Listen to “CHM175. Faith Driven Entrepreneurs with Dana Roefer” on Spreaker.
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Meet Dana Roefer
As Christian parents, we often wonder how to prepare our children for a rapidly changing world while keeping their faith at the center of everything they do. What if I told you there’s a way to nurture your teen’s entrepreneurial spirit while simultaneously deepening their relationship with God? That’s exactly what Dana Roefer, Vice President of Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens, is helping families accomplish through her groundbreaking approach to teen entrepreneurship education.
The Journey from Austin to Entrepreneurship
Dana’s story begins in an unexpected place. Growing up, she knew nothing about entrepreneurship. But when she and her husband moved to Austin, Texas, early in their marriage, God placed her “by His grace” right in the epicenter of the entrepreneurial world. Through her early career experiences, Dana fell in love with what she describes as “the energy of creation”—watching people recognize needs around them and courageously step up to meet those needs, even when it’s really hard.
This passion for entrepreneurship eventually intersected with another deep calling: her heart for young people. As a homeschool mom of two boys (ages 12 and 10), Dana began connecting the dots between her entrepreneurial experience and her desire to pour into the next generation. The result? A revolutionary approach to teen entrepreneurship that’s changing how Christian families think about business, money, and calling.
Beyond “Someday You’ll Get There”
One of the most powerful insights Dana shares is her challenge to the typical “someday” mentality we often have with our teens. “I think there’s this sense with young people of like, someday you’ll get there, right? Or you will eventually figure out what you want to do,” she explains. “True. Like that is all true. But there’s also this very real of like, what about right now? And they’re capable of so much right now.”
This perspective shift is crucial for parents who want to nurture their teen’s entrepreneurial gifts. Instead of waiting for our children to “grow up” and figure things out, Dana encourages us to recognize and develop their capabilities in the present moment.
The “Called to Create” Course: Faith Meets Business
Dana’s signature program, “Called to Create,” is a 12-session course that brings together some of the most recognizable names in Christian entrepreneurship. Students learn from Grammy-winning rapper Lecrae, former NBA star Jeremy Lin, Dude Perfect’s Coby Cotton, and VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer—among others. But this isn’t just about celebrity stories; it’s about showing teens how faith intersects with real business challenges.
The course structure is brilliantly designed for busy families. Each session includes:
- A 15-20 minute video sharing an entrepreneur’s story
- An additional segment on practical application
- A workbook with 1-3 pages of activities that help teens process and apply what they’ve learned
What makes this course particularly powerful is its flexibility. Families can work through it at their own pace, and Dana recommends making it a family experience. “We’ve basically just projected it up on our TV and we’ve gone through it together as a family because sure, it’s my kids are going to grow from it, but so am I,” she shares.
Tackling the Hard Topics
Unlike many entrepreneurship programs that shy away from difficult subjects, “Called to Create” dives deep into the real challenges Christian entrepreneurs face. The course addresses:
- Money and stewardship: Is money good or bad? How do we view wealth through a biblical lens?
- Pride and humility: How do we handle success without losing sight of God’s role in our achievements?
- Fear and anxiety: Even NBA star Jeremy Lin shares about struggling with anxiety at the height of his career during “Linsanity”
- Relationships and partnerships: How do you run a business with friends? What happens when communication breaks down?
- Purpose and calling: How do we use our platforms and businesses to serve others?
The course doesn’t present entrepreneurship as a get-rich-quick scheme but as a calling to serve others with the gifts God has given us. As Dana explains, “It’s how might I serve these people around me with the gifts that I have?”
The Engaging Factor: When Kids Ask for More
Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the course’s effectiveness came during Dana’s content review process. While she was checking the material for quality, her boys wandered into her room and asked what she was doing. When she explained she was reviewing content, they asked to watch—and ended up staying for six episodes because they were so drawn in.
“That’s so important to me as a mom, where they want to do it. You know, it’s not just me saying, hey, we have to do this thing. They’re like, no, can we watch the next one?” Dana reflects. This organic engagement speaks volumes about the course’s ability to capture and maintain teen interest.
Supporting Your Teen Without a Business Background
One of the most common concerns Dana hears from parents is, “I don’t have a business background. How can I support my teen’s entrepreneurial journey?” Her answer is beautifully simple: “Curiosity is a superpower.”
You don’t need to be a business expert to encourage your teen’s entrepreneurial spirit. Instead, Dana suggests asking questions like:
- “How did you come up with this idea?”
- “What was your thought process?”
- “Who do you think might benefit from this?”
- “Where might you be able to share or sell this?”
The goal isn’t to have all the answers but to learn alongside your child. This approach not only supports their entrepreneurial development but also strengthens your relationship as you explore their interests together.
The Heart Behind the Business
What sets Dana’s approach apart is her emphasis on the “why” behind entrepreneurship. The course is built on the foundational truth that God is the ultimate Creator, and we are made in His image. This means we are naturally creators too—whether or not we ever start a company.
“Whether that means that you ever create a company or anything like that, like you are made in his image. And so we are creators,” Dana explains. “So then how might we step into the world looking for opportunities?”
This perspective transforms entrepreneurship from a self-centered pursuit of profit into a God-centered opportunity to serve others and steward the gifts we’ve been given.
Practical Steps for Parents
Based on Dana’s insights, here are practical ways you can nurture your teen’s entrepreneurial spirit:
- Be curious about their interests: When your teen shows passion for something, dig deeper. Ask questions and show genuine interest in learning more.
- Create a safe space for exploration: Allow your teens to experiment and even fail in a supportive environment.
- Help them identify their gifts: As parents, we have a front-row seat to watch our children develop. Help them recognize their unique talents and abilities.
- Speak life over them: Regularly affirm what you see in your child and encourage them to pursue their interests.
- Connect their interests to service: Help them see how their passions could serve others and meet real needs.
The Bigger Picture
Dana’s work isn’t just about creating young entrepreneurs; it’s about raising a generation of young people who understand their identity as image-bearers of God and who are equipped to create positive change in the world. Whether or not they ever start a business, they’ll develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will serve them throughout their lives.
As Dana beautifully puts it in her encouragement to homeschool parents: “What an incredible gift to be there front row with your kids as they are growing, as they are developing, as they are finding out and discovering these gifts within themselves that you can then help to steward.”
Getting Started
If you’re ready to explore entrepreneurship education for your teen, Dana’s “Called to Create” course is currently available at a founding member price of $99 (regularly $199) for the first 500 users. The course can be found at faithdrivenentrepreneur.org, along with information about upcoming initiatives including a virtual conference planned for April 2026.
The journey of raising faith-driven entrepreneurs isn’t just about business skills—it’s about helping our children discover their God-given gifts and learn to use them in service to others. In a world that desperately needs young people who can create solutions while maintaining their faith, Dana’s approach offers exactly the kind of foundation our teens need to thrive.
