From Debt to Destiny: How Faith Transformed a Business and Sparked a Global Movement
Imagine being buried under a mountain of debt, sleepless nights haunted by financial pressures, and a sinking feeling that your business—no matter how hard you try—just isn’t aligning with your deepest values. Now picture this: a divine turnaround so powerful that not only are your debts erased in eight months, but your entire career pivots into a mission that ripples across nations. This isn’t a Hollywood script—it’s the real-life story of Reda, a Cairo-based entrepreneur whose journey from despair to purpose is redefining what it means to run a Kingdom-focused business.
At Cities Project Global, we’re all about uncovering stories that inspire, challenge, and ignite action. In our latest podcast, Reda sat down with hosts Bob and Hugh to share how his faith didn’t just save his business—it launched the Lordship of Christ in Business (LCB) movement and fueled a partnership that’s now empowering marketplace believers worldwide. Buckle up—this is a tale of grit, grace, and global impact you’ll want to share with everyone you know.
The Breaking Point: When Business Felt Like Betrayal
Reda’s story begins over 40 years ago in Egypt’s bustling marketplace. A Christian since his teens, he spent a decade as an employee, wrestling with the tension of working for companies whose values clashed with his own. At 33, he took a leap of faith, launching Cornerstone Company with a vision to build a Christian business grounded in integrity. But the reality of the marketplace—crooked dealings, unjust authorities, and relentless pressure—soon dimmed that dream.
After 11 years, accumulating debts left Reda drowning. Importing goods meant navigating a maze of customs and tax departments that “twisted his arm” with unfair demands. “I couldn’t sleep,” he recalls. “I sang ‘You are above all’ in church, but at work, I couldn’t see God anywhere.” The disconnect was suffocating. By June 2001, he hit his breaking point, ready to quit and serve God elsewhere—anywhere but the marketplace.
But then came a voice of calm amid the storm: his wife, Mona. “Give God a chance to speak,” she urged. And so, Reda did something bold—he challenged God. “If You want me to stay in business, You pay my debts,” he prayed. What happened next wasn’t just a financial miracle; it was a divine redirection that would change everything.
“After five years of drought, jobs poured in like rain. Even as the global economy reeled from the September 11, 2001, attacks—hitting Egypt hard—Reda’s business defied the odds. While others shuttered, his thrived. In just eight months, every debt was wiped clean. ‘It was supernatural,’ he says.”
This gripping turnaround hints at a miraculous shift—don’t you want to know how faith made it happen?
A Deal with God: From Dry Season to Downpour
God’s response was clear: “I’ll handle your debts, but here’s My terms.” No more borrowing. Tithe from every profit, cover overhead, and pay off the debt—nothing for personal needs. “I’ll provide,” God promised. With kids in school and a household to run, Reda took the deal, half-expecting it to flop. Instead, it flourished.
After five years of drought, jobs poured in like rain. Even as the global economy reeled from the September 11, 2001, attacks—hitting Egypt hard—Reda’s business defied the odds. While others shuttered, his thrived. In just eight months, every debt was wiped clean. “It was supernatural,” he says. “God said, ‘I fulfilled My part. Now, I’m sending you back as My missionary in the marketplace.’”
This wasn’t just a bailout—it was a commissioning. Reda realized God hadn’t just saved his business; He’d purchased it. From that moment, the marketplace wasn’t a burden to escape—it was a mission field to transform.
“Reda realized God hadn’t just saved his business; He’d purchased it. From that moment, the marketplace wasn’t a burden to escape—it was a mission field to transform.”
Curious how a failing business became a Kingdom outpost? This pivot is just the beginning—keep reading to see the ripple effect!
Birth of a Movement: The Lordship of Christ in Business
Fresh from this revelation, Reda gathered Christian business friends to dig into Scripture. What does God say about work? How can Jesus’ lordship reign in the marketplace? The answers they unearthed were treasures—principles of stewardship, integrity, and purpose that turned their businesses into Kingdom outposts. They formed a small group to apply these truths, pray through challenges, and celebrate wins. Soon, that group needed a name: Lordship of Christ in Business (LCB) was born.
