Faith and Work: Denya and Cellus Hamilton on Building Community Through the “There Will Be Fruit” Conference

by Allen Reynolds, UrbanFaith Editor | Mar 16, 2026 | Commentary, Faith & Work, Feature, Headline News, Magazine | 0 comments

There Will Be Fruit

By Allen Reynolds

UF Editor Allen Reynolds interviewed Denya & Cellus Hamilton, co-founders of the faith based company Sow and Tell about their annual Faith & Work conference focused on black and brown people, “There Will Be Fruit.”

Allen

The first question I have for you all is tell me about what is there will be fruit? Can you tell us about what you guys do and who you are?

Denya

Yes, for sure. So yeah, we are the co-founders of Sow and Tell, it started as a creative agency where we offer services such as social media, marketing, strategy, implementation, artist development, writing sessions and now events. And our signature event that we have annually in the spring is there will be fruit. Really the goal is just to create a space where entrepreneurs, professionals and creatives can come together and just be reminded that God can use them in the marketplace and the industry that he has called us to, whether that is in marketing, hospitality, and tech, [or others] and to also connect each other, right? Because we cannot go on this journey alone.

Cellus

Yeah, the only thing I’ll add to that is that what makes it unique, particularly is that in New York and in many other cities the faith and work space is predominantly white. It’s just a completely different space that you don’t see any black people in the room. You don’t see any people of color in the room at all. We allow this space to be led and ran by black people and people of color that can really share not only their expertise, but what they’re also up to in the faith and work field. And that’s what makes it unique and special.

Allen

Can you talk about what is it that people could expect going to that conference connecting with what you guys do at there will be fruit?

Cellus

Yeah, one of the incredible things that we see is people really love the fact that you feel like it’s an exciting place, an exciting atmosphere. You’ve been to places where you feel like no one’s here is actually intentional about meeting one another, but you get this sense that people show up feeling like, I know that the people in the room have something that they can offer me. I know that the people in the room have something that they can help me with. I know that they’re on a similar journey. And so the excitement comes from the people wanting to actually genuinely connect and then us providing spaces where they’re going to get a chance to sit at tables and be kind of positioned where they can meet people in their similar industries and their fields, but also have moments where they’re able to relax around a meal and have some entertainment in the middle of sessions and things like that. It’s really just a space where people can come together, feel like they’re going to really connect, not just be talked to, but actually get a chance to leave with some connections with people that they can walk their industries and their career paths with. And I feel like that’s what kind of draws people each year.

Denya

Yeah, I always think people come for the content, but stay for the connections and the people. I’ve seen the fruit, literally pun intended, of these spaces. It’s not just like a conference. I believe what we’re doing here is like a movement because the faith and work space is so fresh to our audience, this next generation of believers who are passionate about their work, but also passionate about Jesus. We’re coming here and knowing that at least we have two things in common. We work and we love Jesus. And that expectation is there, but once they get to the room, number one, they experience the Holy Spirit because what we do is led by God. His presence is there,[He] goes before us. And then not just like coming in, seeking people who could help us, but also seeking people who we can serve. So that’s what I’ve experienced as well. So, a prime example is, I met a young lady, she found us on Eventbrite, randomly decided to sign up to come to our event. She bought a VIP ticket, which included the VIP mixer the night before. The VIP mixer is that Friday night before the Saturday conference, where it’s a more intimate space, kind of like a kickoff in a sense, where we invite our sponsors, our partners, our speakers, and our VIP guests to just come to know one another and get hype about what they’re about to experience the next day. And so, this young lady came [on] faith, and she was just blown away by everything. She came to the conference the next day, and she also does production. She recorded a lot of content. And from there, she was already in the process of launching, but she launched her podcast called Minds of Renewal. And from there, she was able to connect with a future guest on her podcast who has a faith-based athletics company. And so just seeing their podcast come to life, because they met at, There Will Be Fruit, has been just so cool to see. And from there, she’s also led Bible studies for ministries that she was encountered with at the conference as well. So just seeing like the tangible outcome of these Kingdom collaborations has been so amazing to see.

