Faith, Obedience, and Success

Faith, Obedience, and Success: David Cerullo Speaks with Convoy of Hope’s Hal Donaldson

David Cerullo, Chairman and CEO of Inspiration Ministries, recently sat down with Hal Donaldson, President of Convoy of Hope, at Convoy’s Global Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Their powerful conversation explored themes of faith, obedience, success, and the role of money in fulfilling God’s vision.

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You can click HERE to watch the full interview or see it below.

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Faith Begins with Obedience to God’s Will

A central theme in the conversation was the connection between faith and obedience. Cerullo defined faith as “putting my action in obedience to the perceived will of God.” He emphasized the challenge many believers face: discerning God’s will in everyday life.

“If you and I know the will of God, how do we know it? How do we know that we know that we know?” Cerullo asked. “Maybe the easiest thing would be if God showed up in person, we’d know. If He started writing with a finger of fire on the wall, we’d know. If we heard an audible voice, we’d know. Absent those kinds of things, how do we know what God’s will really is? We do our best to listen to that still-small voice in our spirit, but at the end of the day, for me, I’ve embraced the philosophy that what God’s looking for from me is obedience to what I perceive His will to be.”

Donaldson asked how Cerullo discerns God’s will as it pertains to a vision. He responded, “What’s important for me and exercising my faith and how I respond to what I perceive to be the voice of God is to be obedient as best I’m able and not worry about whether I’m right or wrong.”

Obedience to God is vital to faith. It strengthens trust and fosters spiritual growth. The Bible gives many examples of obedience. One well-known story is in Genesis 22, where God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham passed the test and was rewarded for his obedience and faithfulness by sparing Isaac at the last moment. When people obey God, especially when it’s difficult, they see that God is faithful.

Faith-Filled Living: 3 Core Principles

Cerullo shared three guiding principles he has learned about walking in faith:

1. Don’t depend on who I am.
2. Don’t rely on my resources.
3. Trust God and have the courage to say “yes.”

He reminded believers not to live trapped by past mistakes. We should not live in the past with regrets. Learning, letting go, and moving forward is also an act of obedience.

The Dangers of Success Without God

Cerullo offered a caution about success: it can become a trap if not rooted in God. He outlined four dangers that can derail even the most well-meaning and successful Christian leaders.

1. Moving ahead without waiting for God’s confirmation.
2. Leaning on your own knowledge instead of relying on God.
3. Trusting your own resources and forgetting that everything comes from God.
4. Relying on your own abilities rather than God’s.

These points echo the warning in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18 (NIV), where God warns His people not to forget the source of their success:

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fin houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. … You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your god, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today (NIV).

Money Answers Many Things—But It Starts with Sowing

Money often comes with success. Ecclesiastes 10:19 highlights its importance: “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything” (NKJV).

Cerullo clarified: while money isn’t the ultimate answer, it is a vital tool for advancing the Kingdom of God.

“You can’t do what God’s called you to do without resources, without people, without time, without money, without partners.” These are all essential for the success of both Inspiration Ministries and Convoy of Hope.

Generosity is key. God wants us to live open-handed. If you don’t sow a financial seed into God’s Kingdom, you won’t reap. “If the seed doesn’t go into the ground, what is there to multiply?” Give God something to work with, because He blesses what we sow. It’s all about the harvest, but that requires sowing seeds into God’s Kingdom.

Cerullo’s Encouragement to the Convoy of Hope Team

When asked to share advice for the Convoy of Hope family, Cerullo kept it simple but profound: “Do what you’ve done all these years—obey God and leave the consequences to Him. … Your team is here not accident. They’re here on assignment … to hold up your arms, to advance the purpose of God through this ministry, to impact the lives of people by the millions around the world. To be the hands and feet of Jesus, extended to hurting people, hungry people, people in need.”

This reflects what Convoy of Hope strives to do. Since its founding in 1994, the non-profit has served millions through disaster relief, feeding programs, and community empowerment—living out the very obedience and faith Cerullo described.

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Would you like to sow your seed into the good ground of Inspiration Ministries and schedule a harvest of blessing in your future as well as empower Inspiration Ministries to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with millions of people worldwide? If so, click HERE.

 

To learn more about Convoy of Hope and their work, click HERE.

Watch the full conversation between David Cerullo and Hal Donaldson below.