Season 2 EP19 - 58 Partners, Dr. Gabriel Day

Welcome to Season 2 - Episode 19 of The Bridge to Kindness Project Podcast.

On this Episode you will hear from the following organization:

58 Partners - Outreach Director, Dr. Gabriel Day                               00:00 - 23:45

Each episode features interviews on how you can be involved, volunteer, donate and make a difference being a part of these non-profits in our region.  To learn how your organization can become a part of The Bridge to Kindness project send an email to theBridgetoKindness@gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!  New episodes air each week at 1pm on Saturdays.

You can also find out about The Bridge to Kindness Project by visiting our website at www.TheBridgetoKindness.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:32

On our website, versus the kindness.com, you'll find out more about our mission and have access to links to the organization's website that we spotlight, as well as an archive of the interviews we have here on the podcast. We would love to hear from you. Whether you're a volunteer or you lead a nonprofit organization, you can reach us through the website or email us at the bridge tokindness at gmail.com. Our guest today is Dr. Gabriel Day, outreach director with 58 Partners. At the age of 17, the founder of 58 Partners had an encounter with God, which profoundly redirected his life. It was then that he realized he is loved. This simple realization freed him from unforgiveness and fear, replacing them with wisdom and courage. The seed for 58 Partners Foundation Church, established in 2012, just a short 14 years ago, was planted in his heart as a young man who desired to help those in need. The organization was named after Isaiah chapter 58, verses 6 through 7. 58 Partners seeks to share God's love with all those in need. Gabriel, share with us about your amazing upbringing and life lessons that have brought you to do the work that you do today.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I grew up in Rome, New York, um upstate, uh near Syracuse. And when I, you know, I grew up, my parents were preachers. Um and so I I grew up in the church, and up until I was about 15 years old, I was, you know, uh just a PK, you know, just uh but around that same age I started hanging out with the wrong crowds and you know, just getting into trouble, and I actually left home and I went out into the world and uh was kind of just living on my own and living lost. But see, as a young child, I knew that there was a calling on my life. It was it was quite interesting actually how much clarity I had on um just different things of God, you know. Um so it was evident that I was gifted, it was evident that I was called. I literally started living in direct opposition to my call. And uh, you know, through a set of circumstances, I'll t tell my testimony another day, another time, but I uh was radically saved, and you know, at the age of 25, I fully surrendered my life to the Lord. Um and from there, he I had clarity on two things that I was supposed to make Christian rap music to share my testimony through the music, and I was supposed to go to Bible college. And so anytime I ever had any uh question on what direction I should head in, it was either school or music that I would always revert back to. And uh by doing those things, God would continue to open different doors, and one thing would lead to another, and it kind of landed me right back in alignment with what he had for me in that season. And so, you know, music started taking off really early in uh in the journey, and God used it as a vehicle to share my testimony and evangelize in different cities across the country, and you know, many people were coming to the Lord, but um education was actually uh uh a catalyst for just really um growing in the Lord and really growing in burden for like discipleship and you know, systems and structures that could help really multiply disciples. And uh so, you know, long story short, uh a few years ago in 2020, actually, when COVID happened, I was really trying to uh advance in my musical career. I put out an album in 2019 that was on the ballot, even for Grammy consideration, you know, and there was uh, you know, it was on Billboard charts, there was a lot of uh, you know, natural success to that album. And um going into 2020, I prayed, I said, Lord, take away anything that's in the way of me becoming who you've called me to be. And that's a dangerous prayer, you know, because uh slowly but surely I found out that there was many things, if not everything, standing in the way. So when COVID happened, it was like I was stripped from from everything, you know. Uh the music stopped because of, you know, the pandemic and the different challenges and everything that was on my calendar to go do got canceled. You know, it's just I found myself kind of by myself. And it was through that that I really, really discovered that if Jesus is all you have, Jesus is all that you need, you know. Um, and it it really helped me build the next season of my life, making sure that the foundation was was solid. And uh so, you know, I had to lift off my savings and different things like that. I was getting down to my last, and the Lord, I was like, Lord, what should I do next? You know, he was like, go back to school. I was five classes away from a bachelor's degree in biblical and theological studies. And uh like, Lord, if I go back to school, I have to pay because uh I don't have any financial aid and it's gonna cost everything that I have left for me to finish. And he said, go back to school. So I obeyed his voice. I went back, um, got my bachelor's degree, and then started looking for a job. You know, I'm like, all right, I gotta find some some work. And there was a program that I had been volunteering for, and they offered me a part-time job. And there was a school that I had been substitute teaching at, and they offered me a full-time job. And I'm like, oh, praise God, you know. My church at the time at the time was also wanting me to uh be the youth pastor, and they said, you know, we have a small stipend that we can that we could give you. And I'm thinking to myself, well, if I put all these three together, I might be okay. But uh the uh Lord said to take the part-time job, and I was like, Lord, I'm you know, I'm trying to get back on my feet. Why would I take the part-time job instead of this full-time job, you know? Especially because I was trying to get married and everything else. Said, take the part-time job. Well, that part-time job turned into a full-time job very quickly. And within a few months of that full-time job, I ended up getting a promotion. And then, you know, a short time after that, I got another promotion. And it wasn't just like, you know, 3%, 6%, it's like 19%, 26%, you know, just incredible favor. And beyond the financial, you know, implications behind that, there was just such fruitful ministry work that was being done that allowed me to like live on assignment, you know, just live missionally. And the Lord began taking this program that was once a youth ministry program, after-school program, to becoming a citywide youth ministry movement, uh, uniting churches across demographics, uniting churches across um denominations. And uh it became a catalyst for for some uh fruitful youth ministry across the city. And lo and behold, the Lord, you know, gave me another promotion and and put me in a position to uh to now lead at the uh organization that I'm a part of now, which is 58 Partners doing. Um I'm the uh senior director of training. Uh I lead our learning and development. So a lot of the ministry expansion and initiatives and curriculums and trainings and things that we that we all have going on. Um you know, I've been I've been graced to be influential in and and serving. And so, you know, uh once I finished the bachelor's degree, uh it it you know, the Lord was just like keep going. You know, so I ended up getting my master's in Christian ministry and then I got the doctoral degree in theology and apologetics, and outside of the education from, you know, from Bible college, it's all of the skills that God has given me, all of the gifts that he's put within me, all of the experience that I've walked through in my life, all make sense now in this moment. I feel like he's positioned me to use it all for his glory. So now I'm just trying to live my life completely poured out because it's like, Lord, all of the years of pain don't make sense until now. You know, all of the years of frustration don't make sense until now. Now I have a place to pour it all out as an offering to the Lord and try to just reach as many people as I can by testifying of his goodness because what the world would look at and see as like natural success really it's by the grace of God that I am what I am. You know, it's uh no working of my own. When the Lord snatched me out of darkness, he snatched me out of darkness. I was walking in darkness, I was blind, I was lost, and he literally did it all. So um that yes to the Lord that was kind of like a gift that he gave me because of a moment of clarity that provided like not only conviction, but it was like his irresistible grace, you know. And so it's like I couldn't say no. Um so when I surrender to the Lord, it's just what he did with that, yes, has turned into everything that he uh that I pray that he intended it to be. I'm still, you know, living day by day, one day at a time, but um it's it's really just God's grace and his mercy.

