How can Christian schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations thrive and become financially sustainable without hiring a consultant?

In this episode of The CFS Review, John Warren shares the story of CFS Financial, founded in 2013, and lessons learned from helping approximately 250 organizations, primarily Christian schools.

Drawing on his experience as a former bank CEO and nonprofit consultant, John offers practical guidance on understanding your organization's value proposition, developing strategic plans that actually work, establishing measurable objectives, and maintaining healthy relationships with lenders.

He also discusses effective communication, fundraising, enrollment practices, and the importance of remaining faithful to your organization's mission.

Above all, Christian organizations must remember their purpose. Financial sustainability is important, but advancing God's kingdom, making disciples, and remaining faithful to biblical truth must remain central.

Christian education offers a remarkable opportunity to influence generation after generation.

Learn more about CFS Financial: https://www.cfsfinancial.net

The CFS Review — Business • Finance • Leadership

Customer Service is an Economic Indicator

In this episode of The CFS Review, John Warren looks at the economy from an unusual perspective: the decline in customer service. He discusses economic cycles, consumer and business confidence, inflation, government spending, the rapidly growing national debt, and why companies often cut expenses as economic conditions weaken.

Could deteriorating customer service be another warning that the economy is beginning to slow? John explains why he believes what consumers experience every day may tell us something that traditional economic statistics don't.

In this episode of The CFS Review, John Warren examines the ongoing negotiations with Iran and explains why he believes a lasting, enforceable agreement with the Iranian regime is unlikely.

John looks beyond the negotiations themselves to the religious and ideological beliefs that influence Iran’s leadership. He discusses the historical division between Sunni and Shia Islam, the origins of Islam, and concepts such as jihad, Sharia, submission, and the ummah. He argues that understanding these beliefs is essential to understanding the motivations of Iran’s religious leaders. Relentless Truth Extra - 3 - tr…

The episode also considers the limits of military action, the prospects for regime change, Iran's missile capabilities, and the Trump administration's approach to negotiations. John explains why he believes the United States should have very low expectations that negotiations will produce an agreement capable of accomplishing its objectives. Relentless Truth Extra - 3 - tr…

Topics include: Iran and U.S. negotiations; Sunni and Shia Islam; Iran's religious leadership; jihad and Sharia; the difference between Iran's leadership and the Iranian people; President Trump's approach to Iran; and why John believes an enforceable agreement is unlikely.

The CFS Review

Business • Finance • Leadership • The Economy • Current Events

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Socialism is a word used frequently in American political and economic debate—but what does it actually mean, and how does it differ from Marxism, communism, or simply having government programs?

In this episode of The CFS Review, John Warren examines the basic economic ideas behind socialism and capitalism, beginning with the fundamental question of who owns and controls the means of production. He discusses Marx's critique of capitalism, the importance of incentives, private property, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the ability of a market economy to create new wealth rather than merely redistribute existing wealth.

The discussion also distinguishes socialism from ordinary government services and social programs. Social Security, Medicare, public schools, highways, and other government activities do not by themselves make an economy socialist. Instead, the deeper economic question is: Who gets to decide how resources are owned, allocated, and used?

The episode then turns from economics to a darker chapter in American history: Carrie Buck and the 1927 Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell. Her forced sterilization provides a sobering example of what can happen when government is given extraordinary authority over decisions and rights that ordinarily belong to individuals.

Ultimately, the episode raises a larger question that goes beyond economics: What view of human nature should underlie the way we organize society and distribute power?