Entrepreneurship and the Church

Across the United States, many religious institutions engage in what can be considered entrepreneurial ventures to raise funds for their various ministries and outreach activities. There are certainly business aspects to every church, as the institution has fixed and variable expenditures, requires investment to grow, owns property (assets), and has a management structure. Taking the notion a step further, some enterprising ministers and church leaders also seek to connect the members of the church with each other for the procurement or provision of services and products. On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, Biz Talk With Josh Host Joshua I. Smith, and his guests discussed the Solomon School of Success at Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, MD, with Dr. Jamal Harrison-Bryant, and Mr. Anthony Robinson, President, Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund (MBELDEF). Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, Pastor at Empowerment Temple, has broken the stereotype of yesterday’s clergyman. With more than 8,500 members attending weekly services at Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Maryland, and approximately 35,000 followers on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, he believes that “God is not just in the church; He is also in technology.” His mission is to “empower people spiritually, develop them educationally, expose them culturally, activate them politically, and strengthen them economically.” For over 20 years, Anthony Robinson has been advocating, directing litigation, identifying and developing resources for, and defending the rights of small, minority and women-owned businesses Nationwide. He is frequently called upon by the U.S. Congress, Federal and state agencies, and businesses large and small for his knowledge, perspective and guidance on matters impacting Federal, state and local government procurement, and legislation directly effecting the business community at large.