We’ve talked about ways that volunteering and community service can be a boost for business, but I haven’t really thought or written about how some people combine church and business. A couple weeks ago, I was talking with a real estate agent who confessed that he gets some of his best referrals from his church congregation. I couldn’t help but wonder about what is the best and “nicest” way to combine one’s home business interests and church…
I suppose in many ways, church might seem like a perfect networking place (although some of us go to church to get way from all our worldly concerns!). If you are a regular church-goer, you see the same people on a weekly basis and may have ample opportunity to socialize and get to know one another. I suppose one has to look out for any sort of conflict of interest, however, or using information obtained through church means for personal gains. For example, if you are serving on the “fundraising” or “building improvement” committee and will be making donation requests on behalf of the church and find out personal financial information about people—it would be problematic, I think, to use that information to advance your home business.
I imagine like any thing in business, it comes down to using your best judgment, common sense and tapping into your sense of integrity. Working with other people in your congregation might be a perfect “marriage” but you will need to make sure that you are not betraying any trusts or taking advantage of people. Keeping things in balance, with a healthy dose of honesty and integrity should help. As long as your motives don’t come across as too sleazy or you don’t find that you are going to church JUST for the business contacts or potential sales, you should be able to combine your church life and your home business. When in doubt, you can always do a “gut check” or check with your spiritual advisor to see where you stand.
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