Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast where faith meets entrepreneurship. Each episode, we uncover the strategies, stories, and spirit-led insights that help Christian business owners align their goals with God’s call. From practical tips to real-life testimonies, we explore what it takes to build a business that honours Christ, serves others, and impacts the Kingdom.

In this episode of the Christian Business Growth Podcast, host Lyle Leads sits down with Steve Hendry, a long-time real estate professional and faithful leader in the Dallas business community. Steve shares how his faith journey—from skepticism to surrender—shaped the way he serves clients and builds relationships.

They discuss how prayer plays a daily role in business decisions, why relationships are vital to growth, and how God uses community to strengthen Christian entrepreneurs. Whether you’re new to business or leading a thriving company, this episode will remind you that your faith isn’t separate from your work—it’s the foundation for everything you build.

“You can’t really be a Christian unless you believe and have that relationship with Jesus Christ.”

“Prayer isn’t a ritual—it’s a relationship. I talk to God like my CEO, asking Him to guide every step.”

“Trust is the foundation of business. When you pray with people, they feel your heart—and that builds trust.”

“Start somewhere. Build a relationship with Christ. Your life will change dramatically.”

Lyle Leads: Steve, tell us how you got started as a real estate agent. What drew you to this career?

Steve Hendry: I actually started in real estate back in 1979. At the time, I was bartending, and my father was a realtor who owned his own office. A few of my coworkers decided to give real estate a try, and that’s when I realized it could be more than a side job—it could be a career.

But those were tough years. Interest rates were as high as 16%, and it was challenging to make sales. Things started improving after President Reagan came into office and rates dropped below 10%—we all celebrated!

Through all that, my faith began to grow. I had always believed in God, but around 1981 or 1982, I joined First Baptist Church in Dallas. That’s where I got baptized and began building a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lyle: You mentioned there was a time you considered yourself agnostic. What changed for you?

Steve: My wife invited me to church, and that’s where I heard Dr. W. A. Criswell preach—his messages really hit my heart. Around that same time, Zig Ziglar led one of the classes I attended, and he kept the fire burning in me.

As I started reading Scripture, I realized how much of the world points to a Creator. The complexity of life, the universe, the way everything fits together—it just couldn’t be random. That’s when I decided to fully believe and follow Jesus.

There’s nothing that makes more sense than to know the Word of God and live by His example.

Lyle: One of the things I’ve always admired about you is how you keep lifelong relationships. How has that shaped your business?

Steve: Relationships are everything. Early on, I only had a few close friends, but over time I realized everyone around me has something to teach me—and I can teach them too.

Now, I still keep in touch with people I met in kindergarten. I also have a large family in Georgia, and we still connect regularly. Those relationships inspire the way I do business. The more authentic connections you have, the more influence you can have for Christ.

It’s also the reason we started Christian Business Networking Groups—so entrepreneurs can build relationships, pray together, and strengthen each other in faith and business.

Lyle: You often talk about prayer like it’s a business meeting with God. Tell us more about that.

Steve: I really do see God as my CEO. Prayer isn’t a ritual—it’s a conversation. I ask for His guidance, listen for His response, and follow His direction.

When I work with clients, I pray with them—sometimes silently, sometimes out loud. People face stress when buying or selling a home, and prayer brings peace. It shows them I care about more than the transaction—I care about their life.

That kind of trust changes everything. Even if someone doesn’t share my faith, they can feel when I genuinely want what’s best for them.

Lyle: What encouragement would you give to other Christian entrepreneurs listening today?

Steve: First, don’t be afraid to talk about your faith. Some people won’t understand, and that’s okay. Just live in a way that reflects Jesus.

Second, pray for your clients, your employees, and your competitors. When you seek to serve others instead of selling to them, God blesses your work.

And third, build relationships. Find a group of believers who will walk with you, pray with you, and keep you accountable. If you’re in the Dallas area, join us at one of our DFW Christian Business Network meetings—we’d love to meet you.

As Steve reminds us, the most powerful business strategy isn’t marketing or money—it’s a living relationship with Jesus Christ. When you pray over your work, trust God’s direction, and serve people with love, success follows naturally.

