Alumni Creators

Supporting ministries, spreading kindness

Greg Atkinson ’97

Church music major, religion minor

Founder & CEO, Greg Atkinson Consulting, LLC, and EntreChurch

Supporting those in ministry

I saw a need in the church to grow in the areas of first impressions, hospitality, and guest services, so I started the First Impressions Conference in 2017. At the same time, I started dreaming about supporting pastors and churches in business to supplement their income and started dreaming about EntreChurch then.

We went public with EntreChurch in 2022, and we were invited to present at the Exponential Shark Tank in 2024, where we won a grant.

Challenges facing traditional churches

The biggest challenge facing traditional churches today is a lack of finances to support the ministry. There are going to be 15,000 churches close in America this year. We help churches not only survive—but thrive.

Secret shopper at church

I had a mentor who ran a large church planting organization tell me I should be a secret shopper for churches and wrote my first endorsement. It kind of blew up from that. I think I’m always surprised how churches can miss the importance of a well thought out guest services ministry.

The need for kindness

I wrote a book called The Secret Power of Kindness: 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World. I reflected on what our country needed after 2020 and all that went with it, and I wrote a book on kindness that shares my own story of trauma, abuse, and forgiveness. I’ve been very pleased with how it resonates with readers around the world.

My family

I have three adult kids now. Two are in college, one graduating this year, and my oldest is in grad school getting her PhD.