Share The Gospel From Your Place of Influence with Dustin Manis

Episode Description:

Dustin Manis wants to challenge you to seek the Lord for ways to share the Gospel from your place of influence. Dustin is the CEO of Reaching Souls International, which has seen over 100 million salvations. In this episode, Dustin shares heart-convicting leadership insights that will propel you to fulfill the Great Commission right where you serve. He also encourages leaders to live out core values by matching words and actions through accountability systems. Tune in for an urgent reminder that we have one life to fulfill our God-given calling. So, let’s hustle and pray to see lives impacted for the Kingdom of God in the marketplace and ministry.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

- How Dustin led through the Pandemic
- How believers are more in love with the idea of spreading the Gospel than evangelizing from their place of influence
- Why leaders can’t waver from the focus or the calling during tough seasons

About the guest:

Dustin K. Manis is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Reaching Souls International, which exists to reach the maximum number of people for Christ in the least amount of time in the most efficient way. Reaching Souls works to make the name of Jesus and His Gospel known all around the world.

FREE Workplace Culture Assessment >> https://bit.ly/WorkplaceCultureAssessment

About the host:

Following a successful career as CEO, Bobby sold his business to a publicly-traded company. In what he calls his “second half of life”, Bobby seeks to pour Biblically-based principles into growth-minded business, church, and non-profit leaders.

Through Values-Driven Leadership, Bobby serves as an Executive Coach and Training Consultant for organizations. He shares many of his principles and practices through a weekly blog, the True North Leader podcast, and through three books he has authored:

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Transcription of Episode: Share The Gospel From Your Place of Influence

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Dustin Manis 0:00

I’m sorry, we have to be intentional about it, Bobby, as believers, sometimes we’re, we’re more in love with the idea of reaching people for Christ than we are with reaching people for Christ. Yeah. Or we would reprioritize our lives in accordance with doing that. Yeah. And so I guess I guess I would lay that challenge at your listeners, that if they if they’re a believer, and want to be more strategic and evangelism or filling the Lord, lead them that way, boy, asking right where you’re planted. So Lord, show me how I can be strategic and intentional in sharing my faith.

Bobby Albert 0:40

Howdy, and welcome to the TrueNorth leader Podcast. I’m Bobby Albert. And we’re here today with Dustin Manis. And he is the president and CEO of reaching souls International. So Dustin, welcome to the show. Glad to be with you. So this you know, like we were talking about before we started recording is tell us a little bit about you, and what you and your team do at reaching SOS International because I really believe y’all got a tremendous story to tell us.

Dustin Manis 1:29

Well, thank you for the question. And thank you for having me on today. We’re reaching souls International, you know, our strategy, our whole goal, and purpose are really wrapped up in our name, we just put it in our name to help keep us focused.

Bobby Albert 1:44

I’m from Texas, I say, look, I’ve got a simple, you know, got a simple mind, just keep it simple. I’m a simple man.

Dustin Manis 1:55

You understand that our goal is to reach the maximum number of people for Christ in the least amount of time in the most efficient way. That’s what we’re all about. We believe there are many great things you can do to help people around the world. But the most important thing, priority number one, is to introduce them to Jesus Christ and help secure their place in heaven. So our goal is to look for the Lord’s harvest and to bring it in.

Bobby Albert 2:23

We’ll also, I mean, tell us a little bit because y’all are, you know, you’re international. Y’all are got a lot of things going on. And I even you know, when I went to your website, I was just amazed at the number of missionaries you have the size of your team, you know, just the new churches that y’all I guess you call them church plants that where you are trying to, you know, to lead more people to Christ. The decisions, the number of decisions that are people making. So do you mind sharing a little bit more about that?

Dustin Manis 3:16

I’m glad to share it. The statistics that you’re talking about? We have 2300, National missionaries, and I’ll explain what that is in a minute, around the world and 13 different countries, and so that they’re focused on these men and women that they get out of bed each day to reach souls for Christ. Yeah, it’s not just a job for him, you know, God’s put that in them. They fire in their belly, like the apostle Paul said, you know, woe is me if I don’t preach the gospel that that’s who they are. We can’t put it in I’m God puts it in him. Yeah, exactly. We’re just coming alongside them, and trying to get them some support, encouragement, some tools, so they can either do more of it, or do it more efficiently.

