It was an incredible opportunity, the kind that doesn't present itself to most real-estate entrepreneurs.
Home-flippers David and Jason Benham were elated when a production company first approached them about starring in their own reality TV show.
Eventually five networks made offers, with HGTV submitting the best: six one-hour episodes, straight to TV, with no pilot episode necessary.
The show was to be called "Flip it Forward" and would feature the Benham brothers transforming fixer-uppers into dream homes for families.
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As Christians, they felt graced by God.
Then it crashed. A liberal "watchdog" organization made a campaign of what HGTV already knew – that the brothers believed in the standards established in the Bible regarding marriage, life and more.
It came out in the media, however, as "anti-gay." And "anti-choice."
"While they gave us the verbal offer, before we signed the official long form, HG did all their research, found out that we were pro-life, pro-marriage guys, and they were OK with that," David Benham told WND. "There was nothing new that surfaced before we got fired."
But the show was canceled because of pressure from liberal and progressive interests, he noted.
The brothers hold no ill will toward HGTV at all, noting the pressure the network faced.
"HGTV knew what they were getting," David said. "They did not know that this bully was going to come after them like they did, and so HGTV, when they fired us, there were tears on the phone. They didn't want to let us go. They tried to stick with us … but they got bullied into this decision, and unfortunately for HGTV, they crumbled."
While some would react with probably justifiable anger, the Benhams took what was handed to them and made the best of it: Because of the celebrity attached to the controversy of their cancellation, they now travel the country, speaking to Christian groups.
"It's not the platform we thought we were going to have," David Benham said. "I mean, if we were HGTV's reality show stars, that was going to be a huge platform, but you know what we realized? That we take whatever platform God gives us, and we hold it with an open hand. If He takes it from us, so be it. If He doesn't, so be it. We just hold it with an open hand."
Part of the brothers' new platform is a book, "Whatever the Cost: Facing Your Fears, Dying to Your Dreams, and Living Powerfully," released after they were fired. They write about the HGTV ordeal, although that was not the original purpose of the book.
Jason Benham explained the brothers actually started writing the book two years before HGTV first approached them. The book initially dealt with the brothers' dream of playing major league baseball, a dream they both abandoned while in the minor leagues. But then saw a new vision: making it big in real estate.
"We had to die to the dream of being major league baseball players, and then God raised up another dream inside of us to create businesses across the globe, and we were really successful in that," Jason said. "So we were writing a book on dying to your dream, and how awesome it is when God raises up another one."
The prospect of a reality show, and its cancellation, all added to the depth of the book's message.
"We added in the element of standing strong and facing your fear," Jason said. "And so that's what the book is all about, dying to your dreams on the one hand, facing your fear on the other, and in doing those things we'll live powerfully for Christ."
The brothers credit God for their business success. They now own and run 13 companies, not just in the real-estate industry, but also in automotive marketing and tax and financial services.
Six of their companies are non-profits, according to Jason. One of their for-profits, Benham REO Group, has more than 90 offices in 35 states.
The Benhams strive to infuse their Christian principles into everything they do, including their business dealings. David claims that applying biblical principles to the free market really does work.
"We say that our Christianity is not just a private religion," David said. "It's a comprehensive worldview that provides solutions to the world's biggest problems, so when we as Christians go into the marketplace, we have the Bible. We have the Holy Spirit. He gives us creative strategy and ingenuity and ideas, and the ability to serve customers better than anyone else."
The Benhams were noticed by HGTV when they were part of a prayer rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, that coincided with the Democratic National Convention in September 2012. A representative saw an online video and contacted them.
But the "gut punch" came when the show was canceled, even though officials had told the brothers the night before that the network was sticking with its decision to do the show.
"We knew going into this that there probably would be a chance that someday we would lose it, but that's what you need to do with whatever God puts in your hand," Jason said. "Just hold it with an open hand because He may take it from you at some point."
Jason said the attack shouldn't have been surprising, since the New Testament explains it's not easy to be a Christian.
"Even Jesus himself said, 'If you want to follow me, I'm gonna put you through some suffering,'" Jason said. "That's a tenet of the faith. ... If we want to experience the Kingdom of God in our lives, we have to have a whatever-the-cost attitude, and that includes your reputation, that includes your livelihood – it includes your life."
So being put under the liberal media magnifying glass shouldn't bother?
"When we're taking bullets, when we're taking the heat, that means we are right where we need to be," David said.
Take note, Christians, he said.
"If they're not writing things about you, then maybe you're not joining in the conversation. Now, they shouldn't write things about you because you're mean and bigoted and angry, but we don't buy that narrative that we're bigoted. We buy the narrative that Jesus Christ is Lord, His ways bring life and human flourishing, His ways are the best for mankind, and we can stand on those because we love people. When you take bullets for that, you know that you are exactly where God wants you to be. So I'm hoping millions of other Christians join us."