Episode 337 - Why Society Trusts Entrepreneurs 2X More Than Pastors | Mark Grunden

When Church Meets Business: Unlocking the Power of Partnership

Join host Justin Forman as he reunites with Mark Grunden, who brings a unique perspective from both the business world and pastoral ministry. Their unexpected connection at the DMZ in South Korea leads to a compelling conversation about why society trusts entrepreneurs twice as much as pastors—and how this presents an unprecedented opportunity for Kingdom impact.

Drawing from groundbreaking research with Barna Group, this episode reveals how 70% of entrepreneurs believe that when churches and business leaders partner together, they can solve the world's greatest problems. Mark shares practical insights from his journey through missions, entrepreneurship, and ministry at Saddleback Church, offering a roadmap for churches ready to empower their entrepreneurial members.

Key Topics:

• Why society respects entrepreneurs 2x more than pastors (and why that's an opportunity, not a threat)
• The faith and work movement goes mainstream: Insights from Lausanne 2024
• How Saddleback Church pioneered faith and work ministry since the 1990s
• Breaking the "parking jacket and coffee" ministry trap for high-capacity leaders
• Why entrepreneurs are the natural first step for churches entering faith and work
• Building sustainable church networks that empower business leaders
• Practical tools: Foundation Groups and annual conferences that transform communities

Notable Quotes:

"Society at large, they respect entrepreneurs two times more than pastors of the community." - Mark Grunden

"The way that we're gonna make a positive contribution or impact in the communities that our churches sit within, is really by empowering the entrepreneurs, business leaders of our communities and of our congregations to take that front row leadership voice." - Mark Grunden

"Nearly seven out of 10 entrepreneurs believe that when the church and when business leaders and entrepreneurs kind of come together that man, there's a really good chance of solving some of the big problems of the world." - Justin Forman