At the end of every podcast, we like to ask our guests to share what God has been teaching them in this season of life. Wade Myers recently joined us to discuss how God is using him during COVID-19.

You know, given the whole COVID impact and the recession, there are so many entrepreneurs that are in trouble, that are anxious, that are being forced to lay off employees, being forced to shut down. And what I’m really grateful for is we have all of our analytics in our platform that we can turn on for free and just say, well, let us help. Let us just help you get through this.

And, you know, raising capital for companies that need it, saving jobs. And so one of the things I’m really grateful for right now is just being faithful and being a good steward of what, you know, is right at my disposal and just offering to be a wonderful help to those that need it and to really try to make a difference with that at the same time.

One of my five children is fairly ill right now and we’re wrestling with that. And so the other thing God is telling me is to just execute well on all fronts. On the family front, you know, as well as the business front. There are all these balls that we’re constantly juggling and just trying to do it all well and trying to lead faithfully through good times and bad times and through, you know, good health and bad health and just coming out the other side and knowing that it’s just a growth opportunity.

And so as I meet with entrepreneurs right now, they’re struggling and are worried. The nice thing is God has taken me through a lot of experiences where I’ve learned a lot of hard knocks and made a lot of mistakes. So there is a degree of empathy that God is able to use to help them just, you know, understand that you’re not alone.

Because most entrepreneurs feel very isolated and lonely and like I’m a failure. Right. It’s like, no, this is a different environment. Let’s help you through it. So I’m really grateful to be in that position.

But clearly, God is saying take what you have and offer it. A lot of what you have free right now just to help businesses get through this next, you know, three months, six months, whatever it is, until people can get back on their feet.

by Luke Bolton

Three Views on Values-Based Investment Screening

Few experiences impact your perspective as quickly as living abroad. Life in America was normal for our family, but when we moved to Asia a few years ago everything changed. Our local neighbors saw things quite differently than we did. We quickly learned that everything we did could be seen from multiple perspectives.

Looking at something from multiple perspectives is a valuable practice in many contexts, such as in teamwork and relationship building. By seeking to understand the perspective of others, we can develop empathy, deepen our understanding, and demonstrate respect for others – even if we do not agree.

Joining a Community

Those who participate in the faith-driven investor community come from a variety of backgrounds, united by a desire to integrate Christian faith and investing. To say we are dealing with a debated topic from a wide range of viewpoints is to admit the obvious. But as I see it, diversity of thought can be a sign of health in this movement characterized by creativity and rigorous thinking within a framework of unifying principles.

While there are many ways to honor the Lord and reflect biblical thinking in our investing, one recurring topic in the public market conversation is values-based screening. Since our views on it are diverse, the purpose of this article is to invite greater understanding across a wide spectrum of viewpoints.

One Among Many

Retail investors often associate faith-based investing with just one thing: screening for values alignment. But professionals who follow this topic likely realize faith-based investing is a broader concept than just screening. Faith-based investing has inspired many strategies in the public markets such as applying biblical wisdom to evaluating risk, engaging in corporate advocacy, integrating aspects of impact investing, applying positive moral screening, and applying negative moral screening.

Although faith-based investing entails other strategies, this article focuses on screening as it was first historically and remains well known today. Three perspectives on screening have emerged in the faith-driven investing conversation. Each view seeks to grapple with Scripture and can be heard as part of the larger conversation within this movement.

1. The Moral Obligation View

The first view sees screening as a moral obligation given by God in Scripture. It is often associated with the term Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) which emphasizes the idea that God holds investors morally responsible for the companies represented in their portfolio. Failure to invest in a morally screened way feels, to them, like sinning against God, violating his will, and aiding and abetting acts of harm against humanity. Those who take this viewpoint usually emphasize the concepts of ownership, source of profits, and association with evil.

A. Ownership – The concept of ownership starts with the textbook definition of “common stock” as the right to a basic ownership claim in a corporation. Stock ownership is equated with company ownership in this view, and company ownership is equated with being morally responsible for what the company does. The application of this idea takes many forms, but it is often expressed in a question like, “Do you know what you own?”

