Apologia Radio Ep. 517: Leaving a Legacy in an Exhausted Economy w/ Josiah Stowe
Date: March 27, 2025
Host: Luke the Bear (filling in for Jeff Durbin)
Guests: Josiah Stowe (Dominion Wealth Strategists), Stephen Cortez (Apex Development Co-Founder)
Overview:
This episode explores how Christians can intentionally build, preserve, and pass on a legacy—spiritually and materially—even in the midst of a challenging economy. The hosts and guests lay out practical steps for financial stewardship, multi-generational thinking, entrepreneurial action, and the theological mindset that undergirds Christian economic activity. They also share personal stories and actionable advice for families feeling the pinch of inflation and economic instability.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why "Leaving a Legacy" Matters (02:55–06:20)
- Luke introduces the main theme: Many core families are leaving Phoenix to pursue generational wealth and self-sufficiency, often by starting new businesses in more affordable areas.
- Houses and land in Phoenix are priced out of reach for most families wanting to build a multi-generational legacy.
- "They're doing what we’re practicing. And you can’t do that here in Phoenix. It’s just not possible unless you have a lot of money… you’re looking at a minimum of $250,000 for an acre of desert." (Luke, 05:10)
- Legacy is not about survival alone: The conversation quickly connects legacy to active, generational planning—not simply “surviving until rapture.”
- Featured sponsors (Reform-oriented businesses) reflect this mindset.
2. Christian Excellence in Business & Work (06:21–08:39)
- Stephen Cortez shares about launching Apex Development, aiming for American-made, solution-driven quality gear for law enforcement, military, and civilians.
- “Everything we want to do is going to be the highest quality… and to the glory of God. Christians should be striving for excellence in everything they do, not just being satisfied with mediocre products.” (Stephen, 06:52)
- Partnerships: Now exclusively manufacturing Cordura-wrapped field Bibles for Valley Operations Group—Christian-owned, with future product launches teased.
3. Christian Wealth Strategy: A Reformed Approach (08:52–14:16)
- Josiah Stowe introduces Dominion Wealth Strategists: The only distinctly Reformed financial consulting company (as far as he knows).
- “I’m here to help the average American, specifically the Calvinistic, covenantal, confessional congregant, put their money where their Bible is…” (Josiah, 09:21)
- Financial advice for ordinary families – Focus on homeschoolers, not just high-net-worth individuals.
- Most services are free; only estate planning or business coaching are paid.
- Intake process: Intro consult → Data collection → Custom recommendations.
- Notable moment: Realism about “chicken economics”:
- “You’re not going to save money by having chickens for your eggs.” (Josiah, 10:24)
4. Entrepreneurial Realism: Starting a Christian Business (14:06–15:18)
- Making the leap: Josiah offers practical first steps for business starters, discourages premature LLCs for early-stage operations unless risk demands it.
- Business coaching: “I’ll help stop you from making a lot of really dumb mistakes that a lot of people tend to make early in business.” (Josiah, 14:58)
- Experience: Josiah is involved in ~30 companies through his firm.
- Background: Transitioned from Army chaplain’s assistant (finance-heavy role) to seminary admin, to personal finance consultancy.
5. From Army to Finance: Personal Story (15:24–22:34)
- Chaplains’ assistants: A unique blend of bodyguard, admin, and soul-care for soldiers.
- “You’re the bodyguard… That’s the whole reason the job exists. You get an M4 and an M9.” (Josiah, 18:11)
- “Day to day, it’s hard to say what my job was. One day plumbing PVC pipes, the next up 36 hours straight consoling a soldier.” (Josiah, 19:24)
- Called into ministry, but God directed him into kingdom service through marketplace work.
- “There’s no sacred/secular divide in my theology anymore. It’s just as important… it’s dominion-taking work.” (Josiah, 21:50)
- Theology meets money management: Tithing, future planning, and the faithfulness required to break cycles of living “paycheck to paycheck.”
6. The Role of Eschatology & Mindset (22:34–23:45)
- Future-oriented theology shapes economics:
- “Why polish brass on a sinking ship? Well, if the ship’s not sinking, then maybe we should polish the brass and make sure the ship’s in tip-top shape.” (Josiah, 22:50)
- Now is the time for Christians to enter business, as secular “woke” economics prove unprofitable, suggesting an opening for faith-driven excellence.
7. State of the Current Economy: Challenges & Opportunities (24:15–35:38)
- Post-war U.S. history: From world’s manufacturing hub to debt-ridden managerial class.
- “We moved from manufacturing to a nation of managers… stopped being legitimately productive.” (Josiah, 25:09)
- Tariffs and “bringing manufacturing back”: Painful short-term, but vital for rebuilding real national wealth.
- “Trump is finally kind of putting a stop to that… bring the wealth back home. But… we’re going to have to take that hit on the chin.” (Josiah, 26:16)
- Stephen: Views this shift as opportunity for American manufacturers to reclaim skills and efficiency.
- Entrepreneurship requires margin: Many Americans lack buffer to start a business. “It’s almost a privilege to be an entrepreneur… not a lot of people actually have the capacity to make that leap.” (Josiah, 29:31)
- Macro & micro summary from Josiah:
- Macro: Chaos and unpredictability lead to investor paralysis and make funding harder for small businesses (30:47–34:37).
