So I'm headed to northwest Iowa tomorrow for the Bible conference my great-grandfather started way back in the 1930's. (The Okoboji Lakes Bible and Missionary Conference. Catchy, isn't it?) My brother Rob and I are teaching an adult class all week next week about Christians and culture. My brother, a Harvard Law grad and law professor at St. Thomas University, is handling issues of law and ethics, and I'm covering entertainment and business. The entertainment side of things is obviously a no-brainer for me. The business is a bit more challenging, though, and has got me thinking a lot about Christians in the business world. The more I think about it, the more I find myself asking the question – Where are the Christian entrepreneurs?
We Christians start lots of non-profit ministries, which is awesome. We start lots of megachurches, which is good, too. But why don't we start more companies? Think of the impact Starbucks and Nike are having around the world. Think about Yahoo and Google. Think about Apple, for heaven's sake. These companies are profoundly influential. And because they generate tremendous revenues from their hit products, they can keep growing their influence.
But none of these companies was started by committed Christians. Very few major companies are started by committed Christians. Why is that? It seems we either start churches and non-profit ministries, the growth of which is always limited by the ability to raise financial support, or we just go and get jobs at other people's companies so we can pay our bills and send our kids to college.
Are we afraid of taking risk? Do we distrust "business" in general? Do we just not have any good ideas? Where are all the Christian entrepreneurs?
Any thoughts about that?
One good Christian entrepreneur is David …of Missional-Press …www.missional-press.com …a publishing company for missional books.
The first that comes to the top of my head is Hobby Lobby and Chi-fil-a. A man at my church is second in command (don’t know his title) at Hobby Lobby. But yeah, now that you mention it I can’t think of that many.
Well, I think sometimes we believe that a non-profit is more spiritual, somehow. I know I did at one point – and learned the hard way that it just isn’t true. Now I have started a business that I hope to eventually go full time with – but as you yourself said in your book – when we have the experience and wisdom to best succeed in business we are often at a point in life where it’s hard to tolerate the risk. So yes, sometimes risk is the reason… I think also some Christians mistakenly think that anyone who tries to mix sharing the gospel with a business will be like some of those tele-evangelists on TV… but of course those guys all have churches and non-profits. I’m not sure it’s because Christians don’t have any good ideas – although Franky Schaeffer, in his book Addicted to Mediocrity, argues that we often settle for less than we could.
I know for me it is the place in my life I am at. I have ideas for a company that I would like to start, but I am putting my family first. I cannot make the sacrifice of time and financial instability it would take to start my own company. A lot of the very succesful people we read about, not all, sacrifice everything for their ambition. I would love to go into professional acting, but put my family first. I am not sure if it is that way for everyone, but that is how it has turned out in my life.
I heard someone commenting recently about how the lines between non-profits and businesses are blurring. Businesses are finding that they need to be more like non-profits in order to achieve their goals. And non-profits are finding out they need to be more business-like to accomplish their goals.
There’s a growing trend of “social entrepreneurship” (a very googleable phrase). I hope that Christians will ride that wave.
Your previous post is probably part of the answer. Raising capital requires you to be obsessed with growth, so you can promise a good return. But “income growth above all else” is not compatible with putting God first.
The second reason is that building and running a major business requires a huge time commitment. Religious people are more likely to have children, and have more of them. That cuts into your work time.
I see myself as an entrepreneur and I’m currently in the midst of starting a new business. But I don’t ever want it to be a large business like those big influencers. I just want to provide for my family, teach my kids to provide for their future families, and maybe provide a few jobs for others. I want to be faithful to God in all the little things I do and model that for others in the way I practice business and how I treat other people.
For me, big business carries a stigma of devoting your life to the company, often at the cost of your family. It may not start that way, but as it grows and others are involved in running things, and you have big “important” projects on a deadline, it starts to happen. I’m just not interested in that.
They are few and far between, but look at Chick-fil-a; there’s a Christian business for you.
I may be getting a little on the cynical side, but it seems to me that to compete in today’s business world seems to require the compromise of some things that most Christians consider “non-compromisable”; time with family vs. business, keeping stockholders or partners happy rather than sticking with the original paradigms the entrepeneur started with are just a couple. Can these be overcome? Yes. Is it easy, definitely not, and if we are not staying close to God at ALL times, compromise becomes more likely.
The image of “big business” doesn’t seem to be compatible with Christian living, (another area where we have let the world take over, rather than being the leader) but maybe it’s time to change that.
