George Shinn’s 4 Insights on How God Uses Imperfect People, Perfectly

I’ve never been the obvious choice—not in business, not in leadership, not in any way.

By the world’s standards, I didn’t have the credentials to succeed. I struggled in school, battled insecurity, and carried the weight of more failures than I could count. But what I’ve learned—what this entire journey has taught me—is that God doesn’t wait for perfection. He looks for surrender.

God uses broken people. I know that because He’s used me.

Years ago, I found myself sitting in a boardroom with representatives from the NBA expansion committee. I wasn’t a seasoned sports executive. I wasn’t backed by billionaires or corporations. I was a small businessman from North Carolina who had built a business college from scratch—and somehow found myself trying to bring professional basketball to Charlotte.

It made no sense on paper. My group was underfunded compared to the other applicants. We were told Charlotte didn’t have the population or prestige to land a team. The odds were overwhelmingly against us.

But God was writing a different story.

I had been working hard behind the scenes—building community support, creating a financial model, and praying constantly. I knew if this was going to happen, it would only be because God opened the door. And sure enough, He did.

The day the NBA announced we were getting a team, I was stunned. Out of all the cities and ownership groups, they picked us. It wasn’t because we were the flashiest or the richest. It was because we believed—fiercely—in what we were doing. And more importantly, I believed God was in it.

The Charlotte Hornets were born. And just like that, my life changed.

I didn’t just become a team owner. I became a steward. I started asking, “What does it mean to honor God in this space?” It wasn’t just about basketball. It was about influence. About impact.

There were moments of tension, and I wasn’t perfect. I made plenty of mistakes. But one thing I never forgot was why I was there in the first place. It wasn’t to make headlines. It was to be a vessel.

Looking back now, I know God didn’t give me an NBA team because I earned it. He gave it to me so I could point back to Him.

And the truth is—getting the team wasn’t the highlight of my story. What God did with my life after it all fell apart? That’s the part that really changed me.

Because even with all that success, I would still go on to face scandal, public humiliation, divorce, and devastating loss. I went from being celebrated to being abandoned. But I also discovered that God’s plans don’t end with our failures. In fact, sometimes, that’s where they really begin.

1. GOD DOESN’T NEED PERFECT PEOPLE—HE USES BROKEN ONES.

The biggest mistake you can make when you feel like God might be calling you to serve His kingdom is to focus on your own sins instead of God’s grace. God’s business model doesn’t just tolerate sinners; it requires the sinner to be saved by His grace. If God couldn’t use broken people, He wouldn’t have anyone to use! From Abraham to Moses to David, the Bible is full of people who failed—sometimes in catastrophic ways. But their stories don’t end in failure. God used them anyway, not because they were perfect, but because He is.

2. GOD’S POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.

God told the apostle Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). From those words, I’ve learned to never let my eyes focus more on my own shortcomings than on God’s perfection.

Even at my lowest, when I lost the respect of my hometown and stumbled through personal and public failings, God’s plan wasn’t finished. His strength has always shown up in my weakness—and it still does.

3. WHEN YOU SAY YES TO GOD, BUCKLE UP.

My life—from failing student to NBA team owner—isn’t a story of skill. It’s a story of surrender. God’s plans are bigger than anything I could have written for myself. If He can do that with me, He can do that with you.

4. YOUR FLAWS DON’T END YOUR STORY. THEY’RE HOW GRACE BEGINS.

Even with all my disobedience, I never forgot who God was. God is bigger than all our failures. He is stronger than our weakness. His perfection is more than enough to make up for our flaws. In fact, God’s so good that His plan actually uses our flaws for His own good!

I’ve made choices I regret. I’ve wandered. I’ve failed. But failure isn’t the final word. Redemption is. And God doesn’t just restore the broken—He builds His Kingdom with them.

Discover how one man’s story shows God’s power to make beauty from ashes.

Full Court Faith, Maxwell Leadership Publishing’s latest release, presents the uniquely inspiring life of Charlotte entrepreneur, businessman, and former NBA franchisee George Shinn, the man who brought professional sports to North Carolina. With charm, wit, humility, and his trademark enthusiasm, Shinn tells his story his way—taking responsibility for the mistakes and giving God all the credit for the victories.If you’ve ever wondered, What could God do with someone like me?, Full Court Faith brings you the answer: anything He wants. As long as you’re willing to trust Him on the journey. Order your copy here today!

About the author

Businessman and philanthropist George Shinn is the quintessential “rags to riches,” American success story. After losing his father at an early age and being raised by a single mother, Shinn used what he calls a “Triangle of Success” of health, attitude, and faith to go from being the worst student in his high school class to owning a network of business schools and a consulting firm. This firm was so successful, Shinn became the youngest ever recipient of the Horatio Alger award. Through hard work and persistence, plus faith in God, George Shinn was part of the team that brought the first ever professional basketball franchise, the Charlotte Hornets, to the state of North Carolina. Through personal and professional struggles, George learned to lean on God no matter what comes. He found that, regardless of the game, there is no better teammate than God.