Gary Smith, founder of Iron Forums, discussesthe the his faith journey and life experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Gary's faith journey began at age 30 through a powerful encounter with Jesus, transforming his life and perspective
- Intentional discipleship, mentorship, and staying connected to God daily have been crucial in Gary's 40-year faith walk
- Gary emphasizes the importance of recognizing life's seasons and preparing intentionally for future stages
- Iron Forums provides Christian business owners a community for growth, accountability, and support
Topics
Gary's Faith Journey
- Raised in church but didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus until age 30
- Experienced spiritual transformation at a Cursillo retreat in April 1985
- Immediately noticed changes in thinking, words, and actions after conversion
- Wife saw the difference and had her own conversion experience two years later
Growing in Faith
- Emphasized daily connection with God before feet hit the ground each morning
- Stressed importance of discipleship and mentoring relationships
- Highlighted value of staying in God's Word and filtering life through biblical truth
- Advised asking permission before giving advice to adult children
Family and Faith Transfer
- Prioritized being present for family dinners and bedtimes with children
- Emphasized creating structure and intentionality in family rhythms
- Encouraged viewing children's stages as seasons that will change and evolve
- Stressed importance of preparing for future life stages (e.g. 60s preparing for 80s)
Business and Faith Integration
- Used business experience to prepare for founding Iron Forums
- Sees Iron Forums as his current mission and calling
- Encourages leveraging relationships within the Iron Forums community for support
Sharing Faith
- Advised relying on the Holy Spirit to guide conversations about faith
- Encouraged praying for opportunities to share and being open to God's leading
- Emphasized seeing sharing faith as an adventure rather than a fearful task
