Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer

7 Tips for Success from Mark Cuban (EXCLUSIVE)

by Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Dec 8, 2022 | Commentary, Faith & Work, Headline News |

Q & A

1. When you look back at your life, what are two leadership traits that have served you well?

Mark Cuban: I think caring about people and curiousity, always trying to learn more to be better

2. What should young adults look for, when deciding on a career?

MC: I don’t think they need to find careers. I think they need to find a job and start learning and see where it takes you. I think that everyone should be a free agent, always looking for a way to put themselves in a better situation. If you end up with the same company for 30 years that’s great. But it’s not a necessity

3. When deciding who to work or partner with, what are some nonnegotiable’s for you?

MC: Being nice. Being inclusive. Being knowledgeable. Loving your product so much you are the best salesperson for it

4. You are a man of conviction and character, why is maintaining that important to you?

MC: It’s so much easier when you do the right thing

5. What advice, do you give young investors who want to start investing? What should they look for?

MC: Pay off your credit cards. They suck your savings dry. Save enough to be able to live off of for at least 6 months first. Things go wrong. You want to have that rainy day money available. Then find a low cost SPX mutual fund and take a percent of your salary and invest it every month and then forget it’s there. The longer you can go without touching it, the richer you will be

6. What advice, would you give younger Mark Cuban?

MC: Don’t screw it up. It turns out pretty good 🙂

7. How important is your faith?

MC: I try to never take this life for granted. It’s a gift and I try to enjoy it with my family every single day

Never Would Have Made It: An Interview with Bishop Marvin Sapp

by Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Nov 17, 2022 | Commentary, Entertainment, Headline News |

Bishop Marvin Sapp is a pastor, musician, author, artist and now filmmaker. He’s working on learning how to cook. He has over a dozen Grammy nominations, Stellar Awards, BET Awards and more as a Gospel Artist. He is the co-founder and pastor of two churches in Grand Rapids, MI and Fort Worth, TX. He is the Bishop serving over 100 congregations. He is a gifted preacher, speaker and leader. He most recently released a film with TVOne telling his testimony and was an executive producer and star of the film. To put it lightly, Marvin Sapp is a busy man of God. But it is his love for people, his incredible testimonies, and his heartfelt authenticity that have helped him be a vessel for the Holy Spirit for decades. UrbanFaith sat down with this legendary Gospel artist and minister and talked about everything from film to football and ministry to mental health. The full interview is above, more about Bishop Sapp is below.

Bishop Marvin L. Sapp is a passionate orator and biblical teacher, who desires to be a living epistle glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ both in word and in deed who is the Co-Founder of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the Senior Pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas as well as a Metropolitan Bishop that oversees more than 100 churches in the Central Deanery of Global United Fellowship.

Bishop Sapp is a multiplatinum selling artist who has enjoyed a decorated music career receiving 13 Grammy nominations, 24 Stellar Awards, 2 Soul Train Music Awards, 2 BET Awards, 4 Dove Awards, 8 BMI songwriter’s awards for sales, Black Music Honors Gospel Music Icon Award along with many other accolades and honors from national, regional, and local institutions.

Civil Rights & Civic Engagement: An Interview with Rep. Jim Clyburn

by Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Oct 27, 2022 | Black History, Commentary, Faith & Work, Headline News, Heritage, Social Justice |

Congressman Jim Clyburn Interview

by Maina Mwaura

Jim Clyburn has led a remarkable life that has been marked by the pursuit of a more just society. As the child of a minister and a Christian himself, his faith has been a driving force in his public work for justice. He was an early members of SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) working alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jon Lewis who became his fellow Congressman. He now serves as a Congressman in South Carolina and one of the senior ranking members of the United States House of Representatives. President Joe Biden credits him directly with helping him win the presidency. UrbanFaith sat down with Congressman Jim Clyburn to discuss his faith, his legacy, HBCUs and his work to strengthen democracy and justice in the United States. The full audio interview is above!

Stop Asking For Permission with Stephen Chandler

by Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Oct 13, 2022 | Commentary, Headline News |

Have you ever wondered how to press into your purpose? You may recognize that God has gifted you and believe He has a plan for you, but are uncertain how to realize your purpose. Pastor Stephen Chandler has one of the fastest growing churches in the United States at a time when people are attending church less and less. How is he growing and walking in purpose in the midst of such transition and apathy all around us? UrbanFaith contributor Maina Mwaura sat down with Pastor Stephen Chandler to talk about his new book Stop Asking For Permission which helps us unlock our God given potential. The interview is above more about the book is below.

From the pastor of one of America’s fastest-growing churches, Union Church in Maryland, Stephen Chandler releases his debut book, Stop Waiting for Permission: Harness Your Gifts, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius (September 27, 2022, WaterBrook) with a foreword by New York Times bestselling author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell. This bold, inspiring manifesto will show readers how to dream, plan, and ultimately achieve their great calling in life.

Stephen Chandler is the senior pastor of Union Church, based in Maryland, and the author of Stop Waiting for Permission. Through his unapologetic pursuit of fulfilling his God-given purpose, Union Church has become known for its unrelenting desire to unite people with purpose. Since its launch in 2011, Union Church has grown from fifty to thousands in weekly attendance, with tens of thousands joining live online every week. It has expanded to multiple campuses across Maryland. Stephen’s obsession with people, systems, and culture resulted in Union Church (formerly Destiny Church) being named the fastest-growing church in America by Outreach magazine.

Killing Comparison: An Interview with Nona Jones

by Maina Mwaura, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Oct 6, 2022 | Commentary, Headline News |

We have to get past the constant assault of comparison. It keeps us insecure, negative, and disappointed. Author, speaker, and business leader Nona Jones helps us get past the temptation of jealousy and attack of inferiority in her new book Killing Comparison. UrbanFaith sat down with her to discuss the book and her journey to overcoming insecurity and embracing more of her identity in Christ. The full interview is above, more information on the book is below.

Nearly all of us deal with the struggle of comparison and finding ourselves lacking. But there is a way to break free from internal and external messages communicating a lack of self-worth.

It starts with identifying the basis of your urge to compare and ends with securing your identity to the unchanging confidence of God’s love for you.

Nona Jones knows this journey all too well. Throughout her life and in her career–most recently as an executive for the world’s largest social media company–Nona discovered that despite professional success, true confidence can only be achieved by defeating toxic comparison and securing our identity to God’s approval alone.