Some of my Best Work with Eric Hoke

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is live! 99 Cent Kindle ends today 10/2/25!Episode TakeawaysFrom Pastor to CCO – Kelly went from leading an international church in Paris to becoming Chief Communications Officer at a global investment firm.Leadership Lessons – Empowering young leaders early matters, and how “train and release” creates resilient talent.Transferable Skills – Surprising ways ministry honed her corporate edge: communication agility, confidence in ambiguity, and winning over diverse audiences.Resilience in Change – Navigating COVID, cross-cultural ministry, relocation, marriage, and parenthood while still growing in her career.Workplace Wisdom – Why integrity, owning mistakes, and simply doing what you say set you apart in high-stakes environments.Connect with Kelly at KellyDelp.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is live! For this week only, Kindle is only $0.99!Episode TakeawaysGod can use even “mind-numbing office jobs” to build skills and character for future callings.Passion alone isn’t enough. Movements and nonprofits need people with real skills and aligned values.Leadership transitions can make or break mission-driven organizations; the wrong hire can tank the mission.Job hopping under 2 years raises red flags; staying 3–5 years builds credibility and trust.Remote, part-time, high-paying jobs are rare; flexibility is usually earned after proving value in person.Healthy organizations develop leaders internally, treat staff well, and reduce turnover by fostering a strong culture.Advanced degrees don’t always guarantee better prospects; experience and mentorship often yield more significant benefits.You can connect with Titus on LinkedIn or his Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is live! Order your copy (Kindle, Hardcover & Paperback) today. Episode TakeawaysCo-Vocational Calling - Dave serves as both an executive pastor and a fractional HR/operations leader for a construction company. He views this dual calling not as leaving ministry but as expanding it; living in obedience meant offering his skills to businesses as well as churches.Skills Translation & Lifelong Learning - Dave discovered his marketable strengths by paying attention to what people repeatedly came to him for (systems, HR, operations). Pursued certifications (IT, SHRM-CP, OSHA) and used early mornings (5–8 a.m.) to reskill. Learned that translating church skills requires humility, mentors, and conversations with business leaders, not just Google or AI searches.Navigating the Transition - Experienced culture shock moving from ministry to business (e.g., workplace language, different HR standards). Noted that church resumes and secular resumes differ dramatically, and auto-generated Indeed/LinkedIn resumes often fail to represent candidates well.Systems, Time, and Family Priorities - Lives by his calendar as both planner and journal, doing time audits to stay accountable. Emphasizes systems (e.g., Notion, automations) as the foundation for sustainable work, saying: “I exist to make vision sustainable.”Advice for Aspiring Co-Vocational Leaders - Try something small, don’t overthink it Take targeted risks, learn from failures, and keep iterating. Don’t underestimate the value of small businesses and nonprofits, they often need the skills pastors already have.You can learn more about David’s Business at Brock Office Solutions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is available on Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle.Episode Takeaways:From Atheist to Pastor – Justin shares how he became an atheist at 15, moved to Ohio to explore the question of God’s existence, and experienced a transformative spiritual encounter that led him to return to New York to do ministry.Entrepreneurship as Calling, Not Just Career - Justin launched Matera Management (a marketing firm) shortly after college and later co-founded City League Coffee. His ventures weren't just for profit; they were purpose-driven, providing funds for his church plant and serving as community hubs.Ministry and Business Are Not Opposed - Justin critiques the false divide between ministry and entrepreneurship, especially in church culture. Drawing on his experience, he argues that pastors need to understand finances, profit and loss statements (P&Ls), and strategy, not only for stewardship but also to prevent organizational dysfunction.Coffee Shop Ministry - The coffee shop he “accidentally” started began as a workaround to rent space (landlords wouldn’t lease to a church). It became a missional outpost: their first barista, who had joined as an atheist, later came to faith, was baptized, and started his own business.Justin is the Founder of Zion NYC, Mattera Management and Co-Owner of City League Coffee. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is live! Order your copy (Kindle, Hardcover & Paperback) at a discounted rate for this week and this week only! Sale ends 9/5/25.Episode Takeaways:Clarity comes after obedience, not before – Sitting in a Wahlburgers with a journal and a question mark ("Church planting?") became the first step toward founding a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis.Follow the cloud, not the crowd – Tabi’s posture wasn’t “prove it to me, God.” It was: “I’ll walk unless you stop me.” Bivocational doesn’t mean bi-committed – Tabi leads a learning & development team and a church and how having a career actually fueled her ability to plant without financial strain or burnout.The local church and resistance to female pastors - Tabi’s leadership was questioned more inside church walls than in corporate offices. Tabi Horne is the Pastor of The Gathering in Minneapolis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is available for Kindle Pre-Order on Amazon. If you struggle to align your inner world and career, pick up a copy today. Releases in 4 days! Episode Takeaways:* Church planting shapes you as much as you shape the church – Planting in an urban context accelerates leadership growth, humbles you, and forces you to adapt to cultural realities you didn’t anticipate.* Shared leadership is essential in co-vocational ministry. Co-pastoring allows you to split preaching and pastoral duties, avoid burnout, and serve more effectively while holding full-time jobs.* Humility opens doors in multicultural ministry – Letting go of control, honoring cultural differences (even in worship style), and accepting you’re not “the star” can make a ministry more vibrant and healthy.* Urban and suburban ministry have different but equal challenges – Urban ministry faces resource constraints, long commutes, and financial sustainability struggles; suburban ministry can struggle with isolation and engaging people who appear to “have it all.”* Pastoral skills translate into SaaS sales – Empathy, listening, problem-solving, and building relationships proved directly transferable to selling software, leading to strong early success and significant financial stability.You can connect with Stephen on his LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is available for Kindle Pre-Order on Amazon. If you struggle to align your inner world (values, beliefs, convictions) and career, pick up a copy today. Releases in 11 days! Doug Black is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, digital strategist, and ministry leader with a knack for solving complex problems and bringing creative visions to life. He is the founder and CEO of Triple Nerd Score, a web development agency that builds websites, web apps, marketing campaigns, and SaaS products for clients ranging from small churches to Fortune 500 companies.He also leads M3Ridian and serves as the lead pastor of McKees Rock Assembly. In all his roles, Doug focuses on blending technical excellence with meaningful impact, helping organizations grow while staying grounded in faith and purposeEpisode Takeaways:Keys to Growing an Agency* Lead with service. Position yourself as a partner solving problems.* Keep overhead minimal; use remote work, AI, and low-cost tools.Lessons Learned Building* Hire slow, fire fast; wrong hires hurt culture.* Screen clients early with “vibe checks” and refer out if not a fit.Faith & Work* Triple Nerd Score is not branded as a “Christian company” to avoid limiting reach; sees all work as sacred.You can connect with Doug on his website This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

