Dear Reader,
Who Will Minister the Minister?
It turns out, a bunch of plumbers.
Charles “Bubba” Thurman led the country’s largest youth ministry for 17 years while at Lake Pointe Church in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Bubba loved the kids at the church and felt very strongly about his mission to bring them to Jesus. So, in a short season where Bubba had to provide the graveside service for 11 kids he dearly loved, he was left emotionally depleted. He was struggling with the day-to-day stress of being a minister.
Do you know a minister?
I’ve known many, and from my experience, there are many types of ministers. They are unique humans with unique beliefs about their faith and their practice.
They also have unique ways in which they deal with the hardships of ministry.
Ministry work is not easy. It is filled with hardships that most will never fully understand.
And interestingly enough, the ministers that seem to be able to do the job the longest are the ones who can emotionally disconnect from their congregation, while not losing focus on the purpose of the work. Doctors develop this same skill set.
Bubba is not a man to disconnect emotionally. He cares very deeply, and you can see it in his kind eyes.
So, in a season of deep emotional pain, Bubba needed to take a break from his work in ministry.
He became a plumber. (No, he didn’t.) He started working for Jimmie Dale at Baker Brothers in Dallas.
Jimmie was a friend of many years and saw Bubba’s talents. He knew that Bubba could be a great leader and do a new type of ministry in the lives of the plumbers, CSRs, and office team at Baker’s.
Jimmie was right!
Today, Bubba is the president of Baker Brothers and has led them to new heights.
In this episode, I sit down with Bubba and we talk about his journey out of ministry and into the world of plumbing and HVAC. I ask hard-hitting questions about work and faith, and explore what his early struggles were and how he overcame them.
You will find Bubba open, honest, and full of warmth.
Enjoy.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- How Bubba Thurman transitioned from ministry to leading at Baker Brothers
- Why culture, care, and servant leadership drive business performance
- Practical lessons for building a company culture rooted in excellence
- Balancing faith, values, and private equity expectations
Episode Chapters & Summary
From Pulpit to Pipes
“I didn't leave the ministry. I just changed my mission field.”
Bubba Thurman shares how burnout from two decades in ministry led him to transition into business leadership at Baker Brothers. Although he stepped away from the pulpit, he brought the same calling to impact lives into the trades. He reframed leadership as ministry, leading hundreds of employees with care and conviction.
Key Takeaways:
- Burnout can become a catalyst for new purpose.
- Leadership in business can be just as much a ministry as in church.
- Impact is about people, not position.
Building Culture Through Excellence
“How we do the little things is how we do everything.”
Bubba's first cultural initiative was a campaign around not stepping over trash. He emphasized excellence in small things as a reflection of how service would be delivered to customers. By catching people doing things right, he reinforced ownership, pride, and a culture of excellence.
Key Takeaways:
- Culture starts with small, symbolic actions.
- Recognition is more powerful than criticism.
- Excellence inside translates to excellence outside.
Pastoral Leadership in Business
“Culture drives profitability and healthy people make healthy businesses.”
Bubba integrates his pastoral background into leadership at Baker Brothers. Through weekly meetings that feel like 'church at the shop,' he pours into people personally and professionally. He highlights stories, gives encouragement, and fosters meaning, proving that ministry can thrive in the marketplace.
Key Takeaways:
- Weekly rhythms of encouragement sustain culture.
- Employees seek meaning, not just paychecks.
- Healthy people build healthy businesses.
Faith and Private Equity
“Some people chase numbers, but numbers don't stay. People do.”
Leading with faith in a private equity environment can be challenging, but Bubba explains how values and profitability aren't at odds. He's never been asked to tone down his care for people and sees cultural health as a business driver. By staying authentic, he balances accountability to financial goals with a commitment to people.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith and values can align with profitability.
- Private equity does not erase culture—it tests it.
- Authenticity earns trust in both people and performance.
Rest, Rhythms, and Sharpening the Ax
“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
After past burnout, Bubba now emphasizes rest, rhythms, and renewal as critical for sustainable leadership. He journals daily, reads Proverbs, and surrounds himself with accountability partners. Leaders must sharpen the ax by investing in wisdom, reflection, and intentional rest to keep up with growing businesses.
Key Takeaways:
- Rest is essential to wise decision-making.
- Leaders must grow at least as fast as their businesses.
- Sharpening the ax requires both wisdom and self-care.
