Our Call to Create

okay anyone here from a non-protestant church no non Protestant okay yeah so this this is a tricky part because Protestant is sing songs and non [Protestants] they don't and I actually come from M[—] originally so I I I I am not allowed to [sing] in my original service but in CHC I go to in Singapore I go to CHC … and the disclaimer it [will] be my first worship in my life

each of us affect just so many people around us which are our clients our employees so actually we have a lot more responsibility because uh wherever we show wherever we behave eventually how people will look at Christianity overall and it will change their lives as well so decisions we make is very important everybody's important but ours even even way more important

this song we are singing in C[H]C a lot I recently learned that this song is just created by City Harvest Church I didn't know about this actually I'm not very good in um um knowing the [Protestant] songs but I really like it

it has a second highest uh turnover rate of employees across after travel … so we build software to empower marketers to be better marketers so that they really love what they do so they no longer need to do politics … I think people don't need to lie people don't need to choose between lying and uh uh feeling that they're not good in what they do

I was very inspired um then and very convinced that uh Jesus did his ministry in the marketplace um not only in the church but in the marketplace but that set at the back of my mind and until recent years I was exposed to Marketplace Ministry

I just came here to Singapore because I get got married to someone here so I moved in like a week or two ago so he's the one who encouraged me to come and uh take this course

I got to know Christ through Alpha [course] at the time um I'm now with NCC [New Creation] church … I run my own VC investment Club

I came to Christ through my wife uh around 9 years ago … through my wife God touched me and since then never turned back so I'm now worshiping in Hope Church … I'm looking for a community also as well

I'm a [free] thinker by the way I I did not know this uh God this a Christian event … I do actually found out that a lot of people now they feeling quite unhappy with their life … they feel that they are stuck in a way in their own uh uh career

I'm a fourth generation Christian both my father's side and my even my mother's side yeah they from China but since then yeah my grandfather was telling me about his father how he helped the church to carry money on on himself and almost [got] Rob[bed] but God protected him on the bus

I started this thing called the designing your life Institute … so that everyone actually has the tools to be able to design a more meaningful and purposeful life but also through a faith lens actually it's for people to find their purpose and call

my son said this so scam me some Prof sent a text to me … if I can meet and partner with anyone uh to do things for God uh make a difference to life let's do it together doesn't matter your background even uh for you you know all right that you don't know God yet is fine yeah let's do things together for God yeah if you don't know him doesn't mean that he doesn't know [you]

I have a first call from the Lord uh because of a a major health scare … I've been in tech industry for like 26 years uh I'm very proud of my golden corporate handcuff uh and when the Lord says it's time to come out I was like no you're too early Lord … I'm not like all of you I'm not brave I'm not obedient I'm just totally not interested to step out cuz I'm so comfortable in corporate … actually the Lord brought me to Central Asia

God shows up when you least expect too … most of times when I'm going through something difficult … God always gives me the clarity and the peace … entrepreneurship for me has also been one of the toughest things that I've done in my whole life

I had kind of my own um encounter with God when I was about 12 and kind of very much in Despair … I've been here in Singapore for 17 years … married to a Singaporean so I think that's the that's the the foreign Talent recruitment program they never tell anyone about

one of the words that was um pray over uh my wife and I was this word uh pivot … we help uh one of the Ministries to continue to reach out to uh migrant um workers who have left Singapore … I'm here today to figure out how to uh maybe bring uh God in a super intentional and uh tangible way

I prayed this prayers um to the one true God please speak to me … one of my friends in the same call to fast and pray for me … when he spoke something from the scriptures that broke down and cry in McDonald's

before I got to know God I was a heavy smoker … one day I just had the strength to just quit smoking and why is this a fun fact is because whenever I tell this um to my friends who are non believers they want to know more about it

Jesus has also uh led me to and blessed me to be able to run Financial agency … I've never been someone who's wanted to do Finance at all … I'm hoping to be able to learn more about how we can expand the business in terms of um bringing more faith-based values into the business

he didn't uh preach to me or you know he he he didn't try to convert me … he was losing his eyesight and eventually he went blind … every time for my birthday he will call me … his wish was for me to know God so uh so that's how I came to Christ

they were in Thailand and saw a lot of Miracles for myself I saw blind people seeing for the first time … babies with very big bellies because of Mal nutrition just get heal overnight so for me my faith became very real when I saw that for myself at 16

in Singapore many of we're seeing a demographic shift a lot of students um parents uh maybe mom is from Vietnam dad goes to China half of the year and they're quite lost so that's my passion

I do talk about C[hrist] to clients sometimes … you don't get clients and you pray and then you get like five in one day coming at the same time … I'm trying to always remind employees and and and friends that hey mathematically this is not possible you look at our cohorts at our pipelines it's going to happen no it's not going to happen … they're like [luck luck luck] okay [luck] sure then next time [luck] again

he started putting Christian [tracts] and the things that he sent out which was not the company's not the company's policy … once you have served well once you have done things well once you have helped and youve and you've built then you earn the right in a sense to begin to to share but I said if you do it preemptively or if you do it in a way that that that that is is not reflecting Excellence you you turn people off

I said there's only one other thing I can do to possibly help you to to have a successful outcome to the pitch and they said what is that I said can I pray for you and sometimes they would go I'm not a Christian I said can I pray for you anyway … I only did it at the end other words I did it as an outflow of doing things well

once I was in in um visiting a monastery and one [monk] told me that everybody [gets] to God through their own way it's not that you can just you know copy somebody's else way and then become [a believer] … we should we should also give it time and find the right moment

running F[&B] for for missional purposes … was never over[t] uh in sharing the gospel um but uh just being there for people and pray for them um there are people who just came to God just because of that … we should not separate um secular and sacred … this whole idea of [sacred] and secular is very Greek in terms of the thinking … they are Christ incarnate their behavior

