Many problems could be solved by church and business leaders working together, study suggests

This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of The Marketplace, a MEDA publication.

More than seven in 10 American Christians believe that some of the world’s greatest problems could be solved by pastors and Christian entrepreneurs working together, a new study by Barna Group suggests.

Barna is a California-based Christian polling firm. It conducted the research in partnership with Faith Driven Entrepreneur. Faith Driven Entrepreneur is a global movement and community. It focuses on helping Christ-following entrepreneurs find their purpose and community.

The report, “Entrepreneurs: Untapped Problem-Solvers in the Church,” examines hopes that Americans have for what churches and entrepreneurs can accomplish together. It also explores what this could mean for pastors.

Barna did an online survey of 1,800 US adults and 400 teens aged 14-17 last July. It also conducted separate surveys of 653 Protestant US senior pastors and an additional 248 entrepreneurs.
Belief in possible positive outcomes from such collaboration is even higher among entrepreneurs than it is among the general population. Eighty percent of Christian businesspeople believe these partnerships could help solve global problems, Barna reports.

Higher trust in Christian business

Entrepreneurs are well placed to have this sort of influence. Speakers at a webinar this winter unveiling the results of the Barna study cited other studies noting that small businesses are nine times more trusted than politicians. The church is facing a pivotal moment of challenge and opportunity, said Jason Forman, co-founder and executive director of Faith Driven Entrepreneur. “With trust in traditional institutions waning, Christian entrepreneurs stand uniquely positioned to help the Church remain salt and light in their communities.

“Entrepreneurs aren’t just business leaders; they’re problem solvers who can see opportunities where others see obstacles, and create value where others see scarcity,” he said. Studies have found that small businesses are trusted by twice as many people as those who trust the Church. “Christian entrepreneurs consistently demonstrate their heart for ministry through both their business practices and church engagement,” the Barna study says. “Many see their work as a direct expression of their faith, leading with biblical principles in the marketplace.”

About a third of pastors surveyed suggested that strategic planning and innovation are the two most useful skills entrepreneurs could bring to the Church. Pastors also named young professionals ministry and job placement ministry as specific ways entrepreneurs could serve or provide guidance in the Church. But pastors might need to be challenged to think bigger and more strategically about partnering with entrepreneurs, the report says.

Among US adults who are familiar with the term entrepreneurs, 87% agree that entrepreneurs and business owners have a responsibility to give back to their communities. Nearly half of those surveyed believe entrepreneurs are driven by a desire to make an impact. Barna found that 71% of religious entrepreneurs see their business as a way to practice their faith principles in the workplace.

Religious entrepreneurs are generous givers

That intentionality applies to church giving practices. The study found that 36% of active religious entrepreneurs give 10% or more of their income to the Church. Sixteen percent of past entrepreneurs do likewise, compared with 14% of all others. Just over half of the pastors surveyed (51%) consider themselves to be somewhat entrepreneurial. Fifty-three percent of pastoral respondents say the Church could learn a lot from entrepreneurial thinking.

Almost all pastors surveyed say they have a responsibility to help people in their churches find purpose and meaning in their work. But only 39% say they feel equipped to provide counseling on matters of career decisions and work-life balance.

Work-life balance?

Part of this may arise from the confidence, or lack thereof, that pastors have in their own life-work balance. Only 16% of pastors rated their work-life balance as excellent. By comparison, almost three times as many entrepreneurs are satisfied with their own work-life situation.

Importance of mentorship

More than 50% of Christian entrepreneurs believe their mentor had a significant impact on their entrepreneurship journey. Likewise, 71% of pastors who have been mentored say their mentor had a significant impact on their faith or ministry journey.

However, only 17% of pastors saw mentorship or counsel on organizational management as something entrepreneurs may need from them. And 95% of pastors agree that pastors have a responsibility to help their congregants mentor others. A previous Barna study found that just over half of churchgoers who have a mentor met that mentor at church.

Small groups for Christian entrepreneurs

Previous Barna research has found that “small groups that disciple make attendees feel that they belong and are like family.” Many small groups are segmented by life stage or geography.
More than half of the pastors surveyed in the new study express interest in starting a small group for entrepreneurs. Barna found that typical ways of organizing or categorizing small groups can leave entrepreneurs feeling that they do not fit neatly into any of them. Sometimes entrepreneurs feel that the groups do not understand their professional instincts, challenges, or experiences.

Using gifts to serve God in the Workforce

Eighty-four percent of practicing Christians say they are aware of specific gifts and talents God has given them. But 62% of those people wish they had a clearer understanding of how to use their talents to serve God.

Only one in five respondents think of their pastor as a source of wisdom for vocation and career. But, study results suggest that pastors have relevant counsel to share, on such topics as living wisely, leadership development, and innovative thinking.