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with another Christian entrepreneur who needs a reminder that faith and business belong together.

Lyle Leads
Hello and welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. Today I’m here with Steve Henry over there on the right side of me and everything we’re going to be recording today. And Steve, tell us how you got started as a real estate agent. What got you into real estate?

Steve Hendry
well, that’s way back in the day.

Lyle Leads
We won’t tell anyone.

Steve Hendry
Yeah, wow. was 1979. Wow. I was doing bartending at the time and my father was a realtor at that moment and had his own office. And some of the bartenders that were with me got real excited about the chance of getting and becoming a real estate agent, you know, that that was a real job and made sense. And I was like,

Lyle Leads
right?

Right. It’s all about perspective, isn’t it?

Steve Hendry
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, at that time. the rates just literally went up by the month. mean, they just, it was, and they would get really high during the summer, which never made sense to me because that’s when it would slow everything back down. But you can imagine how difficult it was at that time when we were having, you know, 15, 14, 16 % interest rates. were just.

really, really outrageous. somehow or another I managed and the rates eventually did get down. President Reagan got into office and the rates started coming down. That’s when we got below 10 % and we were like going, yes, that made a huge difference. People were able to buy a house affordably and kind of just made sense.

You know, I was a Christian during that time. You know, I’ve been a Christian pretty much all my life. Went through some times where I was a little bit agnostic, I guess. I just didn’t really get involved and didn’t want to, you know, step on anybody’s toes or whatever. But after about 1981, 82,

Maybe even in 83, I became a member of the First Baptist Church downtown, got baptized. That’s when I really feel like I got a, had a relationship with Jesus Christ. And that really laid in my heart. You got a question?

Lyle Leads
Help me understand. how’d you go from being an agnostic to getting into Christianity? What was that process like for you? What kind of what through your mind?

Steve Hendry
Well, I went with my wife at the time, who had been a lifetime member down there. And I listened to Dr. Wally Amos Criswell, who was the lead pastor down there at the time. And ⁓ Zig Ziglar was also a group leader down there. So we went to his class. And Zig was amazing. He kept

You know, he kept the fire burning behind him. But Wally Amos had some messages that just got to my heart and made a difference. And I think that’s where I really established a relationship and realized that you can’t really be a Christian, a real Christian, you know, unless you believe and have that relationship. that I think that’s that’s

where I began.

Lyle Leads
Right, let me, I want to dig in just a little bit. What was the emotions you were going through? Like what was your thought process or how do you feel about it that made that transition? You said it was a lot that you went through. What kind of things was going through your head? It’d be interesting to hear.

Steve Hendry
Good question. Because, you know, initially, you know, like said, I was agnostic. I didn’t want to, you know, say something that wasn’t true. you know, I somewhat believed the Bible, but I hadn’t read it yet. You know, I hadn’t really gotten there. But as I started listening and started reading the word, it became a part of and I started going, you know,

with all of the technology, the more that we as humans know, the more I realized that there has to be a God. There has to be a God that put all this together. This technology, this complex network of people, microscopic organisms all the way up to

Lyle Leads
huh.

Steve Hendry
you know, magnificent stars in the universe. It’s all created. And I said, you know, there’s no reason he couldn’t send his one and only begotten son for the purpose of creating a person, man, child to be an example for us. And that’s when I realized, you know, hey, there’s nothing else that makes more sense in the world.

than to know the Word of God and to follow Jesus Christ as the example.

Lyle Leads
That’s great. how, does that fit into your business that that Christian faith? How does that tie into your business? Because one of things I admire about you, let me let me pause for just a sec. One the things I admire about you is how you collect friends forever. You’ve got people that have known you since you were a little one. And you’re still friends with those people that just that’s something I find admirable because so many people they’re so quick to move and go and everything but you just hold on to people.

Steve Hendry
Well, yeah, there was a time in my life where, you know, I had about three friends and those were the people I hung with and that’s all that really mattered in my life. But I started realizing everybody else around me, Lyle, has so much to offer and so much to give and teach me. And if I could teach them what I know,

then it’s a mutual deal. I mean, I still have a number of friends that I knew in kindergarten for crying out loud, you know, and we still connect today. You know, I have a big family out in Georgia and we still connect and you know, it’s just, know, we really need relationships and that’s what kind of developed the

desire to have the business form is that the more relationships that you can create and establish in your life, the more connections, the closer to God, the more influence you can be on other people, just makes a huge difference.