- Micro: The middle class is “effectively pressed into serfdom.” Lifestyle once taken for granted in the 1990s now nearly impossible to afford.
8. How Christians Can Respond Practically (36:09–44:54)
- Two options: “Either make more money or spend less money.”
- Audit your budget and spending; deploy capital strategically.
- Bring in a financial professional to spot "leaks" and inefficiencies.
- “Eliminate your high interest debt… that’s moving your net worth needle back way faster than your investments are moving you forward.” (Josiah, 44:06)
- Build a strong foundation first (budget, emergency fund, no bad debt) then invest/distribute.
- “Most people are trying to do that step when they haven’t even gotten their own household in order… it’s no surprise when they trip over themselves.” (Josiah, 44:54)
9. Long-Term, Generational Mindset (41:23–53:35)
- Take dominion within constraint: If you can’t move, work with what you have; prioritize increasing discretionary income, even in tough economies.
- Incremental, intentional steps: Start wherever you can, even if that’s just $25/month, and let compound growth work over generations.
- Community examples: The Mormons and Jewish communities built industrial, generational wealth by prioritizing their people in business and support.
- “That’s what God has already called us to do. They’re just actually applying it.” (Josiah, 52:50)
10. Christians Should Lead in Excellence & Support (53:35–55:44)
- Conviction for Reformed Christians:
- “We should be the best businessmen, the best business owners, the best employees, the best at everything, because we have no better reason to work than for the glory of God.” (Stephen, 53:41)
- “Christians should be the hardest workers. At the very least… even if I’m working at McDonald's.” (Stephen, 54:01)
- Unity over division: “The Reformed community likes to fight each other… more than they like to actually patronize the businesses of other Reformed believers.” (Josiah, 54:22)
- Intentionality is key: “Be intentional… if you don’t start there, you’re just gonna buy two more Starbucks or whatever each month.” (Luke, 55:35)
11. Building Block Wisdom: Assets, Precious Metals, and Mindset (45:20–53:35)
- Precious Metals: Good as a store of value, not as a wealth-building investment; most people aren’t in a position to prioritize them over other needs (47:20–48:29).
- “Gold is great as a store of value… but it’s not something you can use to actually build.” (Josiah, 47:22)
- Debt & Credit: Avoid locking yourself into big payments—bad advice abounds; stewardship is essential (48:30–50:11).
- Shifting mindset: Education and stewardship need to be generational—think like a builder, not just a consumer.
12. Closing: Hopeful Rebuilding & Lasting Legacy (55:44–end)
- The time is now: As secularism collapses, it's time for Christians to shine in rebuilding culture and institutions.
- “We are coming out of the ashes… there is a Christian way to rebuild.” (Josiah, 55:44)
- Practical household examples: Luke shares how inheritance and wise stewardship echo across generations (56:49–58:28).
- Encouragement to act: Don’t get stuck in indecision; faithfulness means taking the next step.
- “Try something. Take a step of faith. If it doesn’t work, that wasn’t God’s will. Try something else… We can’t just set our hands and God’s just not gonna magically sprinkle success dust on us, you know.” (Luke, 60:01)
- Contact & resources:
- Josiah: Find him at reform.money for free, distinctly Reformed financial consultation.
- Stephen: ApexDevelopment Co and Valley Operations Group for field Bibles.
- Final exhortation: “Repent of your gnostic asceticism, get down to work.” (Josiah, 61:34)
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- "Desperate times call for faithful men and not for careful men. The careful men come later and write the biographies of the faithful men, lauding them for their courage." (Josiah, 00:13)
- “Christians should be striving for excellence in everything they do and not just being satisfied with mediocre.” (Stephen, 06:52)
- “We’re seeing secularism collapse under the weight of its own stupidity, and we alone have the proper alternative.” (Josiah, 23:45)
- “Business runs on optimism.” (Josiah, 34:29)
- “He who does not provide for his family is worse than an infidel.” (Josiah, 39:10)
- “Start somewhere, be intentional… it’s about good stewardship.” (Luke, 55:35)
- “We have the chance to rebuild now, and that’s not an opportunity you should even think about passing up.” (Josiah, 59:45)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:55 – Intro to "Leaving a Legacy in an Exhausted Economy"
- 06:21 – Christians in business: Stephen & Apex’s ethos
- 08:52 – Dominion Wealth Strategists – Josiah’s mission
- 14:06 – Starting a business: practical & theological advice
- 15:24 – Josiah’s Army and seminary experience
- 22:34 – Eschatology and economic mindset
- 24:15 – The state of the U.S. economy and opportunity
- 36:09 – What can Christians do? Macro/micro solutions
- 41:23 – How to think long-term and build in a tough economy
- 53:35 – Excellence and unity in Christian business
- 55:44 – Hope for rebuilding, legacy stories, and final exhortations
Final Takeaways
- The path to Christian legacy in hard times is holistic: mindset, stewardship, entrepreneurship, and generational vision.
- Now is a unique moment—Christians can play offense, not defense, in business and cultural leadership.
- Real-world steps are necessary: audit your finances, eliminate bad debt, start small if needed, and always act with intentionality.
- Support and invest in fellow believers' businesses and prioritize kingdom stewardship in every area of life.
Resource Links:
(Advertisements, product mentions, and sponsor plugs were skipped except where they directly illustrated a discussion point.)