Pastors & Money Podcast

Hello there! I’m Joy Suzanne Hunt, and this is the Pastors and Money Podcast. I wanted to hop on really quick to let you know that we’re taking a short break from the podcast. I’m using this time to pray over and set vision for the new year and for our next podcast season. We’ll be back in April with conversations to help you thrive in your ministry and finances. In the meantime, if you’re looking...

Is it selfish for pastors to focus on their own financial future? What if prioritizing your financial freedom is actually the most biblical thing you can do for your ministry? In this powerful conversation with Dr. Nicholas Michels—financial strategist, bestselling author, and founder of Michels Family Financial—we tackle the guilt and stigma that keep ministry leaders from achieving financial fre...

What if the money struggles you’re facing today aren’t really about your budget—but about patterns passed down from your parents and grandparents? In this powerful conversation with Andy Yoder, Ramsey Preferred Financial Coach and former youth pastor, we explore how generational money habits shape our financial decisions and, more importantly, how to break free and pass better money habits to the...

Looking for the Episode Transcript ? Episode Description Is your church building sitting empty most of the week while your bills pile up? In this practical conversation with ministry consultant Loren Richmond, Jr., we explore how churches can transform their facilities from financial burdens into thriving community hubs. Loren brings a unique perspective from his years as a pastor, food pantry dir...

Housing Allowances, Reimbursement Plans, and Tax Strategies Every Ministry Leader Needs 00:00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 00:01:00 – Ministry Spotlight: The Adams Family in Bolivia 00:02:00 – Meet Gale Sciascia: Tax Planning Expert 00:04:00 – The Dual Tax Status Challenge Pastors Face 00:06:00 – Housing Allowances: Your Most Valuable Tax Break 00:07:00 – How Your Church Board Should Approve Ho...

View the Full Episode Transcript Episode Description What happens when church leaders are so busy doing ministry that they lose their intimacy with Christ? In this powerful conversation with Mike van Pelt—Christian men’s coach, author, and speaker—we explore the hidden struggles pastors face and why asking for help is one of the most courageous things a leader can do. Mike shares his personal jour...

View the episode transcript here. Episode Description What if retirement isn’t about fishing and golfing for the rest of your life? In this powerful conversation with legacy strategist Kyle Gabhart, we explore a radically different view of pastors retirement, one rooted in biblical examples and kingdom purpose. Kyle uses Moses as a biblical model for understanding retirement, showing how he had tw...

00:00:00 – Introduction to Justin Bennett 00:01:00 – Defining Financial Freedom vs. Financial Independence 00:02:00 – What Most People Misunderstand About Financial Independence 00:03:00 – The Importance of a Strong Financial Foundation 00:04:00 – Why Pastors Chase Financial Independence Without Building the Foundation First 00:06:00 – What Ministry Leaders Really Want From Financial Independence...

00:00:00 – From Pastor’s Kid to Wilderness Wanderer 00:02:00 – Growing Up Under the Microscope: A Pastor’s Kid Journey 00:04:00 – The Canteen: Where Pastors Find Peace Through Surrender 00:06:00 – The Moment of Complete Surrender 00:09:00 – Experiencing True Spiritual Hunger: How Pastors Find Peace in God’s Timing 00:13:00 – Lessons from Deuteronomy 8: Finding Peace Through God’s Provision 00:17:0...

00:00:00 – Introduction to the Pastors & Money Podcast 00:01:00 – Meet Justin Bennett: Financial Coach Extraordinaire 00:02:00 – Justin\’s Journey into Financial Coaching 00:04:00 – Common Financial Struggles and Solutions 00:07:00 – Unique Ministry Money Problems for Pastors 00:09:00 – The Isolation of Pastors and Financial Struggles 00:11:30 – The Power of Vulnerability and Accountability 00...

Show Notes Feeling overwhelmed in ministry? You’re not alone. In this powerful conversation, Robert Bass, host of the Healthy Christian Podcast , shares proven strategies for developing healthy habits for pastors that prevent burnout and create sustainable ministry success. Robert brings a unique perspective as a former tennis player, mechanic, and personal trainer turned pastor. He reveals why mo...

A Complete Guide with Ken McQuiller Show Notes Are you leaving money on the table? Many churches and ministries could be accessing grant funding but don’t know where to start. In this comprehensive episode, Ken McQuiller—CEO of Nonprofit Missionary and grant writing expert—reveals how faith-based organizations can unlock funding opportunities that complement traditional tithes and offerings. Ken s...

