Hi, You write to my father Pat Kennelly via my mom and she shared your e-mail with me. As a business woman I found case study #4 rather funny. Just because someone who is a Christian is running a business similar to "john" would for a moment cause him pause for thought is hilarious to me.

There are too many Christians in the world doing similar work to worry about competition. God will give you the business and take it away if He deems it so. I don't think the fact that someone is a Christian should have any bearing on whether someone creates a business that competes or not. I found that concept ridiculous, but am curious to hear what the rest of your group thinks.

It would be like saying, someone has a similar ministry to mine, I better not create mine. There is room for diversity of expression in the body of Christ which is why there are so many denominations.

I'm an entrepreneur and find what you write very interesting. If you're open to female opinions, please add me to your list.

Thanks!

JOY

If John believes that God has called him to launch his CFO service, then by

all means he should go ahead with his calling. He should seriously consider

contacting the other firm to tell them of his intentions and to let them know

that he intends to follow Christian principles in the management of his business.

There is nothing wrong with competition between Christians and in fact it is

very healthy.

Frank Henry

Randal

About 28 years ago, as a brand new Christian, I had a real estate Co in

Wisconsin, my office was in a small strip center, and when the suite next

door to me came available, I along with a couple partners started the

Lighthouse Christian Book Store. We were in somewhat of the rear of the

center, but it started off with some business the very first day. As we

continued to grow, one night I got a call from another Christian book store

who was in the same city, and they were in the Mall, and had started prior

to our beginning the Light House ... They complained severely about our

starting a Christian Book Store, and felt that we were competing with them

and that it was not the Christian thing to do.

I thought about this, and it appeared to me that they were in a very high

rent situation with a very specialized business, and probably under

capitalized.

We discussed this with my partners, and we decided to let it pass, not

saying anything more, and concentrating on our business.

In 1979 I sold the Business to one of my partners, who went on to make the

Lighthouse Christian Book Store, one of the largest stores in northern

Wisconsin, with 3 sites in various cities. Extremely fine stores, well run

and profitable.

The Christian book store in the Mall, never did make it, they folded within

a year.

Did we have something to do with their not making it? I don't think so,

from a business standpoint, I believe our location with low overhead to

start, helped us grow.

We wrote off their complaint to their being immature in the business world.

I believe we should welcome our brothers and sisters and help them. Being

in Real Estate has always been very competitive, and my greatest success's

have always come when I have been willing to council others whether in the

Real Estate Business, being competitors or not.

Blessings

D B Whiting