Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sonja Bell

Kingdom Driven Entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs of faith who don’t want to do “business as usual” and seek to truly impact lives and advance the Kingdom of God through their businesses.  It’s our aim at KingdomDrivenEntrepreneur.com to equip you to build a thriving business that serves both your family and builds the Kingdom.  To that end, we feel it’s important to inspire and connect the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur community which is why we do this member spotlight.

This week’s spotlight is on Sonja Bell from Memphis, Tennessee who is a full-time music teacher and piano instructor who is growing a real estate business (Bell Investments) that is not just about buying and selling properties, but also making a real difference in the lives of people in her community.

If you would like to be considered for a future spotlight, be sure to connect and engage with our Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur community on Facebook.

Tell us the basics: Where you’re from, where you live currently, your family, etc.

Bell Investments began in 2008 as your typical real estate investment business, buying and holding properties for cash flow. In 2010, we’d began receiving calls about our properties from tenants who were receiving housing assistance from non-profit organizations. Once their case managers saw our units and our rental rates, they began referring their clients to us.

On September 16, 2011, Bell Investments LLC decided to turn change the momentum of the business from real estate investing into a community-centered crusade to end homelessness. We started the Landlord Partnership Program in October 2011 to assist non-profit housing organizations find permanent housing for individuals and families that they serve. Since its inception, we’ve partnered with 12 servant-minded landlords and housed over 40 families!

What are you currently working on, launching, or just generally excited about in your business?

One of our goals for 2013 is to make Bell Investments the model for “second chance” housing! We want to help families who have income of less than $1000 month, have previous evictions, and criminal backgrounds that have been resolved. Our housing will also include utilities in the rent amount. Our future plans include adding more landlords to our partnership, offering property management services and connecting with local non-profit agencies to acquire more property.

What does it mean to you personally to be a Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, and how are you “walking that out” in your business endeavors?

Being a Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur means to trust God at ALL costs! Our plan was obviously not God’s plan and it was purely unexpected. Since we’ve decided to what other landlords won’t, God has blessed us with invaluable connections and resources.

Since most of our referrals weren’t finding housing due to their income (mostly disability or SSI), we decided to dedicate our upcoming vacant units to these families, offering 1/3 of their income as rent.

In December 2012, we welcomed our first tenant who’s paying modified rent. She’s staying in one of our two-bedroom/one bath duplexes, which normally rents for $385 a month,  for $210 a month!

What are 1 or 2 of your favorite scriptures that inspire you?

My personal favorite verse is Habakkuk 3:17-19 because it reminds me of God’s sovereignty. Even though I may not have society’s standard of success, I can rejoice because God gives me strength to do His will.My second favorite verse is Matthew 28:20b. God ensures that He’ll be with us ALWAYS, so I can walk in the assurance that He’ll take care of me!

What are 3 books that have inspired you or helped you with your business?

Dave Ramsey’s Entreleadership, Jon Acuff’s Quitter, and Shae Bynes and Antonina Geer’s The Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneur

How can your fellow Kingdom Driven Entrepreneurs help you?

I desperately need help with setting up an effective social media plan. I have no idea on how to increase the exposure on my FB fan page.

What else would you like to tell us?

I truly thank God for the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur community.  To know that there are other God-chasers out there doing unconventional things in Jesus’ name is awesome. I’ve made so many connections and have been encouraged greatly by the empowering words.

Connect more with Sonja Bell:

Web:  www.faithworksinvesting.com