By Nelson Semanu BOANDOH-KORKOR & Elizabeth BOANDOH-KORKOR
The main hindrance to world evangelization has not been for the want of devoted missionaries, nor is it the lack for trained nationals, which was a serious problem for years. The hour has come when we have an eager army of gospel soldiers ready to launch out in faith and to preach the apostolic gospel. And they are doing it! Nor is there a lack of people responding to the message.
Any missionary will tell you that almost every place an evangelistic effort is attempted, hundreds and in many cases, even thousands will respond. When then is the lack? It is the lack of necessary financial assistance that often is not available when the Spirit of God moves in a community ~Gordon Lindsay, Founder, Christ For All Nations
The term “financial evangelism,” conceived by us, encapsulates the practice of channeling one’s financial assets towards supporting initiatives aligned with the Kingdom of God.
This endeavor serves a twofold purpose: the salvation of souls and the equipping of disciples to make a transformative impact across all facets of society. At its core, financial evangelism operates under the premise that the highest and most profound utilization of one’s wealth and worldly resources is to contribute to a cause that maintains its significance throughout eternity.
Who qualifies as a financial evangelist?
A Financial Evangelist designates an individual, often an entrepreneur, who employs substantial financial resources to propel the mission of the Kingdom of God. However, it’s essential to note that financial evangelists aren’t limited to entrepreneurs or high-earning professionals exclusively. So, who falls under this description? The term encompasses ordinary individuals driven by a deep commitment to the Kingdom, to the extent that they dedicate all available means to advance its cause. These evangelists are willing to exhaust their resources, even down to their last cent, to fund the proclamation of the gospel.
A financial evangelist can also be someone who demonstrates a steadfast dedication to leveraging their financial capacities in any possible way to advance God’s Kingdom. Various terms are used to describe these individuals, including “spiritual entrepreneurs,” “kingdom entrepreneurs,” and “kingdom financiers,” among others.
As previously mentioned, financial evangelists can hail from diverse backgrounds, such as entrepreneurs and professionals spanning various domains, all united by a shared aspiration to infuse the values of the heavenly kingdom into every facet of society. Importantly, their influence in the marketplace is harnessed to further God’s purposes globally. To emphasize, the term “financial evangelist” has been interchangeably utilized throughout this discourse.
There are financiers from the Old Testament—figures like King David, King Solomon, and Obadiah etc. The New Testament introduces examples such as Joseph of Arimathea, Priscilla and Aquila, Nicodemus, Dorcas, Philemon, Joanna, Mary Magdalene, Onesimus, and Gaius, to name a few. In modern times, we find contemporary entrepreneurs who have channeled their financial resources towards propagating the gospel—names like Henry P. Crowell, Truett Cathy, William Colgate, Henry Heinz, Strive Masiyiwa, Demos Shakarian, David Green, Cher Wang, Do Won Chang, Tom Monaghan, Bob Edmiston, and Robert G. LeTourneau.
Church financiers vrs. Financial evangelists
A crucial distinction must be made between church financiers and financial evangelists. The former lacks a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and their objectives don’t align with advancing the Kingdom of God. Church financiers primarily take pride in monetary contributions to the church, while financial evangelists prioritize spiritual growth and underpin their support for kingdom activities with a heartfelt commitment.
Financial evangelists not only offer their finances but also surrender their will and emotions to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, contemporary times witness a prevalence of church financiers outweighing true financial evangelists. Regrettably, instances of Christian businesspeople resorting to unethical practices to amass wealth for personal gains do exist, a behavior that contradicts the essence of financial evangelism.
Furthermore, any individual within a local church context who exploits financial assistance to manipulate others, especially young women, stands far from the role of a financial evangelist. Those who, in the guise of Christian charity, exploit their riches to exert control and deceive congregants do not adhere to the principles of financial evangelism.
Crucially, pastors play a pivotal role in transforming church financiers into authentic financial evangelists. Pastors must identify such individuals and encourage them to offer their entire selves to God. It’s imperative to convey that merely contributing money to the church falls short of the holistic commitment expected of a financial evangelist.
About the authors
Nelson Semanu Boandoh-Korkor is a distinguished figure, acclaimed as an Author, Publishing Consultant, Christian Business Coach, and a fervent Financial Evangelist. Nelson is a forex trader, cryptocurrency investor and metaverse enthusiast.
Elizabeth Boandoh-Korkor (CA) is an accomplished Chartered Accountant with extensive experience as a Financial Management Consultant, spanning close to two decades in both the not-for-profit and banking sectors.
You can reach out to them on +233549762233 or [email protected]