B. Source of Profits – A second point addresses whether it is right to receive profit from evil deeds. This argument builds on verses that deal with money gained by ill-means, such as Prov 10:2 (“Treasures gained by wickedness…”), Prov 15:27 (“…greedy for unjust gain…”), Deut 23:18 (fees for prostitution not received in the temple), and Matt 27:6-7 (temple leaders refuse to take back Judas’ “blood money”). This view emphasizes that God cares how people make their money. Therefore, God must also care what companies we invest in since those companies send profit to their investors. Which leads to a question like, “Would you want to profit from someone having an abortion?”

C. Association with Evil – A third emphasis of this view is the desire not to be associated with evil, namely the evils committed by publicly listed companies. Authors from this viewpoint often say they are seeking to invest in a way that allows them to have a clean conscience or profits that are pure. Because they see investing as a significant moral relationship between investors and companies, they are bound by conscience to determine which moral issues to screen out and to screen them to the best of their ability.

Because this view sees screening as a matter of obedience to God, those who hold it often demonstrate a high level of persistence and sincerity in promoting a screened approach to other Christians. However, in the broad scope of all Christian investors, this view represents an articulate but growing minority.

2. The Strategic Opportunity View

The second view sees screening is a strategic opportunity to make an impact for good in a fallen world. It tends to be associated with terms like faith-based investing, stewardship and impact, or values-based investing. Those who hold it see screening as one way to reflect Christian faith and values, to make a difference in the world, and to express better stewardship as investors. Failing to use a moral screen, for them, feels like a missed opportunity rather than a sin. This view emphasizes concepts like creating value, the complexity of public markets, and the pervasive influence of sin and grace.

A. Creating Value – The concept of creating value goes back to the biblical story of creation where God entrusts a fruitful world to the care of his image bearers. People were given the task of cultivating creation, thus adding value by applying their creativity and skill to the world. It also builds on the great command of Jesus to love our neighbor as ourselves. This view seeks to invest in morally uplifting ways, not because the investor-company relationship is morally significant, but because the investor-neighbor relationship is morally significant. It asks the question, “How can my investing bless the world?”

B. Complexity of the Public Markets – This view sees screening as a strategy, rather than obligation, because of the complex and indirect relationship that exists between investors and companies. The complicated nature of the public markets is well recognized, and rarely understood. Depending on the type of security purchased, many layers of advisors, managers, analysts, bankers, directors, regulators, advocacy groups, financial markets, and governments contribute to its overall social context. In other words, retail investors and public companies don’t sit at a table and decide which goods and services to offer. Many factors outside their control play into those decisions. Given the limitations of knowledge, lack of investor control, and structural distance between them, this view does not to see the investor-company relationship as a significant basis from which to argue for moral responsibility.

C. Pervasive Influence of Sin and Grace – A third emphasis in this view is the comprehensive influence of sin on all human endeavor (Gen 3:17-19). Since the whole world is corrupted by sin (Rom 8:20-23), this view concludes that every company is imperfect, and every investment supports to the employment of sinners. But God’s grace is also pervasively at work so even the worst companies are not as wicked as possible. This leads them to trust that God’s grace is at work through normative investments as well as those that are morally screened. It can lead to screening methods that do not aim for “zero-tolerance” results. It also motivates them to seek other strategies like corporate engagement to compensate for the inevitable expressions of sin in the corporate world.

Since this view takes a moderate position on screening, it tends to be slightly less visible or vocal in the faith-driven investor community. This view is also often held by Christian professionals who work in an investment management context where zero-tolerance approaches are not viable.

3. The Unnecessary Distraction View

A third view sees screening as an unnecessary distraction from the central purpose of investing. It often avoids the term BRI and prefers faith-driven or principles-based instead. This view does not see screening as a moral responsibility, but as a matter of Christian liberty or conscience. They may express their values by engaging in corporate advocacy, but more often focus on how faith impacts the Christian’s overall financial experience (i.e. generosity, integrity, contentment, excellence, etc.). They see the investor-company relationship as insignificant and instead emphasize engagement in the world, the goodness of profitable investing, and character development.

