Don’t Lead Alone: The Decision That Changed My Business—and My Faith

Mark Clevenger, founder of Quintegra Resourcing, knows firsthand the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of entrepreneurship. From rapid growth and international expansion to the difficult decision to lay off employees during economic downturns, his journey is a testament to resilience and faith. But for Mark, one of the most important lessons was not learned in isolation—it was discovered in the power of community.

When Mark started Quintegra Resourcing in 1997, a recruitment process outsourcing company, he set out to build what he called a "godly business." Yet integrating faith into the day-to-day reality of running a company often felt isolating. "Everybody looked at me like I had all the answers, and I had nowhere to go," Mark recalls.

That changed when he was introduced to a peer group of business owners committed to bringing Jesus into the marketplace while maintaining operational excellence. The group quickly became a lifeline.

The Power of Faith-Driven Community

"I was intimidated to join it until I joined it," Mark admits. "After the first meeting, I realized all these other business owners were as 'broke' as I am. We could all go in there and be real and transparent."

This community provided accountability, fresh perspective, and the strength to navigate difficult decisions. It was in this environment that Mark experienced the meaning of "iron sharpens iron," bringing insights back to his leadership team and applying them in his business.

Choosing Faith Over Revenue

One of the most defining moments of Mark's leadership came when a major international client—representing 75% of Quintegra's revenue—requested that he remove biblical verses and Christian content from the company's website. After prayer and counsel from his peer group, Mark chose not to compromise his faith.

The client did not renew their contract. The result was significant layoffs and a challenging season of rebuilding. "I thought God would pull through," Mark reflects, "but God's ways aren't always our ways."

Though painful, the experience strengthened his conviction to lead with integrity and trust God, even when the outcome was uncertain.

Faith in Action: Giving and Moving Forward

Mark's faith extends beyond business decisions. He is deeply committed to supporting the "poorest of the poor," investing in microeconomic initiatives in developing countries to create jobs and support families. He is also passionate about challenging the idea that faith should be kept out of the marketplace.

This conviction ultimately led him to co-found Kingdom Factor with his former coach, Ray Hilbert—an organization focused on helping business leaders integrate their faith with how they lead and operate their companies.

The Birth of Kingdom Factor

How did that experience influence you in co-founding Kingdom Factor?

Having experienced the impact of a Christian business peer group firsthand, I saw how powerful it is when a leader has a trusted place to process real decisions with others who understand both business and faith. It changed how I led—bringing clarity, accountability, and a deeper integration of my faith into the decisions I was making every day. Over time, I realized how rare that kind of environment actually is for most leaders.

Why does Kingdom Factor matter today?

Most leaders are still carrying significant responsibility without a place to truly process what they're facing. They're making decisions in isolation and trying to integrate faith into leadership without the right support. Kingdom Factor was created to provide that environment—a structured, high-trust peer advisory experience where Christian business leaders can receive wise counsel, be challenged and supported, and grow into the leaders they are called to be.