Cellus

Yes, that’s it. People come to the conference, they work together with people they met at the conference, and their dreams kind of flourish in ways that they always bring back to, this is someone I met in the room at the conference, and they just, we’ve stayed in contact, and we’ve continued to build from there. And it’s great.

Allen

Wow, that honestly, it sounds like you guys are creating fertile ground, you’re tilling fertile soil. So, when people come and bring their seeds, like that’s why there will be fruit, like the images just coming together in my mind. For folks who may be struggling to find how they can be faithful and still at the same time, do work in a world that’s complex and industries that feel more uncertain than ever, where there may not be as many opportunities, what advice would you give them about being able to be faithful and still be impactful or successful as they’re trying to [be in the] world of faith and work as believers?

Cellus

Yeah, one of the things that we’ve uniquely began to think about is how we can speak to the growing population of people who don’t find themselves in industry, where the line is as clearly drawn between secular and sacred work. And we recognize that with the changing industries, with AI innovation, and with all these things, there is a need for people to learn that there is some flexibility in what it means to be “faithful”, even when the lines where [are] not clearly drawn, whether this is sacred or secular work. And so that’s been something we’ve been leaning into. And we’ve also just been recognizing that we all have multiple skills. And a lot of times we lean specifically toward maybe something that we’re most passionate about, but we may not be as perceptive to how our other skills can open up lanes that are necessary and that kind of are in the direction of the world is going. So we also encourage people to look at all the things that they’re good at and kind of figure out how they can maybe spread their gifts around. And we think it’s very encouraging as well in a changing world.

Denya

And I would just add on to say that, yeah, like work is just an opportunity for worship. So wherever you’re placed, God is using you. And I was reading a devotional the other day about faith and work, and I talked about how the marketplace is the most time we’ll spend in and the most influential. So why not just like allow God’s will to happen in that space through you, whether it is with a co-worker or a boss or, you know, people that you contract with. And using these as opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to live out what we’re learning on Sunday mornings or whenever you worship is what we want to just give advice [about]. Advice on who and [whose we are] in this faith and work journey.

Allen

What advice would you give someone young trying to figure out how to walk in [faith] and be fruitful?

Denya

That’s so good. Something that came to my heart when you answer that, because it’s so it’s so big to want to kind of like raise up the next generation or your successors and equip them. And the first thing I would say number one, like stay connected to the vine, right? John [talks about] how Jesus is that true vine. So once you’re connected with him, you understand what your purpose is and then [you’re] not just connected with him, but connecting with community. God offers us obviously perfect community with him, but then He allows us to be in community with each other. And what we mean is like getting plugged into a local church, getting it plugged into, you know, Bible study, worship, and then events like these where, you know, you can learn how to be an effective professional entrepreneur or creative in God’s way. Because at the end of the day, we’re all being discipled by something, whether that’s the world or, you know, the church. And so, we need to be just positioned in a way where God can use us and effectively according to his word. Stay connected to Him, stay connected to each other, and seek wise counsel in any space that you’re in, whether that is the professional space or a spiritual space, because God is a holistic God.

Cellus

I’ll add that I often consider the things that most burden you. Like I tell people often that there is something that burdens you about the world. There is something that deeply gets you passionate to the point where you want to debate it, you want to fix it, you want to talk about it and dream about ways that it could be different. And a lot of times within those passions that the Lord has placed inside of us, there is also the capacity for us to lean into it and be the answer to some of those problems. And so I just encourage people who are on that path trying to figure out where they can be fruitful, think about what bothers you about the world, connect that to the mission of the kingdom and lean into it and do something about it. And I think those are some good tools to help you kind of figure out where you’re supposed to be.

Allen

Tell me how did the people reach you and get connected to There Will Be Fruit?

Denya

Yes, we’d love to have you. So next year’s conference is Saturday, April 11, 2026 here in New York City. You can stay updated by following us on social media on Instagram at therewillbefruit or check out our website, sowandtell.co.