Book review: 31 Gospel Patrons, by John Rinehart

Why do I go to work? What is wealth and success for? Are business and professional people just second-class Christians?

These are the crucial questions being grappled with in the Gospel Patron movement. There’s no doubt that there is a deep need for people called to ‘go’ – to share the Good News where it’s never been heard before, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus to ‘the least and the lost’ who are really impacted by the brokenness in this world.

But via the Gospel Patrons movement, John reminds us that there is also a need and a calling for those who ‘send’ – financial backers who stay behind the scenes and provide the means for ministry work to take place. Responding to the call to send is key to providing the sense of purpose and value in traditional work and wealth creation that the questions above seek to address.

Gospel Patrons: the sequel

This is John’s second book and it follows on from Gospel Patrons, which established the principles behind the movement and demonstrated them through three historical figures. 31 Gospel Patrons provides further insights into the power and practice of being a Gospel Patron through a wide range of modern day examples from the worlds of finance, law, medicine and business.

Faith and humility

When reading 31 Gospel Patrons, I love that John and many of the Gospel Patrons featured come right back to the cross as the first principle behind their giving. As John explains, once believers ‘see God’s radical love for them in the cross of Jesus, their response is to surrender every part of their lives to him as their Lord and Savior ’ (page 6). 

If you think this might be yet another book that celebrates the philanthropist, think again. The patron is never the hero of this book; Jesus is. The brutal self-assessments of the dangers of wealth and the mistakes made along the way are not only a sign of humility, but also teachable moments for the many who will be inspired to view their careers and wealth differently through the Gospel Patron lens.

For example, Akeel Sachak, an investment banker in Surrey, UK insightfully shares: “I think the greatest danger of wealth and success is that it can subtly seduce us into elevating our own worth in our own eyes and forgetting that God is the ruler of our lives. Wealth can lead us to a dangerous unreliance on God ” (page 49).

I also found the reflections on what the participants wish they knew at 25 particularly helpful. Knowing that gifted people took many years to develop these insights make them a valuable resource for anyone wishing to fast-track their thinking in this area. It was also perceptive that many individuals felt the benefit of a supportive yet accountable team around them to keep them focused  on their Gospel-minded ambitions.

More than coffee table decoration

The structure of this book would certainly make it ideal waiting room material for Christ-centred businesses , charities or churches. However, I think that John has far higher ambitions for these bite-size vignettes. Each life story shared and insight given begs questions of the reader: ‘How could this apply to your career choices? How does this change your views on wealth? What part will you play in God’s economy?’

This is most evidenced at the close of the book, where John invites you to write your own story. Whether you’ve already found success in your professional life or are still finding your place in the world, the questions he poses will be at once uncomfortable, intrusive and sanctifying. 

So set your Out of Office, swap your phone for a pen and pray your way through this book. If Gospel Patrons is to change the world, it will start with changing each reader’s world one step at a time.