A Practical Call to Action
The Dignity of Profit: Creating Community through Entrepreneurship by Nathan W. McKie, Sr. argues that profit, when handled with faith and purpose, can rebuild communities rather than merely enrich a few. McKie blends scripture, hands-on experience and practical frameworks to show how entrepreneurship and mission-driven projects can be self-sustaining and impactful.
The book is clear, readable, and action-oriented — you get theology tied to real-world tools (incubation, value propositions, and community-based entrepreneurship) instead of vague exhortations. It’s full of examples and appendices that guide you from idea to execution, and it even lays out organizational models like Luke 16 Corp and R.E.A.C.T. to show how grants and business can work together.
“At the risk of being somewhat repetitious, let me say many years of experience led me to write this. It is intended to be a guidebook of sorts for those who want to be engaged in a mission but haven’t been sure about it. If your hesitation has been you weren’t sure mission activities “hit the mark,” if you didn’t feel you have anything to offer in the way of discipling others for Christ, or if you had reservations about business and faith working together, it is my sincere desire this book has helped you see we all can be involved and hopefully engaged in the process.”
— The Dignity of Profit, MOVING FORWARD, 138
Profit That Builds Community
Nathan McKie doesn’t just argue that profit is acceptable — he maps how profit can be a tool for community renewal. The book lays out step-by-step ideas: assess spiritual gifts, survey your target area, recruit believers and entrepreneurs, and build ventures that can be sold or sustained locally so help doesn’t create dependency. It explains why traditional charity often fails and why entrepreneurial approaches (the R.E.A.C.T. model and Luke 16 Corp’s conduit design) can create jobs, homeownership, and long-term stability. Along the way you’ll find practical chapters on value propositions, preserving capital, and how to measure “Real Profit” as healthy relationships and community outcomes rather than only dollars on a balance sheet. This single, substantive section pulls together the book’s most crucial point: faith plus disciplined business practice equals real, durable community change.
Meet Nathan W. McKie
Nathan W. McKie writes from experience. He founded Luke 16 Corp as an action arm to move grants and capital into homeownership and small businesses, designing projects so grants don’t subsidize operations but instead seed ventures meant to become self-sustaining.
He frames his guidance from years as a business consultant and community practitioner, drawing on real examples and tested frameworks — so what you get is practical counsel from someone who’s tried these ideas in the field.
Why You Should Read
This is a must-read if you care about faith that actually changes neighborhoods: it’s both a theology of stewardship and a how-to manual for creating businesses that build community. The Dignity of Profit invites you to turn good intentions into sustainable action.
The Dignity of Profit
Creating Community through Entrepreneurship
Grab your copy today — start building real profit in your community.