The Dream of Kingdom Business / Workplace Church Rising from the Frontiers

Seong-Wook Lee(formerly, Department of Economics, University of Suwon)

1. Kingdom Business / Workplace Church to Channel God’s Wealth

For a nation to become wealthy means that its citizens’ incomes increase, and income growth reflects higher productivity in the labor they provide. So, how is productivity increased? It is said that a nation’s productivity growth stems from seven types of capital.

First Capital: Human Capital

Human capital does not simply refer to a population capable of supplying labor; it refers to the ability to provide quality labor in the workplace through education and training. South Korea had strong human capital because literacy rates were very high due to the invention of Hangul, and citizens were motivated to escape poverty and educate their children, which increased work ethic. In that sense, although 1960s Korea lacked almost everything else, it still had sufficient human capital to initiate economic development.

Second Capital: Natural Capital

Natural capital is not merely the stock of natural resources; it refers to resources that can be extracted from nature and used for production with the aid of physical capital, such as mining equipment. Yet many African countries, despite having abundant natural resources, often experienced political instability and civil war due to human greed.

Third Capital: Physical / Financial Capital

South Korea in the 1960s also lacked physical capital needed to kick-start economic development. The Park Chung-hee government, which seized power through a coup, visited the U.S. in 1961 to express its determination for economic growth and requested long-term loans, but was refused by the Kennedy administration. In 1964, a visit to Germany secured a long-term loan of 150 million Deutsche Marks (about $40 million), guaranteed by the salaries of dispatched Korean miners and nurses. Additionally, the 1965 Korea-Japan agreement provided $500 million (300 million in grants, 200 million in loans), which served as seed money for constructing the Gyeongbu Expressway and establishing Pohang Steel, fueling economic development. For the unreached people at the margins to whom we must preach the gospel, financial capital to kick-start economic growth is often extremely scarce.

Fourth Capital: Infrastructural Capital

For a nation’s economy to function smoothly, infrastructural capital such as electricity, telecommunications, internet networks, roads, railways, and ports must be well-established.

Fifth Capital: Intellectual / Knowledge Capital

A company’s competitiveness relies not only on scientific knowledge but also on technology accumulated through repetitive production. Even if globally shared scientific knowledge is available, if a company does not convert it into practical technology through repeated production, competitiveness will not improve. South Korea produced its first “Sibal” car in 1955 using discarded U.S. military vehicles, and through export-oriented economic policies, reached 4 million cars in 2024, surpassing Japan in automobile production competitiveness.

Sixth Capital: Social Capital (Social System)

A country’s social system must aim for a fully functioning market economy under a democratic political system for economic development and the flow of wealth. Social capital is influenced by each nation’s history, culture, and especially religion. The Christian understanding of God emphasizes the Trinity, unity within diversity. A political system based on this principle supports the separation of powers. In contrast, Islamic religious authority, which emphasizes unity and obedience over diversity, cannot accommodate Trinitarian belief, and therefore cannot fully establish a separation-of-powers democracy or a free-market system. Without these, businesses cannot operate freely and creatively, making economic growth through enterprise difficult.

Seventh Capital: Spiritual Capital (Most Important)

Even if the above six types of capital exist, without spiritual capital, God’s wealth cannot flow. Spiritual capital is not merely the spread of the gospel; it requires churches established through gospel proclamation to cultivate life and positive influence, and especially workplace ministers and disciples who carry this out.

Figure 1. Seven Types of Capital for Economic Development

God’s will is fulfilled when workplace ministers, guided by God-given wisdom and strategy, establish creative Kingdom businesses. Only then can God’s grace and abundance flow into a nation, and numerous workplace churches can be established to exert a positive influence on society. For example, when the Apostle Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, traveled to Macedonia, he was met by Lydia, a seller of purple cloth. The first church in Europe was founded in her home workplace, and it is believed that the Philippi church established there played a role in spreading the gospel and positive influence across Europe. Likewise, for frontier missions in the last days, Kingdom business and workplace church ministries must arise. Small-scale Kingdom businesses suited to each nation’s economic conditions should be prepared and launched, various workplace churches established, countless workplace ministers trained, and through these efforts, the gospel and good influence spread, becoming channels through which God’s abundance flows.

2. The 5M Strategy for Starting a Kingdom Business

To start a Kingdom business that pleases the Lord, one must first analyze the environment (circumstances: economy, society, culture, industry, and lifestyle trends), competitors (who they are, their strengths and weaknesses), company (who we are, our strengths and weaknesses), and customers (target audience, their emerging needs or changes)—a 4C analysis. From this, an integrated 5M strategy can be developed:

1. Mission: What is the purpose of the business?

2. Men: What are the criteria for selecting partners?

3. Market: What is an attractive market? Who is the target customer? What differentiated value will be provided?

Through market segmentation, analyze the existing market and define new markets. Define the target customers and their lifestyles (targeting), and prepare a 6C strategy for value differentiation and positioning in the new market (positioning).

4. Model: Strategy for products and services (commodity), pricing (cost), distribution (convenience), communication (customer value), necessary core competencies (core competence), and processes & organizational strategy (chain of value). After planning, evaluate the strategy.

5. Measurement: Evaluate the expected revenue, scale of investment (cash), social/public value (community value), and medium-to-long-term performance over 5–10 years (consecutive plan). Business preparation should involve objective assessment of economic feasibility.

Even if the purpose of starting a Kingdom business is noble, and even if market analysis and God-given strategies are thoroughly prepared, if expected outcomes are unsatisfactory, the launch should be postponed. Once deficiencies are addressed and evaluations are satisfactory, then the business should be started.

Figure 2. 4C Analysis and 5M Integrated Strategy for Finding a Brand Model

Figure 3. 5M Brand Model 

3. In Conclusion

In the last days, the establishment of Kingdom business / workplace churches is essential for pioneering the Lord’s church in remaining frontier regions and raising disciples who prepare for His return. However, Kingdom business ministry is too challenging to undertake alone. Therefore, it is advisable to form a team, dividing responsibilities according to spiritual gifts—business management, church planting, and disciple-making—so that each area is properly handled.

Furthermore, if preparation is not thorough, one should not rush. It is recommended to first establish a committed team and local young disciples, and then prepare for the launch through comprehensive market analysis.