And so they’re out, you know, 24/7 doing that. They’re reaching people for Christ, as you and I are sitting here talking about it. And it’s been so effective. Last year, last fiscal year, we saw just under 8 million salvation decisions. So 7,859,773 and I, we count them all because they all have value. Exactly. Yeah, it’s not that bright. If it’s bragging about it’s only bragging because God did exactly No Yeah, we don’t save anybody. So but yeah, each one is worth counting.

And then like you said, church plants. Last year, we planted 5034 churches now that doesn’t mean we built 5000 buildings, then we’re probably meeting under a mango tree, you know, somewhere in Africa, but it’s the body of Christ, many new believers, you know, meeting together and growing in the Lord and so, so that’s been the focus and Our strategy when I say a national missionary, these are local leaders in their own country.

And so it’s it’s not our strategy to send foreign missionaries or send Americans around the world, although I think foreign missionaries are wonderful, and sacrifice more than most people do. But if you’re if you’re serious about the Great Commission, and really making a dent or getting the job done, then you have to invest in nationals to reach their own people. So it won’t be an American that wins African to the Lord. We are each country’s from the inside out. It’ll be Cubans that when Cuba for Christ and Kenyans that we reach Kenya for Christ. And so we go, and we find the evangelists that are already doing the work that again, with a little help, could do it more effectively and more efficiently. And that’s what we did. Yeah.

Bobby Albert 5:50

You know, I saw somewhere I saw a map that also included China.Is that challenging there are

Dustin Manis 6:02

We’re not currently active in China, but it’s not. It’s on the horizon for us. I don’t want to say a lot about it here. But we’re exploring countries all around China also. So we are in some of communist countries. The Gospel continues to grow in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Part of what we’re doing, Bobby, if your goal is to reach the maximum number of people in the in the least amount of time, the most efficient way, part of you has to be exploring all the time to make sure you’re operating where that’s happening.

So even though we’re still seeing such a great harvest in Africa, in Latin America, we’re still exploring new areas all the time, because we want to be there as the ground starts to soften, you know, have a presence there. And so I always say we’re called to a vocation, not not a location. Right? Yeah. If the Holy Spirit is in the harvest, did you know if it dries up and Africa? Well, we’re moving where the harvest is, and so we’re always kind of looking. So we know how to allocate the resources for that spiritual return on investment?

Bobby Albert 7:16

Sounds like you’ve shared the mission of reaching souls International. But just, you know, hearing you talk personally, is having the vision and that entrepreneur spirit. I know, you know, you were telling me earlier that you’re, you’re better at organizing and things, you must have the gift of leadership, and share a little bit about your leadership style.

Dustin Manis 7:54

Well, thank you. I mean, there’s all kinds of leaders for sure. And libraries have been written on the subject by more learned and experienced men and women than myself. But based on my own unique experience, I’ve got a few leadership characteristics that probably hovered at the top. Certainly integrity and everybody says integrity, but that’s the, you know, the character is quintessential, you know, it’s at the top because nobody follows you if you don’t have it, and you’re not worthy of being followed. Exactly.

Your actions and your words have to match. I think the other character qualities, that make up integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, you know, those kinds of things is, so do what you say you’re going to do, be transparent and honest with your team. I really try to lean into that being completely honest with them. So integrity, for sure. I’d say courage would be the next one.