A. Engagement in the World – The idea of engagement in the world goes back to Genesis and God’s call for people to be active managers of his creation. Both Christians and non-Christians are invited to collaborate (as far as possible) in cultivating the earth and developing society. In this view, one of the greatest examples of engaging in relationship with non-Christians is the earthly ministry of Jesus. Since Christ was a friend of sinners and received gifts of monetary value from sinners (Matt 9:10-12), they do not see entanglement with sinners in the markets to be wrong. Instead, it is part of their calling to be a godly presence in the world.

B. Goodness of Profitable Investing – Their second argument is that the purpose of investing is to seek a profit, and that seeking a profit is a morally appropriate goal. The roots of this idea go back to God’s design for human productivity in Genesis. Investing to make a profit is rooted in God’s design and reinforced by Jesus who used profitable investing to depict a “good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:14-29). The productive use of capital (such as, providing liquidity in the markets) is a moral good sufficient to justify investing without the additional layer of moral screening.

C. Character Development – This view also emphasizes the moral and spiritual concerns investors face on a personal level rather than a corporate one. Those who see screening as unnecessary tend to also see it as a distraction from important projects like developing a heart for contentment, generosity, and trust in God’s provision. Since this view rejects the claim that screening is obligated by God, they also tend to see those who promote screening as being legalistic or imposing their conscience on others.

In the broad scope of investing, this view speaks to the majority perspective of Christian investors. But, as their faith-based approach does not involve screening, they often tend to be overlooked in the faith-driven investor community.

Conclusion

This article briefly introduced three views on screening but did not offer critical assessment of each view. Instead we have sought to lay the groundwork for future discussions by identifying several viewpoints held by believers on this matter. Evaluating the pros and cons of each view is an ongoing, collaborative project for the faith-driven investor community.

Since biblical truth can be seen in each view, we can welcome each of them as they wrestle with matters of truth, faith, and doing God’s will in the markets. Given this diversity within the faith, no single viewpoint can fully define what it means to be a faith-driven investor. Perhaps the best strategy in light of this is to honor the faith of those who differ from us and commit to a love that is patient, kind, and “does not insist on its own way” (I Cor 13:5).

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Required Disclosure:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. No investment strategy assures financial success or protects against loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal. 

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. WaterRock Financial, LLC is a separate entity from LPL Financial.
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Luke Bolton earned a BA in Theology at Northland International University and an MA in Biblical Studies at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He brings seven years of experience in the financial services industry and serves as Director of Operations at WaterRock Financial. He and his family are members at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis.

Article originally posted here by Access Ventures

by Access Ventures

Time. It is something we all have an equal measure of, but something we can often take for granted. Time, in moments of crisis as well, comes in short supply. Many have famously quipped about time.

“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” – William Shakespeare
“Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” – Theophrastus
“One cannot buy, rent, or hire more time.” – Peter Drucker

Every moment counts. We all have our go-to analogies and as a former Army officer, mine of course are military-related. It was captured quite well in Band of Brothers Episode 7, when LT Dike froze in the attack on the village of Foy and his men were pinned down. CPT Winters quickly assesses the situation and sends LT Spiers to relieve Dike and continue the attack. It’s in these moments, we begin to understand the true value of time and see how the effect of delay can be catastrophic to our collective success.

So too with this stimulus bill passed by Congress last Friday to help curve the critical effects of the current pandemic . As featured on our special episode of More Than Profit with John Lettieri, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Economic Innovation Group (EIG), and Ross Baird, Founder of Blueprint Local, although the bill is a step in the right direction it would have been even better three weeks ago. The New Localism reported “many small businesses are living on the brink. The average small business has 27 days of cash flow and for many restaurants, it’s more like 16 days. For these businesses, shutting down operations for even a few days risk running out of cash. And, “when you run out of cash, as a small business you’re dead,” says Karen Mills, former Administrator of the SBA.”

With 16 days of cash and an SBA going into this pandemic staffed at 60% capacity, many of the businesses that will be needed for the economic snapback in order to rehire the workforce currently unemployed, may not be here.

