007 Elevate Your LIfe - Ronald
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J.E.: [00:00:00] if someone has a vision, what would be your advice
Ronald: Start. Start don't, don't get the, don't fall into the trap of analysis paralysis [00:01:00] On Elevate Your Life, we highlight leaders who live what they teach, and today's episode is exactly that. Ronald Richardson is a devoted husband and father with a passion for purposeful living.
J.E.: His perspective on faith, family, and everyday leadership is refreshingly. Practical. He has served as the youth pastor of the RAMP Church International for seven years, and so today we're talking habits, mindsets, and making a difference outside the walls of the church. That last Ronald Richardson, welcome to the Elevate Your Life podcast.
How you doing today? A.
Ronald: I am so excited to be here with you, JE this is amazing, and I just, I, I'm, I'm just ready to get into the conversation. I'm happy to be here and, and I miss you.
J.E.: Oh, listen, I miss you guys too. I miss you guys so much. No, I am extremely honored that you agreed to be a guest on the podcast. And ironically, I already had you [00:02:00] on my list, right? So I have like this wishlist of people that I wanna bring on to the podcast. And so I was actually trying to balance out like what season two was gonna look like.
Um, and then when I saw your post on social media a couple of weeks ago about. Something awesome that you have going on that we'll jump into. I was like, you know what, let me go ahead and bring Ronald on, um, for season two because I know that you have a lot of wisdom, um, a lot of information, and I just really love to see people allowing their vision to live outside of themselves, right.
And making that practical, um, impact. So tell me first and foremost, what do you do professionally?
Ronald: so professionally, um, that's, that can be a loaded question sometimes, right? Because you know how it is being an entrepreneur and, um, I wear a couple different hats. So currently what I'm doing now is, um, I'm a mortgage broker. Um, so I have my mortgage broker [00:03:00] license. Um, and, I also do a program called Exit Strategy.
Um, so that is my business and it's about financial education. Um, so that is another portion of it that I do. And I also do sales for a tech company. Um, so I do that as well. So I have a few different irons in the fire doing a few different jobs. So just trying to make some income so I can make the vision and the dream happen.
J.E.: Absolutely. Well listen, you've already mentioned it, so I feel like it's a good place to go into it. So tell me about, go a little bit more in depth about the exit strategy. What is that? Who are you targeting? What are they gonna come away with? Talk a little bit about that.
Ronald: Yeah, so the exit strategy is, um, it's a business term actually. So that's actually where I got it from. Um, so I was just thinking one day during the pandemic I was sitting in me and my wife was, had a one one room basement apartment. I was sitting there and, you know, during the times of the pandemic, we.
We're [00:04:00] on Netflix and watching different, you know, stuff on, on, on different platforms and I was just like, I need to do something. With the youth that, um, is engaging, but also something that, um, is practical, like you mentioned earlier. So, you know, I feel like the Lord just dropped this idea in my spirit to do, um, a segment to where there's like a real life simulation to where we can take the children through, um, you know, just what real life, what can they expect?
So the idea was let's give them a strategy for when they exit their parents home. So I want to give them tools that they're gonna be able to live off of when it comes down to income, when it comes down to not just saving money and budgeting, but there's a lot of basics that's in there. But also these are things that they can carry throughout even their teenage years when they get into having a job, you know, their first job.
So this really gives them a focus and a strategy, and it gives them a hope beyond what they can see. So sometimes. As a young person, as a teenager, you [00:05:00] kind of can't wait to get out your parents' house,
J.E.: listen.
Ronald: but you don't have a plan. Right? I was the same way, but now I'm like, Lord Jesus, maybe it wasn't so bad.
Right? But, um, but yeah, I wanted to be able to give them a plan and an idea, you know, farther than just I want to get outta my parents' house. Okay, then what, what next? What happens after that? So I took that and made it into a real life simulation. We, we first started it in November, 2020, so I mean, we had masks on, we had the signs on the floor, six feet apart and everything.
So we made it work in that control setting. And where, where it started off with about, I don't know, maybe like 20, 25 youth. Last year we had a record number of about 75 to 80. Um, yeah.
J.E.: Yeah. No, that, that's awesome. I recall, um, I think I, I won't say the name of the agency that I was working with, but I was working with older foster care youth, and so we had this conference that we did every single [00:06:00] year, and so I invited you in to be a facilitator for those youth to give them some financial literacy skills, right.
