The church today faces a stark reality: while the Gospel has never lost its power, most North American congregations are plateaued or declining. At the same time, countless Christians carry untapped gifts and fresh ideas that could reignite mission in powerful ways. My doctoral research explored how missional entrepreneurs might help the church recover its focus on the Great Commission. These visionary believers take risks, imagine new ways of engaging their communities, and create platforms of Kingdom value that bring both spiritual and social transformation.
This is not a new phenomenon. Entrepreneurial leaders have always been part of God’s redemptive story. The apostle Paul funded his missionary journeys through his tentmaking trade, turning his work into a platform for Gospel witness. Lydia, a successful merchant, opened her home for what became one of the earliest house churches. The early church itself was a Spirit-empowered movement marked by creativity and innovation—whether in how they shared resources, crossed cultural barriers, or proclaimed Christ in new places. History shows us that whenever the church has leaned into entrepreneurial approaches, the Gospel has advanced.
Over time, as North American Christianity became more institutionalized, the entrepreneurial gifts of God’s people were often sidelined. Leaders with creative or risk-taking instincts were told their ideas were impractical or disruptive. In today’s climate marked by widespread loneliness, disconnection, and spiritual curiosity, those gifts are once again essential.
Three consistent themes came from the research. First, the church often fails to recognize entrepreneurial gifting. Many leaders are unsure how to engage innovators in their congregations, leaving valuable Kingdom ideas unrealized. Second, missional entrepreneurs uniquely integrate evangelism and social impact. Whether through coffee shops, microchurches, or community hubs, they create spaces of belonging while pointing people to Jesus. Third, churches that learn to recognize, resource, and release entrepreneurs see powerful results: new ministries emerge, communities are served, and disciples are multiplied.
The evidence is clear: when entrepreneurial leaders are encouraged and empowered, the church begins to function more like a movement than an institution. Congregations rediscover their missional DNA, believers are equipped to use their gifts beyond Sunday mornings, and communities experience both tangible care and spiritual renewal. In short, missional entrepreneurs help the church live more fully into the Great Commission.
The Great Commission is not optional. In this cultural moment, missional entrepreneurs are among the most strategic catalysts God has given the church. By embracing their creativity, courage, and Spirit-led imagination, the church can once again move from maintenance to mission and bring the whole Gospel to the whole world.
This post is a summary of the work of Dr. Tracee Swank, who was awarded her Doctor of Ministry degree from Winebrenner in 2024. You can read more about Dr. Swank’s work at https://churchdoctorministries.com/ Tracee’s DMin Project can be read at https://winebrenner.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kingdom-Entrepreneurs-Beyond-the-Church-with-the-Church-Swank.pdf