They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. While the advice might be some young women’s motivation to host a party with homemade food, I propose (no pun intended) that most all humans are built with a love for food and for those that provide it. A valid way to just about any person’s heart is through their stomach, we could say. As witnesses of the gospel, reaching someone’s heart (not romantically—I don’t advise a “flirt to convert!” mentality!) is important to facilitating honest conversations about life. Many of us have numerous opportunities to share food with others; we have friends, coworkers, and neighbors that we can invite over for a meal or tea. Hospitality is an amazing tool for creating deep friendships and for being good witnesses of the gospel.
Redemptive entrepreneurs may have unique avenues for using food to reach people’s hearts. Creating a food-based business may be one way to do this. Some restaurants, such as In-N-Out Burger, use Christian elements like verses on their packaging, while Chick-Fil-A famously closes every Sunday. We may want to think beyond isolated Christian elements, though, which may seem gimmicky without other action. Some Christian coffee shops have aimed to create a much-needed sense of community in broken cities, and they have been very successful. Some restaurants, Christian and secular, hire ex-convicts. Even in businesses that are not related to food, food may still be used to build community in the customer base as well as among employees. Food is a powerful tool for individuals and businesses because it creates opportunities for fellowship, generosity, and conversations.
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I really enjoyed the relation between food, people's hearts, and redemptive entrepreneurship! I never thought of it like that but now that I have I won't forget that. Everyone needs to eat so that market is a great place to create a redemptive impact.