The Unexpected Journey: How Business and Ministry Co-Exist

Discover the power of using your skills and talents for God's purposes in the world. This church in Lafayette, Indiana is making a difference.
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Here Bono from U2 explain how the marketplace can engage the Great Commission - • Bono Explains How The ...
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The Stone Table is here to mobilize the marketplace for the great commission.
Summary:
Discover how two members of a church in Lafayette, Indiana, turned their entrepreneurial instincts into a community center that serves as a bridge between the church and the local community. Ron Clark and John Thompson share their journey of acquiring and donating a property to the church, creating a space that offers various services and meets the needs of the community. This inspiring story showcases the power of using business skills and talents for God's kingdom and making a positive impact in the world.
Key Takeaways:
⚡️Entrepreneurial skills can play a crucial role in church-led community development, leveraging business savvy to benefit both the marketplace and the mission field.
⚡️The creation of River City Community Center showcases the blend of ministry and marketplace, meeting community needs and building bridges to the church.
⚡️Strategic planning, real estate investments, and tax calculations played roles in transferring ownership of the community center property to the church at no cost.
⚡️A thoughtful approach to philanthropy, coupled with shrewd business practices, can magnify the impact of giving for both donors and beneficiaries.
⚡️Acts of service aligned with personal faith can leave a lasting legacy and attract new individuals to the church through diverse community engagement.
Quotes:
- “The church needs to find ways to incarnate itself into its communities and offer things that are of interest to people and that are important to people, so that people can see the value of a church."
- "God had given them the clear indication that we were going to own this property someday."
- "The marketplace belongs to God. The gospel redeems and resurrects all things. Business was always intended to be part of God's kingdom."
- "You don't start out with a project like this. You start out very small and realize that what God's called you for."
- "There's not going to be u haul behind my casket carrying my assets. There's nothing. So I have to utilize the assets, whatever they may be, to glorify God."
- "I have met people on a Sunday morning who have come to church and they are ending up giving their lives to Christ. And I'll say, how did you find us? And they'll say something like, I was at a coin show at the community center, and I thought, wow, the church does something like this. I gotta see what that church is like."
0:00:23 John and Ron’s involvement with the church
0:00:35 Desire to change the world through giving
0:01:14 Church's vision for an outward-focused ministry
0:01:55 Need for the church to engage with the community
0:02:53 Belief that the church would own a particular property
0:03:01 Ron and John's unexpected opportunity
0:03:38 Creative plan to donate the property to the church
0:04:56 Opening of the River City Community Center
0:06:41 Surprising impact of the community center
0:07:15 Utilizing skills and talents for God's purposes
0:08:10 People discovering the church through the community center
#church #generosity #thestonetable

[@Alexdparkinson]

I stumbled across this video and really enjoyed it. I am a missionary evangelist (originally from Indiana) and as of late I’ve been talking with the Lord about how to fund overseas projects in a creative way. This is a powerful testimony. So glad I watched. God bless your work.

[@thestonetable_org]

We're so glad their story encouraged you! Thank you for your work in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.