundation of Christian Capitalism is the belief that everything belongs to God. All we earn, build, buy, or save originates from His creation. Our wealth is not our own—it is entrusted to us by God for a time, and with it comes the responsibility to use it wisely and generously.

Christian Capitalists work because God works. Made in His image, we are created to labor, not just to provide for ourselves, but to glorify God in all that we do. Jesus came to complete God’s work on earth, and now it is our duty to continue that work by making disciples, living with purpose, and transforming communities through faith-powered enterprise.

From the fruits of that labor, we are called to manage our financial resources with wisdom: saving for the future, investing with discernment, and protecting our families. Yet we are equally called to resist idolizing wealth.

As Christian Capitalists, we do not serve money—we serve God with our money. “The more we make, the more we give” is the slogan of this movement, and it invites people to pursue a spiritual discipline of giving. Financial gain is not a personal trophy—it’s a tool to advance God’s kingdom and serve others in need.

The Christian Capitalist Ethic reminds us that love of God and neighbor must guide every financial decision. We give to the poor and needy not for recognition or self-congratulation, but with humility, understanding that all gifts originate with God. In every gift, we shine the light of Christ, declaring not our own success, but His generosity.

Leadership, too, is redefined through this spiritual discipline. Christian Capitalists are servant leaders, placing the needs of others before their own. Whether as CEOs or entry-level workers, in every industry and walk of life, we are called to model Christ in every role, to lead with compassion, and to pursue excellence, not for our glory but for His.

Importantly, wealth is never the measure of worth for a Christian Capitalist. Whether we give two coins or millions of dollars, God loves the heart behind the offering. True wealth lies in wisdom, joy, and a closer walk with God. While earthly riches are fleeting, heavenly treasures endure.

Finally, the Christian Capitalist understands that the reward for hard work and generous giving is not status or comfort—it is joy in this life and a place in the Kingdom of Heaven in the future. Our time on Earth is brief, but what we do with it—how we work, how we give, and how we love—echoes into eternity.

To be a Christian Capitalist is to embrace the Gospel of Hard Work and Generous Giving. It’s to use every gift, every opportunity, and every dollar to love God, love people, and change the world in Jesus’ name. The more we make, the more we give!

Rich Sanders is a pastor, small business owner, retired healthcare attorney and adjunct professor at Emory University, and former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy.  He and his wife, Rebekah, met at church in 1996, have been blessed with three children (James, William and Caroline), and live in Destin with their large golden retriever, Cowboy.

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By Victoria Ostrosky

In the Gospel of John, the Beloved Disciple records Jesus’ invitation to ‘abide in Him.’   Jesus masterfully used descriptive imagery to drive His point home.  “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches.”  (John 15:4-5a) Many years later, the Apostle John penned his first letter to young churches in Asia Minor.  He encouraged them to walk as Jesus walked, “…the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”  (I John 2:6) John also inspired them to “not love the world nor the things in the world,” (I John 2:15) and heartened them with these words: “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” (I John 2:28)

In Kenneth Wuest’s expanded translation of the New Testament from the Greek, John 15:4 reads like this: “Maintain a living communion with me, and I with you.”  To Jesus, abiding means living with, making your home with, and being in constant communion with Him.  When it comes to Jesus, abiding in Him is where our power, effectiveness and ministry flow from.

Billy Milan grew up in New York City in a single parent Catholic household.  His mother worked hard to care for her children, and when he was 22, Billy joined the New York Police Department.  Some years later, he and his wife ended up living in Texas for her job, and in 2014, while vacationing in Destin and celebrating his retirement from the police force, Billy and his wife ended up purchasing a home and now live in Florida full time.

Before coming to the Lord in 2003, Billy’s difficult job in the homicide division of the police force led him to drink excessively, which led to other bad behavior.  “My household was broken on the inside.  The exterior was beautiful, but the interior was broken. When the Lord got ahold of me in 2003, it was a radical change.”

After his conversion, Billy, along with his wife, got plugged in and participated in a strong ministry in Long Island where they served faithfully for years.  But when they came to Destin and attended Destiny Worship, he felt an automatic peace.  “I feel like we’re home.”

Billy explains how his life changed after meeting Jesus, and his fellow officers saw it too.  “Police culture is not healthy and needs balance.  Jesus culture is so much better.”  Billy has learned over the years of walking with God, the importance of staying in the Word.  “I stand on my faith and stay in the Word.  Stay covered and find good Biblical counsel.  We have to step outside of ourselves and let God do what He does.  Remain faithful in prayer and in the Word.  Bad things will continue to happen, but God is true.”

Complacency is the opposite of abiding.  As Billy says, “In the spiritual world, complacency can cause spiritual death.  Stay consistent in the Word and prayer and in the church and fellowship.  Do not allow complacency to set in.”

Believers are called to maintain a living communion with Jesus.  When we walk in His footsteps, breathe in the Word, bathe our days in prayer, and actively search for opportunities to serve, that’s when we become what God designed us to be.  Salt and light; useful and effective for the Kingdom.

You can listen to Billy Milan’s entire interview and many other incredible stories on the weekly Road to Redemption radio show and podcast at www.rtrdestiny.com.

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By Kirk McCarley

Self-admittedly, James Lawrence is rather ordinary.  He lives in Utah with his wife and their five kids.  Like many of us, he seeks to eke out a living, in his case as a coach and motivational speaker.

Despite his “every man” existence, Lawrence has garnered quite a few accolades.  He completed 22 half triathlons in one year, establishing a world record.  That would be 1.2 miles swimming and 56 miles cycling, followed by a half marathon of 13.1 miles, all in one day.  Two years later, in 2012, he upped his game, achieving 30 full-distance triathlons (2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles cycling, and 26.2 miles running), another world record.  He was the first person to cycle to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, 19,340 feet in elevation.