I know quite a few Christians that own and run companies…strong committed Christians…and they aren’t timid, for the most part, about their faith. A few are on the larger side of a small business. A couple advertise on Christian radio and one runs commercials, but they are more mini lessons and run just a quick ID at the end.
I tend to agree that some small businesses can grow like a weed overnight is that they do live by different principles. I’m not saying that they are in any way unethical, but that their goals are different.
For example, a couple of business that are retail outlets are closed on Sundays…a big day for either. One is closed all weekend. Family and faith are their reasons. Now both could do a bit more business be remaining open over the weekend, but chasing the dollar is not why they are in business.
On the flip side, Apple, for example, uses a symbol of defiance, the apple symbolizing the fruit that Adam and Eve ate and launching their first computer at $666. Is it possible that there is another spirit working for them behind the scenes?
Christians will have great difficulty to the point that when there is success they cannot say it was because of their own blood, sweat, tears and ingenuity. It will be obvious that God was behind it. Why be a Christian in business and take all the credit? All I know how to do is fail.
My uneducated guess would be:
1. Capital Investment: Not too many people are willing to invest in an idea that is geared for a niche market (Christians…and then sub group it from there). There is significant fiancial risk to invest in an unknown name, company and entreprenuer.
2. Market instability: The target market (Christitians, etc.) is diversified on many levels within our own subculture. The product / service must provide “something” that a significant core group needs or desires. Even at that, we tend to be (sorry everyone) a bit judgemental on anything that is “Christian”. Hitting the mark is tough.
3. Good Business sense vs. Good Stewardship. Can the two be combined? Probably. But it seems like it might be a challenge. The formula that works in secular businesses, like you discussed previously, needs to be tweaked a bit to make it work within a different worldview. It can’t be all ministry all the time, or the business will fail. But it can’t lose sight of the mission ~ hopefully the one that was Godly inspired.
The business I am co-owner of is not big by any means, but we do well. We were founded by two Christians and strive to not borrow money to run the business. Because of this we only take risks in growth when we know we can feed the new members family for a certain period of time with no new business. We are a software consulting firm and we run online communities in the software design space and don’t work with other Christian companies on a regular basis. We would love to see more Christian owned businesses, but understand the risk you have when starting a company and staying away from the ever so present Small Business Loan.
One of the nice things about owning a business is you have the perfect location for small group studies with co-workers and employees that want to participate. This is usually inviting for employees and their families so everyone can get to know each other and grow through the Word together.
I am with you though, I think it is time for Christians to place our worldview back into the field of labor and start running businesses like God designed us to. If we aren’t called to run businesses, than we work hard for our employers like God intended us to, no matter what their views are. The work place is an excellent place to show the talents God gave us and bare a good witness to the non-believers.
The owner of Gloria Jeans, which is Australia’s answer to Starbucks, is a Christian and heavily involved in Hillsong church.
Wasn’t Henry Ford a Christian?
I believe that Hobby Lobby is also a company owned by Christians. It’s closed on Sundays, and at least the local one I frequent, plays instrumental hymns as background music. I frequently find myself singing along as I browse the aisles.
Henry Ford was a Christian but now Ford supports gay “rights.”
As noted above, Chick-fil-A is the nation’s largest and most successful Christian-owned business. One Christian-owned company in the Dallas area who’ve made an impact is Weir’s Furniture – they publish full-page ads in major media during the Christmas season, telling the Gospel story.
Overall I couldn’t agree more: we need more Christian business owners. That’s why I’m completing a degree in Business Marketing this fall, then we’ll see where it goes…
thanks for the challenge, Phil!
-joshMshep
I am a Christian business owner that is focused on serving churches using a for-profit business model. I’ve been asked why I didn’t choose to create a non-profit organization. My answer is simple: I seek to build a business to support myself and a few other families, not to build a set of donors that support us. I consider it “tent making” for my family between everything else I do.
With regard to investors that won’t invest in niche markets, such as those focused toward churches: investors look for a 20-to-1 return on their money, plain and simple. If you select any niche market that cannot provide that opportunity, investors won’t consider you – no matter if you are focused on the church market or not.
There is, however, nothing wrong with building a business without investment money – it is called “bootstrapping your business”, and it allows you to grow your business over time rather than with a quick infusion of cash from investors.