Let’s embrace the moment, push aside fear and scarcity, and work collaboratively with others.

Which is why, we got to work late last week to put together a Small Business Continuity Loan Fund with some amazing community partners. We were able to catalyze and coordinate this new fund of almost $1 million dollars to help provide loans to small businesses of up to $25,000 at 0%. This fund is specifically designed to help support the most vulnerable businesses in our community. Across the country, communities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Indianapolis and Kansas City are doing the same thing. Local leaders recognize we need to step in, and even alongside what the SBA will be rolling out, in order to preserve the Main Street we all enjoy.

Additionally (and surprisingly), we have gotten several calls from manufacturers converting production to support the relief effort, but banks are simply too slow to help support their efforts. Last week I was connected to someone at our state economic development agency asking if I knew anyone that would do an expedited loan for a company with an approved purchase order from the state. They had a packaging company willing to make and package 50,000 gallons of hand sanitizer at-cost. 60% of the raw materials were donated, but this wasn’t their core business. They had a guarantee of payment but no cash to acquire the remaining inventory to fulfill the order. Access Ventures was able to provide a 0% loan of $250,000 against the purchase order (they were doing it at-cost given the circumstance) and we were able to get donated legal to draft the closing documents. We were able to sign the documents and wire the money by EOB Monday!

I tell this story not to simply highlight our recent efforts but to show how with a flexible mindset and a little creativity communities can come together to address some of the most critical needs of our local economies. I am greatly encouraged by the coordination I see in communities across the country to respond in moments like this. But it is important we do not delay. Let’s embrace the moment, push aside fear and scarcity, and work collaboratively with others. Choosing to believe in the abundance of compassion and resources if we truly work together in moments of crisis like this.

Article originally hosted and shared with permission by The Christian Economic Forum, a global network of leaders who join together to collaborate and introduce strategic ideas for the spread of God’s economic principles and the goodness of Jesus Christ. This article was from a collection of White Papers compiled for attendees of the CEF’s Global Event.

by Ben Howard

More than two thousand years ago, Plato said, “He who tells the stories rules the culture.”

For centuries of human history, a society’s ethics and values were shaped by oral tradition passed from one generation to the next, often within families. Perhaps the preeminent storyteller was Jesus of Nazareth, who used stories and parables to convey profound spiritual truths. Time and time again, Jesus told simple tales about farmers, wedding banquets, and athletes to reveal something eternal about the Kingdom of God. This isn’t because Jesus was folksy; it’s because He knew that stories change people. Change enough people, and you can change the entire culture.

It’s no surprise that during the Civil Rights Movement, there was a marked increase in television shows featuring minority families. The Jeffersons, All in the Family, and Good Times illustrated week after week that Black families faced the same daily joys and challenges as White families. Those programs paved the way for changes all throughout the culture, particularly in the South.

For a more recent example of this phenomenon, consider the LGBTQ+ movement. On September 21, 1998, a new sitcom premiered in primetime on NBC. The show focused on a single man, his female best friend, and the trials and tribulations of their sometimes glamorous, but always humorous, lives in New York City. Sound familiar? Take a guess.

It wasn’t Friends. It wasn’t Seinfeld.

It was Will & Grace.

The only significant difference between Will & Grace and other sitcoms of the day was that Will & Grace featured two openly gay men playing openly gay characters. For decades, gay and lesbian cinema remained sequestered on platforms attracting only their most ardent supporters and did not get exposure in mainstream media. This began to change with shows like Will & Grace, where gay and lesbian characters were shown as ordinary people living their lives in relatable settings.

In an essay for Huffington Post in 2014, author Jack Myers wrote, “Part of [Will & Grace’s] success was that … homosexuality is not the central theme of the show. While the two main leads are a gay man and his straight female friend, the show is not simply about being gay. Instead, it happens to have gay characters among its cast. This paved the way for shows that introduced gay issues and gay characters. Essentially, this lack of overall emphasis on being gay made homosexuality less of a loaded issue and pushed it toward the background.”

