Can You Engage in Ministry and Be an Entrepreneur?

What does it take to pursue entrepreneurial ministry? In a word, courage. Dreams and plans that never come to fruition are like apple blossoms that fall to the ground, beautiful in their moment but never unleashing their potential. A major obstacle to changing that cycle is courage, or rather the lack thereof. Surprisingly, conversations focused on the spirituality of would-be entrepreneurs often gravitate toward this common challenge.

It was true for the yoga instructor with a deep sense of ministerial identity, laboring to blend the two into a new manifestation of spiritual community. It was true for the one who’d spent years developing resources for others like herself who were forced to cope with sudden life changes but could find no one who could speak to their condition. It resonated with one who saw overlooked and underappreciated lives in rural America and felt an urge to remind them of their resources and value. All were consumed by a passion for their particular vision, but each felt some degree of isolation, uncertainty, and lack of a few necessary skills. Courage to identify and take the next step was crucial lest these impulses join the universe’s mounting heap of failed dreams.

What separated these individuals from many others who describe themselves as “entrepreneurs” was that for each one, the primary motivation was something other than ego or fortune. Rather it was a persistent inner stirring--an urge that came from deep within. Some would label it as a divine calling which felt like a constant nag, demanding attention. Even though it had the marks of a call from the Divine, institutional support for nurturing it was nearly impossible to find.

Life’s purpose and passion can be slow to reveal itself, and often arrives with some assembly required. When it possesses a conviction to contribute toward a better world, it can have the feel of ministry—and it could be! Ministry doesn’t have to be tethered to the walls or programs of an institution. It can flourish in various forms anywhere a person faithfully offers their service to meet the needs of the moment.

Helper. Conveyor of good. Entrepreneur. Minister. What you call it isn’t nearly as important as getting to it. In a word, it takes courage.