What's your biggest takeaway?

In this episode of The Jump Moment, Paul Cox, founder of The Church Co., takes us through his inspiring journey from cautious beginnings to leading a global team. He shares how a need in the church world inspired him to create a tailored website platform, the years of hard work it took to make it viable, and the lessons he learned about risk, persistence, and purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• The moment Paul realized he needed to create a platform tailored to churches.
• How small steps built his confidence.
• Navigating doubts and hesitation while building a business.
• The impact of community and being surrounded by people with big ideas.
• Why believing in your mission makes the hard work worth it.

About Paul:
Paul Cox is the founder and CEO of The Church Co., a platform providing websites, apps, and tools for churches worldwide. Based in Sydney, Australia, Paul’s work bridges his passion for technology and his commitment to serving the church.

Paul is all about building tech for churches.

The Church Co builds church websites for free, the church just covers the hosting.

Follow Paul:

The Church Co: http://thechurchco.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thechurchco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thechurchco

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

In this episode, Matt Curtis pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest myths about freelancing: the idea that you need the perfect plan before you make the jump. Through stories from 20+ years as a creative, Matt offers four essential questions to help you navigate change and stay agile as a freelancer. Whether you're on the brink of a jump or already mid-air, this episode will help you shift from fear to clarity.

Episode Highlights:

• Why change doesn’t mean you’ve failed—especially in freelance.
• The four questions that will keep your business responsive and relevant.
• How cultural shifts (like YouTube, digital photography, and Facebook) opened up unexpected opportunities.
• The real reason Lunchtime Heroes led to Jump to Freelance.
• Why flexibility is a superpower, not a liability.

Four questions you can ask about your freelance business:

How do I do this today?

What has changed culturally?

What new opportunity does this create for me?

How can I respond?

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

This week’s resources are three books by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Purchasing these books through the affiliate link earns me a small commission, but won't change your price. Thanks for your support of The Jump Moment!

- 10x is Easier than 2x: https://amzn.to/4buAkVL
- The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success: https://amzn.to/4iV8Cnm
- Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork: https://amzn.to/4bXbgXn

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Todd Linder shares how he transitioned from ministry to corporate HR and ultimately into coaching. His journey is all about translation—taking what you know and framing it in a way that connects with new opportunities. We explore how to identify transferable skills, the mindset shifts needed for major career changes, and why your past experiences are more valuable than you think.

Episode Highlights:
- The art of translating skills from one field to another
- How to identify what you’re really good at (even if it doesn’t feel obvious)
- Navigating the emotional side of transitions, especially with a risk-averse partner
- Why your experience isn’t as ‘unique’ as you think—and that’s a good thing
- Practical tips for transitioning into freelance work

About Todd Linder:
Helping people in ministry transition into the marketplace without getting overlooked because of their experience | Husband | Girl Dad | Amateur Space Nerd

Connect with Todd Linder:
Ministry To Marketplace Quiz: https://quiz.ministrytomarketplace.co/sf/b1589097
Launch Point: https://www.launchpoint.co/
Follow Todd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddlinder

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Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

This week’s resource is the Jump to Freelance group on Skool.

Freelancing doesn’t have to be lonely. Join a community of like-minded creatives who understand the journey you’re on. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or building momentum after making the jump, this group offers support, live Q&A’s, and expert guidance to help you thrive—together.

Group membership includes access to the new pricing guide that guides you through the process of discovering your ideal rates so you can price projects with confidence.

Join the group.

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Sara Ullah shares her journey from working her dream job at a church to becoming a full-time freelance graphic designer. Sara opens up about the fears she faced, like pricing her work and finding clients, and how she navigated these challenges to build a successful freelance business. Whether you’re dreaming of freelancing or looking for practical advice, Sara’s insights will inspire and equip you to take the leap.

Episode Highlights:

• The spark: How Sara’s freelance journey began.
• Overcoming fears of pricing and finding clients.
• The importance of relationships in sustaining a freelance career.
• Practical tools for managing freelance work, like Fiverr Workspace.
• How freelancing brings freedom and creativity back into her life.

About Sara Ullah:
Sara is a creative and detail-oriented freelance graphic designer specializing in branding, page layout, and print and digital marketing materials. With over 15 years of experience in the design industry and a Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design and Marketing, she has collaborated with diverse clients (especially churches) to create visually compelling designs that communicate clear and impactful messages.

Passionate about turning ideas into stunning visuals, Sara excels in utilizing the Adobe Creative Suite to deliver high-quality work tailored to each client’s unique needs. She is an efficient designer and believes in combining aesthetics with functionality to craft designs that leave a lasting impression.

When not designing, Sara enjoys painting, reading, and finding new coffee shops and restaurants to enjoy with her husband, Aaron, in Austin, Texas.

RadRose Designs on Instagram: http://instagram.com/radrosedesigns
Follow Sara on Instagram: http://instagram.com/saraRullah

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

Support The Jump Moment by purchasing this episode's recommended resource through the affiliate link below:

My guest in this episode is Mark MacDonald, author of, Be Known for Something: Reconnect with Community by Revitalizing Your Church's Reputation. The book goes deeper on this idea of finding your thread. What is that thing that is so important? What is that thing that you are uniquely good at? As Mark says in the episode, there are a lot of creatives out there. And so you're going to face an incredible amount of competition if you aren't identifying what that thing is unique about you.

Purchasing this book through the affiliate link, earns me a small commission, but won't change your price. Thanks for your support of The Jump Moment!

- Order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4g5u0V4

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In this episode, Mark MacDonald shares his journey from climbing the creative ladder in Canada to launching his branding agency in the U.S. Mark opens up about overcoming fears, embracing his unique skills, and trusting the process when life takes unexpected turns. His story is packed with wisdom and practical advice for anyone dreaming of making the leap to freelance.

Episode Highlights:

• The importance of embracing discontentment as a driver for growth.
• How to overcome fear by deconstructing perceived barriers.
• The role of faith and perseverance in navigating unexpected challenges.
• Why finding and focusing on your unique strengths is essential for long-term success.

About Mark MacDonald:
Mark MacDonald is a communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, and church branding strategist for Be Known For Something Church Branding Co. (BeKnownforSomething.com) empowering thousands of Pastors and churches to become known for something relevant (a communication thread) throughout their ministries, on their church websites and social media. His church branding book, Be Known for Something, is available at Amazon.

Connect with Mark MacDonald:
Subscribe to weekly practical email tips: www.beknownforsomething.com/subscribe (choose podcast for bonus PDF)

Website: http://www.beknownforsomething.com/
Facebook (personal): http://facebook.com/MarkMacDonaldOfficial
Facebook (business): http://facebook.com/beknownforsomething
Instagram: http://instagram.com/markmac1023/

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

This week’s resource is the Jump to Freelance group on Skool.

Freelancing doesn’t have to be lonely. Join a community of like-minded creatives who understand the journey you’re on. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or building momentum after making the jump, this group offers support, live Q&A’s, and expert guidance to help you thrive—together.

Join the group.

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Laura Howe shares her journey from burnout as a social worker to founding Hope Made Strong, an organization equipping churches to champion mental health globally. With honesty and vulnerability, Laura talks about navigating imposter syndrome, leaning into imperfect beginnings, and the lessons she’s learned from building a mission-driven organization. Whether you’re dreaming of freelancing or building something new, Laura’s story is packed with insights to inspire you for your jump to freelance.

Episode Highlights:

• Laura’s pivotal moment: How burnout and restlessness sparked her idea for Hope Made Strong.
• Why imperfect beginnings are better than waiting for perfection.
• The role of mentorship and community in making bold career shifts.
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing your unique voice.
• Practical advice for creatives feeling stuck in their current roles.

About Laura Howe:
Laura Howe is a clinical mental health social worker, addictions counselor, and project manager. She has spent her 15-year career supporting and serving the marginalized and suffering in her local community.

