Funding for major motion pictures typically comes from Hollywood. But for Jon and Andy Erwin, it came from Birmingham.
In the early stages of producing their 2018 motion picture “I Can Only Imagine” — which tells the story of how the Christian band Mercy Me wrote their hit song of the same title — the Erwins needed investors. So they found themselves at the annual Birmingham Lion’s Den, where Christian entrepreneurs present their ideas to potential investors who want their money to generate impact for Jesus rather than just profit.
Their idea went over well. Lion’s Den participants provided approximately 20% of the $8 million required to make the film, which grossed $86 million and won a Dove Award for Inspirational Film of the Year.
“Now we have a brand and a name in Hollywood that is respected,” said Josh Walsh, former Erwin Brothers chief operating officer. “And to think that came from a group of guys in Alabama — not ultrawealthy billionaires, but guys that were successful in their companies and had a vision to impact the world through pooling their finances … and getting behind what they believe in.”
Connecting believers
The Erwin Brothers are not the only believers to find investors at the Lion’s Den. Over the past decade, Lion’s Den events across America have connected Christian investors with God-honoring business ventures. The inaugural 2014 Lion’s Den in Birmingham led to similar events in Dallas, Silicon Valley, Portland and a new event in Tampa, Florida, launched last month.
The events stem from a global movement called Business as Mission. It involves Christian businesspeople convening periodically in cities across the world to discuss the integration of their faith and their profession. Among their aims are impacting employees, using profits for philanthropy and producing excellent products that open doors for gospel witness.
Those aims led to the Lion’s Den, which some describe as a Christian version of the reality television show “Shark Tank.” But the Lion’s Den aims to identify fishers of men rather than sharklike investors. At each event, three or four preselected entrepreneurs make pitches to a panel of judges who ask them tough business questions. If audience members find a pitch compelling, they can connect with the entrepreneur.
The Birmingham Lion’s Den has been hosted by Samford University and draws more than 500 participants.
Past Lion’s Den events have generated between $100,000 and $5 million for worthy business ventures, said Lori Chambers, who helps organize the Birmingham event. The pitches are surrounded by two days of workshops, seminars and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and accredited investors, defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission as individuals with a $200,000 annual income (or a $300,000 annual income with a spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years and a reasonable expectation of the same for the current year or people (individually or with a spouse or partner) with a net worth over $1 million, excluding their primary residence.
‘God is at work’
The Lion’s Den is a “chance to remember that God is at work in business,” Chambers said. The investors “are taking huge risks by investing in these companies, taking a chance on these companies that have a great idea” with “a very clear spiritual impact.”
For Chris Chancey, the most valuable facets of presenting at the Lion’s Den were the mentoring and networking opportunities rather than money. He founded Amplio Recruiting in 2014, an Atlanta-based staffing agency that helps place refugees from other countries in U.S. jobs. The business aims to pray with each client and find opportunities to share the gospel with them. That venture led Chancey to present at the 2017 Lion’s Den in Birmingham.
Since that presentation, Amplio has expanded from three locations to 20 across the U.S. While Chancey didn’t take any money from Lion’s Den participants, their support helped fuel the company’s expansion, he said. Chancey sold the business in 2021 but remains involved as a consultant.
“There’s so much value beyond just the financial piece,” said Chancey, who has invested money in other companies at the Lion’s Den.
Business professionals like Chancey have made the Lion’s Den a powerful vehicle for advancing the Great Commission, Chambers said.
“What I see with the Lion’s Den ecosystem is people choosing to love God by putting their resources behind their faith,” she said.
The next Lion’s Den is April 19–20 in Dallas. An event is planned for October in Birmingham.
Read more about Lori Chambers and Business as Mission below.
https://thealabamabaptist.org/businesses-find-avenue-for-christian-impact-improving-lives/
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