I met up with a fellow Singaporean who is uh attending this course so um she's a little bit younger than me so what I did is uh basically I met her needs by um guiding her and uh showing her ways so that uh the road for her is easier

we were adopting this concept of Redemptive entrepreneurship which is you give first like you sacrifice and and then then then then you receive as a success of your business … how do I make my employees not to quit my job or should I rather say how do actually do good to them so that kids get educated

although I'm free thinker sorry … there's something happening in China that now the youngster are feeling more and more hopeless for their life because of the current economic uh structure that uh there's a [word] called T[ang ping] in China which means you you just do nothing … it's not because they don't want to fight it's because the current structure that give them really limited spaces … so to me is like it's quite similar to what God want us to do

I've seen a lot of these ads in Internet that telling me that um if I do this and that and attend some course and then I can get uh a side [income] that I would never need to work anymore and I completely cannot understand it … they are the the consequence of a lot of lot of small actions and decisions

no I don't have a [culture shock] because um our area there has also several cultures … we have 14 different ethnic groups in Lebanon so we're used to having different religions different sects … I'm ready to share my values uh with the people here in Singapore … to me I'm a workaholic so I love uh working I'm I hate 8 to five jobs

when I came to Singapore I realized that uh there's no teachers at all but there so many people want to learn … opening a company or like a community called accordion Singapore … now this community that has nothing to do with me anymore they go and uh they play for Elder … Chinese Elder … this is the childhood that they can relate to … in Russia where I came from originally like many people play

on a Case by case basis we can give free rental so the cost of production production space zero rental fantastic right … but obviously we still need to have you know to be a profitable company so we may maybe like um profit sharing not profit sharing um some kind of profit guarantee for us

I would classify myself as a PK a pastor's kid whereby in my entire family it's all about building churches it's all about sharing the gospel … I was a second hand uh Christian because of that uh and there was a point of time where I felt very hopeless as a creative just because because especially in Singapore at least it's like it's not if you are not aiming for a corporate job you tend to be looked down upon

finding hopelessness in the fact that it's it's it's all meaningless in a way … that's when like Jesus showed up in my life … I've chosen you to make something you know like I I created you for a reason … building relationship building communities is quite similar with how a church Works

it felt like God is calling me back but in a way that it is in know it's it's it's like it's not just church but in the business … your character is a reflection of who God is and I would prefer if people come to you and be like why are you like this like how come you have so much hope

you cannot operate with fears … or you could you know choose to put effort and your creativity and your talent to explain things so great so easy and so relatable to the people who really need it they will buy it … sometimes to switch from a short cutting to doing things right

I have been in situation when my revenues [dropped] completely to zero just complete plain zero start from beginning in one day because two countries are fighting against each other now um yeah if you know what I mean but yeah I own it yeah on the paper still owning it very good but but I had to restart

in the Kingdom there are no strangers they're just friends we haven't made yet … we will no longer see a sacred [and] secular divide but we'll realize that you are king and Lord over all things

I'm [M002]. I am not Singaporean. I'm Filipino, but I'm here on an [employment pass]. I work for Shopify as an implementation solutions engineer. But on the side, I am building an agency with my wife. So she's a software engineer as well... So we build apps and web apps, websites... I have been following the pages of the movement, and then following [FACILITATOR] on LinkedIn, and then I saw, like, oh, there's something [starting]. Signed up.

You see guys, you should talk about your Christian [faith] on LinkedIn. Don't be afraid. It works and it's very important.

What about my business? I'm a fish out [of] water. I'm actually not an entrepreneur at this moment. I work with a lot of them... [Burden:] How to get Singapore to do more... work has consumed me. Maybe that's my burden.

I'm [F020]. I'm a portrait photographer. I run my own company named [Momo] Studio. Fun fact is it's named after my dog. So I mostly photograph families and pets... So mostly I help families create portraits and making it into frames and displays for their [homes].

This is my third time coming here... I was really excited to find a [faith-]driven community, especially for entrepreneurs... I've worked in corporate [roles] most of my life in financial services background, investments and assets and technology... And I've been involved in marketing for 15 years. I recently took the plunge to start my own marketing agency... I think [God] put that in my heart as a... thing to do to [leave] the corporate, comfortable lifestyle... the burden is just to, I don't know what God wants to do through this agency but I'm excited to see that... I was born in India, so spent time there. Then I moved to UAE, lived in Dubai for about 12 years. And spent [my] 10th year in Singapore.

I think probably safely I've been a Christian longer than most of you have been alive. So that's a [F022], [F022] story. [In] business I'm the mentor [in] resident[ce] at [N]US Enterprise so I'm here fairly frequently and I work with [FACILITATOR] before we both became involved in this... [Burdens:] everything, [and] nothing... I have some decisions I have to make I think over the next couple of months but they're not really burdensome. Fun fact about myself, lots of fun facts. I have recently finally visited all seven [continents].

[Compared to [M005]] ... less[,] less than a year, baby... In fact, I attended FD[E] events since the very first session... But the first time I didn't know [it] is fa[ith]-driven. I thought it's just a regular business event. It just come because I wanted to show support to [FACILITATOR]. And while I came here and then I get to more and more know about the faith and also can get to talk to [FACILITATOR] and [M005]. So that's where is my, you can say a very first important encounter with God. So after I attended Alpha and then I [accepted] Christ last year. And then by the way [M005] is my [church leader?] again.

my business, we are building an AI application, so [F022] story short, we are creating an ecosystem for the consumer business, which the burden and the challenge will be, there are really a lot of things to have to make a decision... So that's why we are facing literally a lot of crossroad[s]. I believe it is also the... bright side after becom[ing] Christian is... I get a much better abilit[y] to handle all these [crossroads] because I have more guidance and I constantly seek wisdom from God.

my name is [M014]. I'm [FACILITATOR]['s friend]. We are from the same church, [City] Harvest Church. ... [015:08] I'm sa[ved] in McDonald's. Okay, how it goes is like my friend actually felt that God spoke to him to reach out to me and speak a [word] of knowledge over my life. And then I got shocked because I realized that God knew my secret[s]. And then I was trembling and crying and knowing that God is real. So that was how it started for my faith journey.

