Business as Mission: Where the Gospel Meets the Streets

In a world often compartmentalized, where faith is relegated to Sundays and business to weekdays, Scott Hall, Chief Ministry Officer at Expo Home Improvement, is spearheading a movement to bridge this divide. His journey from nearly four decades as a pastor to his current role is a testament to his unwavering belief that business is a powerful vehicle for spiritual impact and personal transformation.

Hall's vision, deeply rooted in the concept of stewardship over ownership, sees business owners not just as managers of resources, but as custodians of lives and opportunities. This perspective fuels Expo Home Improvement's unique model: tithing 10% of net quarterly earnings into Collective Way, a ministry impact engine that supports vetted non-profits both locally and internationally.

Beyond the Tithe: A Holistic Approach to Impact

The Collective Way's impact extends far beyond financial contributions. Hall emphasizes a holistic approach to discipleship, which he defines as the key metric for success. "We invest in the CEOs and their non-profits in each of their verticals inside of those non-profits to better define and develop strategies to help them make disciples," he explains. This means fostering healthy growth within these organizations, providing CEO care, and even offering strategic PR campaigns to amplify their reach.

One of the most innovative aspects of Hall's work is the internal focus on leadership development and team member well-being at Expo Home Improvement. Through a dedicated "Dream Manager," employees are supported in realizing their personal aspirations, fostering a culture that cares for the "four quadrants of life: heart, soul, mind, and strength."

Breaking the Ice: Challenges and the Path Forward

The journey hasn't been without its challenges. Hall describes their work as an "icebreaker," cutting through established norms and perceptions. The initial vision of a collective of faith-driven for-profit companies proved difficult to scale, as many entrepreneurs preferred to forge their own paths. This led to a pivot: developing a "playbook" for business owners to integrate biblically-centered values, care for their teams, and invest in their communities, even if they don't join a formal collective.

Another significant hurdle is helping established businesses shift their culture towards a kingdom-minded approach, especially when faced with resistance from long-term employees. Hall acknowledges the difficulty of "turning the Titanic" but believes in the power of shared action to spark conversation and foster unity.

The Dream: Unifying Business and Faith for Global Impact

Hall's dream is ambitious: to see a hundred companies flourishing in a similar model, learning from one another and collectively demonstrating the "exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever dream, think, or imagine through business." He envisions a future where Sunday mornings celebrate the kingdom impact of business leaders throughout the week, and where churches are fully funded by for-profit entities, allowing every dollar to go directly to ministry.

He believes that integrating the local church and business requires two key elements: better conversation and unified action. "There's too much territorialism on the church side and as a result of that, there's a lack of trust on the business side from faith-driven leaders," he observes. By focusing on doing something together, rather than endless debate, he believes a more fruitful dialogue can emerge.

Parting Words: Business is Where the Gospel Meets the Streets

For Christian business owners feeling isolated or overwhelmed, Hall offers powerful encouragement: "The greatest joy we find in leadership is figuring out how to steward what's been entrusted to us." He emphasizes that business leaders are uniquely gifted by God, and when they embrace their calling, three things happen: God is glorified, they find their greatest joy, and others benefit.

He concludes with a profound insight that came to him during a worship service in Guatemala: "Business is where the gospel meets the streets." This phrase encapsulates his conviction that the marketplace is a primary arena for God's transformative work, inviting business leaders to see their enterprises not just as sources of profit, but as powerful instruments for spreading the Kingdom of God and transforming lives, one window, kitchen, or bathroom at a time.