When Josef and Rebekka Schneider left secure careers seven years ago to renovate and operate a former Catholic seminary as a hotel in Austria, they believed the business would simply support their real mission: planting a church. Instead, the hotel became the mission.
In this episode of the Faith Without Frontiers podcast, the Austrian couple reflects on how God transformed their understanding of ministry through entrepreneurship, showing them that serving employees, guests and the wider community can be as much a part of God's mission as traditional church planting.
Before taking over the property in the town of Horn, Josef worked as a high school teacher of religion and sports, while Rebekka was a music therapist before becoming a full-time mother to their four children. Together, they stepped into the daunting task of renovating and managing a 70-room, 180-bed hotel with conference facilities, expecting it would provide financial support while they established a new church.
The reality proved very different. Running the hotel quickly became a full-time commitment, leaving little room for church planting. The turning point came through the encouragement of the hotel's owner, Christian businessman Daniel Liebeherr, who challenged the couple to see business itself as a platform for ministry. Having found that business often opened doors in Austria where traditional church planting faced resistance, Liebeherr encouraged them to engage society through Christian values expressed in excellent hospitality, servant leadership and genuine care for people.
Hosted by Gordon Showell-Rogers, the conversation explores how the Schneiders learned to move beyond the idea of creating a "Christian bubble" and instead welcome people from every background—including guests whose beliefs differ significantly from their own—while remaining open about their Christian faith. Along the way, they have witnessed unexpected fruit, from long-term staff loyalty and growing trust within the local community to baptisms, God's provision during the COVID-19 pandemic and, after seven years, a profitable business.
Looking ahead, the couple hopes to multiply businesses that serve as centers of Christian influence and is prayerfully considering taking over a struggling local restaurant as another opportunity to bless the community.
Listen to the full conversation with Josef and Rebecca Schneider on the latest episode of the Faith Without Frontiers podcast, where they discuss the challenges and rewards of integrating faith, business and ministry, and explain why they believe entrepreneurship can be a powerful avenue for advancing God's kingdom.