By bootstrapping your business, you are focused on pleasing the market rather than pleasing investors or a set of donors. And that is what making an impact as a Christian business is all about!
I think a lot of good reasons were stated by others above. I think another one is that Christians tend to abdicate a lot of things when “the world” starts to grow in them. Christians have led in probably ever area at some point: music, science, entertainment, literature, politics, etc.
But now we leave so much of that to the “secular” crowd and retreat to our “Christian” version of things… which have their place… but sometimes that place is “out in the world.”
Light and salt.
Another problem is, in the business world, $ tends to rule supreme. And few people will shop at their local Christian store (so it can grow) when Wal-Mart sells it for $.87 less.
Running a major corporation is quite similar (in terms of economic output) as running a country. The challenge for a leader of a major country, or corporation, is that the citizens (or stockholders) will want the “borders” to be protected, sometimes at any cost.
How should we define ourselves in the business world? I think rather than seeking to be “a businessman who launches a big company” we need Christ followers who are willing to work in cooperation to create companies that treat people and the creation with care.
In Martin Luther’s day a shoemaker decided to follow Christ, and approached Luther and asked: “What now should I do? Become a missionary? Become a preacher?” Martin Luther’s response was this: “Make the best shoes you can, and sell them at a fair price.”
Great topic. It reminds me of a somewhat-related topic I was mulling over as I was driving and listening to a Christian radio station several months ago. There is one station somewhat nearby that is “listener supported”, as they call it, and then there is a newer one in the area that is a for-profit enterprise. As I was listening to the listener-supported station, one of their announcers was criticizing the for-profit station as if somehow they were morally superior to them because they didn’t carry ads. (Instead they were trying to guilt people into sending them money). The listener-supported station claims to only have one time of fund raising, but it seems to me that every time I tune in, they’re in that season. That and the unfair criticism really turned me off and I went searching for, found, and listened to the other station for the remainder of my trip.
To me, I’d rather hear ads than the constant haranguing of fund raisers. Christian ads can even be informative and beneficial, IMO. As a young adult, I always enjoyed listening to KSBJ on roadtrips to Houston because their quality was far superior to the non-profit station in the area where I lived. Now, I totally get that a different model is better for children, and I appreciate PBS and now JellyTelly doing that with their children’s programming.
On a larger thought process — I do think it is important for more Christians to start businesses and to do it God’s way. This doesn’t mean neglecting their families and such. It does mean refusing to exploit others in order to get ahead. Not to worship the founding fathers of the U.S., but they recognized from the get-go that the framework for our country would never work in a godless society. We don’t have to exploit the poor to get ahead and then throw them crumbs to make ourselves feel better and look good to others. We need the moral compass that our faith brings and for God to inhabit every decision we make.
A friend of mine recently told me that she thinks it is a shame when the world takes on causes that Christians have dropped the ball on. Two examples: establishing/promoting fair trade coffee and being good stewards of the earth (it is the Lord’s after all). WorldCrafts is the one Christian organization (albeit non-profit) I know of who’s doing that. But… you don’t have to be non-profit to refuse exploiting the poor. You just have to have a God-given conscience. I wonder how much more impact WorldCrafts could have if they were operated on a for-profit basis?
Back to the question, I see two barriers — one is certainly in Christians who associate profit as bad and non-profit as good. But… for me personally, the largest hindrance would be the legal end. I’ve seen Christians who’ve lost everything but the clothes on their back because they made an honest mistake on their taxes when they went into business for themselves. I look at all the paperwork and taxes involved, and it just seems overwhelming, perhaps because I don’t have the time to really wade through it and understand it all. Even if I wanted an attorney or accountant, that would be cost prohibitive for me, even on a per-item basis. Perhaps Christians need a mentor to help them get their feet wet and off on the right foot?
One last thought… it is often a shame when businesses begun on Christian principles change their way of operating when they change hands — whether by death, retirement, or being sold to companies who don’t share the same values.
Costco
although I can’t say for sure he is a Christian, I have heard that he is. he goes out of his way to lower his profit margin in order to increase his employees hourly wage and provide affordable health insurance among engaging in other philanthropic endeavors
Quite a few years ago, I was being pursued to join a company as a design director. The company created streaming business communications, which were really small films unto themselves.
The final interview I needed to go to was with the owner of the company. He looked at my portfolio and began asking me questions. He wanted to know if I was involved in any activites outside of work. I was reluctant to mention that I taught catechism (religious education in a Catholic Church) since I really didn’t want to mix my fatih with my potential work prospects but something told me to go ahead and mention it anyway.
