5 Truths That Guide Missional Entrepreneurs

Starting  and running a business is hard enough. Starting a business that focused on transforming lives is even harder. That's why mission entrepreneurs must keep focused on these five truths in order to not get off course or discouraged in their business pursuits. This is not an exhaustive list but it will give you a good framework to consider.

1. Connected to God - Missional entrepreneurs above all else live the primary commandments to love God and love people. Their enterprise becomes a strategic and creative way for them to express love through the use of their gifts and talents to serve people with excellence. Further, the importance of staying connected to God is to receive direction and strength to fulfill the purposes of God through their business.

2. Conformed to Christ - Your reputation is your greatest asset as an entrepreneur. Character and integrity shaped by Christ form the bedrock of a way of living - for reasons beyond just doing business. From this foundation business becomes an incredible opportunity to let your light shine through the love of Christ and business practices He would endorse.
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3. Committed to the Great Commission - To me the biggest difference between mission driven businesses and others is the ultimate end goal. For Christian entrepreneurs one purpose of the business should be about the salvation of souls and transformation of lives. God gives different people different ministry platforms, and business is a very strategic one for many. Entrepreneurs who embrace the role of "business pastors" will most likely spend more time one-on-one with people than pulpit pastors. We need both roles, so we definitely can't downplay the significant contribution that Christian entrepreneurs can make to the Kingdom of God in the marketplace.

Related Article: 8 Clues it May be Time to Quit Your Job and Start a Mission Driven Business

4. Community Consciousness - Missional entrepreneurs are aware of and sensitive to the issues and needs of the community to which God has connected your heart. There is an intentionality about using your platform to address the pressures from outside and inside that challenge the health and vitality of that community. There is not a sense of "us and them." Instead the focus is on "we" as in an extended family.

5. Collaborative Solutions - One of the worst things that hurts communities are people and organizations who come riding into a community on a proverbial white horse trying to "save the day," but without connecting with the individuals and organizations that already exist within that community. It takes collaborative teams to accomplish big dreams, working strategically with individuals and organizations that have a similar vision for the community. Communities that are in distress still possess extremely valuable assets - people, organizations, wisdom, experience, talents and skills, resources, etc. - that should be identified and engaged as part of the solution. Just because you have great ideas doesn't mean you have the only ideas to transform a community.

So if you have been on the fence about pursuing a mission driven business, hopefully this will encourage you and push you forward with confidence.