How would you like: (1) Access to capital and entrepreneurship networks. (2) Theological foundations. (3) Professional consulting services. These are three of the components of Redeemer's Entrepreneur Incubator. Here is a church leading the way in thinking through how to connect 'capitalism' with 'Kingdom'. Keller connects how investment banking can be Kingdom minded in his seminar Cultural Renewal: The Role of the Intrapreneur and the Entrepreneur. He argues that God is keenly interested in this world and restoring it from the fall. We are called to bring about this change, but ultimately, it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns. He goes so far as to say, "the purpose of salvation is to make this world a great place. Salvation is only a temporary means to an end."
This thinking is most certainly novel. Are there Christian venture capitalist who desire to seek both earthly and spiritual returns? A search for "christian venture capitalist" brought only one 'venture capitalist' organization, Kingom Ventures, that "is a philanthropic venture capital firm focused on supporting emerging Christian ministries around the world." The search also brought an article (Venture Capital and God: Commentary on Kingdom-Based Investing ) by Ken Eldred, who has founded many successful companies including Ariba Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: ARBA) the leader in the Internet Business-to-Business industry and which has reached a market valuation as high as $40 Billion. He was also Founder, Chairman and CEO of Inmac a company which he took Public in 1987 and grew to $400 million in yearly revenues as the first business to sell computer products, supplies, and accessories by direct mail and later merged with MicroWarehouse. I searched for 'Ken Eldred ' and found his own venture capital company, Parakletos Ventures. Ken served as co-editor of the book, On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies.
On Kingdom Business proposes a new model for using business in missions: kingdom entrepreneurship. Kingdom entrepreneurs are "job-makers," starting for-profit businesses of all sizes–real businesses that meet real needs. This book provides a conceptual foundation for kingdom entrepreneurship and explores its contemporary development using case studies of kingdom businesses and reflecting on the lessons kingdom entrepreneurs have already learned.
I don't know why there aren't more Christians rallying behind the physical expression of God's restorative plan. It is encouraging to see Al Weiss form Vision USA, with the aim to raise $300 million over the next 10 years for aggressive church planting in 50 of the country's most influential cities. Weiss is reaching out to business leaders to invest in this necessary plan. But…
how great would it be to login to a site like Kiva to provide funding support to Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs, church planters, missionaries and the lot.