Faith-based entrepreneurship continues to grow around the world.
In the entrepreneurial world, purposefulness often stands out as an essential ingredient to success. The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that companies with a strong sense of purpose inspire trust, and companies with a strong and effective strategy of purpose are often highly profitable. Additionally, the rise of profit-oriented business models has led more companies to adopt environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and expand their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
Higher education, especially seminaries, are actively adding purpose-driven entrepreneurship course offerings to address the current market conditions and post-graduation futures of their respective students. “Incorporating business courses into a theological education is a practical response to a harsh reality,” says Timothy Cahill, a graduate of Yale Theological Seminary.
Making a difference and moving business beyond mere personal interests is increasingly adding an ethical component to evolving business models. As a result, it is not surprising that people with strong faith-based personal beliefs blend their entrepreneurial pursuits with faith-based principles.
Many entrepreneurs such as Dave Ramsey and organizations such as Faith Driven Entrepreneur run businesses that are committed to shared personal and professional goals. For these individuals, their efforts to transcend the trading elements common to a particular business have a higher call.
These faith-based entrepreneurs think globally and work collaboratively with a moral compass as their guide. Shared principles form a community whose shared purpose is business and faith.
Often hidden from view is the dominance of the international church that is part of the equation. The World Bank describes a faith-based organization (FBO) as an organization devoted to a religious identity that includes social or moral components. As the World Bank reports, 80% of the world’s population claim religious affiliation, so they are widespread and find importance.
Alph Lukau is a renowned biblical scholar, international speaker, televangelist, entrepreneur, and author interested in connecting with expanding both ministry and business efforts. As senior pastor and general director of Alleluia Ministries International (AMI), he has shaped and grown his South African-based business, which was established in Johannesburg in February 2002.
Lukau describes himself as a modern bridge between spirituality, religious scholarship and business success. To date, his YouTube channel has over 350 million views and 1.4 million subscribers. By way of overview, the current population of the United States is about 334 million, which is even less than the number of viewers on his channel.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I have a strong belief in my work,” says Lekau.
Lukau’s ministry operates AMI TV, a 24-hour Christian television broadcast channel. The station broadcasts in Africa and Europe and has a satellite office in Germany.
Additionally, the AL Foundation, a South African Christian charity founded in 2011 by Lukau, was essential to finding a balance between giving back to the masses and the underserved. “The foundation allows me to give back and express my deep compassion and concern for social welfare. We work for the common good and strive for a higher cause.” I do,” says Luke.
Like Lukew, faith-based entrepreneur Tiffany Montgomery, founder of Kingdom Entrepreneur University, teaches entrepreneurs how to build an online business focused on alleviating the financial fears of becoming a business owner. is teaching. Montgomery has supported more than 3,000 of his students around the world.
In 2016 Montgomery founded the Millions Conference. Each year, she hosts nearly 2,000 faith-based entrepreneurs with her two-day dynamic speaker and education-based breakout sessions, “Influencing Millions to Earn Millions”. It teaches you to give
Seattle Pacific University has furthered the link between entrepreneurship and theological studies by creating a dual degree program for graduate students. The ability of a student to graduate with her MBA and MA in Theological Integration, or a Master of Theology degree, marks a substantial shift in the role education plays in the graduate’s future career her path.
As more students and early-career professionals integrate their personal belief systems into their behavior and career choices, some in academia are examining the impact of faith-based business approaches on society.
Dr. Michael Zigarrelli, author and professor of leadership and strategy at Messiah College, completed a study on 50 Christian-owned businesses for his book Christian Owned Businesses: What is it like for a follower of Jesus to run a business? The author of more than a dozen books, he has found a congregation of entrepreneurs online, like Rukau, whose work has been viewed more than 2 million times in over 130 countries.
“My research shows that many faith-based businesses are exemplary workplaces, exemplary corporate citizens, improve lives and communities, help people face God properly, and contribute to the common good of society. It’s contributing to the bottom line,” Gigarelli says.
In the post-COVID-19 world, research suggests an increasing application to spiritual life, with more focus on the intersection of personal and professional pursuits. . As trends take hold, higher education institutions often adopt seminary initiatives and other seeds of program change, demonstrating a substantial belief in social application.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), faith-based, faith-related, or faith-inspired businesses contribute $437 billion annually to the US economy. Adding to broader religious contributions, the United States is generating $1.2 trillion in annual socioeconomic value, according to the WEF, and that number is growing, reaching $449.9 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 6.4%. is expected to reach
The role faith plays in business design, development and deployment has been debated for decades. Lekau, Montgomery and Gigarelli represent an international and diverse approach to faith-based business and represent a distinct and substantive market subset to the global economy.
Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
