# Ep 13: Faith, Business & Planting Without a Plan | The Paper Jacket Podcast

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-paper-jacket-podcast-7101821/ep-13-faith-business-planting-without-a-plan-the-paper-jacket-podcast
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-paper-jacket-podcast-7101821/ep-13-faith-business-planting-without-a-plan-the-paper-jacket-podcast.md
Podcast: [The Paper Jacket Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-paper-jacket-podcast-7101821)
Published: 2025-04-02T20:08:45+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paper-jacket-podcast/episodes/Ep-13-Faith--Business--Planting-Without-a-Plan--The-Paper-Jacket-Podcast-e38tksh
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/109ef56f0/podcast/play/109023569/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-8-30%2F408415482-48000-2-669f29736ef4d4aa.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-paper-jacket-podcast-7101821/episodes/ep-13-faith-business-planting-without-a-plan-the-paper-jacket-podcast
Duration seconds: 2866

## Resource

🔥Pastor or Entrepreneur? Thom Pirone on Building Churches, Businesses & Living for the Kingdom What happens when a successful entrepreneur trades spreadsheets for sermons? In this episode, we sit down with Thom Pirone , pastor of Church of the Way , and unpack what it really means to follow a calling—even when it doesn’t look like the “strategic plan.” We get into the trenches: business, faith, money, identity, purpose, and why Thom believes the church should operate more like a family than a Fortune 500. Whether you’re a pastor, entrepreneur, or just figuring out your next faithful step—this conversation is packed with raw wisdom, humble fire, and zero sugarcoating. Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Thom Pirone: Pastor, Entrepreneur, Church Planter 00:41 – Can Pastors Be Business Owners? (Spoiler: Yes) 02:10 – What Is the “Business” of the Church, Really? 04:00 – Thom’s Backstory: From Lutheran School to Sales Manager to Pastor 07:00 – A Real Faith Crisis That Sparked His Transformation 10:30 – The True Meaning of Repentance & Following Jesus 12:45 – Calling vs. Timing: Why Thom Waited to Go Into Ministry 14:15 – Balancing Work, Provision & Calling 18:00 – Faith, Business & Living Without Asking for Money 22:00 – Planting a Church (Without a Marketing Plan) 24:30 – Why Big Churches Aren’t Always the Blueprint 26:00 – What Makes Church of the Way Different 29:00 – Ministry to the Marginalized (And Why That Matters) 31:00 – Success ≠ Big Numbers 34:00 – Every Christian’s Calling: Faithfulness in the Present 36:00 – How Entrepreneurs Can Live "Missionally" (Without Being Pastors) 40:00 – Why Church Is More Like Family Than a Sunday Event 45:00 – One Church, One Gospel, One Mission 🗣 Thom Pirone: “You can build a massive church or a booming business—but if it’s not…

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