Show Notes In this powerful second part of our conversation with Dr. Ioana Popa, we dive into practical solutions for ministry leaders struggling with financial stress and burnout. Dr. Popa shares her holistic framework for preventing burnout while maintaining healthy money boundaries, revealing how unmet emotional needs sabotage financial decisions and why traditional approaches often fail in min...

Plus, subtle burnout signs leaders should know Show Notes Why do ministry leaders struggle with money decisions even when they know biblical principles about stewardship? In this revealing conversation with Dr. Ioana Popa—psychiatrist, life coach, and ministry burnout expert—we uncover the hidden connections between pastoral stress and financial struggles. Dr. Popa explains how ministry leaders of...

Ministry burnout has reached crisis levels, with many pastors leaving the field due to physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion. But what if the solution started with something as simple as a 15-minute workout? In this conversation with fitness coach and pastor Steve McKinney, we explore the powerful connection between physical health and ministry effectiveness. Steve shares his practical “Th...

In this episode, Steve McKinney, a bestselling author, fitness coach, Brazilian Jiujitsu black belt, and pastor, shares his journey of integrating his passion for fitness with his faith and how it became a gym ministry. He discusses the importance of aging gracefully, maintaining physical health, and how his unique three W approach to fitness can transform lives. Steve also touches on the challeng...

In part two of our conversation with fighter pilot and attention coach Wes Woodhouse, we dive into practical ways ministers can create attention-rich environments that foster deep spiritual disciplines in a distracted world. Learn how to lead by example, establish routines that enhance creativity, and build communities that value presence over distraction. Discover why setting boundaries with tech...

Wes Woodhouse is a husband, father, marathon runner, and former fighter pilot who now helps the next generation of leaders cut through the noise of a distraction-filled world. As the founder of Vector Atlas, a leadership development and attention coaching agency, Wes brings hard-won lessons from the cockpit into everyday life — helping people focus on what matters most and lead with clarity and pu...

Balancing Faith, Finance, and Fulfillment with Sameer Sawaqed In this episode of the Pastors & Money Podcast, we welcome Phyllis, a ministry worker in East Asia, and Sameer Sawaqed, a financial strategist and mentor. Phyllis shares her experiences in equipping young adults for revival missions through prayer and fasting. Sameer discusses his work at Wealth Thrive, focusing on tax strategy and...

In this episode of the ‘Pastors & Money Podcast,’ we welcome author and ministry leader Heather M. Day. We discuss the intersection of faith and finances, emphasizing the importance of inviting the Holy Spirit into financial decisions. Heather shares her personal journey with money and how a crisis led her to trust God over financial concerns. She also explores the spiritual battle tied to our...

Katie Fiola Jones is a certified financial coach and real estate investor based in Colorado who is passionate about equipping believers with excellent money management skills rooted in the gospel. She helps Christians move from feeling disempowered by their lack of financial education to becoming confident, competent stewards of everything they've been entrusted with. As a wife, mom, and foster mo...

Shakema Wilson is a single mom of four, minister, teacher, and social media influencer who knows firsthand what it's like to face financial hardship with nothing but faith and determination. After finding herself suddenly on her own with four kids—including a four-month-old—she didn't just survive; she became debt-free (except for her mortgage). Today, she leads First Love Ministries and Titus Two...

As pastors, we often pray for the spiritual growth, families, and personal needs of our congregation members. Yet there's a significant part of their lives we frequently overlook in our ministries: praying Amy Lykosh is the co-founder of Workplace Prayer, a ministry dedicated to providing professional prayer coverage for businesses and training people to pray more effectively. After nearly two dec...

Scott LaPierre is the teaching pastor of Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, Washington, an author, and a conference speaker. He and his wife, Katie, are raising 10 children (with an 11th on the way) on a single pastor's income — and that's not a footnote, it's his credibility. Scott has written Your Finances God's Way and brings the kind of real-life wisdom that only comes from actually living...

Nick Garofalo is a CFP candidate and the founder of Open-Handed Wealth. With a heart for helping Christians align their life goals and financial decisions with biblical wisdom, Nick speaks to the intersection of faith, business, and generosity. His mission is to transform financial stress into clarity — empowering believers to give freely, find peace with money, and leave a lasting legacy, one sma...