Chapter 9: Faith, Family, and Work: A Christian Perspective on Family Businesses

Family businesses represent an ideal context in which to examine the integration of Christian faith at work (Discua Cruz, 2013, 2015). There are several reasons why a closer look at a Christian perspective in family businesses is relevant. First, family businesses continue to be the predominant business model worldwide (Howorth, Hamilton, Rose, … Westhead, 2010; International Family Enterprise Research Academy, 2003; “To Have and to Hold,” 2015). Family businesses come in many forms, operate in all industries, and represent start–ups as well as millenary firms involved in both local and international trade. Second, the study of family businesses has developed into an interdisciplinary research field (Craig, Moores, Howorth, … Poutziouris, 2009; Melin, Nordqvist, … Sharma, 2014), with increasing calls made to study the influence of faith (Litz, 2013). Finally, the integration of a particular faith, such as Christianity, can shape and significantly inform an organization’s culture, practices, and workplace dynamics when it reflects the faith of its founders and his/her family’s religious heritage (Miller … Ewest, 2015).