The owner’s face lit up when I mentioned my involvement in my local church. He said that he was a Christian and felt very strongly that the people he hired were people of faith, whether Christian or otherwise. He felt it said alot about the person if they were involved in their local places of worship and alot about their sense of right and wrong.
I’m happy to say that I was hired and worked there for 3 years until the company was forced to cut back severely after the events of 9-11 (we were located in the New York metro area). Still, I was always very much in awe of this man’s commitment to his faith and how his faith drove all his business decisions. He was truly a very inspirational person!
Here’s one: Sari Bari
“Sari Bari, a business initiative, seeks the freedom and restoration of Kolkata’s red-light areas through dignity-giving employment opportunities for women affected by the sex trade.”
Good question.
Well, you’re one, my dad is one and actually I’ve known a lot. Maybe we just don’t always know when a large business has been started by a Christian because once it becomes public the whole thing changes. Although it is true that many businesses do jump ahead because of unethical practices do not dismay. Of course God can send us blessings beyond our imaginations even when others try to bury us with immoral practices. I liked the Martin Luther quote about the shoemaker. So true. No matter where we are working or what occupation we hold we should glow because of Jesus without having to say so. Even so, several comments refer back to businesses created specifically for Christians. Why is that? Maybe we are a little self-involved.
With respect to theme parks…I have it on really good authority that “it is really capital intensive and hard to make money”…well…ok I am only on Chapter 3…but…
…and with respect to Christian entrepreneurs, there is a marked difference between being able to see an idea and take it to market and being able to build a profitable, substantially business.
tomato sawyer would concur!
I agree that we could actually do far better here. The difference between non-profit and regular buisness is night and day. Personally I get a little fed with the non profit model when it comes to buisness. With a regular company it is understood that everyone wants a piece of the pie and that everything will be portioned out to satisfaction. Non-profit is great from some trulely charitable endevours … especially where no one is making money and it is just used to formalize some group. But when paychecks are being cut and the non-profit is big then things get very unwieldy. There is no clear incentive and some are there for the paycheck and others feel that they aren’t getting their due or feel that they should be regarded better for not getting the check. Then all the board members are probably not getting paid, so while they are in a position of authority they have very little interest or stake.
Whew… I’ll drop that line of thought there. Point is that the regular company model can actually be much simpler and work to greater good with everyones motives and intent fully understood.
I recently got a prayer letter from a mother who’s son just graduated from a Chrisitan college. She was asking prayer that he recieve an appointment in some ministry organization soon as possible “or else he would have to take a secular occupation” and needed finacial support.
My goodness, try making a list of people in the Bible that didn’t have a secular occupation. Even Paul led by example as a tent maker. Not that there aren’t examples. John the Baptist comes to mind. But then, anyone who does hard time by livning in the dessert and eating locusts and wild honey deserves to do without a “secular occupation.”
Another large company started by committed Christians is Curves, the womans only gym that specializes in a 30min workout and a weight management program which gives you permanent results without permanent dieting. http://www.curves.com. It was started by Gary and Diane Heavin. They openly talk about their faith in the members guide which is given to members. I’ve had the privilege of meeting Diane twice at Curves seminars where she’s shared about her faith during the training seminars. Lovely lady, very humble. They own one of the fastest growing fitness franchises in the world. As the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility” and they use their “power” wisely, using their franchises to raise food for local food banks and supporting various good causes like cancer research etc.
I have to say that New Zealand is full of entrepenuers, some of whom are Christians. The really cool thing is that there is an annual conference held here at which they have 3 sessions a day aimed at business people. I went to one of the seminars and it talked about how sometimes people in business can be seen as less important than those in ministry but how we’ve all got gifts which are to be used to bless the body and if your gifting or strength is in the business world then use the gifts God has given you. It also talked about practical aspects of business as well as the spiritual. So we are rather fortunate here in New Zealand to be encouraged to go out and do great things as entrepeneurs for God.
The Marriott hotel chain is owned and operated by Christians.
