Path to Prosperity: Stephen De Silva on Overcoming a Poverty Mindset

Seek Go Create - The Leadership Journey for Christian Entrepreneurs and Faith-Driven Leaders

Are you trapped in a cycle of financial stress, feeling like an orphan in a world of wealth? In this thought-provoking episode of Seek Go Create, we sit down with Stephen De Silva, former CFO of the renowned Bethel Church and founder of Prosperous Soul Ministries. Dive deep with us as we explore overcoming the orphan spirit, the biblical approach to wealth, and how to shift from a mindset of lack to financial health. Join host Tim Winders and our insightful guest on a journey of transformation that will challenge how you see money and your purpose. Tune in to discover the spiritual keys to unlock a prosperous soul!

"When we understand that our identity comes before our purpose and vision, we begin to operate from a place of wholeness rather than lack." - Stephen De Silva

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Stephen De Silva is a seasoned financial expert and visionary leader known for his transformative work as the Chief Financial Officer at Bethel Church. With over two decades of experience managing the church's substantial growth, Stephen has honed his ability to blend spiritual wisdom with practical financial oversight. He is the founder of Prosperous Soul Ministries, a program dedicated to instructing individuals on biblical financial principles with the aim of eradicating poverty, greed, and fear around money. Renowned for his contribution to faith-based financial health, Stephen is also the author of "Money and the Prosperous Soul," a critically acclaimed book that sheds light on the complex relationship between spirituality and financial well-being. As a "recovering accountant," Stephen's journey from a traditional corporate environment to a spiritually-enriching role has positioned him as a unique and respected voice in the intersection of faith and finance.

Reasons to Listen:

1. Uncover the Spiritual Aspect of Finance: Dive into Stephen De Silva’s transformative journey from a traditional accountant to a champion of financial health and spiritual freedom, uncovering the powerful connections between money, identity, and faith.

2. Challenge Conventional Wisdom: Explore thought-provoking discussions on challenging the Babylonian system of wealth, the deep-seated orphan mindset, and the adoption of a new perspective on prosperity that could revolutionize your personal and financial growth.

3. Gain Actionable Insights: Learn from a former CFO's top-down approach to vision and decision-making that extends beyond the business realm into personal life, offering a unique opportunity to reshape your understanding of purpose, identity, and financial strategies.

Episode Resources & Action Steps:

### Resources Mentioned:

1. **Book**: "Money and the Prosperous Soul" by Stephen De Silva – This book was highlighted by Tim Winders during the episode. It covers the concept of financial health and spirituality, diving into the four levels of purpose, identity, and meaning in life.

2. **Prosperous Soul Ministries**: Founded by Stephen De Silva, this is a financial program based on biblical principles designed to address issues related to money, such as poverty, greed, confusion, and fear. Details and resources provided by this ministry could likely be found on a corresponding website or through associated workshops and courses.

### Action Steps:

1. **Reflect on Your Financial Health** – Consider your relationship with money and how it may be connected to deeper spiritual beliefs or an orphan mindset. Spend time contemplating how this relationship might be influencing your sense of identity and purpose.

2. **Seek and Prioritize "Being" Time** – As Stephen De Silva suggests, make it a priority to spend time in stillness, seeking God, or engaging in personal spiritual practices. Create a daily or weekly routine that allows you to listen and reflect, helping you align closer with your identity and purpose.

3. **Educate Yourself on Financial Principles** – Start by reading "Money and the Prosperous Soul" or exploring the resources offered by Prosperous Soul Ministries. Engage with the ideas presented and begin to apply them in a practical way to your personal or organizational financial strategies.

Resources for Leaders from Tim Winders & SGC:

🔹 Unlock Your Potential Today!

