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Christian entrepreneurial leaders have the potential to positively impact the marketplace, churches and communities on a global basis. Innovation is at the heart of entrepreneurship: doing something new, different and creative. An entrepreneur can innovate and turn an idea into action. Entrepreneurs are leaders—they are people of influence. They can influence all they touch, in all dimensions of life. A Christian value system provides a foundation and focus for entrepreneurial initiative. You either are an entrepreneurial leader or can become one—you can be creative, action-oriented and expand your sphere of influence. How do you do so? That’s what the Entrepreneurial Leader Conference is about.

We have decided to have a “theme” for each year’s conferences.  This is a way of keeping the content “fresh.”  “The Power to Overcome” is the theme of this year’s ELO conferences. Why? While attendees enjoy hearing from those who have succeeded and that is of course inspirational sometimes we focus solely on successes and the reasons for them.  At the same time our events are known for being authentic.  No one is sugarcoating the challenges in the marketplace.  We want to provide content and stories that resonate with individuals and that address issues that people may be wrestling with and to provide some practical means of encouragement and inspiration. Everyone faces challenges and adversity.  So, we will have all speakers address the issue of “the power to overcome” at some point in the presentations, even if the presentations have varied topics.

 

FROM BLOG POST TITLED "THE POWER TO OVERCOME" POSTED ON APRIL 3, 2016

I recently asked one extraordinarily successful entrepreneur, a founder of a multibillion dollar multinational business, if he could join a panel discussion at one of our ELO events about how to overcome failure. He quipped, “how much time do I have?” and “do I need to limit it to the top ten?” He started rattling off some of his failures with a look etched on his brow that reflected, “I am amazed that I got through all that!”

Yes, how did he get through it? How do any of us get through the challenges of the faith and entrepreneurial journey? These challenges have persisted through the centuries and back to the time of Christ. One reference point is the great Christian allegory Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan, the English Baptist preacher, in 1678.  The character “Honest” replies to “Mr. Contrite” upon being asked about how his pilgrimage is going: “It happens to us as it happeneth to wayfaring men; sometimes our way is clean, sometimes foul; sometimes up hill, sometimes down hill; we are seldom at a certainty. The wind is not always on our backs; not is every one a friend that we meet with in the way.” These wise works reflect the dynamics of the marketplace.

All of us, including business people, will face many challenges. Particularly, in the entrepreneurial arena we are dealing with risks, taking initiative, getting outside the comfort zone, doing new and unique things. What happens when that doesn’t work out? What happens when business dealings don’t work out? What about health challenges? There are numerous health challenges that can lay waste to the best construed plans. As the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote in 1785, often the best laid plans of mice and men can go awry.

John C. Maxwell, the evening keynote speaker for the Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference, Toronto, Nov 16th, touches on this topic in his recent book titled Intentional Living. Maxwell notes that, “Many individuals who are brilliant in their fields had challenging childhoods, physical handicaps or suffering economic hardships. Adversity tried to knock these people out of their stories, but they didn’t allow it to. Why? There were highly intentional. They had a strong sense of why—a purpose—which drew them forward even if the road wasn’t wide and smooth.“ In other words, the challenges are often part of the learning process and sow the seeds of greater future success and effectiveness.

How do we overcome these challenges? Where does the power come from? What is a Christian—as opposed to secular—perspective? What is a biblical perspective? “How can I get this supernatural power?” We are instructed to ask our Father in heaven (Lk 11:13). It is a free gift, available to all who will believe God for it (Acts 2:38, 10:45). It is the power of God to overcome challenges. It is the power of God to fulfill the purposes and plans of Jesus Christ for your life.

 In terms of practical application, we need to focus on our spiritual power to surmount the battles on earth. We need to "overcome the world"(1 John 5:4). We start the path to overcoming the world by realizing that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood"(Eph. 6:12). The "schemes of the devil"(Eph. 6:11) are intended to separate us from God and his purposes for our life and calling.

We need to be reminded that, indeed, we have been given the ability to overcome. The Bible reminds us that, "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world"(1 John 4:4). But how does this all work? How does the presence of Christ help me to overcome the world? It is important that we keep in mind all that John has taught us so far.

We should be "practicing righteousness"(I John 3:7) based on sound understanding of God’s Word. We also need to receive the spirit. As Luke notes regarding the early church, you will receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Act 1:8). Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power (Act 10:38) and God has given us the spirit of power (2Tim 1:7). Philippians talks about, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13).

We must acknowledge this power that works in us.  One example is Bobby Gruenewald, founder, YouVersion Bible App, which has been downloaded 200 million times. Gruenewald refers to God’s power to do the unimaginable. He had not anticipated that, based in the unlikely location for a high tech operation of Oklahoma City, OK, that the YouVersion Bible App would have global impact. Gruenewald cites Eph. 3:20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory…”

In short, believers will face challenges in their faith and business journey. It is not a question of “if” but of “when” and “to what degree.” Believers should be encouraged by knowing that challenges can be overcome. They can draw on the power of the faith that is available to them. They have a “why” far beyond their present challenges. They can draw on the power of the Holy Spirit to not only overcome their present challenges, but to thrive and to achieve things that were previously thought unimaginable.