I'm in the ma[r]tech and AI space, and I'm passionate about AI automation for businesses, and I think that's a huge thing right now, and I believe that in the next five to ten years' time, it's very possible for small companies to grow super huge in a small amount of time... that big wave and big tsunami of a lot of AI businesses that's going to come about.

I'm [[FACILITATOR]]... Trying to be quick, [life path and path to God] was basically in September last year or so. I came to FDE... Right, my business right now, I've become a co-founder of a sustainable fashion company, called [Mokush], so we upcycle plastic bags, and make some really cool stuff... [The] burden of being a new co-founder [in] an existing company is like a merger... But also one of the hardest challenges that I need to put aside today... is that my wife is also a co-founder of the business. It's quite hard to work [with your] wife sometimes.

so I first came to church about 20 over years ago... and at the church I receive[d] healing in my body, so that's when I became committed to God... So I'm in the education business, so I h[elp] entrepreneurs with personality profiling, how they can better work with their team, hi[re] the right people, improve their sales... I have an app that helps to match [influencers] and brands together... So that was a start-up about 10 years ago. It's the longest start-up. [Brought here:] Reverend Dr. [FACILITATOR]... invited [me]. [Burden:] A lack of funds.

Wasn't born a believer. I started believing in God after... So I went to the Singapore Boys' [Home] and then I believed in God while I was in the [home]. A lot changed. [God] turned my life around. ... [021:46] I am in the supply chain business. So we supply things to... PSA, [large] organizations, SMRT, whenever they need to buy things, they come to us first. So we've been running it for about eight years. We have a series A company... and we are based out of Singapore, [and] operate in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, as well as Singapore. What brought me here? Reverend Dr. [FACILITATOR] texted me and I always wanted to be involved with the [Christian] community... always jump at an opportunity to meet Christians in the marketplace who are also business owners, right? ... We are currently working on a project with [a Singapore] authority, which [we] run[,] the... AI assistant help[ing] them with procurement, sourcing and whatnot. And the timelines are quite tight. So what I have to put aside is to work on that and to be here, but I'll gladly do it.

One more fun fact. [M014]'s wife, Effie, was my cell [group] leader... I actually just came from school, so I'm still a student. So my life path, my path [to God]... I was born Christian, but I don't think it was a very smooth path also, it's kind of rocky, but I'm in a very good spot now. Thank God for that. So my business, I'm trying to build a business, I guess. And basically like in the ed[tech] scene, [with] me and another friend I have in school... What burdens I'm carrying? I think I have a few choices that I need to make, probably in the next few weeks.

I'm [M020]. I'm my first generation Christian. I came to the [Lord] at 14, 14 years ago. I don't run my own business. I am part of a [staffing and recruitment company]... I've always kind of known about FDE, FDI. It was just... understanding this space a bit more. But one of the things that we are doing as a company is that we are hoping to launch a bit of a social innovation kind of a thing where we think about how we can help mature workers, senior workers, with their employment and employability outcomes. So that's something I'm working on now, and really praying about [it].

my name is [M065]. I'm the token [ang moh] here today... [Correcting himself:] I'm sorry that I'm not the token [ang moh]. ... [024:35] first time here today, originally from Germany. And the funny thing is when you look at the first question, where I grew up, and I think this is the most part of Europe, and it's back in my generation, you kind of grew up as a Christian because it was a default thing. The only thing was, are you rather a Presbyterian or Protestant, as you call it... in Germany[,] or are you a Catholic? And this was pretty much defined by... [whether you were] more south of Bavaria, which is Catholic[,] or you're more north, which is Protestant, where I come from. So this was really default... You get baptized when you're like a baby, you're not getting asked. So that's just it. And then you grow up later, and then you just go through confirmation, which is at around age of 14, [and] it's a default thing. It's not what it really lasts for.

for 15 years in Asia, where I think the interesting thing is for the ones who are active in their faith, they seem [to have] much more choice. Because in Europe back then, it was like, well, you grew up in a Christian family, that's it. ... [025:40] when you see that nowadays, more and more people are basically leaving the church in many, many places, especially in the Western societies and cultures, simply for two reasons. One thing is in Germany, for instance, you have to pay church tax. It's not what you're [deciding] based on your own decision or discretion. It's like basically you're getting taxed. A lot of people say, why should[n't] it pay that? So, and they don't see the value in church. And there are a lot of people who still believe in God, but do not believe in the church.

And I'm still on question number one, by the way... when I came to Asia, and especially when I lived in Hong Kong for many years... this was when I really reactivated my faith in a way, because I had a [start], but it was kind of gone. Didn't too actively practice anything. And now I'm here in [PCS - ASR 'PSQC'], which is one of the older, let's say, traditional churches, right? Like Presbyterian Church in Singapore. ... [026:47] I lived in Hong Kong very happily and I literally got stuck here in Singapore, [as] my wife's Singapore[an], during Chinese New Year, 2020 [I] became here with two little [kids] in a show and literally got stuck because COVID hit. And first I thought well let me just wait this week until it's over... [I have] a corporate background of close to 30 years and now I'm a consultant and an... lecturer at SMU, at the [N]US... At the moment, I did as a me myself and I one man show. So that means the burden is very, very simple... my pockets are just too shallow. It means basically I'm always running out of money. I have too many ideas and too little time.