• 🎙 Coaching with Tim: Elevate your leadership and align your work with your faith. Learn More
• 📚 "Coach: A Story of Success Redefined": A transformative read that will challenge your views on success. Grab Your Copy
• 📝 Faith Driven Leader Quiz: Discover how well you're aligning faith and work with our quick quiz. Take the Quiz

Key Lessons:

1. Overcoming the Orphan Mindset: Stephen De Silva shares the crucial lesson of moving from an orphan mindset, characterized by feelings of abandonment and a poverty mentality, to an adoption mindset where individuals realize they are children of God. This transition is essential for personal and spiritual fulfillment and is central to adopting a healthier relationship with finance and life in general.

2. Recognizing the Deception of Mammon: Tim Winders and Stephen De Silva discuss the deceptive power of the spirit of mammon—a biblical term for wealth that can become a master other than God. Understanding that mammon represents more than money, but a mindset and false worship that competes with one's loyalty to God, is crucial in aligning one's financial and spiritual life with biblical teachings.

3. The Top-Down Approach to Purpose and Vision: Stephen illustrates the importance of the top-down approach—starting with vision and hope, before moving to strategy, assignment, and tactics—when making decisions and building a successful life or organization. This approach ensures that actions and plans are aligned with a higher purpose and identity, creating a more impactful and coherent path forward.

4. The Four Levels of Purpose and Identity: Delving into content from his book, "Money and the Prosperous Soul," Stephen explains the four levels of purpose, identity, and meaning in life. This framework helps individuals place their financial goals within the larger context of their personal meaning and purpose, facilitating a more fulfilling and intentional path to financial health.

5. Shifting from Poverty to Financial Health: Stephen's personal story of growth and his professional experience emphasize the need to shift from a mindset of lack (poverty) to one of financial health by healing the "orphan wound." This profound shift can realign an individual’s approach to money, allowing them to break free from cycles of financial insecurity and fully embrace their God-given identity and purpose.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Navigating finances and faith with Steven De Silva.

06:59 Discussion about poverty mindset and societal perspectives.

13:12 Transition from non-believer to Christian in thirties.

18:50 Shift from mechanics to supernatural accounting at Bethel.

23:44 Surviving challenges, dissatisfaction with accounting profession.

26:48 Mechanic's intuition, ministry leadership, Bethel's music and supernatural.

34:26 Curiosity about Steven's lack mindset and growth.

41:06 Learning to close the gap with God.

45:26 Transform orphan identity to wealth for good.

49:04 Acceptance of identity, struggle with spiritual conflict.

54:55 Struggle with serving two masters and money.

01:01:27 Encourage daily practice of being, not doing.

01:05:32 New episodes every Monday, support our content.

Thank you for listening to Seek Go Create!

Our podcast is dedicated to empowering Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking to redefine success in their personal and professional lives. Through in-depth interviews, personal anecdotes, and expert advice, we offer valuable insights and actionable strategies for achieving your goals and living a life of purpose and fulfillment.

If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, we encourage you to subscribe to or follow Seek Go Create on your favorite podcast platform, including Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. By subscribing, you'll never miss an episode and can stay up-to-date on the latest insights and strategies for success.

Additionally, please share this episode or what you’ve learned today with your friends, family, and colleagues on your favorite social media platform. By sharing our podcast, you can help us reach more people who are looking to align their faith with their work and lead with purpose.

For more updates and episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. We appreciate your support and look forward to helping you achieve your goals and create a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Now, you can tip us, buy us a coffee, or offer financial support. Contributions start at just $1, and if you leave a comment, you could be featured in a future episode!

Visit our Support page for more details.

Mentioned in this episode:

Achieve Your Vision with Tim Winders' Executive Coaching

Dreaming of a leadership role that not only achieves goals but also truly inspires? Join Tim Winders, your SeekGoCreate host, on a journey to make those dreams a tangible reality. As an expert executive coach, Tim is dedicated to transforming your aspirations into lasting legacies. With a unique blend of faith-driven guidance and real-world experience, he helps align your professional goals with your deepest values for a fulfilling and successful journey. Ready to shape a path that's truly your own? Schedule a free Discovery Coaching Call with Tim now. Dive into a conversation that could turn your vision into reality. Let's embark on this transformative journey together.

Book Coaching Call