Week 3 Ministry in Deed and Word

Ministry in Deed

Embracing the Marketplace as Our Place of Ministry

Faith Driven Entrepreneurs believe that God has placed us in the marketplace to be salt and light through our actions. We look to love our employees and the broader communities in which we do business in a way that is exemplary and distinctive.

We are entrepreneurs that acknowledge that we need to be active members of our local community as leaders and encourage our employees to do the same. We 1) provide our employees with an opportunity to do meaningful work 2) pay them well and, 3) encourage them to love their families and communities well.

Initiatives:

?Understand the “Shadow of a Leader.”?Provide the example of date nights,?family dinners and attendance at kids’ sporting events.

?Corporate Social Responsibility Projects.?Serving together as a company in our communities with projects championed by our workers.

?Benefits packages that are at, or better than those in our industries

?Creative structures that allow our employees to love on their own families well.

?Access to and encouragement for physical fitness

Scripture reference:

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. - Matthew 5:16

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD. - Proverbs 16:2

That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. - Romans 1:12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” - 3 John 1:2

“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” - Proverbs 21:3

Ministry in Word

Leading with a Limp. Allowing the Gospel to Shine through our Brokenness.

We all want to appear like we have it all together. As entrepreneurs, we want our investors, employees, and customers to know that everything is under control. We can take care of everything. We can handle whatever comes our way.

The problem with this attitude is that it often ends with us putting up a front. And trying to manipulate the way others perceive us is a slippery slope because eventually all we have is this false frame that others see with no concept of our actual self that lies within it. We can quickly become walking shells of humans with personalities we’ve merely created for ourselves.

Here’s the truth: we can’t do it alone, and even if we could, it’s not about us anyway. God wants our honest hearts, not the facades we put up for others, or the version of ourselves we’re most proud of. But to give Him that requires humility.

We are entrepreneurs that realize that our own brokenness is an outstanding opportunity to share the reason for the hope that we have—it’s a chance to lead with a limp. We understand that sharing “why” we do what we do is effective leadership when done with gentleness and respect.?

We believe that praying for opportunities to share our faith and employing initiatives like chaplaincy and praying with and for our partners, vendors, customers and employees in times of crisis can be a winsome witness when done with gentleness and respect.??

Initiatives:

?Management shares Biblical truth with staff and other business relationships when culturally appropriate

?As a form of witness, company has clear policy on business ethics and doing business in a God-honoring manner

?Management prays with others in the marketplace as appropriate

?Believers within the company regularly get together to pray for the business and those in and around it

?Seeking to take what God has taught us in the workplace and encouraging other believers in business

Scripture references:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. - 1Peter 3:15

And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. - Luke 24:47

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. - 2 Timothy 1:8

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20