Business Is Ministry: What That Really Means to Me

Business Is Ministry: What That Really Means to Me

In my first blog, I shared how my journey with Christians In Business began and how, after retiring from a career of more than 35 years, I discovered that God wasn’t finished with me yet.

Along the way, I also discovered something else that has become very important to me:

Business is ministry.

When we hear the word ministry, we often think of pastors, missionaries, churches or nonprofit organizations. But I have come to believe that ministry can happen anywhere—including across a desk, at a jobsite, in a restaurant, behind the wheel of a service truck, or during a conversation with a customer.

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit to make a difference in someone’s life.

It’s About How We Do Business

Calling yourself a Christian business doesn’t mean your business will be perfect. None of us are perfect.

It means striving to conduct ourselves differently.

It means treating people with honesty and respect. Keeping our word. Charging fairly. Admitting when we’ve made a mistake and doing our best to make it right.

It means remembering that the person standing in front of us isn’t simply a sale, a customer, a lead or an invoice.

They’re a person.

And we may have no idea what they’re going through.

Sometimes ministry is simply showing someone kindness on a day when they desperately need it.

I’ve Seen It Happen

One of my favorite parts of Christians In Business is getting to know the people behind the businesses.

I’ve met business owners who pray with their customers.

I’ve often seen people refer business to someone else because they knew that person was better suited for the job.

I’ve watched business owners support nonprofits, help families going through difficult times, mentor other entrepreneurs and quietly give back to their communities without expecting recognition, even small businesses!

Those moments remind me why this mission matters so much to me.

We’re not simply building a directory of Christian businesses.

We’re building connections between people who want their faith to be reflected in the way they live and work.

Supporting One Another Matters

There’s another side of marketplace ministry that I believe is incredibly important.

If we want Christian businesses to thrive, we need to support them.

When you need a realtor, plumber, attorney, restaurant, insurance agent, contractor, financial professional or any other service, why not first see if there is a Christian business in your community that can help?

That doesn’t mean blindly choosing a business simply because it identifies as Christian. Businesses still need to provide excellent service, operate with integrity and earn our trust.

But when we find businesses doing those things, we should support them.

Refer them.

Review them.

Share their posts.

Tell someone about the great experience you had.

Those simple actions can make an enormous difference to a small business owner.

Your Business May Be Your Mission Field

One thing I’ve learned through Christians In Business is that we don’t always have to go somewhere else to serve God.

Sometimes the opportunity is already right in front of us.

It’s the employee who needs encouragement.

The customer who needs someone to listen.

The struggling business owner who needs a referral.

The new entrepreneur who needs someone to believe in them.

Or the person who simply needs to see what integrity, kindness and faith look like in everyday life.

Your business may provide the product or service that pays the bills.

But the way you treat the people God puts in your path?

That’s your ministry.

That’s Why I Do What I Do

My role with Christians In Business gives me an opportunity to connect, encourage and promote Christian business owners locally and across the country.

I love helping a business become more visible.

I love making an introduction that turns into a relationship.

I love seeing one Christian business owner support another.

And I especially love hearing that a connection we helped make turned into a customer, a friendship, a partnership or an opportunity to serve someone.

That’s when I know we’re doing something much bigger than maintaining a business directory.

We’re creating a marketplace where faith and business can come together.

So when I say “Your Business is Your Ministry,” I don’t mean that every conversation has to become a sermon.

I mean something much simpler.

Serve well. Have integrity. Be honest. Love people. Help when you can. Keep your word. And let the way you conduct your business reflect Who you belong to.

That’s marketplace ministry.

And that’s the community I want Christians In Business to continue building.

— Patti Sutherland Christians In Business Connecting Christian businesses. Building relationships. Making an impact.