The Entrepreneurial Pastor: Bridging Faith and Business for Kingdom Impact

In a world often quick to compartmentalize, the journey of Matt Steen, co-founder of Chemistry Staffing, offers a compelling narrative of how entrepreneurial drive, a deep love for the local church, and an unwavering commitment to kingdom principles can converge to create transformative impact. Steen's story challenges conventional notions of ministry and business, revealing a path where faith isn't just a guiding light but the very engine of innovation and service.

From a young age, Steen exhibited the classic signs of an entrepreneur. "I was that weird kid in high school that bought a pickup truck and put an ad in the newspaper to haul stuff to the dump," he recounts. This innate drive, fueled by a desire to solve problems and create value, never left him, even as he pursued a call to ministry. While many might see a disconnect between the sacred and the entrepreneurial, Steen found a natural synergy. His side projects, born out of a need to stay engaged and avoid stagnation, were always rooted in serving the 'capital C church.'

From Frustration to Kingdom Innovation

Chemistry Staffing itself was born out of a profound frustration: the high turnover rate of pastors and the resulting pain for churches and families. "We're tired of seeing guys... be there for three years, turn over and move on to the next one," Steen explains. This wasn't just a business opportunity; it was a kingdom problem demanding a kingdom solution. The goal wasn't just to place pastors but to stabilize churches, foster long-term health, and ultimately, help them thrive. This heart for the church, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit, led to a unique staffing model focused on fit and longevity, rather than just filling a vacancy.

Steen's journey as an executive pastor further honed his ability to merge business acumen with spiritual leadership. He identifies three flavors of executive pastors: the junior senior pastor, the ministry strategist, and the operations guy. Steen's wiring as a strategist, focused on building and unleashing teams, perfectly aligned with his entrepreneurial bent. "My role was to come alongside. Build teams, unleash teams, whether it's volunteer team, staff teams," he states. This experience laid the groundwork for his current role, where he helps both churches and candidates discover their unique wiring and fulfill their God-given callings.

Faith-Driven Values in Business Practice

What truly sets Chemistry Staffing apart is its unwavering commitment to faith-driven principles, even when they defy conventional business logic. Steen openly admits to making "bad business decisions for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the kingdom." Their core values—love the local church, champion church leaders, lead with generosity, and put the kingdom first—are not mere platitudes but operational directives. This means sometimes advising a church to heal before seeking a new pastor, or recommending a competitor if it's a better fit for the church's needs. "I'd really like to get a check from you, but I'm not going to do a search for you right now because you guys are a dumpster fire," he candidly shares, highlighting a commitment that transcends profit margins.

This approach, while potentially less lucrative in the short term, builds trust and ultimately serves a higher purpose. Steen acknowledges the challenge of operating in a market where "the margins are small... and honestly, we're not necessarily in our space. We're not competing against, you know, other firms. We're competing against an elder board that doesn't want to sign over a check for 15 or 20 grand." Yet, for Steen, the work is non-negotiable. "God has been very clear to, to me, and to my business partner. We need to do this because, to quote Nehemiah, 'this is our great work.'"

Breaking Isolation: Building Authentic Community

Perhaps the most profound insight from Steen is his emphasis on combating the isolation prevalent among leaders, particularly in ministry and faith-based entrepreneurship. "Stop doing this alone," he urges. The unique pressures of leadership, combined with the often-public nature of their roles, can lead to withdrawal and a lack of authentic connection. Steen stresses the vital importance of having trusted individuals who can ask the hard questions, offer honest feedback, and provide unwavering support. "We've got to have those people that just annoy the snot out of us when they ask us, 'Hey, how's it with your soul?'" he says, underscoring the need for accountability and genuine care.

Matt Steen's journey is a powerful testament to the transformative potential when entrepreneurial spirit is consecrated to kingdom purposes. It's a call for leaders to embrace their unique wiring, to lead with generosity, and to prioritize the health of the church and its leaders above all else. His story reminds us that true impact often lies not in conforming to conventional wisdom, but in courageously forging a path where faith, business, and a deep love for humanity converge to build something truly lasting.