Episode 11 of Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE featuring Brian “Director of No Fun” Holmes

“It was all a dream…” but what if I told you that faith is the foundation that transforms dreams into reality?

In this week’s episode of Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE, I’m sitting down with my husband Brian to share something deeply personal – our faith journeys and how spirituality has become the driving force behind our biggest dream yet: The Holmestead Bar & Retreat. This isn’t your typical business strategy episode, but it might be the most important one yet.

When Life Without Faith Meets Life With Faith

As entrepreneurs, we’re constantly told to hustle harder, push through obstacles, and never give up. But what happens when willpower alone isn’t enough? What happens when you hit rock bottom and need something bigger than yourself to guide you forward?

I’ve lived both sides of this equation. I’ve done life with my faith and life without my faith, and let me tell you – the difference is night and day. When you’re operating from a place of spiritual foundation, every challenge becomes an opportunity, every setback becomes a setup for a comeback, and every dream feels possible because you know you’re not walking the path alone.

Two Very Different Faith Journeys, One Shared Destination

Brian and I couldn’t have had more different spiritual paths, yet they led us to the exact same place: Seacoast Church and ultimately, to each other.

Brian’s journey was beautifully steady – raised Presbyterian by his amazing parents Ron and Judy (shout out to them!), he had that quiet, consistent foundation that never really left him, even during his “I’m too busy for church” years working at Bilo. His faith was like a steady heartbeat – always there, even when he wasn’t paying attention to it.

My story? Well, it’s exactly what you’d expect from someone whose life tends to be a little more… colorful. From Episcopal roots to Baptist fire, Catholic rituals to finding my home at Seacoast – my faith journey was more like a spiritual treasure hunt. I remember being three years old and feeling this protective “bubble” around me (yes, I remember being three – I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true). That divine protection carried me through some incredibly difficult times as a child.

The turning point came in college during what I lovingly call my “semi-nervous breakdown.” A counselor asked me about my faith, and while I believed in God, I didn’t really understand the Jesus part. That conversation changed everything. I got saved, got baptized in front of hundreds of people (including my sorority sisters – talk about putting yourself out there!), and dove headfirst into my faith with typical Angel intensity.

The F.A.I.T.H. Framework for Entrepreneurial Success

Through our combined experiences, we’ve developed what I call the F.A.I.T.H. Framework – five essential elements that transform spiritual beliefs into practical business success:

Foundation First Every dream needs a solid foundation. For us, that foundation is our relationship with God and the belief that we’re being called to something bigger than ourselves. The Holmestead didn’t come from market research or competitive analysis – it came from a vision placed in my heart that’s been growing for years.

Authentic Community Seacoast Church taught us that community isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential. Our kids Parker, Riley, and Chase are all believers who’ve gone on mission trips and gotten baptized because they’ve seen faith lived out in community. This is why The Brighter Side Society and Like Minded Charleston exist – because dreams are better when shared.

Intentional Giving Our faith demands that we give back. That’s why The Holmestead will be a “giving bar” – partnering with organizations like World Central Kitchen for disaster relief. It’s also why I started the Angel Boxes project, sending surprise packages to people who need encouragement. When your business has a giving component built in, success becomes about more than just profit.

Trust in the Process Sometimes the path isn’t clear, but faith means moving forward anyway. Brian might be the Director of No Fun when it comes to budgets and spreadsheets, but even he’s learned to trust when opportunities align in ways that can only be explained as divine intervention.

Hope as Strategy As Andy Stanley says (and Brian loves to quote): “Following Jesus makes your life better and it makes you better at life.” Hope isn’t passive wishing – it’s active expectation that drives better decision-making and bigger dreaming.

Building The Holmestead: Where Faith Meets Hospitality

Our Caribbean vision isn’t just about creating another bar – it’s about creating a space where faith, community, and purpose intersect. Think Sister Louisa’s Church in Atlanta, but with our own twist. We’re planning:

• Limited drinks (because nothing good happens after four drinks, trust me on this)
• Sunday church services for anyone who wants to join
• Prayer request boards alongside cocktail menus
• Disaster relief partnerships that make every drink purchased an act of service
• A welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of where they are on their faith journey

The goal isn’t to convert anyone – it’s to love people where they are while living out our values authentically. Jesus hung out with the sinners, after all.

Overcoming the “But I’m Not Religious” Obstacle

I get it – when someone starts talking about faith in business, you might think “this isn’t for me.” But here’s the real talk: you don’t have to share our specific beliefs to benefit from having spiritual practices in your entrepreneurial journey.

The principles remain the same whether you call it faith, spirituality, or simply believing in something bigger than yourself:

• Having a foundation beyond just profit provides stability during difficult times
• Community support accelerates success and provides accountability
• Giving back creates purpose and attracts like-minded customers and partners
• Trusting the process reduces anxiety and opens you to opportunities you might otherwise miss

Your Challenge This Week

Take 15 minutes to identify what foundation your dreams are built on. Is it just willpower and hustle, or do you have something deeper guiding your decisions?

If you’re curious about faith but don’t know where to start, try the YouVersion Bible app – it has devotionals on every topic imaginable, including business and entrepreneurship. And if you’re in the Charleston area, visit Seacoast Church. Trust me, it’s not what you think.

Share your foundation – whatever it is – in our community. Tag @neverstopdreamingbiggie and let us know what guides your biggest dreams.

Connection to Our Broader Mission

This conversation about faith connects directly to everything we’re building at The Brighter Side Society and Like Minded Charleston. These communities exist because we believe everyone deserves support as they pursue their biggest dreams – and sometimes that support includes spiritual encouragement.

Last month, our Homestead Angels group went to Asheville to help with hurricane relief efforts. Watching our community come together to serve others reminded me why faith and business make such powerful partners – when your success is designed to lift others up, everyone wins.

The Truth About Faith and Dreams

Here’s what I want you to remember: your biggest dreams weren’t placed in your heart by accident. Whether you believe that’s God, the universe, or your subconscious mind doesn’t matter as much as recognizing that those dreams deserve to be pursued with everything you’ve got.

But here’s the game-changer – you don’t have to pursue them alone. Faith provides the foundation, community provides the support, and giving back provides the purpose that transforms ordinary business success into extraordinary life fulfillment.

The Holmestead represents everything we believe about faith-driven entrepreneurship: dream big, build community, give back, and trust that when you align your business with your values, amazing things happen.

Ready to discover what happens when faith meets your biggest dreams? Join The Brighter Side Society, where ambitious women learn the building blocks for making anything big happen in life. Learn more at sipindipity.com.

Listen to Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Angel Holmes on Instagram @angelpholmes and join our community @neverstopdreamingbiggie.