In this powerful episode of Blessed + Bossed Up, Tatum dives deep into Acts 17:22–31 and pulls out two key strategies every Kingdom entrepreneur needs: cultural intelligence (CQ) and contextualizing your message.

Using Paul’s sermon to the intellectual elite in Athens as the foundation, this episode breaks down how Paul studied the culture, respected his audience, and delivered the Gospel in a way that resonated deeply—all without compromising the truth.

Tatum explains how these same strategies apply to business today, from adjusting your brand messaging based on audience psychographics to adapting your offers and content for different platforms or markets. She also shares practical examples (from YouVersion to McDonald’s global menus) and offers 3 concrete ways to start applying these principles in your own brand—whether you’re already in business or preparing to launch.

If you’re a faith-led entrepreneur looking to improve your marketing, messaging, or audience engagement while staying true to the Word, this episode is your blueprint.

Acts 17:22–31 (NLT)

Paul contextualizes the gospel for the Athenians at the Areopagus, modeling how to reach new audiences with truth and strategy.

• Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the ability to understand the values, behaviors, and worldview of the people you're called to serve.
• Contextualization is delivering your message in a way that’s relevant, understandable, and compelling—without changing the truth.
• Paul didn’t compromise; he customized the way he shared truth to meet people where they were.
• Business owners must do the same with their brand messaging, sales strategies, and offers.

1. Use Your Audience’s Language – Mirror the words your audience uses to describe their problems and desires.
2. Tailor Messaging for Each Platform – Adapt your content for Instagram vs. TikTok vs. LinkedIn vs. YouTube.
3. Adapt Your Offers for Specific Audiences – Adjust your product packaging, pricing, or delivery to match the needs of different segments within your niche.

In today’s deeply personal episode, Tatum steps away from her usual teaching to share a raw and unfiltered story from her recent postpartum journey. After believing she heard clearly from God that she would have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), Tatum walks us through the heartbreak, confusion, and emotional toll of experiencing an outcome that looked very different from what she believed God promised.

This episode isn’t tied up in a bow. It’s a real-time reflection on what it means to be holy and human—to love God deeply, but also feel hurt, to trust Him fully, and still ask “Why?”

If you've ever:

• Felt sure you heard from God but the result didn’t match,
• Struggled with disappointment while trying to remain faithful,
• Wrestled with postpartum emotions, trauma, or spiritual confusion,
• Needed language for navigating your feelings while staying close to God...

This episode is for you.

Tatum reminds us that even in our confusion, God is still near, and we can give Him our broken hearts to heal—even before the revelation comes.

• How to process disappointment with God without pulling away from Him
• Why your feelings are valid and don’t disqualify your faith
• The enemy’s strategy to use spiritual vulnerability for warfare
• How to stay committed even when you don’t have clarity
• The beauty of surrendering your heart before the “aha moment” comes

• Job 13:15 – “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
• Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…”
• Isaiah 55:8–9 – “My thoughts are not your thoughts…”
• Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
• John 11 (Martha & Lazarus – the tension of faith and grief)

• A woman navigating postpartum emotions or birth trauma
• Anyone who feels disappointed by God or let down by an outcome
• A friend who needs a reminder that God can handle her questions and still be trusted

Still on a Brief Break

Tatum kicks off this episode by sharing a major life update—she is officially a mom of three, having welcomed her baby girl on June 10th. While she’s not taking a full maternity leave, she’ll be easing back into content with a mix of fresh and replayed episodes through the start of July. She invites listeners to lean into these timely throwbacks, trusting that the Holy Spirit is still speaking through them.

Bible on Business Series Begins

This episode officially launches the Bible on Business series—a comprehensive, in-depth look at how biblical principles apply to leadership and entrepreneurship. Tatum unpacks the first message in the series, focusing on what it means to be a shepherd in business and how entrepreneurs can adopt the characteristics of Christ in how they serve their audiences.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why God is calling Christian entrepreneurs to shepherd His people, not just serve customers
• The surprising similarities between sheep and consumer behavior (brand loyalty, dependency, vulnerability, and more)
• How to lead with love, patience, and spiritual integrity—even when things go wrong
• Biblical examples of shepherding leadership: Matthew 18, John 21, Acts 20, and 1 Peter 2
• How to recover from mistakes in business with humility and restoration
• Why consecration and devotion are essential for long-term leadership impact

Practical Applications:

• How to re-engage inactive clients or community members like the parable of the lost sheep
• Tips for sacrificial leadership in tough business seasons
• Creating systems and rhythms to stay spiritually aligned while leading in the marketplace

Featured Scriptures:

• Matthew 18:12–14
• John 21:15–17
• Acts 20:28
• 1 Peter 2:25
• 1 John 2:27