What a transformed mindset can do…

Stephanie Estrada's broad, pearly smile mimics her purity of heart. That yearning to always do what's right made her feel conflicted by pursuing a business in photography while also sensing a strong call to ministry.

How could she be chasing profits when what truly brings her joy is investing in people's lives - especially the hurting? Could she do both? Should she? While struggling with this, she enrolled in our StartBook course offered by Emprende, one of our superb Honduran partner organizations. She was relieved to learn in class that her faith and her business need not be in conflict. In fact, they could strengthen each other. The sacred-secular divide was a false dichotomy since God deeply loves his entire creation, not just our souls. In whatever sphere we use our talents, we can be a foretaste of how God will restore all things to his original good intention for his world.

When she chose business instead of an official ministry role, she thought that God would no longer give her ministry opportunities but now she helps many non-profits to share their stories with powerful visuals. Stephanie shared:

“I now understand how to combine business and ministry. As I build trust with my clients, they open up and share their lives with me. My business creates so many opportunities to minister to people as they share their very personal stories. We sometimes cry together and become friends. I'm making disciples through my business, showing people how to follow Jesus, grow personally, and impact their community.”

Stephanie often spends an extra hour with clients beyond what they have paid for. Making time for these deeper conversations isn't the path to maximizing profits, but she finds affirmation in StartBook’s claim that the true purpose of business is “creating value that serves others.” This follows the apostle’s example of “not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many” (1 Corinthians 10:33).

Stephanie is deeply fulfilled by capturing important client milestones in her photographs as well as helping them to trust God in their trials. So, feeling affirmed in her “business as ministry”, Stephanie and her husband Carlos continued to invest in her business, even giving up their own bedroom to create a professional studio (see below)!

Another huge transformation the StartBook course made in her business is her new approach to competitors. Suspicion. Jealousy. Distrust. These were the prevailing attitudes amongst photographers in Siguatepeque. StartBook stirred in Stephanie a desire to see this mindset of scarcity be replaced by one of abundance. She explains: 

“I started to build relationships with my competitors. As I became more open to them, they began to ask for help. When there's an event too big for a single photographer, we now work together and bring each other business.”

This beautiful culture change has transformed Stephanie's approach to her hard-won years of know-how. She says:

“I just offered my first photography course, a three-day master class. I used to hoard my knowledge for fear that an employee could leave to start her own business.

Now, I am actually helping someone to learn the entire business - the technical side as well as the marketing and financial sides. Stephanie sees this as part of disciple-making, helping a young lady grow in character as she gains a livelihood that replaces poverty with dignity. It's inspiring to see Stephanie move from fear to generosity, saying “I had to change my mind and create a win-win with others in my field.”

Being drawn to Stephanie's cooperative reputation, the city recently hired her as the official photographer for their popular annual run to battle breast cancer. Instead of trying to do it alone, she trained the young people picture below to assist her. They received valuable, hands-on training and the city received many more quality photos.

Stephanie is also interested in giving back to the StartBook course which has so blessed her. She'd like to co-teach the modules on people and customers. Her husband Carlos already assists Emprende staff with the StartBook module on money.

They are both eager to continue learning by reading our GrowBook and The Heart of Wealth (which they received below) and by taking those courses as they become locally available by Serve Hope’s Emprende.

Of course, they'd make great local mentors beyond the photographers they already invest in. Please pray as they join with Emprende in creating an entire ecosystem of support (as pictured below) that will help their community to thrive.

Thank you for investing with us in “business for God's glory”!