Today, we are having an interaction with someone who dons many hats! Meet Devin Kroner from USA. He is a Pastor, an Author as well as a Realtor. Let’s hear about his wonderful journey!
Please tell us something about yourself.
I am a husband of 12 years, father of 4, and have been in ministry as a pastor since 2004. In 2018 I became a Realtor, and in 2019 was in the top 5% of agents in the Northern Kentucky market for the number of homes sold.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey?
Since 7th grade, I have felt very called and drawn to ministry. My desire is to help people grow and be free, and I believe that freedom only really comes from faith in Christ. I got into real estate as a way of producing income for my family, taking financial pressure off my church, and still being able to continue to help people in meaningful and practical ways. Ministry and real estate really align in many areas because people are often confused, stressed, anxious, and unsure. In both realms, I get to be a guide of sorts, not telling them what to do but pointing them toward the answers that will satisfy their needs, and then watching the excitement come as they make the choice for themselves and experience the benefits of either coming into a relationship with God or buying or selling property. Everything I do, I want it to be people-focused, impactful and done with honesty and integrity. I may not always be right or perfect as a pastor or a realtor, but I can always be honest and supportive and encouraging to people in their moment of need.
Who are your role models?
Obviously, as a minister, my primary role model is always Jesus. I don’t ever think I can meet that standard in this life, but I want to strive for it out of gratefulness for what He has done for me. Others would be my parents for their examples of hard work, my wife Elizabeth, for her example of service and dedication, and my pastors growing up, who poured into me, not because I was special, but because they cared.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by my children, surprisingly. They are so honest and raw and creative and caring and see the world as exciting and not scary. I want to live with that wonder and passion again each day. But also, I’m inspired by the people who don’t quit. Addicts who relapse but come back and say ‘here I am, let’s go again’ or people who were abused or neglected who stand up and say ‘no, the cycle stops here no matter what.’ And they fight by faith, and they show up, and they deal with the emotional garbage, and they change… even though sometimes family and friends and even The Church or society has given up on them. They come back, and they help others, showing that change is possible. It’s beautiful to be a part of that in someone’s life.
Please tell us about your Story.
I’m honored as both a pastor and a Realtor to have books out that, in different ways, can help people. As an agent, I have a guidebook for first-time homebuyers to help them understand the process of buying and what to do. I give that to clients who request a copy when they reach out or attend a class or seminar. But just this year, I released my first book for ministry called ‘Start Right.’ It’s a 21-day devotional that’s just intended to give people nuggets to think about and ponder each day to help them be more focused on God and build their faith. Each day takes around 5 min to read and process, and the goal is as simple as the title… to start right each day. Our lives move in the direction of our dominant thoughts, so before we get into a day saturated with negative, I wanted to help people start right with the positive, faith-filled, life forward thoughts. It’s a digital devotional that’s available on Amazon for 99 cents. My goal isn’t to get rich off it, my goal is to encourage people each day to focus on the right things.
What’s your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience would be the day I accepted Christ at 8 years old in a pew at a VBS in Gibson City, Illinois. The pastor gave an invitation, but I didn’t raise my hand. I had questions. So I stayed after to ask if God could even save someone like me. I was a terrible liar as a young kid, and it didn’t make sense that He’d just give me a clean slate. But once I was sure I jumped in all the way! I still remember the smell of the pews in that old brick Baptist church!
Which social media channels work best for promoting your work?
I do Instagram and Twitter, but because of the church and real estate businesses, I use Facebook a lot. Each area has its own page, and I have a Pastor Devin one as well.
What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?
We live stream, I promote listings, and I also share news or insights… as well as pictures of my kids, like any good parent does!
What’s your greatest fear?
What do I fear? It’s funny, I don’t really fear anything. I get scared sometimes, like in the middle of the night when the tornado sirens go off, or when a deal I’ve worked in falls apart right before closing! But fear, the emotion fades as quickly as the reaction to whatever it is wears off. The state of fear, of being afraid and anxious… that’s not of God according to the Bible, and even if the worst thing happens I believe I get to go to heaven and be with Jesus, so I just don’t accept the spirit of fear in my mind or life… or in my house. My kids are taught young that fear is a choice of focus than a feeling. I focus on things that build up.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
I wish, as a young minister, I better understood the role politics play in the ministry. Not republicans and democrats, but balancing people’s desires and wants with needs. When you don’t know how to connect with people on that emotional level, it’s very hard to lead them to change anything for the better!
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I don’t think there is a secret to success, honestly. Why was I a top 5% agent out of 1400 of them in our market, selling 44 houses when the average agent sells 12 in my first full year as a realtor? Because I showed up, I did the work, I was honest with people, and I cared. Showing up and putting in the effort is a large part of it always. But care is also huge, especially in my areas of focus in ministry and real estate. Both areas of high emotion. If you’re stubborn or insecure or arrogant or don’t listen, you can be the best trained, but no one will listen or want your help!
What keeps you going when things get tough?
I am, of course, sustained by my faith. Then by the support and encouragement of my wife and family. But knowing the promises of God is so important because I can’t expect something I don’t know is mine to expect! But when I do, even when things are tough, I know He is always faithful and will do what He says.
Any message for our readers
My message is simple: if you want change in your life, do something different. But don’t do it alone. In real estate, I love working with buyers because most of them know they don’t know what to do, so they look for help. My job is to provide that help with a level of excellence and honesty. But in life, too many people try to be lone wolfs. Isolation leads to defeat. Find experts, find people you can trust… who have been where you want to be and can help you get there, and then plant yourself around them so you can grow.
How can people connect with you?
People can call or text me at 859-962-7978, email me at therealestatepastor@gmail.com, find me on Twitter @DevinKroner, on my website at www.devinkroner.com, or on Facebook Pastor Devin Kroner or searching for my church, which is Family Worship Center – Wilder or email the church at fwcwilder@gmail.com
I tend to be easy to find… just google me if nothing else!
Don’t forget to grab the devotional on Amazon.