I'm [F017]. In terms of my life path [to] God, God has been walking very faithfully with me through seasons of high and low. And just a fun fact, he really likes to talk to me when I'm jogging. I'm not sure whether that's the case for other people. Apart from that, in terms of business and my career, my main job per se, I'm a dentist by [career], but my partner and I are starting a UK property [business] over there. No burdens, okay. God has been great to me this week, this month, this year. ... [028:59] Well, I think I pray for everything. So, it's just part of how I do it... I mean, it might not exactly be verbal all the time. It can be behind the scenes or even after the patient leaves. But I do pray. Well, that's just how I live.

My name is [F063]. So my journey [with] God... I'm from City [Harvest] Church. I [have been through] a lot of very high and not that high, so very low. Yeah, so it's been a very great encounter and journey with God. So for me, I'm a marketing professional, and because I was in a job transition and it led me to... start my own marketing business as well as in coaching. So I'm also looking to do coaching for individuals for any areas of their lives... I'm actually born in Taiwan, but I grew up in Singapore.

I'm [U026], nice to meet you... I'm a marketing professional... 12 years of corporate at Meta and Unilever. Now is my first time in a startup, a seriously startup, just trying out this journey. And I guess, yeah, building confidence in meeting people [has] been an agenda.

My name is [F056] and I've been a Christian for the last 30 years. So the entrepreneurship journey wouldn't have started if not for the Lord. So it's one and the same thing for me. And I run a couple of things. One of the things that I carry on... It's about 22 years right now... we develop 3D technology for designers, literally, your clothes, designing your clothes and all that. ... [032:00] I'm here today because I'm part of the [F]DE faith-driven group, [the] women [one] as well[,] ... since its early days really supporting it, because I do believe that there is, it's not just about entrepreneurs coming together, but it's also about faith, entrepreneurs, Christian entrepreneurs coming together, because a lot of what we do is tied actually to who we are in Christ, and that's why we do what we do. And all the decisions that you and myself will make will be very much tied to the king himself... All of you will find that God, the king, is very, very relevant in our entrepreneurial space.

My name is [FACILITATOR]. I'm visiting this session for the ninth time. So probably I visited the most. I'm happy to run it. I have a company, it's called [COMPANY], it's in the marketing space helping companies to build strategy, better[,] [with] AI. The agencies, [and] the larger brands, helping them to strategize very fast, better. I have started this [movement] about a year ago after meeting [M043] Ka[estner] who came to Singapore[,] who is the founder of [FDE]. And I was already quite into this because of [the] DMV, which [I] have participated in.

Currently, the company, I'm in a situation when I really, really don't want to lay off my people because they're all very nice and working very hard. But I have a few months cash gap before I get my grant and because my gra[nt] also not really coming 100% so I'm daily praying and fighting against anxiety... or start doing actions that [the] evil one [is] pushing me to... at the same time, overall I've experienced this for the last two and a half years, and God always provides many really good [outcomes] for us. So that gives me a lot of confidence... If you're going through the s[ame]... no worries, you trust in him and everything you [do] will [turn out] really much better.

If you feel like you can spin it off in your church, then we actually re[cord] all these sessions and you already get the whole course [materials]. And just feel confident to [run your own session] and try it by yourself. And I'm going to give you all the materials and I'm going to come to your place when we're going to run it in your church... and we're going to support you in all weeks. And I have lots of friends who will be doing that with me. So think about it, it would be a really good idea to have this five or maybe 10 by the end of the year. That's my [KP]I and plan.

And this is today's session. This is not a foundation [course] session, but it's an alternative one. So we already went through [the] foundation course before. So if you happen to be here for the very first session, which, [Armin], you have been here for the very first session[,] [t]his will be a different first session. Yes, so and we intend to always change them for the coming years and we also have every month. So starting a business in prison.

to me, this phrase that comes to business is all about bottom line and actually pushing. This is exactly what I'm experiencing right now. You got your bottom line challenges, bottom line, bottom line... [That will] start to dictate and push you into the wrong ways. And this is exactly what we need to actually try to go beyond [the ethical to] become redemptive. That framework that you've just seen in the screen, it's from Praxis, read about Praxis. This is a very close organization[]... [and] the FDE are very good friends of that organization.

I think that this is an idea that many of us who've gone[,] I attended a [Praxis] event in Sentosa recently, and it moves beyond that idea from it just being a win-win or... it just being good principles to say how do I really build others and how do I do it even often at the cost of sacrifice... I look back in Isaiah and it talks about the fact that... in our Deuteronomy, we're not supposed to harvest everything, we're always supposed to leave, we're always supposed to give, we're always supposed to be providing and encouraging and building others up... And I think the traditional way we've done it in business is we say, I make money, and then I'm going to go outside the business, and I'm going to give it away. And the question is, are you willing to give away inside the business? or are you willing to sacrifice inside the business and build it in your business model? ... [057:20] I remember a guy one time I worked with, and he ran a company, and he was in an area where he probably could pay people very little. But he said his goal was, he said, I want to design all the jobs in my company so they all pay a living wage. And all of these men can work, and their wives don't have to work. They can stay home with the kids. They can raise the children... He said that was part of his calling as an employer, it's not just to hire people, but to see that people are paid well enough and encouraged to build families around them.

there's always the tendency to have a very fast reaction towards something, towards someone, a situation or individual person, where you might be very annoyed or totally not in line, where you do not agree, and then just overcome this to pause and then basically say, okay, but I don't have to win this [one]. I don't[,] it doesn't have to be about [my] number one goal or something every time... in a corporate sense, we call it maybe a reverse mentoring... someone from a very junior background or someone who's that you would consider from a corporate perspective, maybe inferior to us in terms of experience... teaches us [a] profound lesson. And... what I do is, I call it then, proactively, positive egoism in the way of saying to really seek for those moments that prove[] you wrong, so that you learn something from others that you didn't have on your list or didn't expect at all.