That may, you know, strike you funny, I don’t know. But to pursue vision, bold vision, you have to take action towards that sometimes you got to see something that doesn’t really, you know, it only exists in your mind or put in your heart, you know, yeah, so other people don’t see it. But taking action that’s in alignment with that bold faith or direction that God’s given you takes courage. It takes courage to make the tough calls. Yes. You know, sometimes that’s releasing people and other work sometimes that’s, you know, hiring somebody you didn’t think you could afford sometimes that you know,

I mean, all that kind of stuff, you know, and even when nobody else understands, so is the leader, you’ve got to make choices, given based on partial information, and also on, you make choices where you’re the only one that really has the information. So everyone’s going to second guess your choices. Yeah, because they don’t know all the reasons that you’re looking at. And most of the time, they can’t know it, you know, maybe it’s personal about another employee or those kinds of things. And so, you know, that takes courage and I would say courage to shoulder that leadership burden, and kind of fight through the loneliness sometimes,

Bobby as you sometimes as a leader, it can get kind of lonely, right? You know, it can be Yeah, you know, you’re, you’re bearing that burden. And then the last one, I’d say was, is I call just empathy, you know, with, towards your team. Choosing humility, in my heart walks towards pride on its own, I just walk toward pride. Yeah. And, and the Lord tells us that, you know, there’s one thing he comes against 24/7. You know, he hates it. And that’s pride. Exactly. But also 24/7. He’s drawn to humility. Yeah. And so the Bible tells us over and over again, to choose humility.

It’s hard sometimes as a leader because you’re successful and driven. And you start thinking that you have accomplished this, that and the other exists. Yeah, I learned don’t focus on your title, you know, focus on your role. Yes. I had one of a good friend of mine and longtime donor to the Ministry told me years ago that he would tell him, so don’t try to be important. Try to do what’s important. Ah, I love it. It’s so simple. But like we said, you know, I love it.

And so I’ve latched on to that empathy with your people, meet them where they are just like God does. Don’t place yourself first, you’re trying to live under a different, you know, think you’ve grown where you can live under a different set of standards or rules, and then your people and so integrity, courage, empathy. Those are the character qualities that I cling to, I think, as a leader here, by God’s grace, I’ve been able to keep us focused.

That’s probably the strategy and focus that have been the keys to the success of this ministry. Certainly, our strategy is very effective. God’s given us that strategy of nationals reaching their own people. But when you operate in a world of so much need, I mean, we’re in the poorest countries on the globe. Yes. So you go there. Well, everyone needs shoes, and everyone needs water, and everyone needs all these humanitarian things that are wonderful to do. Is, but they’re not evangelism and discipleship. And that’s what this ministry has been called to do. Yeah. And if, if the believers don’t do that, no one else is coming. You know, no one else is coming to do that.

So when you operate, operate in a world with so much need, again, it takes focus. Focus requires discipline. Yes. Right. There’s no greater ingredient for discipline than accountability. That’s why we measure everything. We measure the number of church charts, we measure the baptisms, we measure the number of people placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. So we know if we’re being successful or not. Does that make sense?

Bobby Albert 13:14

It does. Yeah. By the way, say that statement again, about not being important. Or

Dustin Manis 13:27

I yeah, I said, don’t try to be important if I tried to do what is important.

Bobby Albert 13:33

Exactly. That’s excellent. I am, I love your comments about integrity. Because my definition that’s one of my core values is to live with integrity. And my definition of it is doing the right thing regardless of the consequences. I find so many especially well, just anybody in general, but I see it with leaders in a position that you’re in, you can tend to look at the potential consequences and then work \backward to making your decision regardless of if it’s right or not in God’s eyes. And I just learned to I gotta keep my integrity with the Lord first. And whatever the consequences are going to be they’re going to be that Yes, sir. You know, so, and you know, you have a life motto Would you mind sharing that

Dustin Manis 14:44

Are you referring to hustle and pray because prayer and hustle is kind of a model for mine for sure. You know, Uh, have clean hands and in a pure heart, you know, I? Yes. When you’re operating in a ministry like ours, I mean, all spiritual success belongs to the Lord. Yeah, I mean, you know, I can’t say I’m the leader take credit for it. I mean, this, uh, you know it, yeah, it did David slay Goliath sort of, but I mean, he came with the name of the Lord, the Lord did that he he’s worked, we’ve worked through people to, you know, to, to accomplish his purposes. So pray first, I can’t do anything in my own strength. On my own. I’m the opposite of all these things.

