Where does purpose actually come from?

In this powerful episode of The Navigating Leaders Podcast, Gabriel Griess sits down with faith-driven entrepreneur, pastor, and leadership mentor Mark Moreno to explore a surprising truth: Purpose is often born through pain.

Mark shares his personal story of building a thriving church and ministry only to see everything he had built taken away in a painful season that challenged his identity, faith, and leadership. What followed was a deep process of refinement that reshaped how he views purpose, leadership, and the role of faith in both ministry and business.

Together, Gabriel and Mark unpack how hardship can uncover hidden insecurities, refine character, and ultimately prepare leaders for the next chapter of their calling.

This conversation dives into:

• Why pain is often the starting point of purpose
• The leadership lessons learned through loss and failure
• How identity can become dangerously tied to achievement
• What Mark calls the “pace of grace” in leadership and life
• Why entrepreneurs and leaders often struggle with performance-driven faith
• The difference between asking God to remove pain and asking Him to refine us through it
• How reflection, gratitude, and humility shape healthy leadership

Mark also shares a powerful reminder for leaders and entrepreneurs: God will never multiply what we mismanage, making personal stewardship, character, and self-reflection essential to both spiritual and professional growth.

This episode is a deep and honest conversation about pain, calling, leadership, and faith and how the hardest seasons of life often become the very chapters that shape our greatest impact.

Because sometimes the most painful shifts in life are actually God’s setup for greatness.

RESOURCES

• Website: navigatingleaders.com
• The Results Tree (Available April 7): https://shop.harpandswordmedia.com/products/the-results-tree
• Mark Moreno | Executive Director, Faith Driven Business
• Connect with Mark on Instagram at @mark_a_moreno and Facebook at facebook.com/mark.moreno.351

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL

• Instagram @navigatingleaders
• Facebook @navigatingleaders
• YouTube @navigatingleaders
• LinkedIn @navigatingleaders
• TikTok @navigatingleaders