My new book, The Incongruent Professional, is available for Kindle Pre-Order on Amazon. If you struggle to align your inner world and career, pick up a copy today. Releases 9/1/25!Episode Takeaways:Ministry Outside the Mold - Andre shares how traditional church roles didn’t fit his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to create Barbecue Church—a digital, grassroots ministry reaching thousands through smoked meats and the gospel.The Hidden Cost of Church Staff Roles - He reflects on the emotional and financial toll of leaving a church, revealing how many pastors are left without community, paycheck, or purpose when a role ends.Reaching Men with Real Talk and Real BBQ - Andre's work through the 225 Man initiative and Barbecue Church reframes men’s ministry.Authenticity over Assimilation - He unpacks the challenge of being a Black pastor in predominantly white church contexts, calling out how churches often want the “image” of diversity without embracing diverse voices.Your Calling Doesn’t Fit in a Box - Andre's journey through multiple careers, from youth pastor to parking logistics to diamond sales, illustrates that calling is layered, and faithfulness doesn’t always look like a 9-to-5 job in a church office.You can learn more about Andre’s Ministry at BBQ Church. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

Are you an Incongruent Professional? Take my Free Assessment and find out where you are out of whack.Episode Takeaways:Running a Small Business Is More Than Doing the Craft - Many aspiring entrepreneurs think they can turn a skill into a business. But as Sierra learned from running a plumbing company with her husband, being good at the craft isn’t enough. Administrative duties, invoicing, scheduling, licensing, and taxes are often heavier burdens than expected.Know Yourself Before You Leap — Starting a business or side hustle requires self-awareness. Sierra points out that knowing your blind spots, such as time management, communication, or money handling, is crucial. Otherwise, you risk burnout or damaging relationships, especially when working with a spouse.Not All Pivot Years Are Chosen — Sierra’s 2020 included a new baby, the start of pastoral training, and the eventual closure of her business. She didn’t plan that year as a pivot, but embraced it as one. External events (like a pandemic) can catalyze internal transformation if we’re paying attention.There’s Value in Delayed Callings — Sierra didn’t pursue ministry until later in life and in hindsight, her earlier roles in business, marketing, and community leadership prepared her better to shepherd others. Her story shows that starting something meaningful in your 30s or 40s can be a strength, not a setback.God Doesn’t Waste Hard Things — Whether in business failure, infertility, or career transition, Sierra believes deeply in a personal God who shows up in unexpected ways. Her resilience comes from trusting that God redeems suffering even when plans change or dreams are delayed.Follow Sierra’s Work on Substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com

Is your career aligned with your values? Take my free assessment and find out in 3 minutes.Episode TakeawaysMine every season for transferable gold: Even “off-track” jobs are training grounds. Mike shares how banking years prepped him for pastoral work (problem-solving, steadiness, trust). He now treats each role like a field to be mined for skills he can carry forward.Purpose and community can outweigh the paycheck: He walked away from his highest-paying banking role to earn $25,000 in church work with no benefits, because the work felt more meaningful and provided the community he needed in that life chapter.Fail forward: Frustration is raw material for growth. After a painful job misstep, Mike adopted a “this is not the end” mindset (inspired by Failing Forward) and began using even bad decisions as learning fuel. He channels frustration into development instead of getting stuck.Count the real cost of leadership and guard your shadow: People often underestimate the emotional toll of leadership, as you carry others’ gifts, personalities, and pain, while stewarding people, not just hitting metrics. Your strengths can outrun your character if you ignore your shadow side.Calendar your values & do the inner work before saying “yes.” When weighing a CEO role, Mike mapped his real life, including time with God, family (his daughter’s sports), rest, and fun. Ask whether a job would move you toward or away from the person you hope to be at 75-90. You can find Mike on Instagram and Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erichoke.substack.com