Are you willing to commit the time necessary to run a Kingdom Business?
As you begin to embark on the adventure and calling of kingdom Entrepreneur, one thing that many people forget to think about is the time commitment. Each person deals with time in a unique way…some people have families, some are team leaders, and others are brand new to cross-cultural living. No matter who you are, it will take a lot of time and commitment to settle in cross-culturally.
Leaving the business aside, a successful Christian ambassador will need to set up home and begin learning to live in a brand new environment. From getting the kids established in school to setting up a home for your spouse, this process can be stressful and time consuming. Many of us jump right into learning the language and engaging with the culture. Learning a language is difficult and also takes considerable amount of time. I would encourage you to spend the time you need…learn language well.
We also desire to have relationships with local friends! These friendships are precious and are a gift from the Lord. Remember that friendship takes time and in many cultures a visit will last hours.
On top of all this, you are a Christian businessman. You are looking to work or establish a business. As I am sure you know, business start-ups take a lot of time. You probably have friends in your home country who are starting their own businesses, which can require 60 hours a week just to break even! Building a kingdom business will take significant time and energy, so you want to make sure you and your family are ready for this.
The purpose of this discussion is not to discourage or scare you, but to give you a realistic picture of life as a cross-cultural tentmaker. Give your time to the Lord and let him lead your days.