In 2021, he completed his ultimate feat of 100 triathlons in the same number of days… consecutively.  His achievements have earned him the title of “Iron Cowboy,” attributed to the Stetson-like headwear he often wears in his marathon segments.

One would think that he possesses an extraordinary genetic marker that enables him to accomplish these ultra-human triumphs.  In fact, physicians and scientists have performed 21 different medical and genetic tests on Lawrence.  The results:  James Lawrence possesses exactly zero special physical attributes.  Physically, there are no markers that distinguish him from any other 46-year-old male.

In his book, “Iron Hope,” Lawrence speaks of both the physical and mental pain that he experienced.  It was not uncommon that during some of his runs, he blacked out, only to be revived by a member of his support team.  The torment could be excruciating at times:  blisters, shin splints, strains; pain levels described as much as 18 or 20 on a “scale of one to 10.”  Swimming at temperatures below freezing, cycling into head winds gusting up to 50 mph, running in snow, turning to rain, then deteriorating to ice were characteristic of his March to June 100 triathlons.

Lawrence’s experiences provide lessons for the less physically driven.  “Whenever you struggle, you have a choice—slip into victim mentality or learn and grow and become better from the struggle.  You must remind yourself that you are not a victim, not in this season, not in your mindset, and not in this moment of intense difficulty,” he tells us.

It was almost a year ago, at a nearby location off the Gulf of Mexico that 15-year-old Lulu Gribben encountered a shark while swimming just off the shore during a family vacation.   Bit multiple times, and with her life very much hanging in the balance, Lulu was airlifted to a hospital, where life-saving surgery was performed that included amputations of her right leg below the hip and left hand.  Lulu inspired many of us by first surviving the attack, but then accepting the realities of amputation, adjusting to prosthetic devices, and remarkably returning to school just 15 weeks following the incident.

Today, she inspires us and even joined professional golfer Justin Thomas to knock down a putt during a Pro-Am event.  Of that opportunity, Lulu commented, “This has been an experience of a lifetime.”  Thomas added, “There aren’t many kids her age that’d be that positive.  You’re affecting and inspiring more people than you realize.”

None of us are in James Lawrence’s league; likely, very few will ever run a marathon or cycle a hundred miles in a day.  Most of us will not experience the pain that both Lulu and he have gone through.  They do inspire us, though, to consider our own stories.  For example, what may have been the struggle to raise a family on limited resources?  What was the impetus to persevere?  What was it like to lose a spouse or a child?  How do you overcome an inequity, be it a wrongful job loss, an unfair settlement, or another kind of injustice?  What are the lessons to be learned?  Most importantly, what is sensed as a duty to be shared for the benefit of others?

While we may be ordinary like James Lawrence or Lulu Gribben, there is not one of us who is not special.  What is your “specialty?”  What is something you can do today to have an impact and provide the wisdom of that experience to someone?  For sure, it may be a stretch, a discomfort maybe, but it’s always the first plunge in the cold water, the initial pedal stroke on the bike, or the first step in the race that’s the most difficult.  What’s holding you back today?   Let’s go!

A graduate of the University of North Texas, Kirk McCarley is a Certified Professional Coach as well as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM-CP Certified. He is also a Production Assistant for both college football and basketball for ESPN and leads group cycling classes as a Certified Spinning instructor. Contact kirk@theseedsowercoach.com, theseedsowercoach.com, or call  314-677-8779.

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By Reverand Pete Hyde

“There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Even though the hospital room is dark, it is filled with excitement, anticipation, anxiety, discomfort, joy, worry, and happiness.  Though the air conditioning has made the room cool, it is filled with warmth.  The new mom and dad dote over the newborn child.  Dad does his best to take care of his wife and the new baby. His face is lined with worry and the bags under his eyes reveal his lack of sleep.  Emotions are on edge.  Grandma holds the child as she squeaks and coos.  Grandpa takes a turn when it’s offered.  Other family and friends filter in and out.  The new parents try to rest when they can, knowing that their schedule is no longer their own.  Surrounding all of it is JOY–not happiness, but JOY.  Goodbyes were hard.  Tears were choked back.

The nursing home hallway is filled with lonely souls in wheelchairs. Some faces are blank while others offer a smile and wave as people walk by.  The uncomfortable fragrances come and go as they make their way down the hallway to Mom’s room.  Her face lights up as she recognizes her visitors, even if it is just for a moment.  The conversation drifts in and out as memories come and go like surfing the channels on the TV.   Long ago memories are shared while keeping track of recent events (even today’s) is hard.  The visit was long enough, but wasn’t long enough.  Goodbyes were hard.  Tears were choked back.

He makes his way around the house with his new friend– the walker.  Though struggling with his health and independence, he dutifully does the exercises the physical therapist has prescribed, hoping and praying to regain his independence.  He likes having the kids around, but probably feels like he is causing an imposition.  If truth be spoken, he would rather have the house to himself again.  Yet, he is enduring this time without complaint, still trying to be the rock of the family.  He is a proud man of deep faith who sits in the front room in the sun each morning reading his daily devotion.  Goodbyes were hard.  Tears were choked back.

I marvel at the way God is working in each situation.  Wishing circumstances might be different, I am still thankful for God’s hand in all of this, even though I don’t understand His timing.  But yet, the passage from Ecclesiastes jumps from the page.

“There is time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:  A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and time and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”  (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)

Whatever your time in life or whatever your experience of where others are in the times of their lives, be assured that it is all God’s timing, even though we may not understand it.  May you be filled with God’s timing and blessing.

Rev. Pete Hyde serves as chaplain with the South Walton Fire District

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