my original pitch, I'm in marketing, right? So my pitch was like this, you make your ads cheaper. So you sell more and you spend less. And everybody like, wow, so good business... Then I went to DMV... and I think from the first hour they told me, ah, no. That's probably what you have to really change over these half a year that you're in. So I was thinking a lot. And I started studying my industry and I realized that in marketing, we got the second highest turnover rate after travel... And I realized that so many people are feeling so unhappy being marketers. And they sacrifice time with their families, they never ending feel anxious that marketing c[ampaigns] don't work... your boss[,] if you're [in] an agency for example[,] might want you to[,] you know[,] lie[,] saying that things are good. ... [063:48] And then I thought maybe we are building software not to spend less and earn more. Maybe we are building software to make marketers better marketing[,] to feel them that they are professionals and help them to automate it in such a way that they don't need to spend nights in office... And then I feel just so much happier when I realized that... our company would focus on helping marketers be better and then we changed everything[,] we start talking to clients differently[,] very open[,] and you always tell them the exact truth about everything[.] we very often[,] you know[,] reject to stay with them even they offer us a lot of money because you know that they have to do something else[,] and this is when you start sacrificing your bo[ttom line] because you want your client to actually receive the best advice from you.

prior to coming to Singapore, I had a startup... [with] 20 employees prior to the pandemic. And I think how the video resonated to me was like, I hired a lot of them, most of them, fresh out of college, because my thinking back then was that when I finished college, I wasn't actually pursuing the course that I finished. Like I shifted to web development and there was just one company that kind of gave me that opportunity. So I just thought of giving that opportunity to other like fresh out of college students. And then I just saw them grow in their own way... as professionals just having been given the chance... even after[wards] I had to let them go because... the business had to make decisions during the pandemic and just it wasn't sustainable anymore for us to employ them. They found their own ways, found their own paths, got employed and still like are very well connected to me even up to this day. And just saw how they have now been a blessing to their families because they've been given those opportunities to start with.

It's an amazing video... I think it's very inspiring to just sit back and think, I think it's motivating us all, just sit back and think of how you can help, like, the lowest of the forgotten people, right? And see how your business can help that, I think we just have to challenge ourselves to think that way.

all entrepreneurs, we start one man or one woman band. That's where generally you start. And you start to bring people on. Then when a business is started, where you know that it's l[ed] by God, then automatically, I guess, prayer... you will lean towards prayer because you know that is what makes a difference, right? ... Whether or not people are believers or not really doesn't matter to me because I've realized no one rejects a prayer and I know who listens to my prayer, who I'm calling out to to help. That's where he works[,] so yes[,] nobody rejects a prayer[:] pray for people and let them know. ... [069:52] So Trump's liberation [Day], like two weeks ago, a lot of my clients, you know, really had a really, really hard time, right? And I remember one of them, the CEO of, you know, a rather large company, she's like, this is madness... This is like COVID[,] too, all of happening again, I've got to call the banks to help me and this was like a mad thing. I talked to her last Monday, she called me and I just said, I just need to talk to my therapist, she question[ed] me, her therapist. And then I'm like, okay, that's a new role. So I just called her and we just chit chat... And I just told her. I said, look, let me pray for you. Don't worry about this... Been through COVID, you'll be fine. And I said, we'll pray about this, right? And then that was Monday. And then come Thursday, 90 days pause. So I reminded [her], oh look, I [prayed] for it, that[']s work[ed], right? ... [071:14] I know the world's going, I mean, we face entrepreneurs, our customers, our teams, people. And people face real problems at a different time. I think when our path[s] cross and we're there for each other, I think that's what makes it different... There's nothing to do with the bottom line. There's nothing to do with anything else. In fact, if business isn't about people, I think you'll find that maybe it's not as fun.

I think it really helps to know, spend time with the employees and understand their stories because every person is more than the designation... And sometimes just people, employees think of themselves as, I'm just the salary that I'm getting paid or the designation that has been given to me. So when you spend time with them personally, they kind of relate to you. So they don't say, okay, now she wants me to do this, or now she wants me to do that. They feel accepted, they feel loved and they can feel the difference of working with[,] hopefully they can feel the difference of working with us versus somebody who hasn't spent enough time with Jesus.

it's really hard because this is, many people are hired remotely, and it makes, it's also time zone. So it is taking, you have to make a conscious decision, this is what you want, right? ... I recently got one employee[,] he flew to Singapore from China just to meet me, just [to] tell me that he want[ed] to resign because, imagine, yeah. But this is kind of relationship that we want to value, right? ... just practical thing[s] would help me[,] just to set up one-on-one with everyone, even on Zoom... And the moment people understand why you make certain decisions, that's the time when you really, truly start working together. I mean, good[,] God gives names to all animals, of course. But he worked together with [Adam]... How the first employer was dealing with his first employee, in a sense, right?

When companies grow[,] ... people who have been with you for a [F022] time[,] it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be with you the whole way... one of the businesses has been around for 22, 23 years. So people who [have been] in the [company] for 18 years... When they started, what do you think their age is today? They have a different place in life. They want different things in life. So it's not about no longer about a job... they move from where kids are young to where now they have become caretakers of parents who are getting older. Things change and we have to recognize. ... as entrepreneurs, we are in a very privileged position to not just grow a business, but to also be involved in lives, to do things that you might otherwise not have opportunity to do and that's a privilege. So yes it is sometimes can seem troublesome and also hard to run a business but it's also a tremendous privilege to be put into a place where you can make decisions that may not be normal.

