Episode 342 - From Isolation to Impact: Connecting Entrepreneurs in Church | Carey Nieuwhof

6 snips

Sep 9, 2025

Carey Nieuwhof, a leadership expert and former lead pastor, dives deep into the vital connection between pastors and entrepreneurs. He sheds light on the mutual intimidation these groups face and stresses the urgent need to combat the isolation crisis among business leaders. Carey argues that churches can transform into incubators for entrepreneurial endeavors, fostering real, meaningful connections over transactional ones. He shares practical strategies for engaging high-capacity leaders in church settings, aiming to unleash their potential for community impact.

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INSIGHT

Entrepreneurship As A Spiritual Gift

Carey Nieuwhof argues entrepreneurship is a spiritual gift akin to Paul's apostleship and involves bold vision and faithful disruption.
Entrepreneurs often operate as lone pioneers with no default community, which shapes their call and risks.

ANECDOTE

From Law School To Leading Thousands

Carey describes leaving law for seminary and pastoring three tiny churches as a seminary student, which later grew into thousands in attendance.
That journey taught him practical leadership skills not learned in seminary and led him to coach other leaders.

INSIGHT

Community Is Being Redefined

Modern community is being redefined by mobility and the internet, so people no longer default to local ties.
That shift creates connection options but increases loneliness and confusion about what 'community' really means.

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Breaking the Silence: Why Pastors and Entrepreneurs Need Each Other

Join host Justin Forman for an enlightening conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, leadership expert and former lead pastor, as they tackle one of the most important conversations in the modern church: bridging the gap between pastors and entrepreneurs. From his unique perspective of having served in both pastoral ministry and entrepreneurial ventures, Carey reveals why there's mutual intimidation between these two groups and how churches can unleash the untapped potential of their entrepreneurial members.

This episode explores the crisis of community in entrepreneurship, why 50% of retired CEOs die within two years, and how churches possess the "convening power" to create lasting connections. Carey shares practical insights from leading churches that are successfully engaging their business leaders beyond "handing out programs and parking cars."

Key Topics:

The entrepreneurial isolation crisis: Why there's "no default community" for business leaders
Mutual intimidation: Why pastors feel inadequate around entrepreneurs and vice versa
The spiritual gift of entrepreneurship: Learning from the Apostle Paul's business model
Moving beyond volunteer tasks to meaningful engagement for high-capacity leaders
How churches can serve as "incubators" for Kingdom-minded business ventures
The difference between "real friends" and "deal friends" in entrepreneurial communities
Practical steps for pastors to start entrepreneur-focused ministries

Notable Quotes:

"I think for entrepreneurs, there's no default community. You're on your own. It's sort of the hero's journey. You start by yourself, that pioneer spirit. Within two years of retiring as a CEO, 50% of CEOs are dead." - Carey Nieuwhof

"Pastors are thinking, I don't make a million dollars a year like I haven't got staff and employees like you do. I don't feel like I measure up, and I don't know, I've talked to so many pastors who are like, I know this guy or woman could give $3 million I'm terrified of making the ask." - Carey Nieuwhof

"You've got some in your church, and they don't know how to contribute, and they're feeling alone and they're feeling isolated." - Carey Nieuwhof