Y’all might want to check out an excellent CD album on being a Christian entrepreneur. It’s produced by a Christian ministry that holds an entrepreneurial bootcamp. You can check it out at this link…
http://www.visionforum.com/booksandmedia/productdetail.aspx?productid=45932&categoryid=180
I think the answer has more to do with bad theology, rather than most of the issues mentioned above. I think the modern evangelical church (and by modern I mean the majority of the 20th century on up) has created a false dichotomy between secular and sacred. Certain things in life are secular and certain things in life are sacred. The typical christian thinking deems occupations such as pastor, missionary, christian recording artist, etc., are more valuable than other vocations such as farmer, carpenter, banker, etc. Hence, christians view business as being a lesser thing, not of the Kingdom, and not worthy of dedicated pursuit. I would argue that that kind of thinking is heretical. When God created his creation, he didn’t say that certain things were of higher value than others. It was all good in his eyes. Furthermore, he did not emblazon the vast majority of his creation – his work, mind you – with bible verses and catchy evangelical slogans. He was creative, he was productive, he was innovative, and he was very concerned with the here and now. We’re called to imitate him. That’s our model right there: the creation in Genesis. If you’re going to be a farmer, be the best darn farmer you can be, which very well might involve expanding, growing, hiring more employees, innovating product, and – horrors above – making money.
It’s a fascinating topic and one given short shrift by the church – hence, I would say, the lack and/or widespread failure of christians in the business world. What’s interesting is that a great deal of business hinges on creativity. Creativity comes from God and, in one of the more unusual passages of the Old Testament we run into the only time, pre-Christ, where God has the Holy Spirit indwell someone. Bezalel in Exodus 35. Craftsman and artist extraordinaire… interesting implications.
Carry on, Mr. Vischer.
I am starting a christian non-profit boys ranch, Whetstone Boys Ranch, but basing the business plan on a for-profit model for cattle production in the growing organic grass-fed market. Similar to Newman’s Own products. No longer relying on donations but real market accountability. I would love to send some information to you Phil and see what you think.
Phil, you might have touched on part of the answer in your book. You talked of the creative (Walt) and the business (Roy) sides of Disney. I think most Christians either are afraid of the spotlight and become loners, or they try to stick their logo on anything that God may be doing to make sure that they get the credit. Neither of those work well.
I think that’s part of the brilliance of JellyTelly. Not only is there content being developed, but friendships and potential partnerships are being formed as well. You might see several smaller Christian media companies that will sprout from JellyTelly. Some people may want to do media for older kids, or strictly for families, or whatever. I can totally see that happening from the relationships that are already happening in this creative community.
Fear is another huge factor. Fear of failure, fear of riddicule, fear of sending the wrong message, fear of someone stealing your ideas, fear of success, fear of whatever. Those fears don’t come from God, but we buy into them anyway. Should we be cautious? Sure, but faith has to come into play somewhere.
By now someone is asking, why haven’t you launched your own Christian company yet. I’m still looking for my “Roy”; be creative all day, but I’m not gifted in the business area. So if there’s a “Roy” looking for a “Walt”, where have you been? I’ve been expecting you!
Simple: “You cannot serve both God and Mammon.” “It is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” There comes a point in any secular business venture where you have to make that choice. Even if it’s a matter of paying unfair wages, I think it’s next to succeed in business while remaining 100% committed to Christian values. And it’s certainly not possible to become rich while doing so, since a good Christian should always be giving to charity.
Then there’s the whole Evangelical/Catholic thing: I think if you add up the executives who are committed Evangelicals *and* the ones who are committed Catholics, the percentage of “Christian” executives/entrepreneurs would increase, slightly.
But, overall, I think it’s very difficult to succeed in business totally ethically, much less morally, and the few exceptions tend to prove the rule. I used to think very highly of Thomas Monaghan, but he’s proven himself something of a megalomaniac in his handling of his retirement ventures, and Domino’s has done everytihing it can to distance itself from his values.
A family of Christian Entrepreneurs is right here. 🙂
Surprised no one has mentioned Richard DeVos, a committed Christian and the co-founder of Amway.
Sometimes I think, Christians don’t always support entrepreneurial spirited Christians and possibly see them as having motives inconsistent with quote, unquote what’s acceptable. Case in point – In 1994 I attended the Promise Keepers Conference in Boulder, CO. While at the Conference I went down to the lower level area and rededicated my life to Christ – very emotional! It was hot that day and I was soaked but it wasn’t from the heat. Anyway, I came back to MN
and decided that I wanted to serve God by creating a business in Graphic Design.
I was a fine arts major in my earlier youth but ultimately in later years found myself
with a degree in construction management. Also at that time, I saw where technology was going and that the starving artist mind set might be shifting.