And so I remember, yeah. So I remember coming out of that, you know, you were asking me a lot, lot more questions about that. Like what's the purpose? Um, how are we being able to fund this? How are we getting the youth and all of those things. And you and I had an opportunity to sit down together and really kind of map out that vision, right.
And so that was one of the things that I was just super excited about when I saw this latest collaboration that you have, um, down in Georgia, I think is with Gwinnett County. Correct. And so just being able to see the idea and your interest and how you came in and you took notes and you learned from that.
And then having the opportunity to sit down with you and help you to develop vision and strategy and put together your sponsorship package to be able to sponsor this event. So what [00:07:00] about that conference and working with those young people really intrigued you and what gave you the motivation to take that idea and actually run with it?
Right, because a lot of people have ideas, a lot of people have visions, but to actually take it, do something with it and run with it like,
Ronald: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's a great question. So my wife told me, she said that this is gonna be bigger than what you think, and you followed up with that after that event that I did with you all. And you said some similar ver basically the same thing. Another person followed up and said the same exact thing.
So I'm like, okay. You know, you know, we, we are very spiritual and spirit led, right? So I'm like, okay, Lord, I know you speaking. What, what is this that, you know we need to do to be able to dig into it? So that's what, that's what kind of sparked my interest in the response even of the, the people that where I was, I was serving at [00:08:00] your event.
Um, I'm like, okay, people really are feeding into this. They're really receiving this. And it just wasn't something fun to do. It was something that was actually making a difference. So when I actually got an opportunity to kind of see, um, how you had things set up on the back end, um, it really, really kind of got me thinking like, how can I do this at a larger scale?
How can I be able to leave what I'm doing? 'cause at the time I was working as a branch manager in the bank, so how can I leave what I'm doing now to be able to, um, take this vision to the highest level they can possibly go? Um, you know how far it needs to go. So. Just be able to see what you were able to do on the back end.
Um, just kind of really kind of, really just kind of, again, intrigued me on what, what does it take to get there?
So whatever steps I needed to take, I was willing to do it. Whatever steps I needed to learn, I was willing to do it because I, I feel like in that moment I realized it was bigger than me.
J.E.: Absolutely. [00:09:00] Yeah, and I think too, also with your role of being a youth pastor at the time and then having this. Strategy, this exit strategy that kind of married together, I think in, in a really beautiful way. Because you didn't have to go look for a target audience. You were already pastoring your target audience, right?
And yeah. And so seeing how big you made that, and even how excited I think the young people were to learn and get those skills. So go a little bit more in depth about the, the simulation, like typically. How long is it? Is, is it a half day? Is it a full day? What types of, um, stations or, or different areas do these young people have to go through in order to complete the
Ronald: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it, it is as real as it can get. It's as real as it can get as real as possible. So we have a, a large, um, well last time we did the event, um, we did it at Liberty University. Um, [00:10:00] so shout out to Liberty University. Thank you for your sponsorship. Um, in that, um, so we did it in the school of Business.
The school of business is very. Very huge. It's a huge building that has everything that we needed. So how we set it up is that we do have these stations that we, um, that we have where it's the DMV where we have housing for rent, where we have.
J.E.: I got stuck at dmv. Okay. Woo.
Ronald: Listen, listen, the DMV is probably one of the kids' favorite stations. Um, and I tell, and I'll tell you why, it's one of their favorites because the people that I have volunteering to serve at that station, they make it as real as possible. So they make, they give you the full experience as if you were coming into the DMV.
So, so think of it as you have these real professionals. It, this is either their profession, either somewhere down the line in times past or either current, they're actually serving these children and saying, okay, um, you're coming up to the dmv DMV station. Um, what are you here to [00:11:00] do? Well, okay, you can't do that right now because we need two pieces of mail, so you need to go back home.
And so you take about four different trips back to the DMV just so they can be able to pay their taxes or whatever the case is, right?
J.E.: And don't forget the lines,
Ronald: Yeah. Oh, the line. They have to get a number. Like we make it as realistic as possible. So housing is one of 'em where we have someone in the housing industry, um, with apartments and things like that.
You know how to rent an apartment, what does that look like? Um, and in the middle of the simulation, while the children are going around, we pause everybody and we make a increase because that's realistic. That that's realistic. Rent increases are realistic, so they have to add whatever amount to their budget sheet that their rent has increased.
