— by Amanda Lawson

The Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, were some of the founders of modern faith driven entrepreneurship. Innovation and a willingness to push boundaries were defining traits of the Quakers, at times leading to their ostracism in society and a perception of the Society of Friends as too radical.

But isn’t that representative not only of a people sold out for their faith, but also those entrepreneurs who are willing to follow where the Lord leads, regardless of what peers and society may think?

The Quakers were known as radicals—believing in a personal, relational, experiential relationship with God—something not often praised by the traditional church of the mid-17th Century. They were seen as too progressive. They took risks many other Christians didn’t understand. Yet they did not waver in their pursuit of the Lord and where He led.

When the Quakers came to what would become the United States, they continued their religious practice alongside a bold activism in society. The Quakers preached a message of salvation over tradition. They served in communities in a variety of ways, eventually becoming instrumental in the abolitionist movement, having emancipated all of their slaves by 1800.

The Quakers moved to the colonies for religious motives, like many other British ex-patriots. Unsurprisingly, the Society of Friends was incredibly committed to philanthropy but this was not their only method of empowering communities. As they settled, they built businesses rooted in innovation, care for community, and a deep trust of their partners—due in part to their shared faith. The Quakers, as an international society, were some of the first to establish modern systems of credit and banking. For example, Barclays was founded on Quaker principles. Deep trust and a willingness to extend credit enabled “deal flow” in the earliest stages of the modern United States—and it was rooted in the practice and belief of Quakers.

Innovation, compassion, and a rooted pursuit were staples of Quaker living. They also define the motives of faith driven entrepreneurs today.

Innovation requires a willingness to risk, to fail, and to go against the norm. As many entrepreneurs know, it can be isolating and feel incredibly lonely. It can also be life-changing for generations. For the Quakers and modern-day faith driven entrepreneurs, a desire to innovate comes from a passion for improving some aspect of life, and not only for oneself. In both cases, innovation exists to bring about human flourishing—the ultimate end goal being restored relationship with God. This goal led both the Quakers and the modern FDE movement to new ways of reaching people with the gospel and serving in communities in tangible and intangible ways. The heart of such action is compassion for people. Whether in the business world or non-profit sector, having a heart of compassion modeled after Jesus’s motivates believers to act in ways that promote bold innovation for the glory of God.

The reason faith driven entrepreneurs are able to press on towards compassion in their innovative spirit is the same reason the Quakers were able to maintain their lifestyle: a rootedness in faith that inspired their actions. A pursuit of the Lord and His will, a confidence in relationship with Him, and a trust in His leadership were hallmarks of the Quakers’ faith and are the foundation of that of faith driven entrepreneurs today.

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[ Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash ]