Week 3: Creating Space for Kingdom Business – Your Church as a Support Hub
If you were to ask the average small church pastor, “What kind of people does your church support?” you’d likely hear: families, single parents, new believers, the elderly, perhaps recovering addicts.
But what if we asked a different question:
“Is your church a place where Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs feel seen, supported, and equipped?”
That question strikes at the heart of what Barna and Faith Driven Entrepreneur uncovered in their research. While nearly 20% of churchgoers identify as entrepreneurial, very few churches have intentional strategies to walk alongside them.
What if that changed?
What if small churches became launchpads, not just lighthouses—places that don’t just shine with truth, but send people into their mission fields equipped and encouraged to build for the glory of God?
This isn’t a luxury reserved for large, well-staffed congregations. In fact, it might be something only a small church can do intimately and effectively.
The Marketplace Is a Mission Field
Entrepreneurs operate where church staff rarely do—in the daily trenches of the marketplace.
They:
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Solve problems that affect real families.
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Employ others and influence workplace culture.
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Set examples in ethics, generosity, and service.
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Interact with customers, competitors, regulators, and vendors—all watching how they lead.
If we believe the gospel is for all of life, then the business world isn’t off-limits—it’s prime territory for Kingdom influence. That means the Church has a responsibility to see the marketplace as part of the mission field, and to prepare those going into it with the same intentionality as missionaries heading overseas.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few...” – Luke 10:2
The workers include entrepreneurs. And they need to be sent, supported, and sustained.
Some churches shy away from addressing entrepreneurship because they fear crossing into the world of business coaching or secular strategies. But supporting entrepreneurs isn’t about teaching sales funnels or growth hacks. It’s about discipleship.
Think about what entrepreneurs face daily:
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Ethical decisions about pricing, contracts, and partnerships.
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Hiring dilemmas that affect real people’s livelihoods.
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Temptations to cut corners or inflate success.
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Emotional weariness from delayed results, unstable income, or criticism.
What they need is not more hustle. They need spiritual guidance. They need biblical clarity. And they need a church that understands their battles.
You, pastor, are uniquely positioned to shepherd them—not by offering business tips, but by teaching Kingdom values that can anchor their ambition in God’s truth.
Many Christian entrepreneurs say they feel like outsiders in their own churches—uncertain of where they fit, unsure of how to serve, and unnoticed unless they volunteer for visible ministries.
But churches have a secret superpower: the platform of affirmation. Not just a stage—but the spiritual authority to bless and commission people in their calling.
Entrepreneurs need a few specific things that the church can provide:
1. Visibility with Purpose
Entrepreneurs don’t need the spotlight. But they do need to know that their work matters in God’s eyes. Giving space for them to share their story helps others see how faith and work intersect—and encourages the entrepreneur that their church believes in them.
2. Encouragement Over Outcomes
Entrepreneurs live in a results-driven world. The church can be a place where value is found in faithfulness, not just profit margins. Speaking life over someone’s courage and obedience—even if their venture is still struggling—can be life-changing.
3. Space to Connect and Grow
Entrepreneurs thrive in connection. The church can provide a trusted, relational environment for peer support, prayer, and idea-sharing that’s hard to find in competitive business settings.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24
Churches can become more than teaching centers—they can become incubators for transformation.
You don’t need to build a business school in your fellowship hall. Small churches thrive when they focus on intimacy, flexibility, and community—the very ingredients entrepreneurs need most.
Here are some ways to start:
1. Create a Monthly “Builder’s Table”
Start a monthly lunch or coffee meet-up for entrepreneurs. No agenda—just community. Use a roundtable format and ask:
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What’s going well?
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Where are you stuck?
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How can we pray for you?
Even with 3–5 people, this can create deep, lasting relationships and spiritual accountability.
2. Dedicate a Service to Commissioning Entrepreneurs
Once or twice a year, invite business owners to come forward and pray over them publicly. Commission them as you would missionaries. Speak Scripture over their ventures. Bless them to go out and build with excellence and integrity.
This kind of affirmation is rare—and unforgettable.
3. Feature an Entrepreneur’s Story on a Sunday
During a service or testimony time, let an entrepreneur share how their faith informs their work. Encourage transparency, not just success stories. Their vulnerability will minister to others in all walks of life.
4. Offer Occasional Faith + Work Workshops
Once or twice a year, host a workshop on integrating faith and work. Topics can include:
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Honoring God in leadership decisions
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Navigating finances with integrity
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Dealing with fear and failure
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Finding rest and Sabbath as a builder
Bring in a guest speaker if needed—or just create discussion groups from curated video content or podcasts.
Let’s not forget—Jesus spent most of His earthly life in the marketplace.
Before preaching to crowds, He built tables. He managed clients, deadlines, and material costs. He likely worked long hours and weathered challenging economic conditions in Nazareth.
He didn’t start His public ministry until age 30—which means the vast majority of His life was lived as a man of business, integrity, and community.
That means Jesus gets it. He understands the tension of building, the grind of daily labor, and the calling of creative work. Entrepreneurs in your congregation are not just building products—they are bearing the image of the Builder.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” – Psalm 127:1
God isn’t just interested in church buildings. He’s interested in the builders.
Pastor, your job isn’t to manage the mechanics of someone’s startup or oversee their business plan.
Your calling is to shepherd hearts, speak life, and bless the builders God has entrusted to your church.
Let your church be more than a Sunday gathering.
Let it be a place where dreamers feel safe to dream.
Where failure is met with grace.
Where faithful risk-takers find prayer partners, mentors, and spiritual covering.
Because when your entrepreneurs know they are seen, loved, and sent, they will build not just companies—but movements that advance the Kingdom of God in places the pulpit may never reach.
We are here for you, Pastor! As your partner in ministry, we want to:
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