SPEAKER_02 11:02

How have you seen your personal story impact others and now made a difference in other people's lives?

SPEAKER_01 11:08

Honestly, it's just there's been such a wide range of experience, you know, the history with God that uh over time, like I said, in the in the thick of it, it was challenging, but on the other side of it, it becomes a testimony, right? So being able to help people who are navigating some of those same seasons, whether it was like my early life, um, whether it was the faith steps, whether it was uh just the freedom and deliverance, it just depends on on who I'm talking to. But it it's like uh being able to become all things to all men that I might win some. You know, it's uh whether they're already saved or not, it's kind of like for believers, I've been able to help encourage their faith by some of the steps of faith that I've had to take in my own journey and uh just testify of how God's been faithful through those through those moments and seasons. For people who aren't saved, you know, it's just being able to share that I was once lost, you know, I was once blind, and God really uh snatched me out of darkness and giving my life to him is the the the greatest decision that I could have ever made in my life. And so um everything that I could do to just be a witness, you know, and he's he's been the one who's uh who's authored this storyline. So I'm just trying to be the living official.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

When we come back, we'll talk with Gabriel about what he sees the Lord leading him to do next. That comes your way next. As the Bridge to Kindness podcast continues, I'm Ron Smith. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Thank you for joining us today on the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. Today's episode is made possible through the generosity of EPS, Pathways Financial Credit Union, Signature Carpet Care, Expressions Floral Design, and Lindsay Honda. To reach us, you can email us at thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. We would love to hear from you whether you want to nominate an organization to be on our show or share with us your own experience in the nonprofit industry. That's thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. For additional information about today's guest at the organization's response. Go to www.thebridge to kindness.com. That's thebridge to kindness.com.

SPEAKER_02 14:00

Welcome back to the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. I'm Ron Smith. With us is Dr. Gabriel Day. Gabriel is an outreach director for 58 Partners. You have come to trust the Lord's direction in your life on many occasions. Where do you see the Lord leading you next?

SPEAKER_01 14:17

I live one day at a time. You know, I really just walk by faith and try to live one day at a time. I uh I see that the Lord has a lot of things that he's opening doors for. Um, and we're doing our best to just walk through the doors that he's opening, but I don't really necessarily say this is my five-year plan, 10-year plan. You know, it's it's more or less like I there's things that I would like to do on a personal level. There's business ideas or ventures, and there's, you know, uh different goals that I have set for my family and things like that. But as far as ministry, man, there's a lot on the horizon. I just want to see um God's purpose prevail, and that could look like a variety of things. And I feel like every time I make a plan, he's like, actually, the plan is this. So I just learn to lean, you know, and uh and follow him daily.