This show and others that came after it, such as Modern Family, have led the way for a cultural shift in America, and our laws and norms have followed suit. The same could be said for increasing public awareness and empathy for people with autism through shows like Parenthood, The Good Doctor, and Love on the Spectrum. Politics follows art, not the other way around. Artists and storytellers have long understood that if you want to change the culture, you must tell more and better stories.

So, what currently exists in the mainstream? In short, a plethora of dark, hopeless content. Listen to any dinnertime conversation, and you’ll hear Americans share their favorite shows, volleying titles back and forth like a rapid-fire tennis match. Thanks to digital production and delivery, more stories are now available to people than ever before. According to the Motion Picture Association’s 2021 THEME Report, the number of original online programs has doubled from 347 in 2019 to 693 in 2021 — a 100% increase in just two years.

Despite this explosion in quantity, the quality of content remains sadly predictable. Programs overflow with gratuitous sex and violence. In an essay for Newsweek entitled “Why Does America Crave Heartbreaking TV?” New York-based culture writer Anna Rahmanan writes, “From HBO’s Mare of Easttown (granted, a very good show), to the network’s The Undoing, Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere and even ABC’s Big Sky, the vast majority of TV productions now premiering deal with heart-wrenching and downright depressing storylines that all seem to follow the same sort of formula: a mystery is solved by a strong woman, and on the way to semi-justice, the audience is shocked by revelations of infidelity, homicides, suicides, sexual predation, and other horrible tragedies.”

Award-winning dramas such as Succession and Yellowstone aim to depict real life but fail to offer audiences even a shred of hope that good will conqueror in the end. Characters are not just flawed — they are so depraved that they leave us no one to root for. Plotlines center on evil vs. evil. Like rubber-necking past one bad car wreck after the next, audiences binge their way through these series, leaving them feeling hollow and sad.

If that were it — if dark television and films merely left a bad taste in our cultural mouths — then we could just sit back and wait for better content to emerge. But unfortunately, art doesn’t exist in a vacuum; stories have cultural consequences. As is well-documented, rates of anxiety and depression have been on the rise. Authors Anne Case and Angus Deaton, in their New York Times bestseller Deaths of Despair, write, “In the past two decades, deaths of despair from suicide, drug overdose, and alcoholism have risen dramatically, and now claim hundreds of thousands of American lives each year—and they’re still rising.” While not causal in nature, the correlation is hard to ignore. We are a people drowning in depressing, hopeless stories. Is it any wonder that so many people are left feeling depressed and hopeless?

If and when a title breaks through all that negativity, the results can be seismic. In August 2020, an under-hyped show called Ted Lasso dropped its first episode on Apple TV. An earnest and unflappable eponymous American football coach found himself at the helm of a floundering English premier league soccer team. With genuine kindness and some strategic homemade shortbread, Ted Lasso won over America, leading to an October 2021 article in the Harvard Crimson student newspaper entitled “Ted Lasso and the Kindness Revolution.”

Of course, in a culture of negativity, even goodness demands critique. In a piece entitled “Ted Lasso Can’t Save Us” for the New Yorker, Doreen St. Felix writes, “The sports comedy, now in its second season, is almost alarmingly unsexy, and yet it’s expertly attuned to the romantic and the sentimental, as if engineered by Pixar. You don’t discuss what the show is about but, rather, how it feels to watch it, which is comforting, or, as one headline put it, like ‘a warm hug of nice.’” The New Yorker can nit-pick. But if the overnight success of Ted Lasso teaches us anything, it’s that hope and meaning can sell too.

Another series that made positive waves was The Chosen, a Christian epic chronicling the lives of Jesus and his twelve disciples. Funded independently and hosted on its own app before becoming a breakout sensation, The Chosen has received more than 300 million views in 190 countries. As the Washington Examiner reported in January 2022, the show is “supported by the most successful crowd-funding campaign in history (16,000 people invested $11 million for season one), [and] is still going strong, with producers now inviting fans to contribute to production costs and ‘pay it forward.’”

