Why Your Ministry Has a Faith Problem, Not a Marketing Problem

Why do so many ministries struggle to get their message out? Christian marketer Stephen Lee has a confronting answer — it’s not a tactics problem, and it’s not a budget problem. It’s a faith problem.

In this episode, Luke and Adam sit down with Stephen Lee, founder of Compose Marketing, to unpack why the church so often undersells the most valuable message in the world — and what it looks like to build a business with God, not just for Him.

Stephen shares his journey from being disowned by his family after becoming an Adventist, surviving on under $200 for years, to generating $4 million in ad revenue for ministry clients — and why he recently walked away from it all to build something new for Christian entrepreneurs.

Along the way they cover what Ellen White actually said about marketing, why Coca-Cola’s $5 billion ad spend should convict every ministry leader, and what it looks like when you finally understand the true value of what you’re carrying.

In this episode:

Why most ministries don’t have a marketing problem — they have a faith problem
What Ellen White actually said about marketing (and why it still stings)
Why Coca-Cola spending $5 billion on a drink should convict every ministry leader
How to think about success and attribution in Christian marketing
Where AI fits — and where it doesn’t
Why building with God looks different from building for God

Timestamps

00:00 Growing up, being disowned, and becoming a missionary

08:00 Launching a new event-based business for Christian entrepreneurs

10:00 How to get attention for your ministry on social media

21:00 How to measure success in Christian marketing

23:00 If you had $10,000 and one month — what would you do?

28:00 Thought-provoking content — has it ever gotten Stephen in trouble?

30:00 Stephen’s take on AI and responsible use

33:00 Where ministry leaders should put their attention in the next few years

35:00 Final advice — know yourself, know your gifts, build from there

Connect with Stephen Lee

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gospelpreneur/