#033: Scaling Ministry Sustainably
Episode 33 | 52 Minutes | April 8, 2025
What if the true measure of success in missions wasn’t how much you built—but what continued after you left?
In this episode of The Lasting Change Podcast, hosts Michael Proctor and Danielle Kelly sit down with Brandon Weidman, Director of Development at One Collective and the founding catalyst of the organization’s work in Nicaragua. Brandon shares how a short-term mission trip turned into a long-term commitment—and how that commitment sparked a sustainable model of ministry that continues to grow today.
From launching a chicken farm and a coffee company to empowering local leaders and navigating political unrest, Brandon walks us through the challenges and lessons of building something that lasts. Now, as the Nicaragua team prepares to expand into a neighboring city, they’re looking for the next catalyst—a leader ready to live in the community, build relationships, and help shape the next chapter of holistic, sustainable transformation.
Whether you’re in ministry, missions, or just passionate about doing good in a healthy, sustainable way, this episode offers real-world insight into how lasting change actually happens—and how you might be part of it.
In this Episode, You will learn:
How short-term mission trips led to long-term community transformation
The story behind the founding of One Collective Nicaragua
What it looks like to empower local leaders and avoid dependency
How a chicken farm, coffee company, and a pineapple farm became tools for change
What “kingdom calculus” is—and why 1 + 1 can equal 3
How the catalytic model works, and what it means to be a catalyst
Why Papagayo, a remote pineapple farm at the edge of a jungle, might be the perfect launching pad for the next wave of change
How YOU (or someone you know) might fit into this story of growth and lasting impact
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Brandon Weidman is the Director of Development at One Collective, where he leads global fundraising efforts and champions sustainable, community-driven change. Before taking on this role, Brandon and his wife spent nearly seven years in Nicaragua as catalysts—helping to launch locally run initiatives like small businesses, farms, and nutrition programs. His passion is to empower leaders on the ground and ensure resources are directed where they’ll make the biggest long-term impact.
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Hello. Welcome to the lasting change podcast where we're on a mission to find people that are challenging traditional ways of engaging in community transformation. We interview leaders who are finding creative avenues of bringing people together to create lasting change in a holistic and sustainable way. My name is Danielle Kelly and I'm joined by Michael Proctor.
Hey Danielle.
Today, joining us is Brandon Weidman, who is the director of development at One Collective, and he was previously our catalyst in Nicaragua as well for seven years. And today he's going to be telling us that story of how One Collective Nicaragua was founded, and some of the struggles along with that, and how it is growing into new communities in sustainable ways.
So Brandon, welcome to the show.
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the last and change podcast today 📍 📍 We have joining us Brandon Weidman, and he is The director of development here at one collective, but he also has a long history of being on the field in Nicaragua with one collective as a catalyst. And today pretty much we're just going to like chat and we're going to hear his story and hear his experience. Um, 📍 📍 📍 in Nicaragua where it started, where some of the challenges along the way, how it grew and then where it is going now and how you could hopefully get involved with it. And so Brandon, welcome to the show.
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