How do I work at cultivating Christian community?

[00:00:00] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Let me start by asking you a question today. And that's this. How can I build a community of like-minded Christians to support each other in our financial journeys? Have you ever felt alone in your financial struggles, wishing you had a supportive group of fellow believers to share your experiences with? Well, today we're diving into the importance of cultivating Christian community and how it can transform your financial life.

[00:00:33] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Now, if you missed yesterday's show, I talked about what are 5 regrets of Americans who called it quits too early by retiring.

[00:00:39] Ralph Estep, Jr.: So make sure you check it out because it was packed with some valuable insights that could save you from making some costly retirement mistakes.

[00:00:49] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well, let's start with a message from one of our listeners. This one comes from Sarah. "Hello, Ralph. I've been struggling with my finances for years and often feel isolated in my journey. I know God wants us to support one another, but I'm not sure how to find, or even create a community of Christians who are open to discussing money matters. How can I work on cultivating this kind of community? Thank you for your guidance."

[00:01:14] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well, Sarah, thank you for your heartfelt message. I'm sure many of our listeners can relate to your situation. So today we're going to explore how to build that supportive Christian community you're longing for.

[00:01:28] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well, let's start with a Bible verse that speaks directly to Sarah's question. And this is a powerful verse from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." This verse beautifully illustrates the importance of community, especially when it comes to our financial lives. And it shows the transformative power of that Christian community in our financial matters.

[00:02:07] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Picture this: It's 2008 and the financial crisis is in full swing. I'm sitting at my desk. I'm staring at my computer screaming in disbelief. My investments had plummeted. Trust me. I was there. This was a struggle. My business was struggling, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of financial uncertainty. And the truth is looking back at it, that moment I have never felt more alone. I remember thinking, how did I, Ralph, a financial advisor, end up in this mess. And how can I possibly face my clients when I can't even manage my own finances. It was a tough time. The shame and isolation were overwhelming.

[00:02:48] Ralph Estep, Jr.: I knew I needed help. But I didn't know where to turn. So that Sunday, I dragged myself to church. I sat in that pew, barely listening to the sermon. And I was serving my time. And all of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and it was Bill, a fellow church member. Now I'd known Bill for years, but I never really connected with him.

[00:03:06] Ralph Estep, Jr.: And I threw the hand up. We waved to each other. And Ralph, he whispered, are you okay? That's what he said to me. Are you okay? And he said, you know, Ralph, you look like you're carrying the weight of a world on your shoulders. You know, and it was something in Bill's genuine concern that broke through my walls. And we agreed to meet after service.

[00:03:25] Ralph Estep, Jr.: We sat down, and I poured my heart out to Bill. And what surprised me was Bill shared that he had gone through a similar financial crisis years ago. And what Bill did next impact to me. He invited me to join a small group of Christian businessmen who meet weekly to discuss their finances. He told me how they prayed for each other, and they held each other one in another accountable. You know, honestly, hesitantly, I agreed to attend a meeting. Walking into the first meeting, I was nervous and still feeling ashamed. But as each person shared their struggles and victories, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.

[00:04:01] Ralph Estep, Jr.: It was a weight that needed to be lipped off. I talked to myself, here we're successful. God-fearing men who had faced similar challenges and come out stronger on the other side. And over those next few months, this group became my lifeline. They were so important to me. We studied the biblical financial perspectives together.

[00:04:20] Ralph Estep, Jr.: We share practical advice, but most importantly, we prayed for one another. They challenged me to reassess my priorities. They helped me to make tough decisions, and more importantly than that, they helped me to trust God in ways that I never before had done and never even imagined. There was one particular member.

[00:04:39] Ralph Estep, Jr.: He was a seasoned investor. He helped me restructure my portfolio. Another guy was an experienced business coach. You talk about the dream team. And he offered me some invaluable advice about streamlining my business operations that take some of that burden off. But bigger than those practical steps it was, and those things were great. It was their unwavering support and that reminder of God's faithfulness that truly transformed my outlook. That wasn't easy, but I implemented their advice, and I leaned on my faith. And it was cool to see it, but things began to turn around. My business stabilized. My investments recovered as they usually do. But more importantly than all of those things. I found a new sense of purpose in my work. But more than that, I discovered the incredible power of Christian community

[00:05:28] Ralph Estep, Jr.: and how that could help us all in navigating our financial challenges. So the truth is this experience.

[00:05:34] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Didn't just change my financial situation. It changed my entire approach to ministry. I realized that there were countless others, like me struggling silently with their finances needing both practical guidance. And spiritual

[00:05:49] Ralph Estep, Jr.: support. I saw the knee because it was affecting me.

[00:05:53] Ralph Estep, Jr.: And the truth is that's when the vision of this podcast became a reality and might look at a larger community. Began to take shape. I wanted to create a space where believers could come together, where they could share their financial journeys. And more importantly, support one another in aligning their money management God's principles now took many years.