I don’t have any integrity. I’m a coward. And I’m selfish on my own. You know, that’s, that’s my flesh. That’s where I operate. So those character qualities were important to me, because I’ve blown it so much, you know, and so I understand that. But then the hustle part. I mean, we’re, we only got one time to go through this life. Right, Bobby, we’re not. We’re not coming back to do it again. No. And so we got to decide how, you know, how do we want to? How do we want to walk through it? Every obstacle that comes, you’re probably only gonna walk through that obstacle once? How do you want to walk through it? Yeah. So yeah, pray and hustle. I like

Bobby Albert 16:19

Yeah. Well, you know, earlier, he also brought up discipline. And I love that thought, as well, because my definition that discipline is, is doing what you don’t want to do today. So you can go do what you want to do tomorrow. And it’s hard sometimes. Because, you know, when our flesh kicks in, like you mentioned, and we start using human reason, rather than God’s wisdom, we will tend to, to move away from that this one that’s really needed to be there to be discipline and being obedient to the Lord. And that’s, that’s what it takes, like you say, it takes courage, you know, to have that discipline. So well, you know, you would you mind sharing a story about an obstacle that really challenged you and your team? And how did y’all handle that?

Dustin Manis 17:40

Oh, that’s how much time do we have that?

Bobby Albert 17:44

Oh, yeah. Yeah, you’re the only one that’s ever had

Dustin Manis 17:50

An obstacle. Yeah.. That’s a that’s a great question. You know, let me just go to, COVID I’m sure that’s Oh, an obstacle that many face. But when, when that first hit us in the face at the beginning of 2020, and you have all this uncertainty, you’ve got 2300, you know, families around the world that, you know, you know, It’s the Lord’s ministry, but you feel the burden is on taking care of them. And, and then you’re stateside staff and, all of those things. I talked about having to make decisions when you don’t have all the information. And then none of us had all the information then right? You’re going through those, those first few months for us.

Our fiscal year, ends June 30. And so we were right in the middle of our budget preparation. Oh, and, you know, in March and and of 2020, and we’re 100% dependent on donations were a nonprofit. We had two of our largest givers had to cease operations, you know, for a while. Oh, wow. And, you know, some of the others were hemorrhaging losing, you know, 60 grand a month. And, you know, just all that, you know, I mean, all the business people listening are shaking their heads, they know, they were having to make their own decisions. These were very real decisions that affect your own people. We were having to do the same thing. And how do we continue the work of the Lord?

Maybe not, you know, if we were running at 75 miles an hour, how can we keep running it maybe 30 miles an hour, but still keep going forward? Yes. And so we were looking at those things we we decided I decided not to take the the PPP money. Yeah, that was another decision in the middle of, you know, some of your largest givers going hey, we’re not gonna be able to do anything this year. Yes. And, and I’m not if I was a pure business, Bobby I might have taken The PPP loan, but as a as a ministry that will the Lord’s always provided here through his children. It’s his ministry, he can scuttle the whole thing if he wanted to. Yes. And so I was just going to lean in to, you know how he was going to provide.

But I think that that also gave us a chance to do these things, I was talking about integrity, courage, empathy, I was able to be trustworthy with our team, and say, Hey, here’s, here’s where we really are, here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t know. And then put together a plan to at least get us get us through the next, you know, several months of uncertainty whether the plan came to fruition or not, if people need a plan, because it comforts them.

Exactly, right. It’s just such a you staying on that direction. My, my wife and I, our family, we lead the way and immediately took a 25% cut in you know, pay and benefits those things. And I’m not, I’m not trying to lift myself with that. I’m saying, that’s what a leader does, is they, you know, they step out first, it says, hey, yeah, if there’s going to be a test, let’s start here, you know, and so, when we started there, we didn’t really release anybody we weren’t, we didn’t release any missionary or any of our staff, we did start reducing, you know, support and those things for a number of months, until we could get our, you know, our, our till we could see what the funding was going to be.

