This summer I had the opportunity of traveling to India for an eight week mission project with the organization Harvest Bridge. During my time in India I was able to travel to different locations and meet with some of the pastors and hear about the work they were doing. I was surprised to find that the majority of theses men and women were not only full-time missionaries, but they were also entrepreneurs. Most of the pastors we met had started a small business and were using the funds to support their ministry. One of the most impressive entrepreneurial endeavors I saw this summer was a school located in Jaigaon, India that was started by Pastor John.
I was able to sit down with Pastor John and hear his testimony of God’s calling for him to build a school. He was initially planning to become a full-time pastor, however this changed when he felt God calling him to first start a school and then use the revenue from the school to support his own church and other pastors.
When Pastor John first began he started the school in his home with only 13 students and three teachers, including himself and his wife. But they were producing a good product and the next year they had over 100 applicants for the school.
The school now has over 400 children who attend, they have moved to a new building and have multiple teachers for each grade. The school still holds to the Christian values and principles that it was founded on. The population of the students is a mix of Christian, Muslim and Hindu and each day they are taught Christian songs, devotions, Bible verses and prayers.
The school has also created a community within the town of Jaigoan. Families have relocated themselves to live close to the school in order that their children might be able to attend. The school is the heart of the town and the people have flocked to it.
Pastor John taught me a great deal about what it means to be an entrepreneur. I learned from him the importance of listening to God’s call for you life, because God knows what the world needs better than we do. If pastor John had done what he had wanted he would have become a pastor right after college and started a church. He may have been successful, but he would have faced a great amount of challenges and financial hardships. But instead he listened to God and started this school, in a place where they desperately needed a good source of education for their children. And his success allowed him to start a church connected with the school as well as supporting 12 other indigenous pastors. I believe that as Christians and entrepreneurs, we need to remember to step back from what we want and what we think the world needs to discover what God knows the world needs.
This is such an incredible story! I totally agree that being a Christian entrepreneur is not always about what we want. This reminds me of Luke 12:48 where Jesus said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” We are so blessed and we need to remember the needs represented around the world. No matter what the venture is, whether it’s a non-profit or a for profit company, it is our duty to give back in some way.
This is inspiring! This is such a good example of what God can do through our lives. I love how this man created this school in a totally selfless way. With an entrepreneurial attitude and God’s help, we can make a huge impact in the world.
That is so neat that became an entrepreneur without trying to! It shows how little control we have over our lives.It is also a cool perspective on entrepreneurship–most people do not view missions as entrepreneurial, but they are! I’m glad that you got to experience that this summer.
Lindsey, this is a great story about an amazing man! Thank you for sharing. It fascinates me how such a simple need as education can go unmet in many places. I think it is great that Pastor John saw that need and worked to meet it. His focus is clearly on the Lord and what the Lord is calling him to do.