“Spiritually, Financially and Socially”: A St Andrew Church Invites an Australian Billionaire to Teach Christian Men About Wealth

• Fellowship Tabernacle planned a free virtual Kingdom Men’s Conference on August 27 and 28, 2021
• The keynote speaker was Dave Hodgson, a Zimbabwean-born Australian billionaire
• A one-year mentorship programme with seed funding for Christian businessmen was to follow
• Speakers included a government minister and an insurance company president

Fellowship Tabernacle, the St Andrew church led by Dr Merrick “Al” Miller, planned a men’s conference built around money as much as faith. The Jamaica Observer’s business writer Durrant Pate reported that the church wanted to develop men “spiritually, financially and socially” rather than only spiritually.

The free, virtual Kingdom Men’s Conference was set for August 27 and 28, 2021. The keynote speaker was Dave Hodgson, a Zimbabwean-born Australian billionaire who applies biblical principles to running businesses. The report said his organisation, Kingdom Investors, had helped bring economic change in several countries.

Dr Garfield Young said the aim was to give “a roadmap to a purposeful and successful life for each man.” The conference also set out to show the benefits of being a kingdom man, to challenge men who were not Christians to convert, and to tell participants about opportunities that had opened up during the pandemic.

The plan went beyond two days of talks. A one-year mentorship programme was to follow, helping Christian men pursue their purpose and build wealth. It included seed funding for kingdom businessmen, job opportunities, business ventures and biblical strategies for the marketplace. Speakers included Agriculture Minister Floyd Green, motivational speaker Dr Leachim Semaj, Dr Bill Winston, founder of the Joseph Business School, and Guardian Life president Eric Hosin.

The report did not mention property directly. Still, for many Jamaican families, building wealth still means owning land, a house or a business premises. A church that teaches men about budgeting, saving and running a business is also preparing them to deal with mortgages, land titles and commercial leases. Churches that follow this approach could add practical sessions with lawyers, surveyors and lenders, so that faith-based financial teaching turns into titled land and paid-off homes rather than get-rich promises.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com