The Greatest Bible Study Group

For those who don’t know, I’m pretty much an extrovert. I love meeting new people, building relationships, and making meaningful connections. It’s just who I am. But one of the most important groups I’ve ever been part of wasn’t something I actively sought out. It came into my life entirely through God’s provision, and it changed everything.

It all started right after I graduated college. I turned down offers from Bain, Deloitte, and a private equity firm to continue building my startup. I moved to Nashville, where I was fortunate to have a mentor from Alabama named Tommy Brigham, an incredible man of faith and a close family friend. Tommy believed in me and had invested in my company. Knowing I was headed to Nashville, he introduced me to a guy named Tommy Espy, who connected me with a room full of thoughtful investors and leaders to hear my pitch.

That’s when I met Brian Cook.

Brian took an interest in what I was building and, after we spoke, said I needed to meet someone: his friend, Winston Justice. I didn’t know it at the time, but that introduction would change the trajectory of my life.

Winston and I met at a coffee shop he owned. I knew him as a former NFL player, but quickly realized he was also a deeply thoughtful leader, a business owner, and a man of strong faith. Our conversation quickly turned toward my walk with the Lord, and I shared how I had truly come to faith during college. He asked if I had found a Bible study group since moving to Nashville. I hadn’t. He told me about a group he was part of, made up of older men, he warned with a smile and invited me to join. I said yes.

I showed up at the office of Tend, a healthcare company I hadn’t heard of at the time one that I would later learn was led by Doug Hudson, one of the men in the group. I got there early, a little unsure of what to expect. As I walked in, I was greeted by a man named Keith Phillips. He met me with the firmest handshake and the biggest smile. And if you know Keith, you know that meeting him feels like walking into a place that feels like home.

At the time, I didn’t know just how impactful Keith would be in my life. But now I can confidently say he’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met. He’s been incredibly successful in business, yes but more than that, he’s someone who deeply believes in mentoring, in gathering people, and in building a community that changes lives. That’s exactly what he’s done for me, and for so many others.

As we sat and talked, more people started to trickle in.

First came Chris Booker, an amazing investor and operator who once led Frist Cressey Ventures. Chris is someone I deeply admire not just for his track record, but for who he is as a man. He invests in people and ideas with incredible intentionality and insight. He’s someone who has his priorities in order—faith, family, and purpose. One of the first things I noticed about Chris was that, despite all his success, he drove a 2010 Toyota Camry. That stuck with me. I noticed it because I know cars, and I was surprised at first. But as I got to know him, it made perfect sense. That’s Chris. Grounded. Humble. Focused on what really matters.

Then walked in Matt Tant. Getting to know Matt has been a gift. He’s one of the most intense and focused individuals I’ve met, an entrepreneur who has built companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. When Matt decides to do something, he does it with everything he has. He’s sharp, driven, and executes at the highest level. As a young entrepreneur, I’ve admired him both up close and from afar.

Doug Hudson, as I came to learn, was the CEO of Tend and another incredible member of the group. Doug is one of the best consumer healthcare minds I’ve had the chance to talk with. But what struck me most was his transparency. Hearing him talk about his faith, his family, and the hard parts of building a business reminded me that success doesn’t make you immune to struggle it just makes you wiser in how you face it.

Winston Justice arrived not long after. I’ve already shared how much Winston means to me, but the more time I spent around him, the more I saw his intentionality, especially in how he pursues his faith, leads his family, and lifts up the people around him. He’s one of the most thoughtful and grounded people I’ve met, and his quiet example has continually pushed me to grow in my own walk with the Lord.

That morning, surrounded by this group of men and others, I didn’t fully realize it yet, but something sacred was happening. What connected them wasn’t just business or success. It was something deeper. These were men who, despite being at different stages of life and career, weren’t complacent. They weren’t chasing more just for the sake of it. They were ambitious, yes, but their ambition was aimed at the right things. They weren’t looking to accumulate the biggest houses or flashiest things. They were building lives rooted in purpose of following Jesus, and they were asking: How can I be a better follower of Jesus, husband, father, and leader.

That message—spoken and unspoken—shaped me in profound ways.

Each Tuesday morning, I woke up with excitement because I would be able to sit in a room with these men and listen. We talked about business, family, fatherhood, purpose. We walked through Tony Evans' Kingdom Man and wrestled with what it means to follow Jesus through all the complexities of life. These weren’t perfect people, but they were real. They were wise. They loved their families, they were brilliant in their fields, and they loved the Lord.

Every week, I looked forward to that Tuesday morning. It became a time of clarity, challenge, and deep encouragement. I learned more than I can express about faith, leadership, and what it means to walk in integrity.

I didn’t know it at the time, but God was building a circle around me.

These men and this group were truly an answer to prayer. They’ve shown up when I needed it most because the Lord already knew what was ahead. Through them, I’ve been introduced to even more friends, mentors, and meaningful relationships. They might not know just how much they’ve impacted my life, but the truth is, they’ve shaped the course of a young man’s journey in a profound way. For them to take me in, to see something in me and make space for me is something only God could orchestrate. I don’t take that lightly. I’m incredibly grateful to know these men, to be part of their lives, and to walk alongside them. And I know they want to see me succeed, just as I want to see them succeed.

This experience has also shown me how God can answer prayers long before you even needed the prayers. He can place people and opportunities in your life before you’re aware you’ll even need them. This group has been an answer not only to the prayers I had at the time, but to the challenges I know I will face in the future. I truly believe the Lord will speak to me through these men, providing wisdom, direction, and encouragement in the seasons to come. That’s something incredibly special to me.

I’ve also been blessed enough to have met many great titans of industry, billionaires, and men to the world look amazing. Those men are great in their own right, however, these men are people who I look up to so much more. Because these men are not just mentors but they are sponsors.Many times in life, you have mentors who will give you advice and talk with you periodically. And many people have them but very few people have sponsors, people who will give you not just advice, but their time, money and their resources. Many of the men in this group have been that for me. They are sponsors in every sense of the word. They lift you up, sharpen you, challenge you, and believe in you like no one else will. Even though the group doesn’t still meet formally, these are men I call upon any day, and I know they will get back to me and do anything they can to help me be successful. They are a testament to God's faithfulness and provision, and they are a group of men who have built a brotherhood rooted in faith, character, and calling. I love them and I’m blessed to know them.

Some of the greatest blessings in life are the relationships you never saw coming.

And for me, this group had been one of the greatest gifts.