Um, so we have several other stations that we do. So just imagine these real life professionals, you know, when it comes down to your power or light company. Um, they, [00:12:00] they have a station as well, so we have about 10 to 12 stations set up and the children have to go around to each station. We do have one that is very, very unique and that is the life.
Table or the life station. So this is actually something we added, um je since the last time we had, we had talked about this, but the life station, we throw random things that life will throw at you. You get a flat tire you need to need to buy, but then you find out you need to buy a full set of tires.
Mm-hmm. So these are, these are the type of situation and, and let's, and let's be real, one of the things is teen pregnancy. In life situations. Now you have a child, you have childcare you have to pay for, like, but they're all resources. So we do have a social services table as well, station that they can go to, to be able to get that type of help.
So that's just in, in a nutshell, that's basically what, what the event is.
J.E.: Yeah, no, this, this is a real deal. Like to the point, I think there are some adults that could
Ronald: Yes.
J.E.: [00:13:00] depend on,
Ronald: I'm glad you said that. Um, and I think we'll talk a little bit about it later, but. I'm, I'm glad that you said that, but um, we actually did it for adults and their, and their children about
J.E.: ooh.
Ronald: old
J.E.: Wow. Okay. I love it. No, that, that is amazing. As this, you're bringing up Atlanta. Tell us a little bit about, um, this event coming up when the date is, I'm not sure, um, if there's a registration process, if, if they're able to register or if it's already closed. But tell us about that and if people are interested in hosting an exit strategy or want to know more about it or even volunteer, how might they do that?
Ronald: Yeah, absolutely. So we do have a partnership with Gwinnett County, um, schools down in Atlanta, Georgia. And I can I say like, say names on here too?
J.E.: Yeah,
Ronald: Okay. yeah, So shout out to Mar representative, state Representative Marvin Li that is in that area. He and I got connected, um, [00:14:00] to be able to. Um, make this happen in the, in that school system.
Um, also with Deidre Cox, with community sustain sustainability.
J.E.: Shameless plug. I
Ronald: Yep.
J.E.: Deidre on season one of the Elevation Life podcast, so if you have not listened to the episode, go ahead back and listen.
Ronald: Yes,
J.E.: great information. Yeah.
Ronald: yes. She is a wealth of knowledge and she knows everybody.
J.E.: She does.
Ronald: So we, we, we have a partnership, um, with, um, Wells Fargo that we just landed. So that, that was very huge. So Wells Fargo, thank you. Thank you. So that was that. Just imagine, you know, it the joy that I felt just learning that we had that contract accepted,
J.E.: Right.
Ronald: that partnership with seeing the logos beside each other with the exit strategy and Wells Fargo.
It's a dream come true. You know, coming from the banking industry, I came from a smaller bank, but Wells Fargo was big time. So,
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: The fact that we were able [00:15:00] to come, we already have a program to be able to train and be able to pour into the community in this way because financial literacy is something that's needed abroad.
And you mentioned, you mentioned adults. So this is not just for children, this is for parents and the students. So we have, um, three schools that we are targeting, um, and those three schools in Gwinnett County. Um, the first one is gonna be September 19th.
J.E.: Okay.
Ronald: Yeah. September 19th from 10 to one. Um, and then we'll have another that will be the following week is gonna be the 24th and the 25th.
So there's three dates that we have in September, um, for middle and high school students and their parents. And it's gonna be a maximum of 150 people. Each school,
J.E.: Wow.
Ronald: registration is still open. Um, so if you'd like to register, um, somehow I, I'm sure we probably put the information up.
J.E.: Yeah, we can put it in the show notes and, and all the links and all the, [00:16:00] all the things. Yeah.
Ronald: so it, so it is a, it is a big, a big deal, a big deal. And I'm, and I'm ready. I'm excited. We have about. Currently we have about 30 or 40 volunteers. Um, now for the event. Um, but if you do want to volunteer, I'll also, you know, we can put our information there so you can contact us so we can make sure that you get the volunteer form and the training video.
So we will have training videos. Um,
J.E.: Trying to video.
Ronald: yes, that's right. That's right. We got training videos. We have everything that you need to sign to make sure that you are in place and ready to serve. Um, at these events. Um, and, and it's, and it's really great because the, these parents, we find out they need them too, right?
So statistically, um, about, hmm, about 80% of Americans working class Americans, they understand that a budget is necessary and that they do need it, but they don't have it.
