Episode Overview

Episode 86 of the GrowLeader Podcast, hosted by Chris Hodges and guest Lee Domingue, centers on the often-overlooked but critical partnership between pastors (the “priests”) and business leaders (the “kings”) within the local church. The episode explores how these two callings—often viewed as separate—are powerfully intertwined for advancing the mission of Jesus, and offers practical insights for bridging the relational and practical gap between ministry leaders and marketplace leaders. The conversation is packed with personal stories, biblical models, bold challenges, and actionable steps for pastors and business leaders alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Kings and Priests Dynamic

• Definition & Biblical Basis:

  • Chris frames the discussion around the biblical model of "kings and priests" (Revelation 1), where pastors carry vision and spiritual direction, and business leaders provide resources and provision. Vision and provision must unite for maximum kingdom impact. [06:00-08:11]
  • “God uniquely resources them with vision, but He uniquely resources the king or the business leader, the market person, with resources. Vision and provision have to come together, but if there's a gap between the two, it doesn't happen.” — Chris Hodges [07:08]

• Modern Gap in Churches:

  • Many pastors feel uncomfortable engaging high-capacity marketplace leaders.
  • Marketplace leaders often don’t see their own role as a holy calling, leading to an untapped resource in the church. [07:25-08:48]

2. Lee Domingue’s Story: From Marketplace to Ministry

• Entrepreneurial Roots & Search for Fulfillment:

  • Lee shares entrepreneurial beginnings, from selling ice cream at age 7, to decades in business. Financial success came easily; personal purpose did not. [08:48-09:58]
  • "Even making money never came hard... Finding purpose, finding fulfillment was a different ball game." — Lee Domingue [08:48]

• Defining Moments:

  • First Moment: A pastor affirmed Lee's work in business as a holy calling—“What you do for a living is a holy calling.” This shifted his entire perspective.
  • Study of Kings & Priests: Lee studied biblical pairs (Joseph/Pharaoh, Saul/Samuel) to understand God’s partnership model. [10:08-11:58]

3. Mutual Honor and Destiny

• The Tied Destiny Principle:

  • “To the degree a pastor and a business person honor each other's giftings and calling is the degree of God’s favor on their endeavors together.” — Lee Domingue [12:20]

• Mutual Respect & Need:

  • Resource limitation is often the main barrier to a pastor's vision, and provision sits in their congregation.
  • The biggest untapped resource: the pastor-business leader relationship. [13:08-13:49]

4. Practical Steps to Bridge the Gap

For Pastors

• Affirm & Invite Marketplace Leaders:

  • Identify those with the spiritual gift of giving (Romans 12:6-8).
  • “Pastor, affirm them in their calling, but give them a place to play.” — Lee Domingue [15:10]
  • Don’t be intimidated—engage in their world, learn their “dialect,” and build real relationships. [15:35-16:33]
  • Use language and specificity that resonates with business minds—clarity, impact, outcomes. [19:54-21:06]

• Consistent Communication & Vision Sharing:

  • Don’t just seek funds for projects—show the real kingdom impact, tie financial requests to life change. [21:13-23:23]
  • Be transparent with wins and struggles; many marketplace leaders would love to help solve challenges, not just write checks. [23:24-24:04]

For Business Leaders

• Initiate & Engage:
  • Pray for pastors, ask about their vision, and offer to come alongside with expertise, wisdom, and support. [28:00-28:17]
  • “Business person...start praying for your pastor. Number two, go ask him to go to lunch and ask him, what is your vision, Pastor, and how can I help you?” — Lee Domingue [28:00]

For Both Sides

• Relationship Over Transaction:
  • Move from transactional giving to genuine discipleship, partnership, and ownership.
  • “None of us are as good as all of us.” — Lee Domingue [27:17]

