When Business Becomes Ministry: How Christian Leaders Foster Eternal Impact at Work

What if your business is more than a path to profit—or even social good?

In this episode of Called to Flourish, Barry Slauenwhite invites Christian leaders to rethink the marketplace as a powerful mission field, where everyday leadership decisions can create eternal impact. From “return on eternity” to leading with kingdom lenses, this conversation challenges leaders to fully integrate faith and work.

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.

About This Episode:

Christian leaders spend more than 40 hours each week in the workplace—interacting with employees, customers, vendors, and communities. But what if business itself is a form of ministry?

In this episode, host Robert Wachter sits down with Barry Slauenwhite, Canadian Regional Director for Best Christian Workplaces and President Emeritus of Compassion Canada, to explore what it means to lead with a kingdom mindset in the marketplace. Barry shares how early experiences in business and ministry shaped his conviction that work is not just a career, but a sacred trust.

Together, they unpack the idea of a “triple bottom line,” encouraging leaders to look beyond traditional return on investment and consider return on eternity. The conversation highlights how leadership decisions ripple outward—impacting employees’ families, strengthening communities, and opening doors for gospel influence. This episode offers both challenge and encouragement for leaders who want their work to reflect Christ’s values in practical, everyday ways.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What it means to truly view business as ministry
• Why Christian leaders should think beyond ROI to return on eternity
• How leadership decisions affect employees, families, and communities
• What Barry calls using “kingdom lenses” for decision-making
• Why generosity and integrity matter more than short-term gains
• How the marketplace can become a meaningful platform for gospel impact

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 – Business as ministry and kingdom impact
• 03:20 – Barry’s background in business and pastoral leadership
• 04:01 – The triple bottom line and return on eternity
• 08:27 – Kingdom lenses: integrity, people, and purpose
• 10:51 – How leadership decisions ripple into families
• 11:30 – Generosity, trust, and community influence
• 15:35 – The marketplace as pulpit and mission field
• 19:53 – Rapid-fire questions and closing reflections

Meet the Guest:

Barry Slauenwhite is the Canadian Regional Director for Best Christian Workplaces and President Emeritus of Compassion Canada, where he served for 26 years. He is the author of Strategic Compassion and he brings decades of experience across business, pastoral ministry, and global Christian leadership. Barry is passionate about helping leaders integrate faith, leadership, and organizational impact.

Resources Mentioned:

• Strategic Compassion – Barry Slauenwhite

Episode Transcript:

A full, word-for-word transcript of this episode is available here.

Next Steps for Leaders:

If this conversation encouraged you, share this episode with a fellow leader who wants to integrate faith and work more intentionally.

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