If you have been round Redeemer University lately, you may have heard the term redemptive entrepreneurship. Innovation Centre director Harold DeVries has often used it to describe a vision he shares for Christian business. It was also the theme of last term’s Redemptive Imagination Dinner, which encouraged entrepreneurial students to think outside the box about how they can glorify God through business. While the term may have become more prominent at Redeemer since the Innovation Centre’s grand opening in 2023, it is something alumnus Thanh Campbell ’96 understands and has been living out for many years.
Campbell studied theatre arts, French and elementary education at Redeemer from 1991 to 1996. However, after realizing teaching was not truly his passion, Campbell entered the sales world, working in fashion retail and a Christian bookstore before finding his way back to Redeemer, where he worked in admissions from 1998 to 2000.
“I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” Campbell explained. “I was doing innovative things with admissions, getting them into places and doing creative experiences for [the department].” He started the Alpha Praise and 4-Adonai praise teams which toured with him as an added value when visiting churches. Prospective students could speak with current students and get their questions answered.
His work caught the eye of Greg Hatton, whose business was on contract for Redeemer’s capital campaign at the time. After meeting for coffee, Hatton hired Campbell on the spot, kicking off a long career in, and teaching him everything about “fundraising as ministry and stewardship counselling.”
Having worked as part of Hatton’s business, and then on his own, he raised millions of dollars for Christian schools and camps. He also worked for organizations such as Christian Reformed World Missions, Mission Services of Hamilton, Hope Story Now, World Vision and Trinity Western University’s fundraising department, fulfilling his ministry calling through fundraising.
“When you’re asking for God’s Kingdom and God’s causes, it’s an easy ask because it’s for God, it’s not for [your]self.”
Despite his career being a “roller coaster,” Campbell’s entrepreneurial abilities kept him going. Out of work in 2013, he self-published his memoir, Orphan 32, an autobiographical story about being mistakenly evacuated out of Vietnam after the war when he was two. His book tour took him from coast to coast speaking to over a million people in audiences across the nation and inspiring tens of millions through mainstream media interviews. As a keynote speaker, Campbell still shares his God story with church and corporate groups across the country. He is also an itinerant licensed pastor who pulpit supplies for churches.
When you’re asking for God’s kingdom and God’s causes, it’s an easy ask because it’s for God, it’s not for [your]self.
Just before 2018, he launched a Hamilton-based podcast called Our Ambitious City where he interviewed local businesspeople, artists, musicians and local heroes.
In 2022, he was called back to stewardship fundraising, becoming the Canadian director for Partners Worldwide Canada. Working with 250,000 global entrepreneurs who operate small- to medium-sized businesses, the organization matches them with executives and professionals in North America to help mentor, coach, finance and create access to networks to help scale and grow sustainable redemptive business. “It’s not about giving a person a fish for a day or teaching them to fish, but giving them access to the pond and then opening the market to sell their fish.”
In his role, Campbell networks with business owners and presents opportunities for them to get involved with these international entrepreneurs, allowing them to expand their knowledge and business in a way that will help their community flourish.
“I love business and this organization because we bring sustainability to communities while restoring dignity to people. When someone can fend for themselves, provide for their family and they’re not looking for handouts, they walk a little taller, with more pride, and a better sense of personhood.”
By “helping people to help themselves in order that they may be able to be in the position to help others,” Campbell believes he is fulfilling biblical teachings while also improving quality of life.
He asserts that building economies by building people and communities results in a decrease in crime, divorce and sickness, and increases prosperity. This relates directly to the redemptive business model and is why Christian entrepreneurs are needed.
“There are exploitative, ethical and redemptive businesses,” Campbell explained. “The redemptive business model goes a step further than just being an ethical business. It says, ‘I’m willing to sacrifice–not lose, but sacrifice–market share, profit etc. so we all win.’”
This redemptive business model must be taught and put into practice so that Christian entrepreneurs have a standard and something to measure their own ventures against, while also yielding positive outcomes. “God has called [some of us] to business. He has given us skills and expertise to do business that can help the world.” It is important that Christian business people understand their vocation is a ministry and begin redemptive ventures.
“People need to be taught how to do good business, that’s true, but more importantly how to do business for the good of all. That’s the kind of business that will transform society.”