After a few months, Bobby started coming back. And we were able to, to restore pay to what it should be. And even for those missionaries pay back what we weren’t able to pay them for, you know, for those months, which was a blessing. Yes, blessing.

But I guess my point is that, that the obstacle Park was the uncertainty really, yeah, of, of, you know, what’s coming in the fear. That’s why you needed that empathy, because you gotta get face to face with people that might believe differently than you believe. And so you get vaccines and working together, quarantining and everybody, you know, good people on both sides of that is Oh, and I had them here at my our own office, of course, right.

Yeah. And so but anyway, but I don’t know that one comes to mind pretty, pretty easily as as as an obstacle, fortunately, because of our strategy. Even when we couldn’t get on a plane and fly around the world. It nationals were still reaching their own people. Yeah. Oh, and so that we were really thankful for our ministry strategy that God gave us they continue to operate that way.

Bobby Albert 22:49

In those countries where you have a ministry, I mean, missionaries? Do they get some donations, from the people that they’re impacting are from so that help in any way?

Dustin Manis 23:11

those that are pastors get some help from their church, but Bobby, we’re talking about? Yeah, for poor, exact, you know, rural churches. And, so you, you may have a couple of eggs and some produce. And, you know, I mean, literally, that’s what’s being put into, into the basket, which helps. But what we do is those, those 2300, National missionaries I was talking about, we give them some tools and some financial support, to help them do more of the work, most of them are farmers just not not raising crops to sell, but just to feed their own family. Yes, but with a little support, they can put the shovel down and they can go be a full-time evangelist. That’s what we’re doing.

So their support ranges from 30 US dollars to 150 US dollars, depending on where they are, most of them receiving about 75 US dollars a month. In Africa, where they are, most everyone’s living on $2 a day or less, you know, that kind of Yeah, so they’re paid right around the same as their neighbors are receiving. And then most of them have a bicycle helps them get to surrounding villages, or they’d be walking everywhere. You know, it takes forever. They get a portable sound system that makes their voice strong out in the marketplace and rural areas so people can hear the Gospel. And then they have these poster size flip charts that help illustrate the gospel in picture form.

And so those are just, you know, that the tools vary depending on where they are, but they’re, they’re professional evangelists. That’s what they do every day. So that’s the tools of their trade, right? Yeah.

Bobby Albert 24:57

Well, that’s Wonderful the structure that you put in place there, and also how you are shared about COVID. Having to deal with that COVID really kind of reveals a lot of things. I know talking with other leaders and other types of organizations, it’s it, it in most cases, it sadly reveals the poor leadership style that was leading those organizations. They didn’t see it until COVID came. I can tell by talking with you, is how you even learned how to engage your your team. When their level of understanding. And it doesn’t mean that they liked what they were hearing know that they, they didn’t, but they did understand. And even though there’s uncertainty there, they understood the uncertainty.

But what is so important is coming back to your mission, is they knew the Lord was in control. They could trust him, not trusting in their circumstances. And t’s fascinating, because what you were saying there, because just recently, in my quiet time, I just finished in job. And it’s fascinating that you know, there was a lot of things going on that Joe when his three friends that really kind of put him down pretty heavily, but they didn’t nobody understood what was going on in heaven between God and Satan.

But one thing, but Job, he never lost his faith in the Lord. And that man is, especially during time of COVID with all the uncertainties in things. It’s, it’s so easy to fall back on to being driven by fear rather than driven by faith. And it takes like you were talking about takes courage to do that. And so I appreciate what you were just sharing. Is there anything else that you can share about how your faith has influenced the way that you lead your team? Anything else that you might want to share there?

Dustin Manis 28:02

I appreciate what you said about even Job and his you know, his friends did okay at the beginning. Because they got there and he was so sad. They sat there for seven days in the dirt. They didn’t say anything. Exactly. Once they started opening up their mouths they go Oh, man. Yeah, we can all learn from that.

