417. How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Release Date: 05/04/2026
439. I Almost Quit: When You Havenât Lost Your Faith, But Youâve Lost Your Joy
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
I Almost Quit: When You Havenât Lost Your Faith, But Youâve Lost Your Joy - Before You Quit #1 What do you do when you still believe in Godâbut you don't feel the joy you once had? You haven't necessarily lost your faith. You still care. You may still attend church, pray, and try to do what's right. But something inside feels different. The fire isn't there anymore. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob begins reading from his new book, , a collection of short letters written for Christians who are discouraged, exhausted, hurt, drifting, or wondering whether they can keep...
info_outline
438. The Biggest Obstacle to Your Spiritual Growth (It's Probably Not What You Think)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
The Biggest Obstacle to Your Spiritual Growth (It's Probably Not What You Think) Everyone wants revival. We want to feel closer to God. We want deeper faith. We want more joy. We want to become spiritually fruitful. But what if revival doesn't begin with stronger emotions? What if it begins with a renewed mind? In this episode, Rob explores Romans 12:1â2 and explains why God transforms the way we think before He transforms the way we live. You'll discover: ⢠Why revival always begins with God's mercy ⢠How culture quietly shapes our thinking ⢠Why trusting your own understanding can...
info_outline
437. Donât Die in the Desert: How to Live the Life God Intended
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Donât Die in the Desert: How to Live the Life God Intended Have you ever wondered whether you are settling for less than the life God intended for you? The Israelites witnessed miracles, crossed the Red Sea, ate manna from heaven, and experienced Godâs power firsthand. Yet almost an entire generation died in the wilderness because fear kept them from stepping into Godâs promises. In this episode, adapted from a lesson Rob taught at a ministry training retreat in Spokane, Washington, Rob explores the life of Caleb and asks a challenging question: What if the greatest danger is not...
info_outline
436. Stop Waiting for "The One": How Fear Is Keeping You Single
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Stop Waiting for "The One": How Fear Is Keeping You Single Are you waiting for certainty before you're willing to put yourself out there? Do you want to get married someday, but fear rejection, making the wrong choice, getting hurt, or simply never finding the right person? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob tackles one of the greatest obstacles facing Christian singles today: fear. After teaching a lesson on dating to approximately 200 young adults and married Christians in Boston, Rob noticed a common theme. Many people aren't struggling because they don't want to get married or...
info_outline
435. Walk Where Jesus Walked: The Holy Land Tour That Will Transform Your Faith
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Walk Where Jesus Walked: The Holy Land Tour That Will Transform Your Faith Have you ever wanted to walk where Jesus walked? In this episode, Rob sits down with longtime minister and Bible teacher Mike Fontenau from Perth, Australia, to discuss an unforgettable opportunityâa guided Holy Land tour planned for October 2027. With more than twenty years of experience leading biblical tours through Israel, Mike shares how visiting the places you've only read about can completely transform your understanding of Scripture. From the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum to Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the...
info_outline
434. Before You Fast: 10 Ways to Experience Breakthrough with God
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Before You Fast: 10 Ways to Experience Breakthrough with God What if your breakthrough is waiting on the other side of wholehearted prayer and fasting? In this episode, Rob prepares listeners for the upcoming 72-Hour Fast for Revival by sharing practical, biblical guidance on how to make the experience meaningful. Whether you've fasted many times or have never skipped a meal for spiritual reasons, this episode will help you approach God with faith, humility, and expectation. Rob explains why repentance always comes before revival, how to prepare your heart, practical tips for fasting safely,...
info_outline
433. From Olympic Dreams to Church Growth in Spain: How Jeff Arias Learned to Trust God
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
From Olympic Dreams to Church Growth in Spain: How Jeff Arias Learned to Trust God What does it look like to spend decades building a successful career and then use everything you've learned to advance God's Kingdom? In this episode, Rob sits down with Jeff Arias, a bivocational minister serving in Madrid, Spain. Jeff shares his remarkable journeyâfrom growing up in Virginia, chasing Olympic skiing dreams in Colorado, becoming a disciple in 1986, building a successful business career, and eventually helping lead churches across Spain and Portugal. Jeff opens up about being fired from the...