Very often you know that that new stage of life your employee will benefit somewhere else way more as compared to your business and then you start seeing[,] I mean you got all those advisors right[,] it's on you[:] okay you hire the same employ[ee] the same[,] you cannot hire the same employ[ee] the same salary[,] you have to train this employee[,] he is so loyal right[,] like the whole world is pushing you into this exploit[at]ive or looks like you know ethical way of doing business[,] but reality tells you one simple thing... very often your business just don't have that next step for your employee to grow. And true care about employees[:] let them go sometimes against their opinions[,] sometimes against their wish[es][,] and I think this is one of those things I really had to learn and that for me that is a transition journey... towards the redemptive mindset. When we all win ultimately.

so far, because we are a star[tup], I have co-founders, and also have i[nterns]. The philosophy that I hold is, I will treat them like, I value them as part of my [family]... [Even] his intern, he is also our [family]. I will basically share all my thoughts about why we make these decisions to them. Because not just to gain that chance, but also I hope them to learn as well. Because I wish they can do much much better job or improve their skills... even they [leave], they are also part of family. And I wish them they can really get a lot of valuable stuff from us so that they can excel in their own way in the future.

I had one employee, she was [an] in[tern], she was in terms of skills, she was the worst. And I remember myself iterating many times, so finding a reason for myself to keep her in the train[ing] for more. Eventually, because she trained so much with us in her country, she was able to get a good corporate job and after that she started her own marketing agency and now they are really successful... this is another thing that you know we need to know[:] sometimes somebody is in a position where he or she can already do a good job[,] doesn't mean that person is doing a good job[;] sometimes our job is just to... figure out what... is the right skill and job for the person.

I was gonna ask a question instead of share a story... sharing by [F056] hit me very hard because when you talk about you know not being able to remember every employee's name anymore and I think that's always at the scale of where I struggle the most you know like I try to but at a certain point of time it's not possible anymore right to do that and I feel like you know I either do my work or spend all my time and I'm spending all my time trying to figure out the employee's life and contributing them how[,] How do you reconcile this? At that stage, there is a stage in that business growth where you get to that. How do you reconcile that?

I take time to lunch with people. So if I'm in Singapore, [and] in [the] office, whoever comes into the office, if I'm not going out to lunch with anybody, I'll just be asking. We used to in the past, the office doesn't allow it now, but we used to have like pots and pans and everything else, because the fun thing to do was cook in the office and yeah, provide food for it. Unfortunately, Maple[tree] doesn't allow that... but we make it a point also every quarter, we usually have eating together, so we get food in, catering and all that... And this out[,] this out[weighs], right? Because at the end of our day, all this, you know, God's business is not mine, right? I'm only a steward, so whoever comes in, I guess, take the time to just do it... You get to know people much deeper when you go for lunch.

A really, really big organization, which I recently [came to know], which is quite fun. City Harvest Church, right, the one I belong to. They have a hierarchy of people who [vet], who want to talk to the most senior pastor. And while you're going through this hierarchy, they get to know your name and your background in just a few minutes. So let's say if you want to go on stage and talk to the speaker, somebody first going to [vet] you through and ask your name and figure out who's your zone pastor. Then that zone pastor will go to the main pastor and give you the whole background so the main pastor is very well trained to[:] Wow, I was like waiting talking with you [PERSON] for the last you know one year[,] How are you[r] kids[?] and honestly indeed we cannot remember everyone sometimes right, but it's actually very important to show respect... And I think they arrange[d] a very nice system[;] is works like you know like a Swiss watch.

Sunday so I attended someone's baptism you know so I said yeah I'm going to go to your baptism you know and all and then when it was over I left early with some of the other friends who went as well and there was this guy that [I met] and I felt like familiar about it[,] I just couldn't remember[,] so he's like hey how are you doing and all that so I just answered and then after a while he's like [']you don't remember me['] I'm like, no... But the thing I did was... I realized that I do have this number, and I made a point to just send him a message and say, sorry for not re[membering]... And then I know after this, I'll make a point to have to call him up for coffee because I [was] definitely going to remember the guy now.

My name is [M026]. This is my second time here. I own a manufacturing firm, I do architectural, so I came back to Singapore about 12 years ago. So this is a very interesting topic because when I set up this company, I started to implement, I wanted to do more [Lord's work]-related into my company. I come from a big MNC kind of thing. Big MNC to me sometimes can be quite toxic. So when I had my own business, I say, okay, I've done before this [toxic thing], it's my company, right? ... And then the question here is, how do you determine between [the Lord's] work that you might introduce into the business[]... and then a business plan? I can tell you I have no solution, it's very difficult to do because to be a Christian, to implement, it's very hard. ... [088:51] I always remind myself, [the] Lord always say[s] second chance. So when my employees make mistakes, I say, okay... So we tell them, in the company, we can accept failure. Just don't make the mistake again. But you must have a lion heart because every time an employee make[s] a mistake, it can [really] cost you a lot of money, especially when you are [a] micro SME. My company is a micro SME.

Customer service officer that's been here for a year and a half. Finally, we have to let her go. After four rounds of forgiveness... And she's departing tomorrow. And I was very busy, I was traveling around the world, and then I finally managed to find a time to talk with her. That was two days ago. You know what she said to me, really thank you very much, this is really a good company. It's just that I'm not ready. I'm sorry that I [f]ou[nd] out. I know you have given us a lot of time. So, that one and a half years, we ke[pt] on changing our operations to [accommodate her]. By believing what the [Lord] says, we should always give people a second chance. In Asia, to be honest, I don't think we are trained and grow up in a space where we give people a second chance, then there is always a bad thing.

Honestly, to be a Christian and to run a Christian organization so far is very hard, extremely hard... But this is where our faith is being tested. ... [091:13] sorry, I was trying to figure out what was the video about, so I didn't have time to read. So I was just looking at the [headings]... Do you know, do you need to know your colleagues? I think you need to. We need to figure out whether they are asset or talent. That's number one. And also we have to have the belief in the [Lord] that says that he [gave] us this asset. And we must know how to use this asset in the way that we do not [abuse it]. So we have to come from a caring perspective of our colleagues. Because a lot of the videos that I watch in the foundation period shows that if you do care for your colleagues... I think if you follow that somehow along the way, I think the [Lord] will provide.