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: So just the power of the simplicity of [00:17:00] a budget and how fast the money goes, because if you don't give your money an assignment. There it is gonna assign itself to something.
J.E.: Come on, you preaching real good. That is. That is for sure. That is for sure. So I'm just curious, so as far as the exit strategy and giving these young people a budget, have they already preselected a career option and kind of mapped out what that salary looks like and, and all of those good things?
Ronald: No. So we actually give that to them at random when they get there,
J.E.: Okay. So they don't know.
they
Ronald: know.
J.E.: be a doctor. They could be a janitor.
Ronald: They don't know.
J.E.: be a teacher. Wow.
Ronald: And the, and the reason why we set it up like that is because I did not expect to go the path that I went. Right? I did not expect, I didn't go to school to say, Hey, I want to be a branch manager at a bank or a mortgage broker, or go into entrepreneurship as a financial professional.
That wasn't my, um, that wasn't my idea, right? So, 'cause that wasn't my [00:18:00] idea. I thought I was going to, you know, be an architect. So, you know, the, my plan and trajectory completely changed and that's what happens. That's the reality of it And bringing that reality piece into it is that sometimes you gotta go with the, with, with what you're handed.
And sometimes you, you also do have to go with, at certain points you might have to. Someone that's working in retail as a retail associate, before you can get to this place of you being a nurse that you want to get to, or you might find out that you don't want to be a nurse and you wanna be a real estate agent.
You know, all of these different things, um, that, that life will throw at you. We try to make it as realistic as possible. Now I just did, um, well this is actually, actually, no, I'm gonna let it be a secret and I want people to actually find out when they do the program. There's another segment that I just added.
For entrepreneurs and I can share that whenever, you know,
um,
J.E.: Top secret last. I love
it. I love [00:19:00] it. That's
Ronald: a little bit later,
J.E.: right. Keep people on their toes, keep them in tune to what's going on to all things exit strategy. I absolutely love it and I am elated that even just in you and I having that initial conversation to see what it has blossomed into. So I think you are doing a phenomenal job.
Um, I'm definitely rooting for you guys. Anything that I can do to assist, you know, refer, I think it is an excellent. Excellent program, and so I'm just so excited to see you take that vision
Ronald: Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. No, I'm, and I'm excited again, and I just, I do remember that conversation we had in those meetings we had, and you helped me. Land some sponsorships early on, and I just took it and went from there.
And so with your help, strategy is what it is today. So
J.E.: that's what I do. I'm a visionary strategist, you know what I'm saying?
Ronald: you go. You go. That's right. Listen, celebrate yourself.
J.E.: No, but I [00:20:00] absolutely, I love it. It is a passion of mine because I see so many people, you know, just through coaching and through entrepreneurship, people that have all of these great visions and ideas and notebook full of great ideas that they never take to the next level and take to the next step. And so it's just, I feel like it's a part of my assignment, a part of my vision, a part of my anointing.
Right? It's just something that kind of comes effortlessly for me, like I don't have to. Try to figure it all out. It's just like, no do boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
And we there, you know? So I, I love that. I love that. And welcome back to the Elevate Your Life podcast. I am here with my guest, Ronald Richardson, [00:21:00] and we are just so excited about this robust conversation that we are having. So, Ronald, if people are interested in connecting, partnering, all of those good things, how can they do that?
Ronald: Yes, so you can follow me on social media. Um, my, you can follow me on Facebook or you can follow me on Instagram. My Facebook is Ronald Richardson ii. It's two I, so please don't forget that. Because my father is on Facebook and, and he probably could,
J.E.: Well, I'm sure dad would be like you probably looking for him. Probably looking for my son.
Ronald: but you know, he has about four Facebooks because I was like, dad, why do you have so many? He's like, well, I just keep forgetting my password. I said, Lord,
J.E.: That's real right there. That is real.
Ronald: so, yeah, so you can, you can find me on Facebook and, um, and inquire on Facebook. Um, there will also be my email. Um. ronald@theexitstrategy.com, um, is another avenue that you can take by email and on Instagram, Ronald K.
Richardson. So no [00:22:00] two i's on Instagram, is Ronald K. Richardson on Instagram.
J.E.: Awesome. I love it. I love it. So, Ronald, tell me, if someone has a vision, an idea, it could be similar to the exit strategy, it could be something completely different, what would be your advice for being able to just take the next steps, seek the resources you need to seek so that you're able to see that vision actually come to fruition.
