business as a mission Archives

Most entrepreneurs chase success—profits, recognition, expansion. But what if true success means something different? What if it’s less about growth charts and more about heart transformation? The Origin Story Brett Johnson began his career at Price Waterhouse in Cape Town, South Africa believing he was called to work there. (He never interviewed anywhere else.) At the same time he was on the Associate Staff for Youth for Christ and led a local Sunday School. Shortly after he and Lyn got married they found themselves leading a local church. The obvious question was, “Should I leave Price Waterhouse and go ‘full time’ in the church?” There was no positive answer on this, so Brett found himself with two jobs and had to figure out how to make both work. He then began consulting to Youth with a Mission (YWAM) using the business consulting frameworks he learned at PWC. Brett saw that these three worlds–local church, business, missions–had lots to offer each other, but the secular-sacred dichotomy kept the three worlds different. Back in 1981 he became passionate about the abolition of dichotomy having witnessed its disastrous consequences for the Body of Christ and the huge benefits of an integrated life. Joseph didn’t pause his faith when managing Egypt’s economy. Daniel didn't hide his spirituality while advising kings. Nehemiah didn’t build walls without first building trust in God. For these leaders, there was no divide. Neither should there be for you. Business as Ministry (And Why It Matters) Years later Brett and Lyn started taking teams to the nations to “repurpose business” by applying the principles of integrated living. The premise was simple yet profound: discipleship can—and should—happen at work. Brett saw businesses as untapped platforms for discipleship provided disciple-making was integrated into core business processes, and not an add-on program. Not preaching sermons at lunch breaks, but creating both a culture where faith is lived authentically and business processes that reveal the ways of God. So in 1996, Brett created The Institute for Innovation, Integration & Impact, Inc. The mission: Repurposing leaders and corporations to discover and walk out their callings so that they live lives of purpose and societies are transformed. Brett launched initiatives like "rēp" (Repurposing Business), showing entrepreneurs and mid-market companies how to get their businesses into God’s business and how they can make disciples through their business processes. Introducing Bizcipleship Today, Brett takes this vision further in his upcoming book, Bizcipleship. He poses a provocative question: "Most of us spend the bulk of our waking hours at work. If discipleship isn’t happening there, where is it happening?" This question should shake every entrepreneur awake. Your business isn't just about your bottom line—it's about people, culture, and legacy. Brett calls this new way of working "Bizcipleship," and it’s transforming workplaces worldwide. The Big Shift For Christian entrepreneurs, Brett’s story offers a pivotal insight: "Our goal is not to get God into business, but to get businesses into God’s business." Tools like SheepFeast’s Farmwork make this vision practical. Farmwork equips entrepreneurs to intentionally cultivate spiritual growth, disciple teams, and build companies where faith isn’t an afterthought—it's foundational. The Invitation Brett’s journey is your invitation. Your business isn’t separate from your calling—it is your calling. Every interaction, every decision, every moment is an opportunity for discipleship. Business isn't just your marketplace; it's your mission field. Ask yourself: What would happen if my business fully embraced Kingdom impact? The answer might change everything. Learn More Discover Brett Johnson’s transformative approach to faith and business at brettjohnson.biz.

How One Entrepreneur Stumbled Into A Game-Changing Discipleship Model