SPEAKER_02 15:15

Tell us a little bit about 58 Partners and what you do today to impact our community.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

58 Partners um is a foundation that was started by Charlie Shin, who um, if you're familiar with Charlie's Cheesesteaks, which is the number one cheesesteak franchise in the world, or Bibi Bob, which is one of the fastest growth growing franchises in the world. Um the founder of both of those uh restaurants is a very devout Christian. He's a a devout believer, loves the Lord and uses his resources to advance the kingdom. Um just a man of wisdom and integrity, and I just really can't say enough about his leadership and the type of example that he's been. And so um all of the initiatives, all of the opportunities, and all of the uh things that I'm doing at 58 Partners has come by way of you know submitting to his leadership. Um and so at 58 Partners, there's eight ministries that we actually lead, and there's about forty-five ministries that we support and partner with. And so I mean there's millions of people all over the world that are being impacted by by these initiatives. Um primarily they focus on youth, but uh uniting the church, strengthening the church, um serving the Lord, you know, and building his building his his temple. So um I also serve as one of the pastors at Hope City Global, which is uh a church here um in Columbus, Ohio. And again, another phenomenal leader, Bishop Brian Williams, who uh who again, it's like I've had such uh uh humbling opportunity to serve alongside and underneath um such phenomenal leaders that it kind of really became a a huge catalyst for my own personal growth as a leader and um it's really helped me become the the leader that I needed to be to navigate the opportunities that God's given me.

SPEAKER_02 17:41

What are ways the people can get involved in what you do to further their own walk and relationship with Christ?

SPEAKER_01 17:47

I think that we live in a day and age where people forget the way that discipleship was done was in community, you know. Uh I think that we take a very individualized approach to faith. You know, we're like self-starters, we're ambitious, and we're, you know, you could you could find a course online, you can do all of these things by yourself, and then you start you you you don't see the value of being a part of a you know spiritual family. And so the first thing that I would say is find yourself a healthy, um biblically sound spiritual family and and lean into that community. Um God forms us in families, and uh I think that that's one thing that you could do, and then just doing your best to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Um I never looked at education as an opportunity to love God with all my mind until uh you know Bishop Bryan shared with me. He was like, you know, you're that's like loving God with all your mind. And I was like, you know what, it actually is. So let me take this seriously and let me be diligent with it. You know, it was it wasn't a pursuit of knowledge, it was a pursuit of honoring God, you know, with something that he had given me. And so it's it's funny, but simultaneously the the motto here at 58 Partners is honor God and strengthen your neighbor. And so I've just been trying to do my best to live in alignment with what God's will is. Um one of the things one of the ways that we do that is um just daily scripture meditation, you know, daily devotion. Uh Psalm 1 tells us that God blesses the man who, you know, it it's it's if your delight is in the law of the Lord and in his word, you meditate day and night, you become like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water, you you bear fruit, you know, and so uh if you want to live a fruitful life, it's it's gotta be a life that's uh rooted in the word of God, anchored by the word of God, and um trusting and placing all your faith in who God is and his character. And uh He takes care of all the details beyond that.

SPEAKER_02 20:14

What are ways that people can engage with you? And what words of encouragement would you like to leave with us today?

SPEAKER_01 20:20

Sure. I mean, social media is a easy access point. Uh on Facebook is just Gabriel Day. On everything else, it's Gabriel M A Day. Uh if you want to email me, that's Gday at fifty eightpartners.org. But as far as encouragement, I would just say um trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he'll direct your path. Jesus said that without me you can do nothing. If I could encourage anyone to do anything, it would be to understand that without him you can't do anything. We're so self-reliant, we are so ambitious at times, we're so uh confident in ourselves. And I think that the beauty of walking with Jesus is being able to totally depend on him and him showing up time after time after after time, showing up in way after way after way, and showing up uh faithfully. And there's such beauty and richness that he has in relationship with him. And I just want to encourage you to uh be intentional. Let Jesus be. Become your life and everything else be oriented around that. You know, don't try to fit him into your life. Let him become your life. And ultimately, um, that's the that's the greatest thing that we can do. Just keep your eyes on eternity because there are eternal treasures, and even before we get to eternity, there's just the riches of his goodness that we can experience here on earth. And so don't be worried of well-doing. Stay faithful to the Lord. Be intentional and reading his word and obeying his word and make him known everywhere you go. Testify of his goodness, keep a heart of gratitude, and uh love people well. That'd be my that'd be my encouragement today.

SPEAKER_02 22:48

Gabriel, thank you so much for those words of encouragement and being with us on today's podcast. That brings to a close this edition of The Bridge to Kindness. This podcast is made possible through the generosity of EPS, signature carpet care, Pathways Financial Credit Union, Expressions Floral Design, and Lindsay Honda. Special thanks to Dr. Gabriel Day of 58 Partners for being with us today. Take a moment and think about how you can engage with a nonprofit or an organization in your community to make a difference in those around you. Join us again on our next episode of We'll Profile More Individuals and Nonprofits in the Columbus region and share how they help people and how you can be involved. Until then, from all of us at the Bridge to Kindness, I'm Ron Smith. Make a difference, make an impact.