God, tell me yes or no if this makes sense. Should I make this decision today or should I stand back and avoid? Because we are all tempted to do the wrong thing. Man is a broken animal.

We have to have guidance and have the right leadership. so, you know, Jesus Christ is my leader. God is the source of all everything I do. Although sometimes, as we all have that flaw, we tend to step away from God for a little bit and listen to the…

the left or the Satan’s side and we go the wrong way, we make the wrong decisions. And so that can happen, but that’s why we have repentance because when we do make that decision and we acknowledge it, God will forgive us.

Lyle Leads
Yeah, we stumble, we don’t have to fall, right?

Steve Hendry
That’s right. That’s right. You when you’re a baby, you fall when you’re first getting up and learning to walk. But, you know, you don’t quit walking.

Lyle Leads
Right. Yeah, and I love the way you’re talking about prayer. To you, prayer is a conversation. Some people think you have to pause and close your eyes or you have to record a prayer, you know, the same thing every time. But to you, prayer is a deeper conversation with God. And it sounds like you’re using God as your CEO, literally asking Him to guide every step of the way.

Steve Hendry
Amen, amen. And you know, it’s like a friend, you know, you you he is a friend of mine. Yeah, I can. I can reach out to him in prayer and and ask for his opinion and sit back and listen and he will instruct me. And yeah, it’s a it’s a relationship while ⁓ I. I can’t imagine not having.

Lyle Leads
I’m gonna

Steve Hendry
that as a guide or a leader in my life. I would just be totally, it would be a totally messed up world on my part.

Lyle Leads
And for someone who’s listening that they don’t really, they’ve prayed, but they don’t ever quote unquote hear from God, tell us what that’s like for you. What is it like to hear from God? What does that look like in your life?

Steve Hendry
Wow. Wow.

You know, I want to tell you something. And this kind of leads back to the business form a little bit because you and I built this thing back. started, you and I started together in about 2010. And, you know, initially we started in 2007, whatever, and built this thing from, you know, five people to 10 to 12 to 20, and then back down to five, you know, just kind of a working deal.

and and

and having an influence. mean, you and I and your technology skills are incredibly worth what we have there. today we have between 30, 30 and 40 people on a regular basis. And we’ve off into two different groups and possibly another two or three coming on board. It’s amazing to watch.

Lyle Leads
And for those who are listening who don’t know what that is real quick, we started a Christian business networking group. It’s not fee based. It’s not industry specific, but it’s here in the Dallas area that specifically to encourage, edify and educate other Christians, which is what this kind of podcast was born out of. So appreciate what you’ve done and the heart that you put behind that. To me, that’s very powerful.

Steve Hendry
Thank you. Thank you. It’s been a lot of fun. you know, I get nervous before every meeting, but as soon as the door opens and people start coming in, I’m like, so good to see you. So good to have you here with us. And, you know, everybody is upbeat. And then when at the end of the day, they don’t want to leave, you know, they’re going to stay and connect and reach out and hear about everybody else.

It just is such a blessing. It’s such a blessing.

Lyle Leads
And there’s something powerful about seeing two Christian business owners that are in the same industry, stop and pray for one another’s business. I mean, there’s some powerful things happen there.

Steve Hendry
yeah

Yeah, Tuesday, Tuesday, I missed it. there was three or four people had their arms around each other and were just had their heads bowed and were praying for something specific. I didn’t get into the prayer that specifically, but it was such a blessing to say this. You can feel comfortable doing that right here. You don’t have to be ashamed.

Lyle Leads
Right.

Steve Hendry
There’s nothing to be ashamed about when you have a prayer. a prayer is a blessing. And everybody should see that.

