Who Owns Your Church?

In 2017, I tried to “make” a Christian company by following a religious recipe to create what I thought a Christian company should look like. I announced formally to my board that I was giving Jesus 51% ownership, a result of an orphan mindset still present in my life at the time. We soon discovered that because it was a religious decision and model, even the Christians didn’t like it!

We are designed to faithfully steward what the Lord entrusts to us. Because everything we steward is the Lord’s, He carries the weight, burden, and responsibility of all the outcomes. We know that all success is from God and all that we have is a gift from God, whether we are stewarding a business or a church. (Romans 11:36) Looking back, I now see that I gave Jesus 51% ownership out of immaturity when, in fact, He already owns all we have outright. 

What is an orphan church? 

In the Christian faith, an orphan is someone who functions as an orphan in some or every aspect of life (also described as having an “orphan mindset” or “orphan spirit”). They have not yet taken their identity as a child of God. Their lives are instead marked by worry, loneliness, fear, abandonment, and selfish desires… among other negative things. An orphan is self-led while the son is spirit-led. An orphan builds an organization and a son builds a family, a safe place of honor and belonging for all to grow and flourish. God uses His sons and daughters to build His Kingdom. Just like Jesus, a son or daughter is about His Father’s business, stewarding what the Father has given them to be stewarded. 

An orphan business or church looks like “my business” or “my church.” The focus becomes centered on building our own kingdoms or the kingdoms of those who support us financially. In a business these people are your clients, customers, or investors. In a church they might include church goers, members, the big donors, the board, or the elders. 

However, in the Kingdom of God, everything already belongs to God! Though our businesses are designed to offer a product or service benefitting our customers, and the church is meant to minister to and disciple men, women, and children (Matthew 28:16-20), they are both really all about God! Everything we do is meant to be an act of worship. Everything we have is from Him. Our businesses, churches, and lives should be centered around glorifying God and stewarding what is already His. 

A Church That Honors God

It wasn’t until 2020 when I caught on to the principle of stewardship that I began to understand that nothing in this life is mine. 

The Lord’s company that I steward is called Flo Energy Solutions. It is an Ekklesia, a church, a Kingdom business, an embassy of heaven, a marketplace ministry, and an apostolic outpost. As believers, all things are sacred. I’m privileged to be ambassador of the King in the marketplace. We certainly don’t have everything figured out yet when it comes to serving God as a company, but we are learning and growing. 

A Kingdom organization belongs to the King. It is submitted to the rulership of King Jesus. It is a company that values what God values - fruit, much fruit and fruit that remains. And while there are many organizations and churches that are Christian, I personally think it is difficult to find Christian organizations and churches that are actually Kingdom oriented, i.e., truly submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. 

Who’s leading your church? 

Pollyanna is a beautiful old movie that takes place in Victorian-era small-town America. It’s a film everyone should watch at least once for the lessons it teaches concerning the power of positive declarations, speaking the truth in love, and leaving the “orphan mentality” behind. 

While the film is filled with quotable lines, one of my favorites takes place when Reverend Ford (played by Karl Malden), recognizes that he has allowed the church’s wealthy board members to dictate what he preaches on, rather than following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

In a moment of deep repentance, he recognizes that “nobody owns a church.” The next time he stands behind the pulpit, Reverend Ford preaches on the goodness of God. It’s a message that offends some in the congregation, but Reverend Ford is a different person. He has lost the fear of man. He remembered who he actually worked for. He did not work for the church. He did not work for the board. He did not work for the community. He worked for Jesus.

Like Reverend Ford, I want to encourage each one of you reading this to search your heart and analyze your ministry or business. Who is really in charge? If it’s not Jesus, it’s time to repent and make whatever changes necessary to ensure what you’ve been given to steward remains Kingdom property and bears Kingdom fruit. We are meant to be about our Father’s business! We get to be Jesus in our spheres of influence to build His Kingdom together, knowing Jesus is the master builder.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, ESV)

Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Board or Ministry Leaders 

In your next quiet time, retreat, or during sabbatical, take time to ask God what desires He has for HIS church. Journal through the questions listed below as you evaluate your heart for ministry and whether or not God really owns your church. 

• What are the markers of a Kingdom Church?
• Is your church about serving God and discipling people or the business of ministry?
• Is agape love the central focus and motivation of your church? How? 
• Are relationships prioritized over function? How?
• Do you have a culture of honor? Explain.
• Is every member empowered as a citizen of the Kingdom to impact the world? What are some examples? 
• Are you operating outside the four walls of your church? How are you bringing redemptive solutions to meet the felt needs of your community?
• Are you making disciple makers who make disciple makers, sharing the gospel unto discipling nations and bearing much fruit?
• Are you seeing transformation in people, marriages, families and beyond?
• In what ways does your church model the early Acts 2 church?

Consider sharing these questions with your board, elders, or ministry leaders to reflect on before your next meeting or ministry planning for the year. Create a safe space to discuss everyone’s observations and decide to truly submit your church to God. While a ministry plan is great, if it’s not God’s will, it’s not worth it. 

Wrap Up

Inspiration for this blog comes from Bryan’s new book, More Than Gold: Reflections on Living in Glorious Freedom, now available in hardcover and on Audible! For more on this topic, check out The Father Pursuit: Living as Sons and Daughters. Bryan is currently working on his latest book, Greater Than Silver, along with a book on apologetics which he co-authors with Bryn. 

Bryan Elliott (P.Eng.) is an engineer, author, speaker, leader, and CEO of Flo Energy Solutions, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bee Me Kidz, Board member of Transform our World Canada, Co-Founder and President of M46 Ministries, and serves in other advisory roles. Bryan is a devout follower of Jesus, a father to M46 Co-Founder Bryn Elliott, and an outdoor enthusiast.