Episode 11 - A Founding Father of the Faith Driven Investor Movement: Ron Blue

On this special edition of Marks on the Markets, Richard and Luke are joined by Patrick Farrell, the co-founder of Potomac Angel Capital. 

The group connects like-minded investors with mission-driven entrepreneurs for mutual financial benefit, lasting impact, and meaningful relationships. 

And in this episode, Patrick is going to dive into the unique opportunities and challenges that come with angel investing.

He and Luke will also highlight some of the specific market trends to be aware of for anyone thinking about early stage investing.

Find the Potomac Angel Capital video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvRsD7xB9zM

If you like the content, please follow, rate, and share the show.

The Faith Driven Investing Movement always starts with heart change, but it shouldn’t end there. Christians are called to take action. We put our hands and feet in motion in response to God’s transformation in our lives.

A lot of Faith Driven Investors believe that, but many of us struggle with a practical question.

Where do we start?

This is not a prescriptive or presumptuous movement, but in this podcast episode, we want to hone in on some of the themes and ideas people have been talking about this year and give you some practical and actionable takeaways.

John Coleman will join Richard Cunningham for an in depth look at how investors around the world can start to get in the game.

We’ve barely made it past January and we’re already seeing incredible work happening in the Faith Driven Investing Movement around the world and across various asset classes. From the conference streamed in over 100 major cities to small group meetings and an intimate gathering of Fund Managers, God is moving through Faith Driven Investors who are taking on this charge to build, give, and invest for God’s glory. 

So in today’s episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, we’re going to hear Justin Forman and Henry Kaestner will share about the current state of Faith Driven Investing and show how you can get off the sidelines and get in the game, to be part of this exciting work. 

They mention a handful of videos and resources that we’ll link below

Dear Investor Video

Wichterman Story

Potomac Angel

Learn more about Groups

Today on the show, we’re highlighting an asset class that we haven’t talked about much in the past. 

Our host, Luke Roush will be joined by Trevor Hightower to talk about investing in agriculture.

The two will talk about how this unique industry brings a ton of potential for positive returns and redemptive impact. They’ll also discuss how God has worked in Trevor’s life through setbacks, mentors, and unexpected opportunities.

Reflection is a key part of investing, and in this special Christmas edition of Marks on the Markets, host John Coleman is joined by Jake Thomsen and Ross Roggensack to give us a year in review and a look ahead at what’s ahead for 2024. 

They look back on major trends and topics like Artificial Intelligence or inflation and offer their reflections on what the Christmas season means to them.

Learn more about the ministry at Faithdriveninvestor.org

Our ministry receives tons of questions around angel investing. What is it? How does it work? How can I get started?

In this episode, experienced investor and advisor, Mark Klopp, joins our host John Coleman to answer these questions and more as he provides us with a basic overview of Angel Investing. 

For more, check out this page:

https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/angel-networks

What does it look like to lead in the midst of chaos, brokenness, and division?

The recent events in Israel and Gaza have made the brokenness of the world even more acute and visible.

There are a lot of thoughtful places where you might go to find perspective on politics, faith or even breaking news, but we wanted to bring something different to the table.

We’ve brought on two friends of the Faith Driven Movement, Mordechai Wiseman and Bader Mansour, to talk about what it’s like to lead businesses in the face of tragedy.

Bader Mansour is the founder of NAZDAQ, a company that develops data solutions in Nazareth. He comes from a unique perspective as both a Palestinian and an Israeli citizen. Most importantly, he identifies a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. 

As an executive for a network of 17 churches and one of the founders of a local seminary, Bader is also a recognized national leader within the Arab-speaking Christian community.

Mordechai Wiseman runs an investment fund and a consulting firm, and is the founder and chairman of Israel Firstfruits, an economic development agency for the local community of faith in Israel. He is also founder of the Messianic Business Fellowship, which is the only national network for marketplace believers in Israel, both Jews & Arabs. 

The two have worked together for many years, have a deep relationship that transcends ethnic roots, and are rooted in their love for Jesus. 

They graciously joined the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast for a conversation about how their faith has informed their perspectives on leadership, identity, and the current conflict. 

Find out more about the work they’re doing in this video that premiered at the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySOzMWsSc3U

What does Faith Driven Investing look like for a global firm dedicated to bringing prosperity across the world?

Today’s guest, Mark Stoleson, has wrestled with this question before as the CEO and Partner of Legatum, a global firm that wants to improve people’s lives by increasing prosperity across the world. 

He joins us to talk about their approach, the power of building frameworks, and what it’s like to think globally about Faith Driven Investing.

John and Luke are joined by David Erickson, the Chief Investment Officer of Ascension Investment Management for this month’s edition of Marks on the Markets.

Ascension Investment Management helps their clients reach socially responsible investment goals without sacrificing returns. They do this by delivering high-quality comprehensive investment solutions that enable clients to better carry out their mission by allowing them to focus on the big picture.

In this episode, David unpacks their approach in more detail, gives an overview of what he’s seeing in the market, and helps us understand the value of thematic investing. 

If you like this episode, be sure to follow, review, and share the show.

Relevant Links:

https://ascensioninvestmentmanagement.com/

How can Christians thoughtfully approach the topic of artificial intelligence?

How should we use it? What are the ethical considerations? Is it good or dangerous?

These are relevant questions for Faith Driven Investors as AI continues to be a topic for conversation in both the business world and the broader culture. 

That’s why we’re excited to feature James Cham on the podcast. 

James is an early-stage venture capitalist and a partner at Bloomberg Beta, a Silicon Valley-based firm that invests in the “new world of work.” Conversations about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are a big part of his day-to-day life. 

In this crossover episode, he talks with the Faith Driven Entrepreneur hosts about wrestling through the ever-changing landscape of technology with wisdom, discernment, and a redemptive vision of the world.