Is there another way? Apostolic Entrepreneurs

OK. We are on dangerous but fun grounds when we begin to explore ideas that are not clearly and overtly in scripture. I was on skype recently, when chatting with a dear friend about his future. Inadvertently, for many the only big adventure presented to them was "plant a church". Like the old traveling medicine man of days long gone, there was one cure for all ailments - for any person who had a big story in their heart, we directed them to plant a church. That was not conscious nor was it malicious. We were so impassioned to change the world for Jesus, we gave a very narrow adventure, even a career path — become a church planter.

Church planters were the heroes. They were the role models. They were the real believers. They really wanted to serve Jesus. Churches that planted churches were the real deal. So the message was clear and obedience was pre-scripted. The validation for many was not the marketplace, but the church. It was never intentional but the career path for all was 'become and deacon, then an elder, then a church planter...' That wrong needs be corrected.

I am passionate about planting. It leaks out of my very pores. We are merely scratching the surface of what we are to do. More churches to be planted. More churches to be replanted. So I do not want to water down this clarion call. However, it does require that we clearly and overtly validate, train and facilitate others who have a similar heart but have a very different mandate in how they are to express this call — the apostolic entrepreneur .

As this is a newer vocabulary, it is not a new idea. May I add, I am not an expert on this subject but am wanting to stimulate this conversation? What is an 'apostolic entrepreneur'?

• To be 'apostolic' should include some of the following ingredients:
• To have a desire and grasp of God's bigger story,
• To understand the redemption nature of all that we do,
• To see the gospel as central to our journey,
• To be a guardian of doctrine and a proclaimer of truth,
• To view all ventures through the lenses of 'discipling all nations'
• To use the scripture as the matrix for all decisions,
• To be a masterbuilder both in architecture as well as in building,
• To be in partnership with other Eph 4 minded folks,
• To be fully kingdom minded,
• To have an ability to identify and develop leaders,
• To seed many other apo ventures,
• To set in order that which is lacking,
• To be the scum of the earth,
• To continuously be catalytic of new God adventures and stories.

To be entrepreneurial with this in mind may well include the following:

• The entrepreneur is a risk taker. They are not overly preoccupied by systems or forms. They are more captivated by converting big ideas into strategic projects,
• They operate best in space and are dreamers of new angles and ways,
• They are comfortable with risk and dislike empty repetition,
• They want to make much profit but the administration of the profit begins to set them apart from others,
• They delight to see this profit as vehicles of kingdom expansion,
• They are not imperialistic, so do not ask them to sell your brand,
• They are driven by money as world changers but are finding it more and more difficult to simply pour it into the church. They want to invest in other world changing forums,
• They are wanting to play a role in empowering those involved in social justice, strategic philanthropic projects, uplifting the poor, disabled, uneducated, abused,
• They see the world as their stage but want one successful project at a time,
• They want to empower others to start businesses to multiply the journey, not just create ongoing dependence,
• They may need to be coached on how their business plan can be shaped by the gospel, the kingdom and biblical financial adventures,

They need to be validated, even if most of what they do is not to the church nor for the church — but is for the kingdom.

I trust this creates a conversation that may help some understand their apostolic heart matched with a marketplace passion. We can help each other forward with some pretty cool big stories.