CAN you run your business on Christian principles of integrity, dignity, justice, faith and mercy and still make a profit?Absolutely.That's the inspiring answer given to more than 500 Filipino and foreign participants of the 28th Uniapac World Congress (UWC) of the Union Internationale des Associations Patronales Catholiques, a 97-year-old global organization of Christian business leaders in 40 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas 'to promote the Christian Social Thought within the business world and the Society' (https://uniapac.org/).Hosted by Uniapac's Philippine member, the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), the biennial UWC on October 24 to 26 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, near the airport, addressed longstanding issues of socioeconomic inequality and business for a humane economy and the common good, plus the impact of artificial intelligence on business.Profit with prayer and purposeMaking Jesus Christ the company chief doesn't get more literal than what South Africa-born Peter Freissle, who spoke at the UWC on global business for the common good, has done at his family's Polydeck Screen Corp., a producer of screens and other technology for sifting extracted deposits in mining.For starters, he consecrated Polydeck to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Visitors at his head office in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are surprised when Freissle, the head honcho, shows them what he calls 'my boss' office': a Catholic chapel.'God is the owner,' he explains, and he is a steward tasked with harnessing the enterprise for His purpose and honor.Unsurprisingly, company meetings of four or more people start with prayers. All business cards have printed on Polydeck's back its vision, mission and core values, which state: 'We are a company grounded on Christian values. Our goal is to create eternal value by striving to honor God in all we do.'That echoes the company vision: 'To serve our customers and stakeholders with excellence to achieve profitable growth which enables us to care for people in a way that honors God.'All very inspiring, but two big questions: Does this Christian approach to business help or hamper the business itself? And will other entrepreneurs and executives buy in?As recounted in Freissle's free-to-download book 'His Way At Work,' recounting stories of how his Christ-centered corporate directions have actually played out, putting God and neighbor at the apex of the business has given executives and employees a greater sense of purpose — boosting quality, efficiency and loyalty.As for acceptance among businessmen, Freissle tells of a senior manager resentful of prayers opening meetings. The executive would type noisily on his laptop during meeting prayers. This went on for months until the company, under its caring program for people in crisis, helped the executive through personal distress. After that act of compassion, he joined meeting prayers.Freissle also worried when he gave his card to the Muslim head of an Indonesian mining company using Polydeck products for about 30 percent of its requirements. The Indonesian CEO expressed admiration that Polydeck spelled out its faith-based values on its cards. He then gave Friessle 100 percent of his screen purchases.Even Polydeck competitors were drawn to its caring advocacy after attending a mining industry meeting in Las Vegas hosted by the company and with a two-hour prayer session. Rival firms, along with others in the sector, joined Polydeck in funding a program for the homeless.Freissle is now spreading his story and advocacy through his book and a scheme to advise and assist firms in replicating his Christian business practices. All that from a personal crisis when Freissle went on a retreat feeling empty despite achieving 'the American dream' of wealth and success.'I had used people for my ambition,' he realized. That led him to reverse direction and harness his enterprise to care for others.Crisis spawns corporate caringFormer Philippine finance secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr., chief of the Phinma Group and another UWC speaker, also turned crisis into a socially uplifting — and hugely profitable — enterprise.When the 1997 Asian financial crisis collapsed the property and construction sectors crucial to Phinma's cement business, del Rosario had to sell his group's paramount venture amid bloated debts, soaring interest rates and the depreciating peso. That led Phinma into the business of education.As told to this writer in an Emmanuel TV Network (ETVN) interview, del Rosario wondered if the foray into education was a wrong move after enrolment in newly acquired provincial schools plummeted despite investments in facilities.But he persisted, adopting a strategy of high-volume courses with strong employment prospects: accounting, business, engineering, information technology, even criminology. And he pushed for quality instruction that delivered high passing rates in professional qualification exams.Result: From one in five passing, Phinma graduates now have over 80 percent success in qualification tests. Employment also soared, and so did the learning network's reputation. Thus, even if state institutions offer free tuition, Phinma attracts poor students paying affordable installments with high hopes of landing good jobs.For his success in bringing quality learning to the poor, del Rosario was honored with Uniapac's first Business as a Noble Vocation Award in 2018. And the octogenarian is not done yet. He aims for 100 percent passing rate for Phinma students. He has formed the Philippine Business for Education group to work with schools and government to address public education problems.Plus, del Rosario is bringing his advocacy for responsible, righteous business to management schools, starting with his alma mater De La Salle University (DLSU). The Phinma-DLSU Center for Business and Society is imparting social enterprise and corporate integrity practices through courses, particularly with case studies.Freissle and del Rosario are just two inspiring figures in the UWC sessions showcasing business in the service of Christ and community. They and other speakers and presenters are on ETVN Philippines and on YouTube and Facebook videos on the congress.May these stories of profit with purpose and prayer spur more viable enterprises lifting the less fortunate from earthly woe to dignity and the better life heaven wishes for all. Amen.