Ronald: Start. Start don't, don't get the, don't fall into the trap of analysis paralysis because you can think about it so much to where you overthink it, to where you do nothing at all. And like you said, you end up with a notebook full of ideas that hasn't been executed. So I remember having a meeting with with my pastor Bishop Younger.
And Pastor Marvin, you know, again, in the thick of COVID time, right? And I said, listen, [00:23:00] this is something that I want to do for our youth, and this is the idea I believe Deloitte gave me. He said, okay, great. And I said, this is the date Target that I want to do it. And he said, oh, wow, okay. That's pretty, you know, that's, that's like, you know, within the next 60 days or wherever it was.
I was like, yes. But I told him, I said, I have to give myself a date so I can stick to it. So I know that I would do it.
J.E.: Yep.
Ronald: And, and when I did it, um, it was, it, it was so fulfilling to be able to see it even at a smaller scale. Um, because you can't, there's something that my mother told me a long time ago is that you wanna see growth in everything that you do.
Now, specifically, she was talking about that when I was, you know, dating, you know that you always want to go to the next level up, but I took that same concept and I applied it here. Why? Why should I wait five years to where I have. X amount of dollars in funding or financing to be able to make this huge event.
If I haven't started off with the 20 or 25 that I was, you know, that I could start [00:24:00] now. So starting now with that idea, even with making the mistakes, even if you don't have everything that you think that you have or you think that you need, I guarantee you you'll either find it along the way or you'll either see that, oh, well this wasn't as bad.
Now I can learn from this experience and I can make this even larger the next time.
J.E.: Yeah. No, I love that. I, I think, um, a philosophy that I kind of use is foundation now refine later. Right. Get started, just build a foundation. You can tweak, you can refine as you continue to go along, but not getting stuck in your head. That's why I always say you gotta allow your vision to live outside of you, right?
Outside of your mind, outside of your spirit. 'cause you have that vision for a reason. Um, and so when we start analyzing and we start comparing, that's typically where we're like not yet. Not yet, not yet. But
Ronald: Yeah,
J.E.: is gonna ever be the perfect time? You
Ronald: right. That's right. And you made a great point too about comparison because social media is a great tool, but it can also be our [00:25:00] downfall, the pit of our downfall because of comparison. What
if I would've waited to see, you know, and I'm looking at things that other people are doing.
That can be my inspiration, of course.
But I could get in my own mind and my own head and say, well, wait a minute. It was not gonna look like theirs, so maybe I should wait until it's able to look like someone else's. And that's, that's the only thing I did, because God gave you the idea.
J.E.: Yes, he did.
Ronald: Biggest thing that you have to do is be obedient to what he told you,
J.E.: Yeah. And the authenticity of it. All right? If you're constantly copying somebody else and trying to fit your idea into someone else's vision, how authentic is it, you know?
Ronald: Right.
J.E.: And so there's an audience that Ronald is tailored to meet. There's an audience that Jamia is tailored to meet. So if I try to be like somebody else, my audience is gonna have a difficult time finding me and recognizing my voice because I'm not being authentic.
Ronald: you're not being authentic. And, and I've had people ask me, Hey, you know, ask me questions about what I do [00:26:00] because ultimately I kind of understand that they do want to replicate it or duplicate it. And that's, that's fine because, um. I believe, and I'm a firm believer that my assignment is my assignment.
My people I'm called to is my people. I'm called to. And if the Lord gave it to me, I'm gonna work with it, and I'm gonna run it, and I'm gonna do, I'm gonna get everything out of it that I can.
So, you know, I, I, I don't mind, you know, you doing what you do. And if you have questions, you wanna do something similar to what I do, let's do it.
You know, because you know, you have your thing of your authenticity and I have my au authenticity. You can reach an audience that I may not be able to reach and vice versa. So I don't get into this, this mode of competition,
you know, or, or that competitive spirit. The only person I'm competing with is me.
That's the only person I'm competing with. And, and I'm not saying that to be arrogant, but it, it really truly is. Um, the truth that when you have and you understand your assignment and your [00:27:00] purpose in the earth and you act on it and you live it out, then nobody else can come to do anything to try to ruin it or mess it up or try to trump what you're doing.
