Meet Brian Opati | Academic Minister

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Opati and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
That’s a great question. I’d start out by saying that I always felt drawn to start a business. The very first business that I started was a small project that I and a friend of mine had thought up at the time. We’d noticed our colleagues’ interest in fiction, art and story-telling and so we started our very first pop-up comic book business. We saw quite some business come our way as we created art and drew up comic strips that our fellow classmates bought in large volumes.

My more recent endeavors in business came to me after realizing that there was a need for service delivery in the context of religious services, that would not only offer hope, but allow for a space where people could engage highly educated individuals with ministry and academic experience, freely. I also saw the need to write and create discussion through publication of books and other material on Amazon for those who would like to have a varied subject of discussion that would range from the existential to the practical day-to-day issues that people are currently facing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an educator-minister with an interest in teaching and uplifting people through the use of religious literature, art and inter-cultural discourse. It took me a number of years of searching and soul-searching to realize that teaching was something that I was passionate about, and an interest in religious pedagogy/teaching at that! It wasn’t an easy task trying to explain it to those around me, but it truly felt like a calling to my life’s purpose, and I could not resist pursuing it. I overcame the challenges through a lot of prayer, meditation, mentorship, family and friendships and unexpected help that guided me and led from one point to the next. I’ve learned that a journey worth pursuing is truly worth its salt (and value) when confront by difficulties and challenges, because that is what helps one discover and refine their purpose best. I’d like to know that I’m but merely one person hoping to do some good in the world through my passions and calling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d say a trip to the Denver Metro Area for sight seeing. A trip to Five Points for a trip to experience the culture and food.
A drive to the Garden of the Gods to hang out and take in the fresh, crisp mountain air.
I’d also organize a trip to meet with family and grab a bite around Cherry Creek.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shout out to my wife, parents and parents-in-law, close friends, mentors, professors and all who’ve provided me with such immense support that I wouldn’t be here without them. I owe them more than I could ever hope to pay back.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/pst-brian-samuel-opati-oh-pah-tee-3823b398

Youtube: @stillmomentswithjesus5131