In this compelling episode of The Beacon Show, we sat down with Chris Lambert, a visionary leader whose passion for urban revitalization and faith-driven service has reshaped communities in Detroit. From his early life in a small Indiana town to leading large-scale community transformation projects, Chris’s story reveals how God uses our gifts and experiences to create a lasting impact.
Watch Chris’ full interview on YouTube!
A Small Town Start and a Radical Encounter
Chris Lambert grew up in a small Indiana town where dreams of urban revitalization were far from his reality. “We didn’t even have a four-way stoplight until I was in middle school,” Chris recalled. His initial ambition was to make a fortune in real estate development, a path he pursued while studying business at Indiana University.
However, a semester abroad in Australia changed everything. “I had a radical encounter with God that completely altered the trajectory of my life,” Chris shared. This experience not only ignited his faith but also sparked an unexpected movement among his fraternity brothers back home. By the time he returned to Indiana University, his three closest friends and even his former drug dealer had experienced similar transformations.
“I realized that real estate development wasn’t my calling. I wanted to help people connect with God,” Chris said. This revelation led him to seminary in Los Angeles, where he met his wife and began discerning a deeper purpose for his life.
The Birth of Life Remodeled
After seminary and a life-changing stint in Africa—where Chris helped dig wells and build schools—he and his wife moved to Detroit. There, they planted a church in 2007, focusing on serving under-resourced neighborhoods. But in 2010, God gave Chris a vision to launch Life Remodeled, a nonprofit that revitalizes Detroit neighborhoods by repurposing vacant school buildings into community hubs of opportunity.
Through Life Remodeled, Chris discovered a surprising connection to his original interest in real estate. “I didn’t realize until years later that God had brought me full circle,” he said. Now, Life Remodeled focuses on transforming communities by improving academic outcomes, increasing access to health and wellness services, and creating pathways to economic self-sufficiency.
Chris’s approach to strategic planning has been shaped by years of trial and error. Early on, Life Remodeled struggled with operational inefficiencies and a gap between vision and execution. Everything changed in 2014 when Chris read Traction by Gino Wickman, which introduced him to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
By adapting EOS principles for nonprofits, Chris and his team achieved rapid growth and measurable outcomes. “We’ve invested $51 million into Detroit neighborhoods, repurposed five school buildings, and mobilized over 82,000 volunteers,” Chris shared.
Chris has since developed a nonprofit-specific framework, outlined in his book Next Level Nonprofit. The framework focuses on four key components:
- Team Unity
- Compelling Vision
- Right Strategy
- Disciplined Execution
This system helps nonprofits align their teams, prioritize their goals, and execute with precision to achieve ambitious outcomes.
The Power of Vision and Team Unity
Chris emphasized the importance of a clear, God-given vision in creating impactful organizations. “God gives organizations specific calls, just like individuals,” he explained. At Life Remodeled, this vision has guided the transformation of several Detroit neighborhoods, including reducing crime rates and increasing perceptions of thriving in previously under-resourced areas.
Equally important is the unity of the team carrying out the mission. “The foundation of all organizational success is having the right people in the right seats,” Chris said. Recognizing the importance of diversity, he worked to build a leadership team that reflects the Detroit community. “We intentionally sought leaders with lived experiences that resonate with the people we serve. That decision has transformed the way we work,” he shared.
Chris’s leadership journey offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to combine faith with action:
- Pay Attention to Your Wiring – “God uses your unique gifts, skills, and passions to fulfill His plans. You don’t need to be someone else,” Chris emphasized.
- Build Bridges, Not Walls – Chris shared how building relationships in diverse communities has amplified his organization’s impact. “It’s about working together and learning from each other,” he said.
- Be All In – For Chris, being “all in” means fully committing to God’s call, whether that’s through work, rest, or community-building.
A Legacy of Transformation
When asked what he wants to leave behind, Chris’s answer is simple: All In. “I want people to say I gave everything I had,” he said. For Chris, this commitment extends beyond the work of Life Remodeled to equipping nonprofits nationwide with tools and resources to fulfill their missions.
Chris Lambert’s story reminds us that God’s plans often exceed our expectations. Through surrender, vision, and faithful action, we can create ripples of change that extend far beyond our lifetimes.
About Chris Lambert
Chris Lambert is the founder and CEO of Life Remodeled, a Detroit-based nonprofit that transforms vacant schools into thriving community hubs. After experiencing a spiritual awakening during his college years at Indiana University, Chris redirected his path from real estate development to community service, starting with seven months in a Liberian village where he helped secure resources for essential infrastructure. Since founding Life Remodeled in 2010, Chris has led the organization to invest over $51 million in Detroit neighborhoods, mobilize 82,000 volunteers, and create sustainable community transformation. His innovative approach to nonprofit leadership and commitment to building diverse, community-reflective teams has earned him recognition including Building Design + Construction’s 40 under 40 and Crain’s Detroit 40 under 40. Chris lives in Detroit with his wife and two sons, where he continues to embody servant leadership while helping other nonprofits achieve greater impact through his book “Next Level Nonprofit” and organizational coaching.
Resources Mentioned
- “Next Level Nonprofit” book by Chris Lambert
- Life Remodeled’s community development model
- “Traction” book by Geno Wickman (mentioned as an influence)