J.E.: Absolutely. Absolutely. So Ronald, I do wanna pivot a little bit and I wanted to ask you, one of the things that I do love so much about the exit strategy is that it is literally like taking ministry. Outside the walls of the church. Right? Because I think Bayou being a youth pastor would've been very easy for you to just keep that confined to the youth within our church or within the organization.
So talk to me a little bit about the context of working ministry outside the traditional church settings.
Ronald: Yeah, that's such a loaded question, but I love this question and I love this type of talk. Um, because I, I grew up in church.
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: I tell people, I make a joke. I feel like I wasn't born in a hospital. I was born in the church because. As, as [00:28:00] long as I can remember, I have been going to church in sometimes seven days a week, and especially in the summertime,
right?
J.E.: have that upbringing. I, that ain't me.
Ronald: Doing something at church, whether it is working at church, whether it is, I'm telling you, anytime the church doors are open, we were at church. So, um, I kind of grew up with, with this idea, especially being in ministry as well. Um. I'm from South Carolina, so you know how church is there too. You know, you being from North Carolina, so you understand is you understand how that culture is.
So it's, it's very close knit. You know, everybody knows each other, but at the same hand, um, a lot of people get their identity from what they do at church,
what they do in church.
So when you see Bishop so and so, when you see pastor so and so and sister of so and so, and you see him wherever. Um, they, they hold so close and so tight to those titles that [00:29:00] they don't have an identity outside of that, you know, and it's hard for them to be able to break out of that.
And, and I think sometimes that can be adopted and that can be something that. It maybe even a learned mentality or we, we, we mimic what we see and we can fall into that trap. Um, and when we fall into that trap, then we wouldn't be able to think outside of what we see from Sunday to Sunday, from Wednesday to Wednesday or wherever your service time is.
Sometimes it's hard to think outside of the four walls of the church because you're there so much,
J.E.: Yep.
Ronald: and, and because of that, I never wanted that to be me or my story.
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: Because I've seen it happen so many times, and I was even blessed to see examples of that in my, in my own family. So my, my pastor growing up was actually, he's actually my uncle.
And before he even came, became a pastor. He was a deacon. And he was an electrician, or no, no, I'm sorry. He was a electrical engineer. So he had this full career before he even [00:30:00] started pastoring. Right. So he cut that career short a little bit so he can pastor, but, but I was able to see that, um, and I was able to see his devotion to the Lord, even from a young age and him be able to actually take ministry outside of the four walls of the church.
So that's the first time I've ever seen it,
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: Whenever he became a pastor. And again, I was fortunate enough and blessed to do that because I also have seen the other side of it where someone's identity is always wrapped up. Because you met people where they lead with their title. When you
J.E.: Yeah, I am a bishop, prophet, evangelist, missionary,
so and so. Oh my God. What is the name your parents gave you?
Ronald: Alright. What is your name? You know, what is your name? You okay if if they named you bishop or prophet,
so-and-so. Okay, then I got you. I will call you whatever your, whatever that is. I'll call you. I'll call you that. Well, but it happens. It happens so much [00:31:00] and. We get this idea that we can be superstars in church,
or we can be, we can, we can we can master the art of church so people can know us because that's what we're good at or that's what we've been gifted to do.
You know, we made that gifting and that assignment synonymous with with, with, ourselves and our own identity.
J.E.: Yeah, listen, and, and I've, and I've also found this out right when you are truly anointed,
your anointing is transferable. Like my anointing should be able to work in church and work at my job.
You should be able to work, you know, while I'm at the grocery store and when I'm officiating service, right? So the anointing is not contained to Sunday or Wednesday night, or revival, or whatever that time may be.
It should spill out into the community. You ought to be making an impact outside of the walls of the church. And so I think that it [00:32:00] is absolutely important that as believers, we understand that our gifts, our anointings, the things that God has given us can also be applied outside of the walls of the church, right, to make an impact.
And also as your life being an example of like, no, I can be anointed and wealthy. I can be anointed and have vision, I can serve in my church and serve as CEO at the same time. And it's possible. And as a matter of fact, I think as believers, that should be common among
Ronald: It should be our, it should be our goal. It should be something that we, we strive for. we
J.E.: yeah,
Ronald: are not, we are not one dimensional,
J.E.: we're not.
Ronald: we are not one dimensional. We are not one mode at any. Point in time, we, we may wear several hats, but we are not tied to that hat that we are wearing at that specific time.
