<![CDATA[Church youth possess creative skills and social capital that can be developed into community-based ventures; however, in the GMIM Bethel Winangun Congregation, Manado City the area with the highest open unemployment rate in North Sulawesi in August 2025 (8.51%) this potential had not been supported in a structured way. This community service program aimed to improve young congregants’ ability to identify opportunities, design simple business models, set prices, and plan marketing for joint ventures. Eleven participants in four groups took part in six stages: preparation, socialization, training, business-idea simulation, mentoring, and evaluation. Evaluation used a 16-item pre–post test, a business-idea assessment rubric, and a 1–4 scale satisfaction questionnaire. Test attainment increased from 38.1% to 75.6% (N-gain 0.61, moderate), with the largest gain in interest in starting a joint venture (40.9% to 88.6%; N-gain 0.81) and the smallest in marketing and financial literacy (N-gain 0.43). Four business ideas were completed with a business model canvas, cost-based pricing, and a marketing plan; their rubric scores ranged from 70.8% to 87.5%, and two digital-service ideas were prioritized for market testing. The satisfaction index reached 90.9%. Follow-up is embedded in a Youth Business Team under the congregation’s Youth Ministry Commission, with three months of lecturer mentoring. These are short-term outcomes at the reaction and learning levels; business realization and economic impact cannot yet be concluded because longitudinal data are not yet available.]]>
