There are topics that make even the boldest ministers flinch — and according to Kap Chatfield, financial prosperity is near the top of that list. In a recent conversation on The John Bevere Podcast, Chatfield opened up about the fear that almost kept him from writing his debut book, The Power to Prosper.
“You could talk about the full council of God’s word,” Chatfield said. “You could talk about hell, heaven, LGBT stuff, the rapture. And then as soon as you talk about prosperity, it’s like — boom. None of that stuff matters. You’re now in this category.”
That category, of course, is the prosperity gospel — a label Chatfield says has become so toxic that it shuts down legitimate biblical conversation about wealth, generosity and God’s provision.
The Book He Didn’t Want to Write
Chatfield, who serves on the teaching team at Love Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and has amassed over a million YouTube subscribers, admits the topic was the last one he wanted to tackle.
“The first chapter is literally titled ‘The Book I Didn’t Want to Write,'” he said with a laugh.
To order Kap Chatfield’s new book, The Power to Prosper, visit Amazon.com.
His hesitation was personal. Early in his ministry years, Chatfield was struggling financially while trying to serve faithfully. At one point, he couldn’t afford a used T-ball bat for his then-three-year-old son. The moment became a turning point.
“As a minister — someone who’s like a bold preacher of the gospel — I’m thinking, who on earth would want to follow my God if I’m saying, ‘God’s going to take care of these areas of your life,’ and the fruit of my life looks like everything but that?”
The Divine Redirect
Things came to a head in 2022. His business was failing, his wife was battling multiple autoimmune diseases without health insurance, and Chatfield hit his knees.
“I said, ‘God, what gives? Here I am trying to serve your people in a church, tithing off the gross revenue of my business. Is this how you treat your servants?'”
God’s response, he said, was direct: “I’m not obligated to bless your version of my vision for your life.”
The breakthrough came when Chatfield said he surrendered fully to his calling in 2023 — stepping away from his failing business with just four months of savings and no income. His YouTube channel grew from 1,000 to a million subscribers within the year.
“It was because I came into full alignment,” he said. “What was keeping me from stepping fully into my God-given assignment was a fear of lack and a trust in myself more than a trust in God.”
What Biblical Prosperity Actually Means
Both Chatfield Bevere were careful to define the term on scriptural grounds. Pointing to 2 Corinthians 9, Chatfield offered this working definition:
“Biblical prosperity is having more than enough to fulfill your God-given assignment and leftovers to be a blessing to the people around you. It’s not about selfishness or greed. It’s about sufficiency and generosity.”
Bevere, who has given away over 65 million resources to ministry leaders in 243 nations, pushed back on the idea that this is simply an “American gospel.”
“God understands that for us to be able to accomplish things in this world, we have to be financially prosperous,” Bevere said. “It is evil when we view it incorrectly — when it’s all about me. But it’s about establishing His kingdom, His covenant.”
To order John Bevere’s book, The Bait of Satan, visit Amazon.com.
The Cost of Silence
Perhaps the strongest moment of the conversation was Chatfield’s warning about what happens when the church avoids the subject entirely.
“There are so many people willing to invest tens of thousands of dollars a year in worldly, secular and oftentimes new age — even demonic — coaching to learn how to prosper,” he said, “because the church isn’t teaching it.”
The result, he argues, is a cycle of burned-out ministers, struggling families and believers who never learn God’s economy.
Ultimately, seeking first the kingdom of God above all else is what will lead to the greatest investment anyone will ever make.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
