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.

CONTACT

• Lunch Time Heroes

Entrepreneurs often believe speed is the key to success.

Work harder.
Move faster.
Do more.

But Matt Curtis discovered something different.

After years in ministry, Matt launched Lunchtime Heroes to help churches build healthy communications teams. During that journey he realized that pace plays a major role in both productivity and spiritual clarity.

When leaders constantly push through lunch and rush through their days, they eventually lose effectiveness. Slowing down creates space to hear God's voice, solve problems thoughtfully, and build sustainable systems.

Matt also shares how simple acts of generosity helped grow his consulting business. By creating practical tools that solved real problems for church leaders, he built relationships that later turned into long term clients.

The lesson is simple: Growth is not always about speed. Sometimes the strongest businesses grow through trust, patience, and service.

Matt Curtis

• "I realized the lunch hour is actually an indicator of organizational health. If leaders cannot take lunch, something deeper is broken."
• "My day is completely different depending on whether I take my lunch break. That small recharge changes everything."
• "Pace and slowness are not disadvantages. Slowing down is often the only way to hear God clearly."
• "I used to think I had to solve every problem immediately. Slowing down reminded me that God is already at work."

Rev. Lyle

• "If you just keep chopping without sharpening the axe, eventually you lose effectiveness."
• "Entrepreneurs often feel isolated. Hearing someone else's story reminds us we are not alone."
• "Sometimes the most productive thing you can do in your day is step away for a moment."

In today’s fast-paced world, many entrepreneurs feel the pressure to constantly hustle and optimize every minute of their day. But what if the key to success lies not in working harder, but in embracing a slower pace? In this post, we’ll explore insights from Matt Curtis of Lunchtime Heroes, who shares his journey from church ministry to business owner and the valuable lessons he learned along the way.

About Matt Curtis
Matt Curtis is the founder of Lunchtime Heroes, a consultancy that helps churches build effective creative teams. With a background in ministry, Matt transitioned into the business world, bringing with him a unique perspective on work-life balance and productivity. His experiences have shaped his philosophy that taking breaks—like lunch—is essential for maintaining health and efficiency in any organization.

Why Slowness Matters in Business
In a culture that glorifies busyness, it can be difficult to understand why slowing down is beneficial. Matt emphasizes that taking breaks, especially during the lunch hour, can actually enhance productivity. Research indicates that those who take time to recharge during the day often perform better than those who work straight through. By recognizing the importance of breaks, you can prevent burnout and maintain a sustainable work rhythm.

The Lunch Hour Diagnostic
Matt uses the concept of the lunch hour as a diagnostic tool in his consulting work. He encourages church leaders to assess their lunch habits as a reflection of their overall workload and efficiency. If you find yourself working through lunch, it may signal systemic issues within your organization. Are there too many responsibilities? Is there a need for more team members? Taking a step back can provide clarity and lead to healthier work environments.

The Role of Faith in Business Decisions
Matt’s journey isn’t just about business; it’s also deeply rooted in his faith. He believes that trusting in God's timing is crucial, especially when it comes to making significant life choices. In his experience, a slower pace has allowed him to hear God’s guidance more clearly. Instead of rushing to solve problems, he advocates for patience and openness, understanding that God is actively working in our lives.

Finding Peace in the Process
Matt’s approach to business has transformed as he learned to let go of the pressure to be constantly productive. He emphasizes that true success does not come from frantic activity but from a peaceful heart. When you give yourself permission to slow down, you can better assess your business needs, collaborate with others, and ultimately serve your community more effectively.

Key Takeaways

- Prioritize Breaks: Embrace the power of taking breaks, especially during lunch hours, to enhance productivity.
- Trust in the Process: Recognize that slowness can lead to better decision-making and a deeper connection with your faith.
- Assess Workloads: Use lunch habits as a diagnostic tool to identify potential issues within your organization.

Wrapping up: Embracing a slower pace in business can lead to greater clarity, productivity, and fulfillment. As Matt Curtis of Lunchtime Heroes demonstrates, taking intentional breaks allows for deeper connections with others and a more profound understanding of your work's purpose.

Rev. Lyle
Hello and welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. My name is Lyle and I'm here with Matt Curtis from Lunchtime Heroes. He will tell you more about that in a minute. Matt, how did God get you started in business?

Matt
I spent most of my professional career serving in ministry, but I always loved business. I always had side projects and hobbies going on. At the time they sometimes felt like distractions, and some people even told me they were distractions. But when I look back now, those side projects were paving the way for circumstances that eventually pushed us into business.

Around the end of 2020 I stepped off church staff. We had just gone through the major disruption that happened that year, and the teams I led were working hard to transition the church to function online. I felt very clearly that God had placed me there to help lead that transition.

After things normalized, it became clear that stepping off staff was the right next step for me and my family.

I spent the next year working with an organization that served churches but was not a church itself. That year helped me acclimate to the idea that I could still serve the church without being on church staff. I had always believed serving the church meant being on staff somewhere.

Then we faced an insurance situation that forced a quick decision. Either we started our own thing or it was going to become extremely expensive financially.

I remember telling my wife, this is what I have always dreamed of doing, but this is not how I would have planned the lead up. I would have preferred more runway.