Lyle Leads
Yeah, and I want to encourage anybody who’s listening, if you’re kind of a solo entrepreneur, you don’t have a lot of entrepreneurs around you, find some Christians in business and just meet them for lunch once a month. Just connect with them, pray for one another, hold each other accountable. You wouldn’t not believe how powerful it is when you come together and you can pray for one another. You can hold each other accountable and just let God start to work in you. So on that note, God works in us and through our business, because we’re called into business.

What are some tips you might have for someone who wants to grow their business? What’s something you tell them to encourage their business?

Steve Hendry
That’s a good point. Basically, again, I started back in 79 and I wasn’t a strong Christian at that particular time, but I grew. I think as I had confidence and I had a relationship with Christ, I became unashamed to profess Christ in my business and tell anybody that I worked for or with

that Christ was my guidance and I learned to pray with my clients. And that was amazing. mean, just to people, it’s hard to explain until you do it. People have issues with buying a home or whatever it is that you’re doing in business. Your job is to give them confidence in you and have trust.

Trust is a critical thing. They can’t trust you. They’re not gonna do business with you. And so that’s very important that you establish trust. anybody that can sit down and confidently pray about that person’s life and whatever it is that’s holding them back or whatever will give them peace and give them comfort and it will help build trust.

and what you have to offer.

Lyle Leads
When you’re praying for someone, you’re truly seeking to help serve them. You’re truly seeking their needs. You’re not trying to sell them and your brain goes into totally different mode. If you can help them take the next step in whatever your industry is, when you’re praying for them, your brain goes into how can I help this person get better, do better? And the person feels that, the person senses that even if they’re not a Christian, even if they don’t want to pray with you and that’s totally okay. The fact that you’re doing it,

Steve Hendry
Right.

Lyle Leads
your heart and your mind connect and God uses his Holy Spirit to talk to those people as well. And I do want to point out real quick, as Christians, it’s okay to say you’re a Christian in business because people will see that and some people won’t want to do business with you and that’s okay too.

Steve Hendry
because they don’t understand.

Lyle Leads
Exactly. And it’s all about how you live your life out. Because there are some people who are very negative Christians and put other people down. We don’t want to be those Christians. We want to be people like Jesus, who sinners loved Jesus. Sinners loved being around Jesus because his presence, his peace, his love overcame where he was. So as we’re wrapping up here, Steve, how can someone get in touch with you? If they want to, if they’re in the Dallas area, you’re a real estate agent, they’re in Dallas area and they want to do business with you.

As an agent, where should they go? What should they do?

Steve Hendry
Well, appreciate that. First and foremost, my probably easiest connected with through a text. You can reach me on my telephone number, which is Errico 214-908-9188.

Lyle Leads
And you’re okay as putting that on the screen,

Steve Hendry
Yeah, 214-908-9188. Or you can reach me at through an email, which is also very good. And that’s a fairly easy but long email. It’s steve at stevehendryhomes.net. And those are the two ways to connect. You can find me on LinkedIn. You can find me on Facebook.

think I’m on Instagram, but those are the main ways.

Lyle Leads
Okay, good deal. And they’ll look for Steve Henry, that’s H E N D R Y. Those of you who are looking at help. And if you’re in the Dallas area, you need help with real estate agent, or you need somebody to pray for you because he is a prayerful person. And if you’re in the Dallas area, and you want to join us at one of our local meetings, you can go to dfwchristianbusiness.com. There’ll be a calendar on there to tell you when we’re meeting in our different locations. There are three different locations we’re meeting in. Steve and I coordinate the Richardson location, but there’s a location in Fort Worth and one in Frisco as well.

So we welcome you to come join us. Any final words you want to end us up with Steve?

Steve Hendry
Let’s see. just, you know, you can call me with any questions you have about the market. You know, if you want to know how much your house is worth or you want to know just what, you know, is this the right time to do something? You know, this is a good time to reach out and ask me that question. We can find out. But more importantly, the one thing I want to emphasize to everybody is

Get a relationship with Christ, whatever it takes. You start somewhere, but that relationship is everything. Your life will change dramatically.

Lyle Leads
Thank you for that, Steve. We appreciate your time today.

Steve Hendry
it’s been fun. It’s good to see you and look forward to doing this again one day. All right.

Lyle Leads
Absolutely.