For 15 years, LCB grew into a vibrant community across Egypt, equipping believers to see their workplaces as sacred spaces. They translated books into Arabic, hosted conferences, and held monthly Cairo meetups—bridging the gap between faith and work. Reda’s passion? Erasing the sacred-secular divide that left so many Christians feeling guilty about their day jobs. “Work is redeemed,” he insists, pointing to Genesis. “God worked before the fall, commissioning Adam and Eve to be productive. Jesus’ blood restores that calling.”
A Game-Changing Partnership: Enter the Leadership Circle
By the time Bob and Hugh from Cities Project Global arrived in Cairo, LCB was a thriving force. But something about their approach caught Reda’s eye. Over Zoom calls and in-person huddles, they introduced the Leadership Circle—a structured, nine-topic journey that crystallized LCB’s vision into a teachable framework. “It was familiar, but organized in a way we hadn’t seen,” Reda explains. “It gave us a flow to guide people deeper.”
The first cohort, facilitated by Bob and Hugh in English, sparked lively debates—a hallmark of Egypt’s “hot culture,” where strong personalities hash out ideas with passion and respect. Eight LCB leaders then translated it into Arabic, adapting it to their context without losing its core. Today, they’re running their sixth cohort, with 15-20 participants per session embarking on a months-long journey to rethink their vocational calling through a Kingdom lens.
The Leadership Circle doesn’t just teach—it transforms. Starting with retreats (a cultural must for building relational trust), it moves attendees from big-picture Kingdom stories to personal soul-searching, then back out to impacting society. “They change their glasses,” Reda says. “They see their work differently—how it fits God’s original design.”
“‘It’s about calling, integrated life, and changing culture,’ Reda says. ‘Simple tools to bring Kingdom culture to any workplace—like my petroleum sector.’ ”
Wondering how faith can reshape your own work environment? Reda’s practical vision offers a tantalizing glimpse—dig in to uncover the tools!
From Cairo to the World: A Book and a Vision
The partnership birthed more than cohorts—it produced The Intersection, a book by Bob and Hugh that distills the Leadership Circle into a powerful tool for anyone, anywhere. Recently translated into Arabic, it’s poised to spread across Egypt and beyond. “It’s about calling, integrated life, and changing culture,” Reda says. “Simple tools to bring Kingdom culture to any workplace—like my petroleum sector.”
Reda’s dream? Take this message to Arab nations and the world, one sphere at a time. Whether it’s education, arts, or economics, LCB and the Leadership Circle are inviting believers to influence—not control—their corners of society. And it all ties back to a distinction Reda learned the hard way: a Christian company serves the self with good values, but a Kingdom company exists for God’s glory and cultural transformation.
His current venture, Forerunners, embodies that shift. Named after prayerful prompting—“Prepare the way for My return,” God told him—it’s a declaration of purpose. “The name matters,” Reda advises aspiring entrepreneurs. “It reflects your mission.”
“‘The name matters,’ Reda advises aspiring entrepreneurs. ‘It reflects your mission.’ His current venture, Forerunners, embodies that shift. Named after prayerful prompting—‘Prepare the way for My return,’ God told him—it’s a declaration of purpose.”
Intrigued by the power of a God-given name? This bold declaration begs the question: what’s your mission—and how will you name it?
Why This Matters to You
Reda’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a wake-up call. Whether you’re a business owner, a professional, or someone wrestling with purpose, the marketplace isn’t a sideline to faith; it’s a frontline. God’s not just saving souls—He’s redeeming work, culture, and even company names. And through LCB, the Leadership Circle, and The Intersection, that redemption is going global.
Want to dive deeper? Check out the full podcast on the Cities Project Global website, grab a copy of The Intersection, or share this article with your network. Let’s spark a conversation—how is God calling you to be a forerunner in your sphere? Drop your thoughts below and join the movement.