In 2019, Laura launched Hope Made Strong, an organization dedicated to helping the local church care for their communities without burning out. The team has grown, and together they are serving churches all over the world with online courses, cohort groups, trainings, events, and a podcast.

Laura is a refreshing voice in the faith and mental health space; upbeat, practical, with a strategic lens. If you are looking for resources to support your ministry leaders and congregation, Laura and Hope Made Strong are go-to resources.

Home Made Strong: http://hopemadestrong.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_made_strong/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063596195711

The Hope Made Strong Podcast: https://www.hopemadestrong.org/podcast

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

This episode’s recommended resource is Impact Merch, a print on demand service that handles everything you need. This is a great solution for creating swag for your business or a low management (for you) solution for clients who need a solution for print on demand.

You can also support Jump to Freelance by purchasing from the Impact Merch shop: https://impactmerch.com/shop/jumptofreelance/

Sign up for a shop of your own: https://impactmerch.com/

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In this episode of The Jump Moment, Micah Thomas shares his journey from working as a church media director to building Impact Merch—a platform that simplifies merch creation for churches, nonprofits, and freelancers. Micah reveals how his side hustle grew into a full-time business and the moment COVID-19 pushed him to realign his priorities and values. This conversation is filled with practical advice for anyone considering the jump to freelance.

Episode Highlights:

• How The Church Shop and Impact Merch solves common headaches for freelancers managing e-commerce.
• Balancing family life and professional commitments while transitioning to freelance.
• The importance of financial preparation, momentum, and building client relationships before making the leap.
• Why resilience in tough situations is essential for freelance success.

About Micah Thomas:
Growing up in the home of a pastor, Micah spent his entire life in the church knowing the excitement and frustrations that come with growth, rebranding, marketing, and design.

A graduate of Duke Divinity School at Duke University and jumped into the church communications and media side of church, focusing on graphics and video production.

In 2018, while assisting a new church plant in Durham, NC, the idea of The Church Shop was born.

With a seven-year tenure in communications and media Micah transitioned to dedicate full-time efforts to The Church Shop.

January of 2022 marked the introduction of signage and large format printing services by The Church Shop, an endeavor aimed at bolstering churches' outreach to their local communities with top-tier quality resources.

The drive for unparalleled customer care steers Micah's ambition to expand The Church Shop, empowering churches to create a significant community impact free from the hassle of overhead or design complexities.

Micah, along with Maria, is deeply invested in providing a nurturing and secure environment for children. Their dedication has led them to foster seven children, culminating in the joyful adoption of their son, Atlas.

Sign up for a free shop:
The Church Shop
Impact Merch

Follow The Church Shop on Facebook and Instagram.

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!

What's your biggest takeaway?

This week’s resource is the Jump to Freelance group on Skool.

Freelancing doesn’t have to be lonely. Join a community of like-minded creatives who understand the journey you’re on. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or building momentum after making the jump, this group offers support, live Q&A’s, and expert guidance to help you thrive—together.

Join the group.

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What does it mean to turn your skills into a business with impact? Justin Nava’s story begins with his passion for serving churches and communities through creative solutions. In this episode, Justin shares how he transitioned from church ministry to freelancing, built an agency, and learned to approach his work with purpose and clarity.

Episode Highlights:

1. Justin’s first freelance project and how it set the stage for his career.
2. How his passion for helping churches shaped his business model.
3. The importance of focusing on the results, not just the tools or products.
4. Lessons learned about pricing, value, and building an agency.
5. Justin’s advice for freelancers: Build your business around what truly matters.

About Justin Nava:
Justin Nava is a digital marketing consultant for US churches seeking to be known in their community to foster discipleship, without sacrificing Biblical values.

Nava Church Marketing: http://navachurchmarketing.com

Follow Justin on:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejustinnava?sub_confirmation=1

X: https://x.com/thejustinnava

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejustinnava/

Explore the Jump to Freelance community, 1:1 coaching, and more at jumptofreelance.com. Take your first step today!