Say Yes Now, Episode 001B: A Christian Entrepreneur’s Response to Racism, Interview with Sean Isaacs, Part 2

At this pivotal moment in American history, Dr. Hilliard recognizes that his new podcast, Say Yes Now, is a platform that can impact change amongst the people of God, and society as a whole.

In this second part of his first episode, Dr. Hilliard continues his conversation with Sean Isaacs, a Christian entrepreneur and minister with a passion to see God’s people glorify Him through industry and enterprise. In this episode, Dr. Hilliard digs into the reasons why Sean Isaacs sees this time of crisis as a unique entrepreneurial opportunity for the people of God. Llyod, Dr. Hilliard’s sound engineer, also shares his perspective on how this moment in history has affected fatherhood and raising black boys in particular.

The timestamps in this partial transcript will help you to jump to the portions of this podcast that catch your interest. But honestly, you’ll want to listen to every second!

The Blessings and the Challenges of Black Fatherhood During These Times

Llyod: [00:03:18] Thank you again, Bishop, for allowing me toshare this platform. I don’t take it for granted and I honor you and bless you as my spiritual father, for, not only these opportunities, but the fatherly spiritual presence that you’ve been constant in my life since the age of eight. So, I honor you tonight for that.

I grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. I always jokingly say home of parliament and Funkadelic…..And I grew up with both my parents in the home.And I was [00:04:00] blessed in many of my friends, at that time, experienced the same thing. So for us, there was this sense of structurethat was given to us because we had that joint effort.

… My father…. he was one of those that… lived through segregation days.And he came through all of that and raised three children with all of the struggles…. being pulled over in places, just because he was driving a vehicle while black, having to answer a ton of questions. Why are you in this neighborhood?… I would recall him coming home and saying all of those things.

[00:05:00]So now being a parent, a father of four, my wife and I are privileged to live on the shoulders of the efforts of our parents, of our mothers and our fathers. And we don’t take that for granted.

…. We want to ensure that …. they don’t have the challenges of things that my father endured and things that I’ve encountered… Let it not be named among them, that they would ever wear handcuffs or be arrested or anything, or be out of line for any reason like that…. [00:07:00] I understand that my task is to pour into them as much as I know, as much of God as I know, as much awareness that I know, that will equip them to be productiveyoung people, and ultimately adults, in this country.

Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr.: [00:07:15] Lloyd, thank you. Spoken well.Showing, you can see, the kind of brothersthat we give birth toat The Cathedral. I’m very proud of Lloyd and his family…..So Sean, we welcome you,as a father of five…. Lloyd is a father of

Llyod: [00:07:48] Four.

Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr.: [00:07:51]Four. Amen. God bless you. Welcome.

You Have to Be More Than Average!

Sean: [00:07:53] Well, thank you Bishop. It’s good to be here with you.

[00:08:00]Bishop, I have, as I call it, a“weird” way of thinking…. I just believe conventional wisdom is just that:it’s average and conventional.

One of the things that I’ve taught my kids from very young is: if you want to be good at anything, just look at what the average people are doing. And even if you didn’t know what to do, just do the opposite. Because in general, most people are not successful at, in general at marriage, parenting, finances, whatever….

So, one of my ways of thinking is ….. As Paul says in Ephesians 4: Let those who steal, steal no more….. Now, you could stop there….[00:10:00]….just get rid of the bad habits….Well, Christianity, goes much further. It says, let them steal no more, but rather let him labor with his hands,that he will have to give to those that have need.

So, when I look at that, I see God doesn’t just want me to provide for my family…… He wants me to also, as one of his children, have more, to be able to give to those that have a need.

God Gives Everything to Us in Seed Form

Sean: [00:10:40]If you go back to Genesis, everything starts in seed form.And it’s our duty and response….to germinate what God has given us seed form.

It may be passion for podcast or for artwork or for a book…. [00:11:00]We need to be asking “God, show me how to take that book as an author and turn it into a six or seven figure business.”

God uses means to produce the end. God has chosen for us to be co-laborers with Him. So, there are many things that never happened for God’s people because we’re quote, unquote, “Waiting on God.”

But the waiting in Isaiah 41 is not waiting passively.It’s like a waiter serving. So in your waiting, you’re still active. You’re still doing God’s will, you’re still actively pursuing the kingdom and seeking those things that are pleasing to God.

This Will Be the Biggest Season of Wealth Transfer

Sean: [00:11:30]….If I could speak to the church community right now…. Because the world is without hope and without God, I believe this is the biggest season for wealth transferin my lifetime, as far as potential[00:12:00], even with all of the chaos that’s going on.

This is the reason why…Because there are so many people with resources that don’t have hope. And when you don’t have hope, you can’t be innovative. You can’t be creative. It’s difficult to be disciplined and devoted and diligent when you lack a clear mind or when you are consumed with worry and anxiety and so on.

The enemy does all he canto destroy our hope. The Bible calls hope the helmet of our salvation. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for.

[00:13:00] So hope is such an anchor for the soul that the enemy does all he can to destroy our hope, make us discouraged, make us depressed, make us distracted so we can’t accomplish what God has created and called us to do.

Build Something of Your Own!

The old Testament, God says, six days you work, one day [you rest]. So, if you’re working for… five days a week, take one day a week and build something of your own.

There’s ways to do that. You don’t need money to create money. You need wisdom and you need sweat equity. Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore get wisdom and in all your getting get understanding.”

[00:14:00] And so the more wisdom and insight we get, and clarity, then we can envision what God has created and called us to do.Then the more we can leverage that.

And if you want to have an impact, a real impact upon our world, there’s nothing more powerful than ownership and influence.

And we have to maintain our faith and hold on to our visions, our dreams. And I think this is the time to produce great things for God.

Speed of Implementation: Take Action!

[00:28:17] If I can leave you guys in one thing:develop the habit of speed of implementation. If God gives you a vision to do something, you need to act on it right away!…. Don’t feel like “I have to have it all figured out before I create the YouTube video. I’ve got to have the book perfect before I publish it. No, no, no, no, no!

In marketing, we call it marketing validation, which means you allow the market to dictate or tell you if they like your product, your service, your cause. That’s why big brands rollout, beta versions. [00:29:00] That’s why books have first, second, third, fifth printing.

Why? Because they get feedback from the community and they make it better…..

So,if there’s one thing that keeps God’s people from accessing what God has given us, it’s the need to be perfect or to have it all figured out.

Take action!If you want to be a person that produceslongterm success, be an action taker.

The Bible says the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. Not the standing, not the sitting, not the waiting.

Faith is an action word. Faith without works is dead. So,when you have true faith, you have to act on what God has given you, and then God will provide more insight, more wisdom, and more clarity. [00:30:00]

If you’ve enjoyed this partial transcript, remember these are just a few highlights. Be sure to check out the whole episode! And make sure you don’t miss an episode by subscribing on one of your favorite listening platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.  For suggestions and feedback about this podcast, email [email protected].