[00:06:11] Ralph Estep, Jr.: It didn't happen overnight. But that vision took shape last November when I relaunched this podcast. So Sarah, and to all of you listening who feel alone in your financial struggles, I've been there. But I want to give you some practical steps you can take to cultivate that Christian community focused on financial stewardship. And the first thing is this. It's okay to start small. Begin by researching or searching out, reaching out to one or two trusted friends from your church. It's going to mean that you are vulnerable about your financial challenges and see if they're interested in meeting regularly to discuss finances and faith.

[00:06:49] Ralph Estep, Jr.: You'll be surprised there'll be some people interested in doing that. The second thing I would encourage you to do is to approach your church leadership. Talk to your past, or maybe you've got a small group coordinator about starting a financial stewardship group. The truth is many churches are eager to support such initiatives because they know their people are hurting. And they're really just looking for somebody to take the lead because the pastor has got enough on his plate or her plate. Number 3. Look for existing resources. Check to see if your church already has such an organization or maybe there's a local Christian organization that does that.

[00:07:22] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Maybe they offer financial classes or workshops. This can truly be a great place to start to meet like-minded individuals. Another thing. We live in number 4 and we live in this digital community. So utilize online communities. There are a ton of Christian finance forums or social media groups. You know, maybe you joined our Facebook insiders group.

[00:07:43] Ralph Estep, Jr.: I'm going to put a link to that in the show notes. I created that so you can ask questions, you can share those financial experiences with others. And they're not going to replace those in-person connections. They can be a great starting point. Maybe another idea is this. Number 5. Host of financial study. Maybe it's time to invite friends and church members to join you in studying Christian finances. Maybe find a book or some course that you can work with and let this naturally evolve into a supportive community. And this one is key.

[00:08:14] Ralph Estep, Jr.: If you want it to be successful, number 6, you've got to be the change. If you can't find a community, be brave and start one yourself. If there isn't one already out there, do something. Be brave. Start one yourself, share your vision with others and invite them to join you on this journey. Trust me, there are many people out there looking for help. And last but not least. Number 7. Start with praying for guidance. Ask God to lead you to the right people and the opportunities for building this community.

[00:08:44] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Remember, building a community takes time and effort. It's not going to happen overnight. But the reward you will get from that is immeasurable. And as you grow together in financial wisdom and faith, you'll not only see improvements in your own life, but here's the best part of it. But you'll also have the joy of supporting others on their journey and trust me. The value in that will far surpass anything you'll ever get for yourself. Well, let me recap a bit. Today we explored the powerful impact of cultivating Christian community around our financial lives. We've seen how sharing our struggles, offering support, growing together that can transform not just our bank accounts, but our entire approach to stewardship. And I'm going to encourage you. If you don't listen to anything else I say today, take that first step today. Reach out to someone.

[00:09:31] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Join a group, or even be brave and start your own. Remember. You're not meant to walk this financial journey alone. Now tomorrow we have an exciting episode lined up. I'll be interviewing Karen Hackman. Now, Karen is a couple's financial expert. We're going to talk about how handling your finances effectively as a couple. And whether you're newlyweds have been married for decades, you don't want to miss her insightful advice.

[00:09:54] Ralph Estep, Jr.: She brought it. Let me tell you right now we had a great discussion on how to bring unity to your financial life. Well, let's pray together.

[00:10:00] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your wisdom and guidance. Lord, we recognize that all we have comes from You and we desire to honor You with our resources. Grant us, we pray, the vision and courage to build a community of believers who can support one another on this financial journey. Help us to create a space where we can openly discuss our struggles, where we can share our knowledge and more importantly, Father, where we can lift each other up in prayer. Give us discernment, God to approach money matters with your perspective. Teach us to be good stewards of what You've entrusted to us cause it's all given from you. Help us to resist the temptations of greed and materialism and instead cultivate contentment and cultivate generosity. We ask for Your grace because we need Your grace, Lord, as we learn to be vulnerable, as we learn to share our financial challenges, and we learned to share those victories with one another. May our community be a place of encouragement, free from judgment, where we can grow together in financial wisdom and financial responsibility. Lord, guide us in finding practical ways to support each other, whether through education, mentoring, or some sort of tangible assistance. Show us how to love one another in this area of our lives. Help us to always remember. That our ultimate treasure is in You, not in earthly wealth.

[00:11:27] Ralph Estep, Jr.: It's not about what's in our bank accounts. May our financial choices reflect our faith and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

[00:11:38] Ralph Estep, Jr.: And if you're feeling overwhelmed by your financial situation and you need some personalized guidance, I'm here to help you. You can schedule an appointment with me just by going to askralph.com and simply click on the book a call with Ralph tab at the top of the page. And with a $150 consultation fee, I'm going to work with you to improve your personal or your business finances.

[00:12:00] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Maybe you need help getting your affairs in order. Maybe you need help grow in that business. My goal is to help you achieve all of your financial goals. So let's create a personalized plan that aligns with your faith because that's the key. It's why I do the Ask Ralph show. And let that propel you towards financial freedom. Remember this. My passion is to help you achieve financial success.

[00:12:21] Ralph Estep, Jr.: That's my goal. I want you to live out your dreams. I want you to grow in your faith. Because I know this. Together, we can master your finances from a Christian perspective. So as I always say, stay financial savvy and God bless you on this Sunday.