My Story
I am a son, brother, and husband of educators. Learning, discovering, and delighting in truth are in my genes. Through high school, college, and early career, it became clear that I was not content just to ponder. I wanted to create. And create I did: two college ministries, a (short-lived) program at a seminary, a program for a K-12 school on faith and culture, and eventually, Denver Institute for Faith & Work.
My journey as the Founder and CEO of Denver Institute for Faith & Work was borne out of a growing conviction about the gospel in Western society and my own desire to close the gap between faith and public life. It was also filled with mistakes: far too many ideas, too much naïve ambition, and too little emotional maturity and leadership acumen. I grew the hard way: trial, error, reflection, and trying once again. Yet, by God’s grace – and the grace of those around me – it grew. We raised money, hired leadership, launched new programs, forged partnerships, tested new products, moved twice, built a strong board, and grew our reach. Ultimately, we created something good. It was truly an experience of grace, from first to last.
When Denver Institute for Faith & Work was mentioned in a New York Times op-ed, I realized I was a part of something much greater than myself. Throughout the world there are men and women, motivated by faith, touching and shaping all sectors of society, from finance to the arts, from the hard sciences to social work. Through my work, I’ve had the privilege of seeing, first hand, amazing examples of transformative impact, from a real estate developer renewing small towns in America to a physician renewing medicine at a public hospital.
I feel tremendously implicated by what I’ve learned, who I’ve met, and the possibilities I see for the future. I’m a steward of the stories, relationships, and wisdom of a growing global community of faithful leaders.
Today, I’m the father of four daughters, the husband of a classical educator, and the son of a restaurant owner and public school teacher. They’ve helped me see that I’m most human at the intersection of people, ideas, and entrepreneurship.
People make life worth living. Ideas renew life with possibility. And entrepreneurship creates what the world needs.
“In today’s evangelicalism, this is where the theological action is: the faith and work movement, the intersection of Christianity with the demands of the workplace and the broader economy.”
— Molly Worthen, “What Would Jesus Do About Inequality?”, New York Times
Key Results
Transitioned DIFW to new leadership in 2022 after 10 years of healthy growth
Grew revenues from scratch to over $1M in 2020 and 2021, an annual budget size achieved by only 8% of nonprofits in the US
Built a donor base from 0 to over 250 committed givers
Hired founding team in 2016 and restructured for growth in 2021 under a VP of Advancement, VP of Formation, and VP of Operations and Finance
Forged our third fellowship partnership in 2021 and 2022, adding Richmond and Indianapolis
Grew newsletter list to over 10,000 subscribers and podcast downloads to over 50,000
Reached over 10,000 people with in-person events, served over 400,000 people online, and formed 125+ 5280 fellowship alumni
Launched CityGate, a community of leaders across the US, in 2021
Published An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God’s Purpose for the Next Season of Life in May 2019
Published cover stories for Christianity Today in October 2018 and February 2019
Launched the Faith & Work Classroom and Faith & Work Podcast in 2019 and 2020
Launched our first gathering of Women, Work & Calling in 2016 and Business for the Common Good in 2017
Launched the 5280 Fellowship in 2016
Launched Denver Institute in 2012 and held our first event, “The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology,” in Boulder, Colorado, in October 2013
Milestones
Education
Corporate Finance Institute, Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) ® - 2022-2023
Denver Seminary, Master of Divinity, Summa Cum Laude – 2006-2009
Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, International Economics & Cultural Affairs, Spanish – 2001-2005
Basecamp: Denver, Colorado
Family: Married, with four children
Enjoyment: Classic books, whiskey, Milo (my dog), and being outdoors
Where you’ll find me most weekends: At a soccer field, swimming pool, or volleyball court, or at Wellspring Anglican Church in Englewood, Colorado
Current fascination: Virtual reality
Fun fact: Hablo español…y me encanta viajar.
Growth edge: Emotional resilience…especially in light of having all daughters