Samford University will partner with Cedarworks Inc. to present the 7^th annual Lion’s Den event aimed toward advancing the Kingdom through Business as Mission (BAM). The 2020 event will take place at Christ Fellowship Church, Oct. 21-23, and include opportunities to participate virtually.  

 

The Shark Tank-style event will feature three Business-as-Mission companies presenting their business plans to a live audience and a judging panel of “lions.” The companies, Steeped Coffee Inc., Winsome Truth Inc. and SaladBox, will be evaluated by the lions on their ability to produce financial, social, conservation and spiritual results, known as the quadruple bottom-line. 

 

Steeped Coffee Inc. is a California-based coffee company that has revolutionized single-serve coffee by innovating a fully compostable, new brewing method similar to tea. Steeped has programs ranging from Steeped in Prayer and local City Transformation Initiatives to partnerships with churches and non-profits to create custom branded packs used as tools for mission. They recently launched their “You Give, We Give” campaign to support front-line healthcare workers in the midst of the pandemic matching all gifts pack for pack.

 

Winsome Truth Inc., a Nashville-based media and technology company, focuses on serving Christian kids and families through a streaming video app, e-commerce platform, and children’s book publishing unit. They seek to disciple kids and aid parents with family formation through media and published the Minno Laugh & Grow Bible, the fastest selling children's bible of all time and winner of the Christian Book Award for 2020.

 

Saladbox is a healthy casual food concept started in Romania that operates 10 locations and 63 franchised locations in 15 countries. They started as a Christian owned business with Christian values and focus on supporting employees through Bible studies and prayer sessions.

 

Additional featured guests for the main event include 2016 participant Matt Elsberry, president and chief ecosystem officer for LivFul, and Jenny Waltman, president of Grace Klein Construction and board member of Grace Klein Community.

 

“Matt and Jenny will share stories of remarkable things God is doing with their work locally, and around the world, during this last year’s uncertainty. Their stories alongside the presenting companies’ endeavors remind us that even in uncertain times, we can be certain,” Andrew Clark ’03, The Lion’s Den organizer and Cedarworks Inc. board member said.

 

Throughout the three-day event, attendees will have opportunities to become involved in Business as Mission through networking with these companies and leaders in the movement, and hearing about ways they can apply these concepts to their own personal and business lives.  

 

Created in 2014, The Lion’s Den exists to inspire, educate and mobilize people to invest their time, talents and other resources in the Kingdom through Business as Mission. Since its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the event has hosted a diverse community of entrepreneurs from around the world. The 2019 event, which took place in Samford’s Wright Center, hosted nearly 700 attendees from 11 countries, 76 cities and 26 states.