Business as Mission Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

4-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Dr. M. Alan McMahan, Chair

Second Advisor

Dr. Jane E. Rhoades

Third Advisor

Dr. Steven L. Rundle

Abstract

The rural Midwest region of the United States serves as a significant locus for American history, culture, and faith, in addition to being renowned as the nation’s primary agricultural hub for maize and soybeans production. Nevertheless, the prevailing body of literature pertaining to the integration of business and Christian ministry for the common good predominantly represented the viewpoints of individuals engaged in international missions or those involved in urban settings regarding the underlying purposes of business. Limited knowledge existed regarding the practices and perceptions of business as ministry stakeholders in the rural Midwestern United States concerning the concept of the common good. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, the present dissertation employed a basic qualitative research methodology to gather data from a sample of 33 stakeholders representing 14 businesses as Christian ministries, such as farms and small enterprises, situated in the rural region of Iowa, United States. The fundamental understanding of this study was that stakeholders in the rural Midwestern United States who supported business as ministry believed that the organization possesses spiritual, social, intellectual, and financial capital resources that could be utilized for the common good. The present exposition of the common good treasure concept and the business as ministry model is based on well-established scholarly literature, recognized qualitative research methodologies, and the findings derived from the data analysis of this basic qualitative research. Based on the common good treasure concept and the business as ministry model, a purpose and resource-based analysis methodology was developed for business as ministry. This methodology offers valuable insights into the optimization of the common good treasure to achieve sustainable entrepreneurial and ministerial outcomes for business as ministry. The practical implications of this study, as well as the common good treasure concept and the business as ministry model, may aid Christian entrepreneurs in comprehending and managing a business as a Christian ministry. Furthermore, this research has made a significant contribution to the foundation for developing a potential theory of business as ministry, which could include an analysis of its purpose, resources, and market.

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