Integrating business and ministry for the Kingdom

Innovation is a crucial word in business and often marks the difference between a business just existing and truly thriving. In the realm of work for the Kingdom of God, innovation is foundational to success, whether through traditional ministry and missions or through integrating evangelism and discipleship into business, education, communications, and more. North Central University is increasingly an incubator where amazing ideas and innovation are making an impact.

Business as mission

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) is equipping students, alumni, and global partners with innovative business strategies, generating growth and foundational knowledge for “regular business” and Business as Mission (BAM). According to IIE Director Brian Stewart, DBA, “IIE is focused on bridging the gap between knowing and doing. We provide students real-life opportunities to grow their skill sets.” Erik Cooper, an NCU board member and President of The Stone Table (thestonetable.org), works with IIE on BAM endeavors. “Business as mission is the intentional integration of business and ministry to create a sustainable missional presence of the Kingdom of God in a particular community,” Cooper said. “It’s the ability to honor God and love our neighbor through the work of our hands.” The Stone Table is a strategic partner with the IIE. IIE also partners with Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) and River Valley Church in Minnesota to equip current and future missionaries with business skills. Through the IIE, North Central students provide support and administration, in areas such as accounting and operations, for BAM initiatives that will open doors and bring businesses to communities in hard-to-reach countries.

In 2019, Stewart took an exploratory trip to a closed country. The IIE is working with business owners in that country on enterprises offering co-working spaces and an English language school. As travel opportunities resume post-pandemic, the hope is to send students to consult with the in-country entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses.

“Another example of work the IIE is doing is its work with missionaries,” Stewart said. “They send items native to their country to us, and we then will sell their products on sites like Amazon and Etsy. The goal is to empower our missionaries to create more self-sustaining streams of revenue while also providing NCU students the experience in marketing, sourcing, inventory management and accounting skills.” On the NCU campus, IIE also provides leadership and management opportunities for students participating in a unique model for running the NCU Campus Store and Copying and Mailing Services. The skills they develop will benefit BAM initiatives and organizations the students will serve in the U.S. after graduation.

The Knowledge Box

The Knowledge Box provides computing devices to schools, orphanages, churches, and social programs in developing countries. The Knowledge Box is a program supported by Global Horizons, Inc. (globalhz.org); NCU faculty members Nan Muhovich, Ph.D. (Global Studies), and Colin Miller, M.A.R., M.Div. (School of Technology), serve on the GHI board.

With a goal to make technology accessible to areas that lack the resources or infrastructure for online educational materials, particularly in areas where electricity and internet are not available or reliable, the main product of The Knowledge Box is a low-cost computer device loaded with software—educational materials, videos, books, and games. For his senior project this year, one of Miller’s students built a complete computer tower and donated ir to The Knowledge Box project. Miller encourages his students to apply their technology skills for furthering the Gospel and serving others.

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