Bobby Albert 28:20

Yeah, there was a lot of trash came out of those mouths. Yeah, no,

Dustin Manis 28:25

no doubt. We were talking about circumstances. Bobby. circumstances can be overwhelming to us. Certainly. And but if we’re if we’re Christians, and and we trust in the Lord, and we believe that the circumstances belong to God, they’re not our ships, dancers. They’re his dances. Well, Can Can I trust him? To handle his circumstances? Yes, I can. Yeah, that changes the perspective. Yeah. So do I trust myself? No, not really. But I know who I am. But I can certainly trust in God through any circumstance.

Bobby Albert 29:07

Yeah, even if you don’t understand it, and that’s a deal with Job. He didn’t understand all the stuff that was happening to and the Lord never did reveal it to him what was going on? But he came close the nine the Lord but he didn’t go he didn’t go there. But it’s it you know, it kind of comes back when we were talking about earlier about integrity, you know, we is making the right decision regardless of the consequences and the circumstances. I remember my company before, to publicly traded company is our Second largest customer had violated their integrity with us. Two times. And they finally did it a third time. And here’s our core values, my core values, our core values for company, and was to live with integrity.

So kind of like you sound like what you did I gather our leadership team. And I said, they all knew about the previous integrity violations, the two elements. So I’m sharing with them what happened this third time. And them collectively said, Bobby, you need to say so. Well, that’s kind of where the Lord was leading me, I need to express how I felt about this integrity violation with this, this second largest customer. And so I, this is long enough ago that we got on a phone call, not not on a zoom. Call, right. And the whole leadership team knew the risk was us losing our second largest customer. But we all agreed we I needed to share how I felt about the, you know, the violation of integrity.

You know, what shocked me? When I got through talking with them. That, you know, they agreed with me. I mean, I know about that. But it’s kind of like you were talking about, you know, when you told them about it, I was prayed. And the leadership team was praying. And but the other next thing that was fascinating to me how the Lord works. After they agreed with us, they even gave us more business. After that conversation.

Dustin Manis 32:15

Yeah. Praise the Lord for that. How about that? I mean, in the Lord work through you and gave you the courage to see.

Bobby Albert 32:27

Yeah, that was an easy, I know, better by Utah, much wedding must. I think my socks were probably wet. You know,

Dustin Manis 32:36

that goes to what you said earlier. You know, sometimes leaders do weigh the consequences and work backwards. In that instance, you know, you’re just following integrity, whatever the consequence is,

Bobby Albert 32:47

So I was just amazed at how the Lord worked through that. And so will this and when you look toward the future because I can, you know, just hearing you talk your visionary, you got that entrepreneur spirit. I relate to that because that’s how I was. Now I had one problem. I was, what two problems one, I was impatient, you talked about hustling, I was impatient. And it would get me in trouble. And there’s a testimony to it. But I had to keep reminding myself of Colossians. I mean, Psalms 2714, where said, be patient and wait on the Lord. And that’s hard for me to do. But in that Psalml was 2714, then say at one time, it says it two times. And it really shocked me when I read that because I was at a time I was in a hurry.

And then the other thing is, It’s kind of related to hustlin, like you were talking about, but I’ve known him since a little kid. I’m like, I’m a dee, dee, dee, dee, dee dee dee, you know, and I think that’s the reason why my parents started me in kindergarten when I was four years, okay, they didn’t know what to do with me. But I still cared that in my adult life, I’ve just gotta keep going. And that’s the reason why I’m living my second half alive, like having you on this podcast. But when you look toward the future, what is one potential opportunity or challenge that you see on the horizon? And what does that need to be talked about?

Dustin Manis 34:48

You know, for what we do, what our focus is, it, it’s eternal. When I turn on the news today, it looks like the whole World on Fire. Yeah, I mean, you know, it’s it’s crazy. And I feel that the return of Christ is coming soon. And so I feel that urgency. It’s interesting. As I talked to other leaders, it’s like God is stirring this up to have the greatest altar call in the history of the world.

