2022 Kingdom Builder Award: Tim Roddy Makes a Difference One Conversation at a Time

For Timothy Roddy, sales executive at Bitner Henry Insurance Group, building the Kingdom is as much a part of his life as breathing oxygen or eating breakfast. It isn’t a switch he turns on and off, but a habit embedded in his daily routines—both in his career and in his personal activities.

“I have no idea how Tim does it all while also doing his job,” said Dan Book, vice president of sales at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. “It says a lot about his heart for ministry, that he spends so much of his time just sharing the Gospel.”

A KINGDOM-CENTERED CAREER

Tim started working as an agent in 2018, a couple years after his wife Satise became the senior pastor of a small church in Minnetonka, Minn. He was in the middle of a career transition and spent most of his days serving alongside his wife and handling maintenance needs at the church. But an unexpected series of events led him to realize the value of insuring and protecting ministries.

“In our first summer at the church, we had four incidents involving security issues and interruptions during a service,” said Tim. “One person even came in and threatened my wife physically. It was really disturbing and scary for us.”

Thankfully, the man left without causing harm—but the incident led Tim to call the church’s insurance agent. He wanted to make sure he had coverage that protected him against potential lawsuits in case anyone needed to be removed from a service. His discussions with his agent sparked his passion for helping other ministries through the same challenges.

“I realized how many issues and risks can keep ministries from operating safely, and I wanted to help protect them and keep them on track,” said Tim. “I saw that Bitner Henry Insurance Group needed an agent in Minnesota, so I pursued that. I got to join a group of strong believers who all want to build the Kingdom through their work by keeping ministries going.”

As Tim worked alongside his wife at their church and balanced his work as an insurance agent, he felt drawn to a wider ministry. He knew his wife was caring well for the people within their church, but he wanted to reach the thousands of people in the Minneapolis area who weren’t likely to come to church on Sunday.

“My wife is a very gifted speaker and preacher, and in our work together as a ministry team, I think of her as the one who tends to the 99, the people who are already in church,” said Tim. “My role is to go out and look for the one by sharing the Gospel, praying with people, and engaging with those who may not come to church.”

A GOSPEL-CENTERED PASSION

The desire to reach the people on the margins spurred Tim’s passion for evangelism—even though he had no idea how to get started. “For so long, I went to church, sat in Bible studies, attended prayer night, and did everything I was supposed to do,” Tim said. “But I still felt like I wasn’t living the life I was called to. It really gnawed at me. I would pray for a mentor who could show me how to share my faith and make disciples like Jesus commanded us.”

The answer to Tim’s prayer came unexpectedly—not in the form of a mentor, but in the form of an event that served as a catalyst for his Kingdom work in the years to come. In 2020, Tim heard about an upcoming Kickstart Weekend, a two-day intensive created by an organization called The Last Reformation. The Last Reformation’s mission focuses on equipping disciples all over the world to spread the Gospel in the same way early disciples did in the book of Acts. During Kickstart Weekends, attendees learn what being a disciple truly means and how they can evangelize effectively to build the Kingdom.

“The Kickstart Weekend was everything I needed to blow through my obstacles,” Tim said. “During the event, they took us out and showed us how to start conversations with people, pray with them, and share our faith with them. I had no clue what I was doing, but I realized that the Holy Spirit would go before me, and I didn’t have to worry. After that, I started going out on my own—because I knew the Holy Spirit could work through me.”

Today, Tim has stepped back from many of his church maintenance and upkeep responsibilities in order to more fully engage in his ministry. He still serves in his church with his wife, but more often, you can find him building relationships in his community. Every Friday, he goes out with a group of friends, looking for opportunities to meet people and share the Gospel. In colder months, they go to the Mall of America; in the summer, they visit local parks and popular Minneapolis-area hangouts.

“I’ve learned there’s no right or wrong way to share the Gospel,” Tim said. “People don’t always care what I think, so I don’t lead with that—but a lot of people are willing to share their own opinions and ideas. That’s how I can get a conversation started.”

In addition to his weekly evangelism, Tim is also heavily involved in a hockey league through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Nearly 30 years ago, getting involved in the league was the reason Tim became a Christian. “My family didn’t go to church when I was young, so I didn’t know anything about Christ or the Gospel until I joined this hockey league,” he said. “Ever since then, I’ve led a team. We do a Bible study before every game, and it’s a cool outreach where the Lord can meet people in ways we don’t expect.”

Hockey is one of few hobbies Tim retained after he experienced the Kickstart Weekend.

“I used to play golf and do some woodworking for fun, but none of it compares to feeling the Holy Spirit working through me and seeing people’s eyes opened to the Gospel for the first time,” Tim said. “I want to spend my time sharing the Gospel and telling people about Jesus.”

SPREADING THE MOVEMENT

Every year, Brotherhood Mutual makes a $5,000 donation to one or more ministries chosen by its Kingdom Builder award recipient. Tim requested that the money go toward The Last Reformation and its continued work to empower disciples who reflect the enthusiasm and dedication of the original church.

After experiencing the eye-opening work of a Kickstart Weekend, Tim wants to see more people receive the opportunity he did. “This organization is all about helping people live the Acts lifestyle, the same way Jesus’ disciples did,” Tim said. “They changed my life and taught me how to share my faith with others. Now I can’t imagine spending my time doing anything else.”