Before I bought into my equipment, I had an idea for a product for men that could be marketed to P.K. participants. The community where I live has a company in town that had been creating and manufacturing mouse pads for Apple and other significant businesses all over the U.S. and overseas. In 1994, mouse pads were still a big deal! One of the guys (Mark) that went to the same church I attended, was the brother-in-law of the guy that owned the company and also his Art Director. I hired Mark to help create a mouse pad with the promises of a Promise Keeper on it. It was a very finished and polished marketable piece. What better place could the promises be placed, when some men may have had difficulty with temptation and online porn. I had his company produce 5 pads for me.
I then proceeded with a trip to CO. My brother-in-law worked for Northwest Airlines and was able to provide me with a buddy pass. The two of us cold called at the P.K. headquarters and were greeted by the receptionist. I asked her if I could please have a few moments to speak with one of the marketing people for P.K. to share a product that I had created for P.K. men. I was told that they would not see me. After pleading with the receptionist that we had just flown into Denver from MN she was able to have one of the key marketing people give me 5 minutes. She listened to me but responded that they were trying to put resources into the hands of men (meaning books) and didn’t see this product as being a resource. The greater majority of marketing decision makers at that time were ladies and for whatever reason didn’t think what I was wanting to provide was worthwhile. I can make this statement accurately because I new all the names of the marketing staff.
I pursued this quest for 6 months. I knew I had a saleable product. On a Saturday morning a few months after the CO trip, I decided to get up early and attend a Men’s P.K. Wake Up Call in Minneapolis. I sensed that there probably would be a resource table and that I should arrive there early and slip one of my pads on to the table. Actually, I asked the gentleman that was attending the table if I could. He said sure, no problem. I explained to him that I was trying to see if it
was a marketable product for men. I also knew that Chuck Knapp our Christian radio station celebrity would be there and Rick Kingham (a V.P. for P.K.) as well. When Chuck walked by the table he grabbed it right away and asked where it came from. I sat down with him for 5 minutes, introduced myself, and told him about the P.K. mouse pad. I gave him the pad to share with 5 other men that were getting together for lunch after the Wake Up Call. Before I got back home (a 1 hr. drive), Chuck called my wife and told her that the men loved it and that it would be on the desk of one of the marketing staffer’s desk that following Monday. They again refused the idea.
Like I said earlier, after six months of attempting to share this item with P.K. men,
I received a cease and desist letter from an attorney representing Promise Keepers. Through this whole ordeal, I had numerous men that wanted to purchase a P.K. mouse pad from me but I couldn’t sell them one.
Sometimes Christians quite frankly aren’t very receptive to new ideas. I also think that the word marketing has for a long time been given a bad name. However, whenever we welcome someone into our church in hopes of them joining our fellowship, aren’t we doing exactly that – marketing?
Thanks for reading this!!
Alex
p.s. I’m in between careers right now, still trying to pursue serving God with my
creative passion. Here is my Efolio should anyone known of someone in Minneapolis that might be interested in my skills. http://alexstork.efoliomn1.com
I fully agree with you, Phil.
I do think that you are setting an example. As you break through the mold (again) and show Christians what can be done, more entrepreneurs will take heart and follow.
It just takes someone to go first. I believe there are more entrepreneurs then pioneers. Pioneers provide the model, entrepreneurs follow it.
Thanks for being a pioneer.
My question would be, “what is a Christian Entrepreneur?” I know a lot of successful entrepreneurs that are fervent followers of Christ. I used to work in a large ministry and now work with a company started by believers that impact government, private, for-profit, and non-profit organizations with the solid, excellent, high-integrity work they do.
Yet, Phil, how would you define a “Christian” Entrepreneur? It seems there are some expectations here.
Anyone else have some thoughts on this?
Great question! I believe God is positioning His people in Entrepreneurial Industries to bring His Kingdom into business like never before! What a privilege to be a part of something so big!
God bless!
God said to start up a cleaning & maintenance business. I have put out flyers and believing God to raise it up. I am doing it so that I can help finance the kingdom of God. Please send me any tips on how to make it sucessful as a small business.
William Ward
Thanks for posting this.
I am a Pastor and Christian Entrepreneur and know many other Christian Entrepreneurs!
One of the reasons many professing Christians are not building profitable businesses is because of the idea of “separation of Church and State”. We have been made to believe that, for the Christian, there is the spiritual life and then there is the secular life. There are a number of reasons for this that time would not allow me to get into right now. I would just say that this “separation†view is contrary to a proper understanding of scripture.