But we both had a lot of peace about it.

So in February of 2022 we started Lunchtime Heroes.

That year between roles was actually helpful because it reminded me that I could serve churches in a different capacity. Now I help churches build creative teams.

If a church wants to start a communications ministry, there is a lot of complexity. There are systems, structures, and leadership challenges involved. I help churches build those teams so they are sustainable, healthy, and mission aligned.

Sometimes I also help churches where the systems have gone off the rails. I help restore health and rebuild the team.

Looking back, it felt like God saying, you have wanted to do this for a long time, so here you go.

Rev. Lyle
That's great. Tell us how you came up with the name Lunchtime Heroes.

Matt
It is a silly name for a company that works with churches, but it actually has meaning.

One thing I saw repeatedly in creative ministry was the temptation to work through lunch. I read an article that explained that people who skip their lunch break are actually less productive across the entire day.

Your nine hours becomes less efficient than someone else's eight hours.

When I looked back at the most difficult seasons of my career, I realized I had been giving away my lunch hour constantly. That pattern, along with other factors, eventually led to burnout.

So I began to see the lunch hour as an indicator of organizational health.

Now when I work with church leaders, one of the diagnostic questions I ask is simple.

Are you taking your lunch break?

If the answer is no, that usually means something deeper is wrong. Too much work, broken systems, lack of staff, or unhealthy expectations.

Working through lunch is not the solution.

So we defend our lunch.

We become lunchtime heroes.

Rev. Lyle
I love that concept. It reminds me of the old sharpening the axe illustration. If you just keep chopping without sharpening, eventually you lose effectiveness.

I am a workaholic myself. I want to push through the entire day. But I have learned to step away at lunch, watch something different, or do something outside my normal routine.

It creates a rhythm shift, and I see a huge difference in the second half of my day.

People underestimate the power of stopping for a moment. Our society is flooded with constant messages and distractions.

Matt
Exactly. And running my own business has allowed me to test this idea more intentionally.

My days are completely different depending on whether I take that break or not. That small recharge in the middle of the day has been incredibly important.

Rev. Lyle
What is God doing in your business right now?

Matt
Internally, the biggest lesson has been realizing that pace and slowness are not disadvantages.

Most of my career was focused on efficiency and optimization. How can we do more? How can we get more done?

When I started Lunchtime Heroes I intentionally chose a different approach. I asked the question, how little can I work while still being effective?

Not because I want to avoid work, but because I want margin to hear God's voice.

I have been surprised by how often God speaks when I actually slow down enough to listen.

My pace used to be so fast that I could not hear Him clearly.

Slowing down is an act of trust.

Trusting that God is sovereign and involved in the details of life means I do not have to solve every problem immediately.

On the professional side, something else surprised me.

Working with multiple churches has actually allowed me to help each one better. When one church develops a great idea or system, I can apply that insight to another church.

So there is this unseen collaboration happening across organizations.

Rev. Lyle
That collaboration is powerful. Churches can feel isolated, just like entrepreneurs do.

This podcast exists partly to remind people they are not alone.

Matt
Exactly.

Rev. Lyle
Waiting on God can be difficult for driven people. How do you handle seasons of waiting?

Matt
For me, journaling helps. Sometimes I write in a journal. Sometimes I use a whiteboard.

When I feel pressure or urgency, I start writing the problem down.

For example, money. Am I worried about income?

Then I ask the deeper question. What is the real problem?

Usually it comes down to trust. Do I trust God to provide?

Then I go to scripture and ask what God's Word says about that problem.

Just slowing down long enough to process those questions relieves a lot of anxiety.

It reminds me that I have already had this conversation with God.

Rev. Lyle
That brings us back to trust and God's sovereignty.

Let's shift toward business growth. What strategies are helping your business grow?

Matt
One thing I have learned is that when you leave a role or client, you carry a lot of baggage with you.

It is important to reflect on what worked and what did not work.

Many people carry grudges from previous roles, and that colors how they serve new clients.

Listening carefully to each new situation helps avoid that.

Much of my business also grows through relationships.

People I worked with years ago have now moved to different churches. Those relationships create opportunities later.

Another strategy is simply serving first.

I participate in online communities where church communication leaders discuss their challenges. I build simple tools that help solve those problems and offer them freely.

That begins the relationship.

Rev. Lyle
And those tools can be very simple. Sometimes they are just spreadsheets or documents that helped you.

Matt
Exactly.

One of my most effective tools is simply a critique checklist. It asks questions like who is the audience and does this message reach them.

These simple tools help teams focus their conversations.

Most problems are not complicated. People just do not have the time to step back and solve them intentionally.

Rev. Lyle
Before we wrap up, tell us how people can connect with you and share one piece of wisdom.

Matt
You can find me at lunchtimeheroes.co. I post most actively on LinkedIn.

My encouragement is simple.

Do not be afraid that you do not know what is ahead.

If you feel a pull toward something, keep moving forward.

Looking back on my life, every step was like laying a brick. Over time those bricks built the foundation that allowed me to start this business.

Say yes to the door in front of you and trust that God is guiding the process.

Rev. Lyle
Great advice. Thanks for joining us today.