A Voice to Be Heard

This book provides leadership lessons for us all demonstrating how Christian entrepreneurs are at the heart of the church’s mission and how they are making a major contribution to our society through their endeavours. A Voice to Be Heard explains and celebrates their work, mostly through their own words.

Richard Higginson explains the research project in an Anvil article:

We already had a solid pool of entrepreneurs with whom we were in touch. About 20 of these 50 entrepreneurs were existing contacts; people who have attended Faith in Business events, spoken at these events, or with whom I had a long-standing relationship.

However, we also wanted to branch out and make new contacts. So we set about finding more entrepreneurs. This did not prove difficult. Suggestions came from a wide variety of sources. One contact put us on to another. We came across a particularly strong network of Christian entrepreneurs in North-west England. We could have interviewed many more than 50 and apologise to anyone we weren’t able to fit in who would like to have been included. The line had to be drawn somewhere! We feel that 50 is a good number in that it amounts to a statistically significant sample. We have been able to identify trends and patterns.

The people we interviewed were at varying stages in their careers, and certainly work in a wide range of businesses. They include architecture, cars, ceramics, construction, consultancy, engineering, fashion, finance, food and drink, hospitality, law, media, product design, property, recycling, retail and social enterprise. The age range of our interviewees spanned at least 50 years, from mid 20s to upper 70s.

The result was a book that calls on church leaders to do more to encourage entrepreneurs in their congregations and seek ways to include entrepreneurs’ innovative ways of ‘thinking about mission and planning of mission initiatives.’

'The church needs people who are prepared to think 'outside the box', to be courageous and innovative. Entrepreneurs have a proven record in this respect.'

One of the questions the 50 entrepreneurs were asked was: ‘Do you see your work in business as contributing to the advance of God’s kingdom?’ The response was a huge yes, although the follow up question of ‘How?’ produced a variety of answers.

Some entrepreneurs believe their product or service is making the world a better place, by enhancing the quality of people’s lives in line with God’s purpose for His world. A second group saw advancement of the Kingdom by embodying Christian values with the emphasis being less on content and more on how the company is run and the feeling it is to be working at that company.  Thirdly, some interpreted the kingdom in being open about their faith and speaking explicitly about faith at work, while acknowledging the need to be sensitive about time and place. Finally, the fourth group sees the contribution to God’s Kingdom as giving to charitable and Christian causes.

The four ways of advancing God’ kingdom are therefore making the world a better place, embodying Christian values, witnessing by word, and charitable giving. Richard and Kina feel each is important, and would encourage Christian entrepreneurs to embrace them all.

Kina Robertshaw has developed a Faith in Business video series, Conversations with Christian Entrepreneurs, featuring many entrepreneurs from the book,. In the interviewshe asks them to explain the difference their faith makes to their business.

Kina Robertshaw in conversation with Val King, the co-owner and Managing Director of the Rooflight Company based in Shipton-under-Wychwood and Bourton-on-the-Water. 

Kina Robertshaw in conversation with Simon Lawson the Chairman of Lawsons Timber, Building & Fencing Supplies, the family business.

The UK entrepreneurs Richard and Kina have interviewed form part of a great global movement of Christian entrepreneurs who are making a significant difference in bring people out of poverty and providing meaning and purpose in their lives. There are comparable research projects on Christian entrepreneurs going on in other parts of the world, notably Asia and Africa. Theirs is indeed a voice worth hearing.