This was in the early days. I think we were five people then... So this friend of mine was saying, hey, can you help employ this guy on my C[G]? Because he's been unemployed for a really [F022] time, but [he's] a sales guy, can you help? So we did. Actually, after two, maybe a month and a half, I told him, you're not suitable. Because I think I talk about a fit... just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you don't have to go through the rigor and the fundamentals of business organization... And this guy was just struggling because we [do tech] and he's not, no tech guy, all right? But I know what he was going through. And so we came with an arrangement where I told him, I said, okay, you're really not suitable for this... So my sister and I, we actually sat [down] with him... But then we had to buy a newspaper. He[re,] jobs too, was printed on the newspaper. So we got newspaper, I said, [look,] just everyday come to work, I mean, I'll give you like two months. Just everyday come to work and your role in the office is to go find a good job. Now find a job that suits you and then we'll help you and all that. So we did... And he finally found a job. He stayed on in that job. And even though the company was acquir[ed] a couple of times, this guy was so good at what he does, visual merchandising... [that] the end customer always insists that this guy goes with any new... acquisition.

Donald Trump is going to screw everything. I'm very scared right now that my company cannot last until next year because of cash flow, because the tsunami will not come down. The tsunami will come at the end of the year, on the quarter-four. ... [092:46] We must have a good business plan. Every business must have. But we must treat our staff [well]. So we try to implement policies that's related to [Christ]... One of my colleagues want to sell his car because he got no more money, so I say, okay, we don't have a lot of money, so I pray[ed] and I [lent] to him. You need $50,000 to give him. If you need to tell me, I'll figure out how to, from the company... And... we are very open, I told them, we are Christian. Whatever I do is because of what my belief is. And maybe most of them will really go up their sleeve and really help you through.

I mean, I think that's the right thing to do[,] to help people figure out what is their fit. Everyone has talents and everyone has gifts. I think in business, it's our role to also help others to also understand where is it the right fit or not. Sometimes it's not about mistakes, sometimes it's just realizing mistakes will happen... But a fit is different and... We do have a lot of people come and go, but treat people with dignity and help them out on the next journey. I think that's more important.

I've seen this many times as well. You could try that. One valuable [employee I] tried to repurpose four times. The first time it really worked so well. But it takes you to make a conscious decision to continue paying the salary for a job[,] Completely, it's [un]satisfying. Then this type of people, they might fly to another country just to say thank you. I had some employees that were coming back to me and saying, thank you for really treating them harsh for what they were doing[,] after working in somewhere else, experiencing going through that same process. So I think my point here would be sometimes actually we [ought] not just, you know, say it's okay that you made a mistake. Sometimes our job is to find a balance of how to [make] that mistake we are learning for that person.

We are beyond time because we've got more people than expected. Please, two, three people, one of them will be me[,] and committing for the next month... with related to today's discussion, I commit that I will talk to all my employees personally for at least half an hour within the month[], just really to get an update and... deeper. Anybody else want to commit for something? Commit is very cool because once you do it, in front of 15 people, you're going to do it.

The commitment, as simple as it may sound, is really to have [faith] and really walk with her as [God has] plan[ned] for us right now. The past three weeks have been very rocky in business as well as with my [wife and] family because she's also part of the business. She's the one who brought me back to church after a very rocky period and I'm still learning how to... walk in faith, right? She's the one who is, I guess, more Christ-centered and she [prays] a lot more and she's more [faith]-driven. She's always known. I say God kind of talks to her, to me. But I find that very hard, I'm a very logical person.

Previously, I was at Magic Capital. I had a start-up. I ran many different roles, so I'm a generalist. I was very broken. I didn't know what to do. I had a jobless for two years. Very, very dark period. Funny enough, I saw a testimony about Jasper from my church. And there's testimony about your story... that's what I got to know about [FDE]... I reached out to [M005] from DMV and, you know, a [F022] story short that's brought me over here that's put me back a little bit on track and so all these miracles[,] I'm not very sensitive to a lot of these things so I need a stick to hitting on the head to tell me like hey this is[,] this is the right path to walk to[,] but just[,] just really[,] you know[,] trusting and fully committing right[,] and this part is listen to my wife.

I guess really on that, right, is really just the power of testimony, right? It's important if we all can testify in some way or another. Don't be shy to do so. You never know who it may impact. And I guess it's really how we grow the kingdom, how we [bring] more people to the faith as well.

I always wanted to organize together the Christians in my company and just [ex]press ownership to come together. I was very inspired by [F056] sharing about how she could [gather them]. She broke bread on Friday with her team. I just have so much stories about how you live on the front and tell your people, I'm Christian. I'm not ashamed to say that you all know I'm Christian. So, it's a good Friday, right? ... I think [in] the next 30 days find time to gather the Christian[s]... to come together[,] it makes a difference[:] if they didn't know[,] they know. I'm really [want to be up]front and also set example[,] let [them] know I walk [with] Jesus. We are not ashamed to bring people, bring whoever you[r] colleagues are... your friends who you think, we are open, we are open. So I will commit to do that. I will commit to do it.

Saying that[,] if you feel like in your church there will be a place for this kind of sessions to support you[.] The next one will be about God [owning] our business. [F056] is a person who always say[s] that he is my CEO, he [owns] my business, not me. Please all come. There will be on the 21st of May exactly in a month.

The problem with my brother is that he is not very [?]. So I know what the stresses of entrepreneurship is. Especially Christians. [...] When I first joined, he said, [?]. What he means is that keep religion separate.

I think I met you, Pastor, that says, the [?] story that will bring your Christian [faith] into this business. So I resonate with this channel. [...] I'm a founder and I founded my business [an] AI Agency for five years. And now I'm mentoring AI education. [...] I believe that with faith things are going to be brighter and brighter in the field of AI.