5. The Queen of Sheba Model (1 Kings)

• What Marketplace Leaders Look for in a Pastor/Church:
  1. Anointing and Vision: Are you spiritually authentic and do you know where you’re going? [25:45-26:55]
  2. Order and Excellence: Is there strategic, meticulous stewardship of resources? Are things done well and transparently? [28:12-29:38]
     • “Excellence is a separator. It just separates you from everyone else...Excellence is not extravagance.” — Lee Domingue [29:38]
  3. Relational & Spiritual Value: Make marketplace leaders “rich where they’re poor”—support them in areas money can’t buy: family, marriage, spiritual life. [31:31-33:38]
     • “Even the most wealthy have a need somewhere...Serve people in areas where they’re poor.” — Chris Hodges [32:02]

6. Action Steps for This Week [21:06-24:04]

• Set up intentional meetings (coffee, lunch, event) with high-capacity givers.
• Share vision with specificity and transparency—show real results, outcomes, impact, and invite their feedback.
• Make space for relationship, not just requests.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Finding purpose, finding fulfillment was a different ball game.”
  — Lee Domingue [08:48]

• “What you do for a living is a holy calling.”
  — Lee recalls pastor’s words [10:01]

• “To the degree a pastor and a business person honor each other's giftings and calling is the degree of God’s favor on their endeavors together.”
  — Lee Domingue [12:20]

• “Pastor holds the key that unlocks the destiny for their business people... It’s a partnership.”
  — Lee Domingue [13:38]

• “Clarity brings comfort. Clarity brings—‘I believe in it.’”
  — Lee Domingue [19:54]

• “None of us are as good as all of us.”
  — Lee Domingue [27:17]

• “Excellence is the greatest gift you can give your congregation... Exellence is not extravagance.”
  — Lee Domingue [29:38]

• “Make them rich in areas where they’re poor.”
  — Chris Hodges [32:01]

• “They want to know that they are loved beyond being an ATM machine.”
  — Lee Domingue [33:38]

Important Timestamps

• 06:00–08:11: Introduction to the kings and priests dynamic.
• 08:48–10:08: Lee’s marketplace testimony—searching for purpose.
• 10:08–11:58: Affirmation of business as a calling; biblical studies.
• 12:20: “Destiny of both are tied” quote and explanation.
• 15:10: Affirming business leaders' spiritual gifts in practice.
• 19:54: How clarity and strong vision attract marketplace engagement.
• 21:13–24:04: Practical advice: what to do with marketplace leaders this week; shift from building projects to life change, transparency, and collaboration.
• 25:45–26:55: Queen of Sheba: leaders attracted by anointing and vision.
• 28:12–29:38: Excellence, stewardship, and transparency as relational bridges.
• 32:01: “Make them rich where they're poor” and serving business leaders in areas money can't reach.
• 33:38: Availability, love, and partnership above transaction.

Practical Takeaways

For Pastors

• Affirm businesspeople’s calling and gift (especially in generosity).
• Open transparent, two-way communication—invite feedback, input, and share vision in ways that resonate.
• Move from seeking funds for “stuff” to discipling givers and celebrating kingdom outcomes.
• Be available, relational, and show sincere care beyond finances.

For Marketplace Leaders

• See your daily work as vital to God’s mission.
• Reach out to your pastor—initiate dialogue, offer wisdom and support.
• Become a true owner of the church’s vision, not just a donor.

For Church Teams

• Make time for personal meetings with potential legacy/kingdom builders.
• Have clear, inspiring vision reporting ready—demonstrate both stewardship and spiritual results.
• Foster a church culture where both “kings” and “priests” are honored, discipled, and activated in their unique lanes.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a deep dive into the heart of mobilizing the full spectrum of giftings in the local church—calling both pastors and business leaders to recognize their shared destiny and to build intentional relationships that accelerate God’s mission. The GrowLeader Podcast and its resources (GrowLeader.com, Kingdom Builders Virtual Intensive, and the Monthly Mentor Call) offer further, practical equipping for leaders ready to take the next step.

For more in-depth frameworks, resources, and community, visit growleader.com.