ARIEL FORTUNE | opinion editor

From stew to peanut porridge, peanut butter is one fabulous snack.

I’m sick of people telling me to be a missionary.

I don’t want to be a missionary. I have great admiration for those individuals, like my grandparents, who were called into that field. They began translating the Old Testament into Karaja for an Indian tribe on the Amazon River in their 20s and are still faithful to the cause. The work they have done is life-altering; they reached a people group that, until their presence, had no communication with the gospel. I have the upmost respect for them, but I don’t want to be a missionary.

I want to stay here in America and I don’t want to preach in foreign cultures, run vacation Bible schools in third world countries or pour concrete for Church foundations. Been there, done that.

I want to change America.

When the next atheistic or agnostic scholar is named CEO of a top 500 Company, I hope you pee in your pants. We need strong, knowledgeable Americans in power that have the same drive and skills as any other candidate for the job, but with the moral backing of a Christian believer.

Business leader and co-founder of the Mustard Seed Foundation, Dennis Bakke believes business is one of the best vehicles for Christians to steward resources to serve the world. Organizations exist as a mechanism to provide these needs. How would things come into being if Christians were not willing to put themselves in the secular arena without getting swept away by it? The apostle Paul did it; he was a tentmaker.

It is not just about creating a platform for real ministry; all your life, including your work, should be an expression of worship. If you see the “value” of work, it should change radically and not only in the way you work but in your “workplace” itself.

I agree we need people from APU in South Africa and Cambodia reaching those that are un-churched but we also need people on the cover of Time Magazine and The Economist, in Allstate, Apple and Pepsi and on the Presidential platform that are eager to take charge, put their right hand on the Bible and swear to the same God they speak to every night in their prayers.

Christians have the capacity and means to act as a catalyst for 21st century apostles and impact the global marketplace. Do not be fooled by the age-old fallacy that money is a curse and business success is the logical product of selfishness and greed. It is a “love for money” that neglects the great commandment to love God and our neighbor. Do not be consumed by a “love for money;” be transformed by a love for change. Money can bring “blessing” as it is used to alleviate poverty and promote justice and peace.

Instead of always encouraging others to go into missions, why not encourage people to be CEOs, run multi-billion dollar companies, campaign for office or dream of being the next Richard Stengel or Donald Trump. Imagine the potential you could create in one year with Donald Trump’s income and influence; you could buy Cambodia.