Tell us about your leadership journey.

Well, on paper I appear a bit confused. I was a music major in college but ultimately graduated with a business degree in accounting. I spent five years in both public and private firms before transitioning into full-time ministry — eight years as a music pastor in a large suburban church, and four years as a church planter in an urban context.

Now in my early 40s, my experience in both ministry and business are colliding in a beautiful way. It’s interesting to look back and see how a seemingly disjointed journey was actually a God-directed plan. I wouldn’t be able to lead in the context I am today without all of these diverse experiences.

What is The Stone Table, and how did its vision come to life?

Almost 25 years ago, my former pastor and some savvy entrepreneurs (one that I call dad) recognized an emerging opportunity in the affordable housing business.

They launched Community Reinvestment Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at creating and sustaining high-quality low-income housing for people who need it, with half the business profits designated for underwriting global missions projects. These guys were missional-business before it was cool. Until 2015, all our missions investment was handled by one of our founding board members, Tom Paino. The Stone Table is our 21st-century renewal of that original vision, leveraging business to create sustainable revenue for global missions work. I get to stand on the shoulders of some giants.

How is the Stone Table partnering with local churches for the sake of the gospel?

One early example happened this past fall as we joined forces with four Indiana churches to underwrite five Live Dead missional business church planting projects. But beyond fundraising alone, we also plan to serve the Church by becoming a catalyst for connecting, educating and multiplying missional business and entrepreneurial development. We want to examine our work theology and do more to help break down the sacred-secular divide.

What is work theology, and why is it weak in the Christian community?

When I was growing up in church, we clearly separated those called into ministry from those destined for secular work.

On the surface, I completely understand the dichotomy. There’s something special about the ecclesiastical work of a pastor. But we confuse God’s vocational calling for those in the marketplace. Their ministry is defined as volunteering at their church, or simply making the money to give to those doing the truly “sacred” work. That picture is incomplete, and unbiblical. Those in nonchurch work need to understand the sacredness of their 8-to-5 calling, and how God uses all of us to cultivate His world for His glory and the love of our neighbors.

In what ways is 21st-century missiology changing, and how is The Stone Table uniquely positioned to meet these changes?

The world is changing rapidly. The middle class is rising; the majority world church is maturing; urbanization and technology are radically transforming how we interact; and the center of Christianity is shifting away from the postmodern West.

The way we do missions has to change, too. The Stone Table sees the connection between business and mission as a huge opportunity, and after conversations with Dr. Greg Mundis and Assemblies of God World Misions, it’s clear they are putting a strategic emphasis on it.

Even church planters are realizing the cultural and financial impact of leveraging creative business models. The Stone Table wants to be there on the front line, seeing the same gospel proclaimed in new ways in this new day.

This article originally appeared in the June/July issue of Influence. For more print content, subscribe here.