If you don’t already know me, my name is Alex Navas and I truly love business. In fact my first business was as a 13 year old installing car stereos for friends. I’ve had 4 businesses in the last 15 years and I can’t imagine myself not being in business.

Even though I’m fascinated with business and entrepreneurship, that’s not what I’m here to talk about right now.

You see, in 2002 when I was running a successful mortgage company here in Chicago, I was invited by a friend to go to a men’s retreat and it was a weekend that forever changed my life. While I was born and raised in the church, it was that weekend in January of 2002 that I gave my life to Christ and my eyes were finally opened.

I went back to business on Monday, only it wasn’t business as usual. For the first time I realized that my partner at the time wasn’t operating ethically and I had a huge decision to make. Either I would be comfortable with the success I achieved and the money I was making or give it all up while having a 1 year old and a wife counting on me so I can glorify God through the business.

It was very difficult considering I was still financially immature and spent everything I made.

Then I did it.

I made the one decision that makes all the difference in life and business.

I chose to give up everything, sell my half of the business for $1 and by faith, walk away from a lucrative business.

I wanted to run my business God’s way even with the little I knew about God at the time.

The unfortunate thing is I didn’t have anyone to confide in who understood the life of a Christian business owner like me. While I had spiritual guidance in my life, there wasn’t anyone who looked at business the way I did; as a calling.

Fast forward a year and I was sitting at our pastor’s table having dinner when I asked…

“IS THERE A MINISTRY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME; A GROUP OF BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS TO FULFILL THE BIGGER PURPOSE GOD HAS FOR US?”

The answer wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Looking back now, it was something I needed to hear in order for God to begin working his purpose in me. That day God showed me a need, not only for myself, but for others who desire to align themselves with like minded entrepreneurs who want to shine the light of Christ on the world through their businesses.

I wanted to be part of something big and felt that I was all alone trying to figure out how to run my business to support my family, serve clients at a high level, but most importantly, I wanted my business to honor God and serve His people!

Aside from not having support from likeminded faith-focused entrepreneurs, the other big dilemma that many Christian business owners experience is the lack of proper business training and education on how to create and grow a successful business without compromising your integrity and character.

You see, you may have all the great people you need around you but it still comes down to doing what works in business on a consistent basis or there is no business.

Once you have a business you must focus on relationship building, sales and marketing to effectively get more clients and customers. Once you have customers you have to know how to serve them at a high level so they see the light shining through you throughout the process.

Not only are these critical but you also have to know about accounting, management, leadership and much, much more.

So where do you turn?

Just because you do run a Christian business doesn’t mean you don’t have to learn these critical components to running a successful business. God’s favor is on you yet he still requires you to equip yourself for the journey.

There’s absolutely no way around it. This in itself is a major point of failure: believing that you don’t have to actually have business skills just because you’re Christian.

He expects us to be the best stewards of what He gives us (remember the parable of the talents).

While there’s many resources out there to learn these important business lessons, the problem is it takes a whole lot of time, money and organization to keep them all together and actually put them to use.

That’s aside from the gap that exists in the marketplace for Christian business owners like you and I.

See, on one hand, there are Christian business organizations that provide spiritual equipping but their practical strategies for running and growing a business aren’t addressed.

Then there are others that provide excellent practical advice and yet leave out the most important ingredient of all; how our faith and family fit into the business.

What we’re left with is a compartmentalized support system that doesn’t deal with full business needs of Christian entrepreneurs.

So what’s the solution?