But we are in the events field and we have like an [ice cream] to supply [...] I believe that's part. I just haven't chosen my religion yet.

So, it's a ministry dedicated for fashion people. So, like, I was looking there, and then, like, the leaders, I'm here, I invited [FACILITATOR] over to play the accordion for a member. So that's how I met him

But last year was one of my lowest point. So actually, two years ago, my lowest point. Then after the years finally, I know that I cannot rely on my own strength to do things. But I think God, God, I got it. And came back to God. And ever since then, a lot of blessing from him. Including the new relationship [with] my girlfriend. [...] Yeah, so praise the Lord.

Hi, I'm [M046]. I'm in redemption Hill Church. [...] I work for a Swiss-based NGO called TrustBridge. We basically send funds around the world for churches and ministries.

But I came here today because I wanted to meet [like-minded] individuals who are sort of... towards entrepreneurship. [...] So you're doing your own thing. So I'm here to find [like-minded] individuals, and also give myself inspiration for my next idea.

I've been to Vatican City last year actually. [...] It was very high up in the air. There's so many good works. It's amazing. The top of the ceiling is there.

But this week, as a Christian, we know we're facing a challenge every day. So we want to have faith over our [work].

We also conducted a [? 'double'] course in our clinic, [...] we ran 14 rounds, [...] so this is a test bed, [...] we can try to see like how do you set up this event, and how do you integrate the kingdom [?]

I'm not a business, I'm not running a business, I'm a Christian psychologist [...] My church, I'm a Methodist, but also in a Christian, Japanese Christian fellowship.

I miss the worship, but it's great to know so many people and then see how they connect with everyday life and also with different churches. [...] because of my social [?] position so I have connected with [so] many city harvest people

I'm [M056]. I've been [here] a few times. [...] I'm a photographer, I have my own business for 7 years.

So I'm a researcher in biotech field. [...] So I would like to learn about it and maybe build a business in that field.

I help businesses have a prettier online presence and more engaging. So I'm actually a [content] creator [...] And I focus a lot on restaurants.

I think I was gonna say I've never been [in] entrepreneurship, not by choice [...] we build a regional entertainment IP [...] with AI now and [Web3] as a component. [...] And I think for me as a faith-driven person, I would love to be able to align them to [Christian] values, [...] basically telling stories for social [good], or like, kingdom impact, right? Like for the secular audience.

for investors because entrepreneurs and investors have kind of opposite struggles. Entrepreneurs don't know where to find money. I don't know how to choose [?]. [...] sometimes money actually is spoiled.

Yeah, it's my second time here. [...] I'm here because I'm a Christian business owner. [...] So, I'm a financial planner.

as they call us ambassadors, because we're taking the initiative [?] and to promote places. So that's on the ministry side, at [CCC?] [...] And then we do the business in marketing, but not on agency side, but service side, where it's software. [...] So the good in marketing is really about telling people [why] you need your product, the story [...] More like educational rather [than] pushing stuff

But not so fun fact about me is I'm the oldest here. I came here because [FACILITATOR], when he was [...] a PhD student. So he came from a pre-marriage course. [...] So while I was serving as a pastor, I was actually working in the marketplace to support myself. So I kind of [straddle] both worlds

[F022] story short, I remember the church was moved by the Holy Spirit to give money to us [...] my life, my motto, [seek] first the kingdom of God, and all [these] thing[s shall be added].

Currently, I'm serving a [? 'book shop'] for people, but for food. They come [...] charge nobody, serve them lunch and all that. And the government [...] pay for all this. [...] We just started this company. [...] It's not a church. But church means a lot of unnecessary [?].

So meanwhile, I've been called to volunteer for [Faith Driven] Entrepreneurs. It's such a blessing to get to see [the people] come into the space [...] Thanks for the returning guys coming by again [...] and the new faces as well.

Actually, I think, sorry it's my first time here [...] So I've been running business for 20 years. [...] as a Christian for 30 years, I don't pray to God, I need to go share with God. [...] Like, take money to take care of the staff [...] [God] provides [...] And look, I'll give you a talent, [...] utilize it

So to me, I use the talent to really [enrich] the people's life. [...] Sorry my name is [M082] [...] So, I don't save my money. I say obey, but all the money goes to charity. [...] So, using people, using resources to [help] more people.

I think I lost all my students. [...] But the thing is, I don't have any bias against or any of the [religions] [...] Because I know that already, in the end, right? Every religion teaches you the good things. That's why I'm here also. [...] Someone just came to help me. [...] So it was luck. You can call it luck, but... [...] It's just random combination. It just happened.

Sometimes we got [excess], because customers order too much. We can order like 1000 at an event, maybe we sell like 500. [...] And then [the child] starts crying, then the mother asks us can we get a free ice cream? So we just keep having free ice cream.

So, for the time of these four years, we're facing all the difficulties. We have financials, we have this, we have that. [...] And my husband and I, including [...] everyone else in the company [...] we just pick a piano and we just start praising and [worshipping]. That's how the problem [was] solved [...] God would just direct them, come here and we are the vessel to just preach who is Jesus. That is our role [...] We only need like, okay, this [month], oh God, if you [give] 1000, you can [give] 2000, okay, 500 baby.

[Problem is the same]. When you still face the business problem, but how you address it, from what perspective you're looking at it, how to address all these problems as a believer and non-believer is very different. [...] we need to have a serving [heart]

So you kind of need to grow this on top of that you can actually use the cash for the purpose of growing this kingdom. [...] I think that business is serving so in fact that's why we treat our business as a community.

At the end, I will say, [...] in the future, you need any help, let me know. I will provide anything you need. [...] They believe my purpose, they believe my calling [...] I use NLP [...] helping other people everywhere.