Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

— by Amanda Lawson

Do not despise small beginnings.

Zechariah 4 presents a prophetic encounter that theologians could write volumes on, but the gist is that God’s people were returning from exile and their new city would be beautiful and God would be there with His people and there would be amazing redemption and restoration. The man responsible for rebuilding the physical city in real time was Zerubbabel. “Not by might nor by power” but by the Holy Spirit, Zerubbabel would lead this restoration project of literal biblical proportions. Zechariah goes on to explain that the Lord told him not to despise “these small beginnings” because the Lord Himself rejoices to see the work begin. 

But I like big beginnings, explosive and powerful burning bush level moments and ocean waves that 6-foot surfers can stand up under. I’m not an overly patient person when I have a clear goal in mind. 

Yet, in my current position, the Lord has taught me a lot about not despising small beginnings. 

In April, the L.I.F.E. (Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship) Research Lab at Miami University (OH) hosted the 2nd Annual L.I.F.E. Research Conference. Academics from around the world came together virtually to celebrate and explore research opportunities at the intersection of faith and work. It was a day full of deep discussion, provocative questions, and community building.

A keynote address by Baylor University professor, Peter Klein, kicked off the conference. Garry Bruton (Texas Christian University) and Jeff McMullen (Indiana University) presented a point-counterpoint discussion on the opportunities and challenges to including religion in entrepreneurship research. Panel discussions surrounding identity, economics and theology, international markets, social entrepreneurship, and more provided space for conversations with leading academics from Dartmouth College, University of Tennessee, Butler University, Oklahoma University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Virginia Tech. 

Prior to the conference, we distributed a call for research proposals by doctoral students who are working in this space and offered a chance to submit a plan and pitch to the audience in hopes of securing funding to finish their work. Three finalists were chosen to pitch live and attendees were given the chance to vote for the winner. Zanele Lurafu (Jönköping Business School) won the competition, earning $5,000 in research funding. Runners up, each receiving $2,500, were Andrea Sottini (Universita Católica del Sacre Coure) and Trevor Israelsen (University of Victoria). 

Later, an overview of the field of faith and entrepreneurship from an editorial team for the journal, Small Business Economics revealed a broad spectrum of topics in entrepreneurship that are deeply influenced by religion. The conference ended with an incredible discussion between Ali Aslan Gümüsay (University of Hamburg), Roy Suddaby (University of Victoria), and Scott Newbert (Baruch College, CUNY) on different theoretical approaches to studying and explaining the role of religion in entrepreneurship. 

When the conference ended, a co-worker asked how it went and all I could say in the moment was “Nothing went wrong. It could have gone better, but nothing went wrong.” I am a skeptic by nature, and while there was nothing inherently untrue in my response, it probably wasn’t the right response.

The reality was—and to an extent, still is—I don’t know how to measure success in this circumstance.  As soon as the conference ended—frankly, even in the days leading to it and during the various events—I sat and pondered what success in this conference would look like. Was it the number of attendees? The number of countries represented? Attendee feedback following the event? Was it about getting recognition in the business school at Miami for the work we put in? What about getting asked to co-author or co-chair future research endeavors? 

Now that some time has passed, I can confidently say that I still don’t really know if the L.I.F.E. Research Conference would be considered a success. Because everyone has different definitions, ranging from Zoom retention rates to post-conference surveys to ongoing conversations with new connections. The truth is, we live and work in a world that is dominated by numbers. And our attendance numbers for this year’s conference weren’t as good as last year’s. But our survey results were better. 

What I can also confidently say is that regardless of the success of the conference itself, our team succeeded. 

I’ve shared in the past (Fear and Trembling and Defining Success, Faith Driven Entrepreneur) that my overall definition of success has changed a lot in the past couple of years, that now it’s not a measure of data, but one of obedience to what the Lord has called me to. And I believe He called us to build and host this conference. 

Because while I believe obedience trumps results, the results point to the Lord. When people ask how we were able to do it, we get to give God the glory. When brilliant academics have a platform to an international audience and get to share their passion for studying faith and work, and even how their personal convictions steer them in the work, God is glorified. When we share about the conference at our department staff meeting and in department newsletters and media, literally thousands of people are able to hear or read about a growing network of college professors and researchers who are bringing faith back into the conversation around entrepreneurship—even at public universities. 

Even if our numbers are small. Even if some days “nothing went wrong” is all we feel like we can offer. Even when it seems like a small, two-person team is trying to push a boulder up an ever-rising mountain. We do not despise small beginnings. We’ve seen too much to doubt the Lord now. So instead, we press on, straining for the prize not out of a need to achieve a data point, but out of a deep gratitude for the opportunity and desire to glorify the Lord in all things. 

*A huge thank you to Brett Smith, Founding Director of the L.I.F.E. Program at Miami University for directing the conference and Bethany Allen for our technical support! 

*Video recordings of the conference are available on  our YouTube channel: L.I.F.E. Miami University

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