If you run a kingdom business – a business dedicated to Jesus and the kingdom of God – you are in a great position to bring God’s transforming power to touch the lives of those around you.
I sometimes speak with Christian friends leading organisations with charitable or ‘not-for-profit’ status. In the UK at least, to qualify for charitable status requires a statement of compliance that I think could make it difficult for the organisation to apply some of its kingdom-of-God mission objectives. What happens, then, is that not-for-profit organisations run the risk of pretending to be something they are not in order to qualify for their status.
Often, a much more effective vehicle for kingdom of God transformation is a for-profit business. I have already written about the Zacchaeus Principle – where the kingdom of God comes to a marketplace person and reaches everything within his or her household or business. Think about the work of some of Jesus’ disciples too – as fishermen they were able to carry out business that became a ministry vehicle time and time again. Consider how much ministry time with Jesus took place in the context of fishing or boats (or even stepping out of boats). Or the Apostle Paul’s work as a tent maker in Corinth – this was certainly a for-profit business.
I am blessed that my business partner is also my wife. Whilst I carry an entrepreneurial vision, she has all the strengths I lack. After twelve years in business together, we’ve walked through some storms and Jo has always been my biggest encouragement in faith, in business and in my role as a husband and father.
Jo and I recently took a fresh look at the core mission and principles of our company, Creation Healthcare. It’s a consultancy that advises healthcare organisations about new channels of communication. We wanted to write down afresh our vision as the company is in a time of growth, “that he who reads it may run” (Hab 2:2).
I have been so encouraged over the past five years or so by being connected with Harvest Evangelism, the ministry behind Transform our World. God is using Ed Silvoso and the team at Harvest to awaken the church to its purpose and highlight the power that is unlocked when church leaders and their marketplace counterparts truly work together in partnership. Much of how we have expressed the mission of Creation Healthcare is inspired by principles we first learned from Ed and his team.
Rick Heeren is one of the team at Harvest Evangelism who has had a career in business and today teaches and equips marketplace ministers. I recently read his latest book, Marketplace Miracles, which includes an excellent summary of what a kingdom company should look like. The principles outlined in our mission document are adopted from Rick’s ’12 components of a Kingdom Company’ as they are the best summary I have seen of the heart of a business called to bring transformation in the marketplace.
What’s your experience? Do you see your business as a vehicle for bringing transformation through the kingdom of God? Do you know that your work in business is a ministry?
