Colonel Harland Sanders (1890-1980) is famous for being the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), but for most of his life, it did not look like he would do anything significant. Sanders held several jobs in his early life, such as a steam engine stoker, insurance salesman, and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from a roadside restaurant in Kentucky during the Great Depression (1929-39). During that time, Sanders developed his "secret recipe” and his patented chicken cooking method in a pressure fryer. At age 62, he opened his first restaurant, and then at age 74 received enough money from investors to start the franchise. The rest is history. 

There is more inspiring aspects to his story, but I want to focus on these aspects of his life: 



• He had an idea that created wealth - Someone once said to me, “Steve, you don’t need more money as much as you need a new idea.” Deuteronomy 8:18 supports this, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” 
• His greatest impact came after he was supposed to be retired - Someone older reading this is going to get the wealth-creating idea of his or her life. It will create great generosity and jobs for people. 
• He never quit trying - Colonel Sanders was rejected 1,009 times before his chicken recipe was accepted. As a result, today there are over 20,000 KFC franchises worldwide. 

God desires you to be blessed financially. As you experience breakthroughs with money, you will be able to become a miracle in other people’s lives. 

Igniting Hope Ministries is partnering with Jim Baker’s Wealth With God platform in presenting two free Master Classes on February 7, 2024, (9 AM PST and then repeated at 5 PM PST). Jim and I will discuss how to succeed financially in these sessions. Jim is one of the most brilliant, funny, and empowering communicators that I know. We did this Master Class last year, and the response from our Igniting Hope family was extremely positive. The masterclass will give an opportunity to enroll in further training in Jim’s Wealth With God, but there is no obligation to do so. Who knows, maybe the next Colonel Sanders is about to be made known to the world. 

As preparation for this masterclass, here are three keys for moving forward into greater financial freedom:

1. Upgrade what you believe - Transformation in any area of life begins with renewing our mind with truth, instead of with lies (Romans 12:2), and it is vital to strengthen our beliefs about our identity and the significance of our giftings and assignments. If we try to do great things with bad beliefs, we will have difficulty in succeeding. 
2. Commit or recommit to be a blessing to others - If God can get it through us, He can get it to us. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mathew 6:33). 
3. Pursue financial training - “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). How we relate to finances is the kindergarten lesson that trains us to steward well spiritual riches. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). A lack of knowledge about what the Bible really says about finances will limit us. Also if we do not have knowledge about budgeting, investing, entrepreneurship, debt, saving, risk-taking, and generosity, then our potential will be destroyed by our ignorance. 

Colonel Sanders' story gets me fired up, and I hope it stirs you up too. Start believing for more, including new streams of income. Some of you may want to get some KFC chicken as a sign you are wholeheartedly eating this message up 🙂

Be on the lookout for our newsletter on how to sign up for the Wealth with God masterclass. You can sign up for our weekly newsletter at ignitinghope.com