Intro: Two Worlds, One Calling

For over a decade, I’ve served at my local church, mentoring, teaching, counselling, and leading people across different walks of life. At the same time, I’ve built startups, trained entrepreneurs, and advised organisations on digital transformation and brand strategy.

To many, these worlds seem far apart, ministry and the marketplace. But I’ve found that the lessons I’ve learned in church often shape the way I lead in the boardroom. In fact, some of the most powerful business insights I’ve carried didn’t come from a seminar, but from serving people.

Here are 5 lessons business leaders can borrow from the pulpit.

1. The Power of Storytelling

Ministry teaches you that people don’t just remember instructions; they remember stories. Jesus Himself taught with parables because stories stick, shape imagination, and drive action.

In business, it’s the same. Your brand story, why you exist, what you stand for, and how you make a difference, matters more than features or price tags. Leaders who master storytelling inspire loyalty, trust, and influence.

2. Serving Before Leading

As a leader in church, leadership is never about titles, it’s about service. Washing feet comes before wearing crowns.

In the boardroom, the same principle applies. True leadership means putting people first: employees, customers, and communities. When leaders adopt a posture of service, they gain commitment, not just compliance.

3. Building Communities, Not Crowds

Anyone can gather a crowd, but ministry shows you the value of building a community. A community isn’t just an audience; it’s a group of people connected by shared values, belonging, and purpose.

For businesses, this is the difference between transactional customers and loyal advocates. Companies that invest in building communities create movements, not just markets.

4. Resilience in the Face of Opposition

Every minister learns that challenges, criticism, and setbacks come with the calling. But resilience, the ability to stand, adapt, and continue is what sustains impact.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders face similar battles: market shifts, failed launches, scepticism. The lesson? Don’t quit at the first sign of resistance. Use setbacks as stepping stones. Resilience is not optional; it’s survival.

5. Faith in Vision

In ministry, you often lead people towards a future they cannot see yet. That requires faith, holding on to the vision even when the present looks contradictory.

Business leaders must do the same. Every great company was once an idea others doubted. Leaders must see beyond obstacles, articulate vision with conviction, and rally people around it until it becomes reality.

Conclusion: Where the Pulpit Meets the Boardroom

I’ve learned that the church and the boardroom are not so different. Both are places where influence, vision, and responsibility converge. Both require leaders who can inspire, serve, and persevere.  

Whether you’re a minister or a CEO, the lessons are universal: tell better stories, serve people, build communities, stay resilient, and never lose faith in the vision.

Because in the end, leadership is not about position, it’s about impact.