Yeah, yeah. And so I don’t know when that’s going to be I’m not prophetic, I’m just saying is stir that up me going, you know, get to work. Yeah. And that’s what I’m trying to do work while it’s day and do it as efficiently as we can. And so, in June, we were able to see our 100 million salvation decision since the beginning of this ministry took 36 years. Oh, so in, praise the Lord for that he, you know, he did all that it took 14 years to reach a million.

Then of course, they came quickly after that. And Lord willing, if he keeps doing what he’s doing the next 100 million will come much quicker. But this, this urgency, I believe, terrible days are coming. Yeah. And it’ll be much harder to receive Christ. Yeah. So it’s it is in my heart, in course Bobby called entrepreneur or whatever I’m taking it from the Lord is I’m pursuing reaching a billion souls for Christ in the next 10 years. And I don’t know how to plan all that I can’t put all that on paper and work that out God. But, but I’m, I’m getting the word out, I’m praying that he’ll do it.

Yeah, I’m gonna do everything that I can and be totally in alignment with his will. And what he tells me to do, and as we’re exploring around the world, him tell me which side of the boat to cast the net on. And, you know, and just, you know, determine his direction. Yeah, so but that’s, that’s the goal that’s pursued, that’s priority number one, reach as many as we can for as long as we can. Don’t waver from the focus and the column. Yeah,

Bobby Albert 37:10

man, I love what you’re saying. I, my third book I wrote was called the Freedom paradox. It, I took all of my teachings on leadership and workplace culture and applied them to how we can reunite America. Really it kind of comes down to just what you’re doing on the international level. Boy, we need changed hearts in America right now. And I’m looking at the potential of, of writing another book a follow-up to that book, he could call it freedom paradox. 2.0. But it’s, it’s, it’s restoring the will of America. But it’s only going to happen by changing hearts. As you had already said,

The Lord alone can change the hearts of the people. And when everyone was created, you know, it was already what when the Lord created everything, he already ordained that, you know, Dustin was going to be doing what he has done, Bobby’s gonna be doing what he’s doing. And even when we were going to pray to receive Christ, and when he was going to give us that fe, but we have to be diligent, like you’re, you know, talking about a hustlin. Those kinds of things to just keep the gospel message, you know, spreading out there. Hopefully, there’s a point where that message and the timing, when the Lord is going to give that person the Faith is going to match up. And

Dustin Manis 39:10

I’m sorry, we have to be intentional about it. Bobby, I suppose as believers sometimes we’re, we’re more in love with the idea of reaching people for Christ than we are with reaching people for Christ. Yeah. Or we would we would reprioritize our lives in accordance with doing that. Yeah. And so I guess, I guess I would leave that challenge at your listeners, that if they if they’re a believer, and want to be more strategic and evangelism or feeling, Lord, lead them that way, boy, asking right where you’re planted to show me how I can be strategic and intentional in sharing my faith. Yeah. Then watch him provide those opportunities and walk right into them because he’ll do it. If you ask him he’ll do it. Yeah, I’m an avid encourager of that.

Bobby Albert 40:02

Well. Man, that is great advice about being intentional because it’s so easy to be convicted. But there’s a big difference between being convicted, let’s say when we go to church and actually repenting of that sin and so that takes courage to actually met, humbled ourselves to admit, I need to repent of this and not just be convicted of it. That’s kind of part of changing hearts of people that are currently you know, they’re Christians. They’re secured by the Holy Spirit, but are they gonna be filled by the Holy Spirit?

And it’s, I love that thought about we get we love the idea about being intentional. But are we really doing something about it? And that’s, we’re, y’all have done so well, and I’ve been so impressed what y’all are doing the man Dustin it’s man it’s sure it’s been a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. So where would people go to connect with you and with reaching SOS International

Dustin Manis 41:41

it’s it’s easy. They need to go to reaching souls dot O R G reaching souls.org. They can learn more about the ministry and what God is doing worldwide to call people to Himself.

Bobby Albert 41:57

Yeah, well, again, thank you. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.

Dustin Manis 42:13

thanks for having me, Bobby. All right.