Faith Without Frontiers

Josef and Rebecca Schneider, Austrians in Horn, describe moving seven years ago from stable jobs (Josef a high school religion/sport teacher; Rebecca a music therapist and then full-time mom) to renovate and run a former Catholic seminary as a 70-room, 180-bed hotel with event spaces and seminar rooms, while intending to plant a church. The hotel initially consumed 100% of their effort, but guidance from owner Daniel Liebeherr—who found business opened doors in Austria where church planting was resisted—shifted their vision from creating a “Christian bubble” to serving society with Christian values through excellent hospitality and leadership. They emphasize welcoming all guests, including esoteric groups, staying clear about their faith, and seeing fruit such as staff loyalty, community trust, baptisms, and provision during COVID-19. The hotel became profitable after seven years, they aim to multiply businesses, and they are considering taking over a struggling local restaurant while praying for direction.

01:00 Meet the Schneiders
01:27 From Seminary to Hotel
02:22 Teacher to Manager
04:03 Renovation Adventure
05:09 Hotel Today
05:52 Calling and Vision Shift
09:50 No Christian Bubble
13:25 Fruit and First Baptism
15:03 Handling Criticism
19:29 Leading Staff Like Pastor
20:39 Pastor In Business
21:04 Paying Staff In Faith
22:04 Lockdown Provision Stories
23:18 Servant Leadership Culture
23:56 Profit And Multiplication
24:46 Church Skills As MBA
27:09 Motivating Routine Work
30:03 New Restaurant Opportunity
32:26 Prayer Led Decisions
33:55 Family Life In The Hotel
36:10 Business Stress And No Plan B
38:07 Music Therapy And Wrap Up