Organizing Mont  Dei as a  “Social Enterprise” as opposed to a 501c3 charity helps us to achieve our goal and stay true to our mission.  If you are unfamiliar with the expression “Is The Juice Worth the Squeeze?” it can be restated as “The end result is not worth the process to achieve it”.

When considering the organizational structure for Mont Dei several verses stood out in our mind.   Throughout the entire process of this project we have and will continue to pray and ask for guidance.  While unfortunately, we did not receive an answer from God in the form of a glowing neon sign in the sky, we felt that a “Social Enterprise” was the path that was God’s intended for this project.

What is a “Social  Enterprise”?

The Social Enterprise Alliance defines a social enterprise as “an organization or initiative that marries the social mission of a nonprofit with the market-driven approach of a business.”

Essential a social enterprise is a mission-driven, for profit business that uses its resources and said profits to support a good cause.   In this case that good cause is honoring God with our work and presenting the scriptures as a monument to our faith in a creative way as to garner attention from believers and non-believers alike.

Verses that inspired this decision.

Romans 13:6-7 ESV 
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Matthew 22:17-21 ESV
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Romans 13:1-7 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.