brick & mortar
The ability to manage the business side of ministry effectively makes or breaks an organization . The most effective leaders and pastors understand the importance of running a church , ministry or nonprofit well on the business side . However , business is rarely , if ever , a part of theological education . Even aspiring social workers have very little business training .
We all are stewards of the resources and money God has entrusted to us personally , but pastors and ministry leaders are also stewards of the resources given by their constituents . Everyone in ministry must learn and grow in their financial responsibility in order to handle God ’ s resources effectively . In fact , the better leaders are at handling the business side of their ministry , the greater the impact they can make in the lives of people and for the kingdom of God .
I want you to make a significant difference in your community . I truly believe that churches and nonprofits can change the world by transforming families , communities , cities and countries with the grace and love of God .
Sometimes when we talk about business , it may seem like it shouldn ’ t be associated with the church and nonprofit ministry . After all , Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple in anger ( Matt . 21:12 – 13 ). But this was because they were abusing the people and hindering them from worship . The money changers were overcharging the people , and this was at the heart of Jesus ’ anger . Jesus wanted people to come unhindered to His “ house of prayer .” However , other times Jesus teaches us about how we should “ give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar ’ s , and to God the things that are God ’ s ” ( Mark 12:17 ). Jesus watched people put their gifts into the offering basket and commended the widow for giving “ all she had to live on ” ( Mark 12:41 – 44 ). Jesus teaches us about being good stewards with what we have been given . Ministry and business are not mutually exclusive ; in God ’ s order , they go together .
Ministry and business are not mutually exclusive
Often when we use business terms — margin , revenue , expenses , return on investment — it can sound like we are speaking a different language . But we need to learn some of this language in order to be more effective in our calling . We do not need a master ’ s in business , but we do need to be proficient in the basics . When we go on mission trips and do ministry in another country , we endeavor to learn the language in order to more effectively help the people and share the gospel . Understanding the language of business can help do the same for ministry .
God values His created order , and He desires for His church to be rightly ordered and organized as well . Yet sometimes churches and nonprofits do not spend the time needed to build the infrastructure for the system to run well . We can do greater ministry when we are organized and structured for sustained success .
We should study well-run businesses and learn how they operate . Business is simply the practice of bringing together resources in a system to accomplish a successful result . This is a system , and God ’ s church can learn so much in this area of business . In fact , we should be doing the ministry better than any for-profit business because what we do has both present and eternal ramifications .
In the business world , there is a skill in demand called “ systems thinking .” This is the awareness of how inputs and actions in one place impact other places in the organization . There is a need for people who understand how decisions in one area impact the whole . The same is needed in the
continued on page 14 >>
www . christianretailassociation . org / CRA today 13