Programs like Ted Lasso and The Chosen prove that success is within reach for content with hope and meaning. And certainly, there are other shows and films worth mentioning. But unfortunately, the mainstream media is a profit-driven business. Investors are often risk-averse. Why invest in hopeful content when despair is a sure thing? And so the trend continues; content providers (networks, studios, streaming platforms) green light juicy dramas. Talented writers, filmmakers, and directors who want to bring stories of meaning, hope, and faith are left to fund their own way — or give up the dream. The current system will continue in this direction without direct and intentional intervention to the contrary.

To put it simply: faith-driven storytellers are under-funded and under-trained. There are hosts of jump-start programs for aspiring writers, filmmakers, and storytellers in the secular space. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment host a bi-annual fellowship called Impact for up-and-coming writers to polish and pitch their film and television projects. Reese Witherspoon recently launched LitUp, a writer’s fellowship for unpublished, underrepresented women. These established producers understand that young talent needs both financial and creative support in order to make their way in a complex industry.

So, where are the fellowships for writers of hope? Where are the pathways for the faith-connected storytellers of the future? It would be easy to throw up our hands and abandon changing Hollywood as a useless endeavor. But Jesus called His followers to be salt and light in our world, intentionally stepping into dark corners wherever they exist. Yes, Christians are free to make content on apps like YouTube or by crowd-sourcing like the Chosen. But compelling content that can reach broad non-believing audiences requires sustained financial backing by investors with the vision to impact America at large rather than preaching into the echo chamber of Christian culture. Like it or not, if we want to be salt and light in our world, we cannot abandon mainstream media.

Simply put, people of faith must invest more aggressively in the power of storytelling. Every day, Christians give their hard-earned dollars to support non-profits, para-church ministries, and social causes to great effect. In the same way, billions of dollars annually send missionaries and evangelists to domestic and international communities, bringing news of hope and peace. These efforts are valuable and ought to be continued. But there’s another way to love our neighbors —  and that’s by telling them a better, truer story than the one the world is telling. Not all is lost; hope really does win in the end.

So, where do we begin? First, faith-driven people must make overt financial investments into the media space, supporting faith-connected storytellers and the development of their stories for mainstream media. Second, this effort must be strategic and not piecemeal. Media projects require sustained effort over long periods of time, and financial investment must follow suit; token giving will not suffice. Third, any investment must pursue two bottom lines: positive cultural impact and financial return. However, the expectations must have a long-term horizon. Our story culture did not get to a place of despair overnight, and we won’t turn back the darkness overnight either. In time, break-even investments will attain market-rate returns comparable with the rest of the media business.

In the end, media is and always will be a high-risk investment. And yet, without adequate funding and support, stories of hope and meaning will continue to lose out to secular programming that’s seen as a ‘sure thing’ but only brings our culture further into the depths of despair. That doesn’t have to be the case. We can start a movement within media and entertainment, refusing to abandon those spaces to hopelessness. With the right partners in place, faith-driven investors stand to make a marked impact, not only on media but also on the culture of America writ large.

Now is the time to create great shows, films, documentaries, and other content that will impact people where they are and spread a message of hope. Now is the time for Christians to follow Jesus’ example and tell better stories.

Recently, we were able to sit down with Dick Blanc to discuss how the Beyond Angel Network at Cedarville University is preparing future Faith Driven Investors and Entrepreneurs. Amanda Lawson captured their story below.

by Amanda Lawson

Would you be surprised to find out that some of Jesus’ disciples could’ve been as young as 13? So was I.

While we can’t completely confirm the exact age of the disciples, we know they were young. When you look at the responsibility Jesus gave them, it’s surprising to think about how modern society often neglects the insight and ideas of our youth due to their lack of experience on a resume.

Jesus saw power, potential, and passion in the young men and women that surrounded Him.

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that Christian universities across the country are taking Jesus’s discipleship model seriously—encouraging and enabling their students to participate in making world-changing decisions. Cedarville University is one of the newer schools to join this movement. Through the Beyond Angel Network, they are giving college undergraduates the power to influence major capital investment decisions and shape the real-world economy.

After talking with the students, faculty, and leaders of this program, these five life lessons continued to arise in our conversations.