You know, and, and I, and I, and I was having this conversation with my wife a few weeks ago, is that this past season of my life, um, I really understood, especially so [00:33:00] being with, for being a youth pastor for the past seven years, December 31st, 2024, was my last day as youth pastor at the ramp and.
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: It was different for me and I knew it was gonna be different because it was the first time that I did not hold a leadership position in years.
And I'm talking about back from where I was at my home church even before we went to Lynchburg. So you, you're thinking I'm in my mid thirties, so I'm thinking now that for a better part of maybe 20 plus years of my life, I've been operating and working in ministry. Go, go, go, go, go. And this is the first time where I actually have a chance to.
J.E.: Hmm.
Ronald: of sit and kind of just be and not do, and it's unfamiliar. And it was very unfamiliar to me. And that's when this year some things began to unpack for me as it relates to the marketplace, when I actually began to think about, okay, whatever's gonna be next for [00:34:00] me in the four walls of the church, ministry wise, it's gonna be in the time that it's gonna be.
But it's not right now because I'm following the voice of God and I'm okay with that. So instead of me trying to find out and figure out and force the hand of God or my pastor or whatever, to find out what's gonna be next for me inside the four walls of the church, let me go ahead and work on what's in my hands now, which is the exit strategy, which is my assignment outside of the four walls of the church because.
J.E.: Yeah.
Ronald: I know you je you a powerhouse. You know you are a preacher's preacher, so you got you one of the few people that can do the ministry, you know the marketplace as well as inside of the four walls of the church. So, so that's one. But imagine if you would've waited and said, okay, um, this is my assignment in the fort walls of church and this is my identity, right?
So this is what I'm gonna continue to do. So imagine if you would've done that, you would've missed everything that you would've, would've had to do, or people that you have been [00:35:00] called to reach with Elevate JE
J.E.: Yeah.
Ronald: because, um, I do believe there's different modes and different ways and avenues now, especially in 2025, that we can reach people.
There's someone that's gonna reach me through the exit strategy that I can still minister to that may have never stepped into a church service that I may be preaching at.
J.E.: Right. Yeah, no, that's really good. And you, you, you tapped on some things and I had to write some notes. Um, just because I don't think we talk enough about that leadership aspect inside the church because similar to you, when I left, of course, with the blessing of the house in 2022 to relocate to Atlanta, to pursue, you know, my career goals.
That was the first time since I was a teenager. That I had not officially been in a leadership role in a church, so I'm not like I, I had to go through this season of grief. Because I had to [00:36:00] realize like, okay, this is a part of life that have almost kind of has become my identity in a way. Um, so I had to grieve what I thought ministry would look like at this point, what I thought life would look like at this point.
Um, realizing that, okay, I'm stepping away from something that I thought I was going to continue to. Elevate in, right? And it didn't pan out that way. So I'm like, okay, God, you are pivoting me, but I have to grieve where I am so that I can fully embrace where you're taking me and realize that all of it is important, all of it is necessary.
All of it is a high calling because I'm seeking you. I'm moving at your word and not at my own desires or ambitions. So. I think sometimes as believers we have to talk about that, right? And just really realize it's okay that if you have to take a moment, take a season to grieve what you thought it was going to be.
Ronald: [00:37:00] Absolutely.
J.E.: and being able to process that, because I think sometimes in ministry, particularly if you don't go from being a minister to being an elder, to being, you know, the youth pastor, to the assistant pastor, to the senior pastor, to the bishop, to the overseer, you know, continually to, to, to climb this hierarchy of the organization per se, that you feel like.
You failed or God changed his mind, or God doesn't have a purpose in an assignment for you. And so I feel like in some ways, that's one of the reasons why I feel like God did allow me to have that season. Because I think I needed a reminder of who I am without the title. Without, without it, you know? And realizing like, girl, you dealt with or without it.
Like what you talking about? You know what I'm.
Ronald: Yeah. Yeah. And it's, and it's so, it's so crazy because again, going back to I, it is that. But us growing up in church, we've seen it so much and it's been, and I'm sure it's been told to you, just like it's been told [00:38:00] to me, what you gonna do in the future, church-wise? Right. Great. That is, that is awesome.
That's cool. But I'm more focused on what I have to do now
because if, if, if I'm so, and I'm a person that's forward thinking because I am a visionary.