info_outline
432. 85 Years Old and Still Preaching: Why Al Baird Refuses to Retire
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
85 Years Old and Still Preaching: Why Al Baird Refuses to Retire What keeps a Christian faithful, fruitful, and full of vision at 85 years old? In this inspiring episode, Rob sits down with Dr. Al Baird, longtime church leader, teacher, and disciple-maker, who is still actively preaching and helping churches grow decades into his Christian journey. After losing his wife Gloria following 56 years of marriage, Al faced the challenge of finding purpose in a new season of life. Rather than slowing down, he accepted an opportunity to help revitalize the church in Bakersfield, Californiaâa...
info_outline
431. 85 Years Old and Still Asking God for More: The Caleb Spirit
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
85 Years Old and Still Asking God for More: The Caleb Spirit At 85 years old, Caleb wasn't asking for comfort, retirement, or an easier assignment. He was asking for a mountain. In this episode, Rob explores one of the most inspiring stories in the Bible and reveals why Caleb's faith remained strong after 45 years of waiting. While others focused on obstacles, giants, and limitations, Caleb learned to see God in every situation. What made Caleb different? Why did he continue dreaming when others had given up? And how can his example help us experience personal revival, renewed purpose, and...
info_outline
430. They Sold Everything to Move to Albania for God
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ They Sold Everything to Move to Albania for God What would make a young family sell nearly everything they own, leave a thriving ministry, and move across the world to one of Europe's least evangelized nations? In this inspiring conversation, Rob Skinner sits down with Kyle Plum as he prepares to move with his wife Monique and their three young children to Albania. Kyle shares the remarkable journey that led them from a successful ministry in San Diego to a bold new mission in Eastern Europe. He discusses how God opened unexpected doors, confirmed the calling through prayer, and ignited a...
info_outlineđ How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2)
What if ministry funding didnât have to be the biggest limitation for growing churches?
In this second episode from the Boston conference interview series, Rob sits down with Nate Bigby, a church leader and innovator who is helping reshape how ministry can be funded in todayâs world.
Nate and his wife lead a church in Corpus Christi, Texasâbut beyond that, Nate has been developing practical solutions for bivocational ministers, helping them generate income through AI-based businesses.
In this conversation, Nate shares how he built an AI agency with low startup cost, minimal hours, and scalable potentialâand how this model could help churches:
- Support ministers financially
- Train interns in real-world skills
- Multiply leadership without financial strain
If youâve ever wondered how to fund ministry, support staff, or create sustainable growth in a church, this episode offers a fresh and forward-thinking perspective.
đ In This Episode, Youâll Learn:
- Why small churches often struggle financially
- How AI is lowering the barrier to starting a business
- A real example of building income quickly with AI
- How bivocational ministry can become more sustainable
- Practical ways to train interns to support themselves
- Simple tools to get started with AI today
đĄ Key Insight
The future of ministry may not depend on more fundingâŚ
đ It may depend on more creativity.
đ Practical Takeaways
- You donât need large capital to start an AI-based side business
- Ministers can work fewer hours outside ministry while earning income
- Churches can redirect funds toward growth and staffing
- Interns can be trained to become self-supporting leaders
đ§ Tools Mentioned
- Google Gemini (AI assistant for daily use)
- NotebookLM (learning + research tool)
- Website builders and app tools powered by AI
đ About This Series
This episode is part of the Boston Conference Interview Series, where Rob captures real conversations with leaders and innovators from around the country.
Each interview highlights ideas, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the future of the church.
đ Reflection Questions
- How could creativity unlock new opportunities in my ministry?
- Am I thinking traditionally about fundingâor innovatively?
- Whatâs one step I could take to learn a new skill that supports my calling?
đ Next Steps
đŠ Sign up for Robâs weekly newsletter:
https://RobSkinner.com
đ Get The 10X Christian:
Available on Amazon or RobSkinner.com
đ Support the Podcast
If this episode helped you:
- Share it with a ministry leader
- Leave a review
- Subscribe for more faith + leadership content
đ Contact Nate
Call or text Nate at 210-883-7506.
Email Nate for his agency: nate@kratesolutions.com