Then there are those who believe God is glorified through poverty. So they see ambition or business ownership / entrepreneurship as contrary to spiritual growth and maturity in Grace. I guess Poverty could bring Glory to God, depending on who you are and where you live. But many forget that God also condemns slothfulness and foolishness throughout scripture and attribute them to reasons for POVERTY or lack of success in business or any area of life!
It is my conviction that no Christian in America needs to be POOR. I understand that the word Poverty/Poor is relative. So I am not saying every western Christian should be rich (also relative). But every Christian should be Industries and Enterprising like the Ant of Proverbs 6. If more of us were, we would not have so many Christians in financial turmoil during this recession down turn.
Then there are the professing Christians who compartmentalized their lives into secular and spiritual. So Church and bible related activities are spiritual. But work, business activities, entrepreneurship and/or play are secular or neutral. But this mindset is also contrary to scripture. We are told that whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, we should do ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD – 1 Cor. 10:31.
Then there are those who despise and rightly reject ‘THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL.”
In an effort to avoid that extreme, they violate scripture and go to another extreme and see ambition as a sin. Not realizing that enterprise and industry are other ways to Glorify God. The Ant of Proverbs 6 is a great example of this. For more information on this, read the post 12 PROVERBS FOR BUSINESS & MARKETING SUCCESSS @ http://tinyurl.com/cygxdw
If Christ is first in an Entrepreneur’s life, HE will come out in conversation and daily interaction; for no man can serve two masters. So we should not be afraid of biz success!
What’s important/first in our lives, we will talk about. A Christian should never be afraid to build a great business with Christ as the HEAD. After all, a heart that is passionate for God, free from the Love of Money and understands the importance of being RICH IN GOOD WORKS, is the best person – in my opinion – to be trusted with Wealth.
Thanks for creating a forum for discussion.
As a Pastor and Owner of a few businesses, I conduct my business by using the principles of scripture, and teach God’s people to Live Recession Proof Now. Focusing especially on the Wisdom books.
It would be foolish, if I attribute my success to God’s wisdom and blessing – in private – not to give HIM credit publically! No Christian who credit’s God for his/her success, should be ashamed to make him publically known. What’s worse is for me a successful business owner to use my “wealth†my family and I alone.
We must remember that we are stewards. The earth and the fullness thereof belong to the Lord. This is his world. Everything I have should be used to build the Kingdom of God!
In launching my business, I have been met with many fellow Christians who feel that it is my ‘duty’ to provide any and all services for free. While I have a huge heart for God and I do volunteer much of my time and services, I also have bills like every other member of my church. All other members who work for secular companies are never asked to provide their services for free. Perhaps this is why Christian Entrepreneurs are few and far between. We just don’t have paying customers.
It has become my passion to work with my fellow Christians in building business. I have found that I can work much better with a Christian by my side and I believe it makes it easier on my brother or sister in Christ that I myself and a Christian. I believe that my God is in charge of my business and I am simply following his lead for my purpose.
Go Phil, I liked the questions your asking in your article. This subject is close to my heart and I wanted to share some of my thoughts on the matter. First I think that there are identifiable reasons why Christians are held back or resist having success in business. Simply put I think we as Christians limit ourselves because we think that God is interested in other things. We assume, because we have been taught, that God is interested in us being less (out of the spotlight) so we naturally reject the thought of being promoted or seeking it.I think we can sometimes stifle our dreams because we think God wants us to be “good” girls and boys. Go to church, be good to your wife, tithe, don’t drink too many beers on the weekend. So we sacrifice out dreams on the altar of being “good”. Anyways around, I am going through a process of rediscovering God’s love and nature. The more I see him the way he truly is, the more I feel like dreaming, flying, and shooting for the impossible.
I think one reason Christians are hesitant to start businesses is the high cost of healthcare. We joined Christian Healthcare Ministries, a health insurance alternative and save over $500/month. I wish more people knew about this organization because we really do need more Christian run businesses. We live in such an anti-Christian culture and are desperately needing more businesses run by godly men and women who have a Christian world-view. Please help support my YouTube channel and let’s get the word out that there are affordable options for healthcare. No Christian should feel that they can’t fulfill their calling because of the high cost of healthcare.
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCjyWSynse5pcmGBVPe47w7g I hope this helps someone out there!