Education that Empowers is Education that Endures

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Cedarville’s VCAT (Venture Capital Analyst Team) members are chosen after a rigorous application process. The eight students who are chosen are tasked with engaging in a deep dive of due diligence practices to evaluate a variety of companies seeking funding from their angel network. After substantial research and evaluation of the company, student teams narrow the pool of applicant companies to the top four which present to angels at an annual pitch competition.

VCATs prepare lengthy executive summaries with their recommendations for the angels in preparation for the pitches. They maintain communication between the angels and the founders, serving as liaisons throughout the process. This hands-on experience not only gives students the practical skills of research and communication but empowers them to make recommendations to angels who are investing significant amounts of money based on the VCAT reports. The students become the experts and their wisdom results in lasting, real-world impact.

Community and Mentorship Make a Difference

The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2

Scripture points to community as including peer and mentorship relationships. Beyond Angel Network does as well. The eight students on VCAT are divided into four separate two-person teams. Each team is intentionally paired to match an underclassman with a senior, therefore encouraging peer-to-peer work as well as a mentorship model within each partnership. Younger students learn from their senior partner and together, they are matched with an angel mentor from Beyond’s network, further extending the discipleship model.

The goal of this structure is to bring encouragement and wisdom from senior students and angels who are able to speak to their own experience and history as Christian investors learning to navigate different situations that arise in faith-driven investing. This model provides students with leadership experience (in their second year) and invaluable wisdom and encouragement as they venture into their own careers at the end of their tenure as a Beyond Angel Network VCAT.

You Have to Measure What Matters

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for men.” Luke 5:8-10

Beyond VCATs have to prepare summaries for angels, recommending for or against making an investment, so having quality financial analysis is a necessity. But financials are not the only important measurement. Beyond teaches students to evaluate companies on a set of qualitative and “soft” quantitative measures that they explain are rooted in the Great Commission and/or the Great Commandment.

This means that some measures are explicitly connected to the message of the gospel (gospel proclamation) while others more deeply emphasize the command to love God and others (action-driven). These may include how the company treats its employees, general conduct of the leadership, consistency across the words and actions of the company and its leadership, and/or if the company employs typically marginalized people. In this way, VCATs are trained to evaluate companies through both qualitative and quantitative, kingdom-focused, measurements.

Opportunities Exist to be Seized

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38

Cedarville University recognized the opportunity to involve students in real-world financial analysis and participate in the growing global movement of angel investing networks. The founders of the Beyond Angel Network recognized an opportunity to engage students in this space and teach them to recognize and evaluate opportunities of their own.

While only four companies pitch at the annual event, that number is whittled down from twelve at the discretion of the student analysts. There is an abundance of funding-seeking ventures. The responsibility of the VCATs is to recognize the best ones and put those forward for funding. College students are the business leaders of the future, so training them in due diligence financial analysis and opportunity evaluation rooted in biblical principles is a crucial step toward developing a strong and successful entrepreneurial economy for years to come.

Money-Making Can Create Ministry Opportunity

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Acts 6:3-4

Everyone has unique and purposeful gifts and callings. Very few senior pastors could or should be financial analysts, arguably by design. But when there are investment dollars and entrepreneurial passions in the hands of Christians, sound biblical wisdom needs to be a part of the process. Beyond Angel Network provides that in every facet of its program: from assembling and developing VCAT students, to training them to recognize and evaluate important factors for investing, to offering recommendations to angels with humility and confidence.

In doing so, these students are participating in marketplace ministry, incorporating their faith-driven values with real-world situations. At the pitch competition, students lead the Question and Answer sessions, facilitate presentations, and get to see the early fruits of their labor. As Christian funders come together with Christian founders—built on the efforts of eight college students—the market begins to change and the message of the gospel is furthered in industries that pastors often struggle to reach. Showing these young leaders that their efforts are valuable and can affect change for the gospel and the glory of God in the business world empowers them to pursue the giftings and callings God has given them, regardless of their industry.

Taking Jesus’s model of discipleship and scripture encouraging young leaders, Cedarville’s Beyond Angel Network has, even in its infancy, developed a program that brings significant value to its students and angels for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.

So, why would an undergraduate university engage their students in this kind of program? Because Jesus did.