Volumes about the Christian marketplace or leadership principles are as common as investors chasing a hot stock. Books that focus on business as a missions strategy, however, are rarer than an unattended $100 bill on Wall Street.
But that is starting to change. God Is at Work is a helpful, user-friendly entry to this growing field.
Favorably quoting David Livingstone as saying, "Those two pioneers of civilizationChristianity and commerceshould ever be inseparable," author and venture capitalist Ken Eldred believes historical trends favor business as missions. Indeed, while millions of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have heard little or nothing about Jesus Christ, they have heard much about Adam Smith and want to know more. For Christian entrepreneurs, economic globalization presents an opportunity not just to make money while providing needed goods and services, but also to make investments that will earn interest for eternity.
God Is at Work examines the principles and history of the movement. It provides examples of successful microenterprises and small- and medium-sized businesses, and discusses investing in such ventures.
Eldred, who has provided capital and oversight for a Christian-based call center in Bombay, is strongest on practical issues, but somewhat less so on theological and biblical concerns.
The Profit of God | Finding the Christian path in business. (Jan. 27, 2003)
Bad Company Corrupts | Michael Novak, theological champion of the free market, reflects on what recent business scandals mean for church and state. (Jan. 27, 2003)
When Business Aims for Miracles | Minneapolis-St. Paul business professionals are some of the inner city's most effective "social entrepreneurs." (May 25, 2001)