I'm always thinking about the next thing I'm always thinking about and, and that's to a fault. That can be to a fault sometimes because I don't get an opportunity to celebrate myself and I don't give myself the opportunity to do that.
And sometimes that also creates myself to be more of a harder critique when it comes down to the things that I do. Um, but I'm so forward thinking that I'm like, okay, well. If I, if I live too much in the future, I can't get done what I need to now. So it's also taught me, especially these past couple years, is how to be present and in the moment and going through that grief process that you talked about.
It was, I'm telling, [00:39:00] I'm laughing because I'm laughing because when you said that, I'm like, wow. Like it is, it is so real and it's so true. 'cause it happened for me before I even officially stopped. Doing the thing that I was doing, which was being
J.E.: Mm.
Yeah.
Ronald: was happening before that because I'm like, okay, this is coming up
J.E.: Yeah.
Ronald: right.
What am I gonna do? So I got a little antsy. I'm like, uhoh, it's getting closer. It's getting closer. Although I know this is God's voice. I know this is God's time. I know this is what he wants in the season, not just for me, but for the ministry itself.
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: What am I gonna do afterwards? I have to do something in church.
I have to serve in some sort of capacity. But the, if I can just be,
J.E.: Mm-hmm.
Ronald: then I'll automatically do whatever is the thing that I need to do. So this year has been about me just being, just me, being a son, being a son of God, you know, being a husband, just being a a father, [00:40:00] just being a friend. Just being Ronald rediscovering what that is.
J.E.: Yep.
Ronald: Can I just be right and understand that and then when I, it is time for me to jump into action to do whatever capacity it is, whether it's inside the four walls or outside, I can, it'll automatically flow out of me because I understand again, who I am.
J.E.: Yeah, no, and I'll add this, this, um, tidbit before we pivot, but also understanding God will allow you to have a season of respite,
right. Sometimes you just have to have a respite season, and when you've done a thing for so long, you have been, you know, accountable. You have been there for everybody else.
You've done all the things. You've been there every time the door is open, you know, sometimes you do just have to have a respite season just to be able to take a step back, be poured into. Recalibrate. Learn yourself again. Right? Because we're constantly evolving, we're changing. You know, you're a husband now, you are [00:41:00] a dad now.
Like life allows you to go through these different seasons and it's okay to be able to take a respite season and not feel like I'm out of the will of the purpose of God. And that's something I want, you know, believers to understand. Now, of course, you know, have conversation with your leadership, just I'm like, oh.
I'm in a respite season. I ain't doing that right now. You know what I'm saying? Like, well, absolutely not. I fully believe in accountability and having those conversations with your, with your leadership, but understanding it's okay and you are still in the plan and the purpose and the will of God.
Ronald: is okay because you are gonna look back at this moment and you are gonna appreciate this respite moment so much. Right? So it's, it's about the journey. It's not about the destination.
J.E.: I love it. I love it. All right, Ronald, so we're getting down to the end of our conversation. So I want to switch to the se, the segment that I call 60 seconds to Elevate. Okay. [00:42:00]
So I'm gonna ask you a series of five rapid fire questions, and the first thing that comes to your mind is what you gotta give me, okay?
Ronald: Let's do it.
J.E.: All right. What is one habit that has changed your life?
Ronald: Consistency.
J.E.: Favorite scripture to stand on when things feel heavy
Ronald: This isn't a scripture, but a passage one Kings chapter one.
J.E.: how do you stay spiritually grounded and professionally? Excellent.
Ronald: Oof. Gotta stay in prayer. Got to
J.E.: If your life had a theme song right now, what would it be?
Ronald: let the good times roll.
J.E.: If you could send yourself a 15 second or send your younger self a 15 second voice memo, what wisdom would you give yourself?
Ronald: Mm. down. You'll get there right time.
J.E.: I love it. I love it. Well, Ronald Richardson, thank you so much for being a guest on the Elevate Your Life podcast. I am [00:43:00] so honored and humbled that you would take time out of your busy schedule to come and have a conversation with me.
Ronald: Thank you so much JE and team there down at Let's Elevate. Listen, this has been amazing. I love this. I love it. I love it. I love it. And thank you for having me. It's been such an honor, and hopefully I get to come back again,
J.E.: Yeah,
Ronald: in the studio.
J.E.: I got it. I got it. All right. I love you and your beautiful family, and I'll see y'all soon.
Ronald: We love you too.
[00:44:00]
