How to Turn Your Business Into a Ministry That Blesses Thousands
Derrick Christy
Position: CEO at Approved Mortgage
Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Anchoring Hope podcast with your host, David Mansilla! Today’s conversation offers a deep look into what happens when faith, perseverance, and everyday business intersect. We sat down with entrepreneur Derrick Christy—a grounded family man, business owner, and leader who has spent over three decades demonstrating how christian entrepreneurs can build genuine success while staying rooted in their core values.
Derrick Christy is an Indiana native and the founder and CEO of a family of companies operating in financial services, real estate, and post-secondary education. Starting his entrepreneurial path right out of high school with a local cleaning business, Derrick founded Approved Mortgage in 1994, building it into the oldest and largest locally owned independent mortgage banker in central Indiana. His portfolio of businesses also includes Ben Franklin Insurance, Horizon Property Group, and Gateway Education, an innovative platform dedicated to making college credits accessible and affordable for everyday families. Recognized as one of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s "40 Under 40," Derrick continues to live out his calling through local community service, mentorship, and faith-driven stewardship.
From Hardship to a Mission of Hope
Great business ideas often originate from personal hardship rather than boardrooms. Coming from a middle-class background with no set-aside college fund, Derrick spent his freshman year of college working long hours for less than four dollars an hour. Trying to pay for gas, buy textbooks, and keep up with tuition eventually proved overwhelming, and he had to leave his studies behind after two years.
Decades later, that early disappointment became the seed for Gateway Education. Derrick recognized that millions of young adults faced the exact same obstacle he did: wanting a degree but getting priced out by expensive traditional tuition. By launching an affordable, subscription-based model for general education credits, he turned his past struggle into a practical resource for others. His story highlights what practical christianity looks like in action—identifying a real human problem and creating an accessible solution that doubles as a form of community service.
The Reality of Entrepreneurial Risk
Transitioning from an employee mindset to launching your own company is rarely easy. When Derrick launched his businesses, the weight of responsibility grew significantly after getting married and starting a family. Knowing that another human life depended on his success provided immense pressure, but it also served as the ultimate motivation to build something lasting.
Podcast host David Mansilla shared a parallel experience, recalling how his early business attempts were so difficult that his wife had to handle rent and groceries while raising their small children. For christian entrepreneurs, navigating these lean early years is a core part of christian living. It requires trusting in God's ultimate provision while putting in long hours, treating business not merely as a income generator, but as a blank canvas to serve others and provide stability for loved ones.
Weathering the Storms — Resiliency, Reserves, and Longevity
Every business faces unexpected economic downturns. Having operated through the 2008 financial crisis as well as the historical interest rate spikes of recent years, Derrick understands that stability requires deliberate planning. To protect his employees and companies, he established a strict practice of holding substantial cash reserves across all his corporate entities so they could endure unexpected crises like market crashes or global disruptions.
Derrick approaches business cycles with a balanced perspective, recognizing that neither prosperous seasons nor lean seasons last forever. This mindset is vital for spiritual growth. By realizing that economic shifts are natural and temporary, leaders can avoid panicking during downturns, focus on taking care of their long-tenured employees, and position their organizations to rebound when conditions improve.
Grounding Success in Gratitude
As a business grows and financial success accumulates, leadership carries the quiet risk of pride. Both David and Derrick discussed how easy it can be for founders to begin taking full credit for their achievements instead of recognizing the broader factors at play.
To keep his perspective grounded, Derrick actively places himself around peers who manage far larger enterprises, reminding himself of how small his own operations are in the grand scheme of things. More importantly, he focuses on maintaining daily gratitude for what he has been entrusted with. Rather than viewing wealth as personal achievement, he views it through the lens of stewardship—investing resources wisely and holding fast to the peace promised in Scripture when we bring our concerns to God with a thankful heart.
Leadership as a Calling
The ultimate goal of entrepreneurship extends far beyond achieving personal retirement or comfortable living. For Derrick, running multiple entities—including commercial real estate portfolios, insurance services, and educational programs—is fundamentally about stewardship and legacy.
True leadership requires putting in the effort to become the right person before expecting major blessings to follow. It means praying intentionally over hiring decisions to ensure cultural alignment, creating long-term career opportunities for staff members, and using commercial success to lift up surrounding communities. By viewing business ownership as an ongoing calling to serve employees, clients, and future generations, leaders can turn daily operations into a lasting impact..
Author: Jovilyn Abella
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“No season lasts forever. The peak seasons, when things are great, it’s not going to last forever, and the poor season, when things aren’t going right... that’s not going to last forever either.”
