3 Call2business opportunities for 2012
From our friends at Call2all, they'd like to let everyone know they have 3 events planned for 2012.
1. Amsterdam 2012 April 16-19 Mon-Thurs Call2all Western Europe Congress April 16-19, 2012
You are warmly invited to the Call2all Western Europe Congress – April 16-19, 2012 being held in De Betteld, a beautiful Dutch Christian Conference Centre (www.debetteld.nl).
Located close to the German border, accessible from Dusseldorf and Amsterdam airports, the call2all congress in Western Europe will be an opportunity for Christian leaders from across Western Europe and globally to strategically engage in areas of European society and global mission. In this relaxed Dutch setting, leaders will share around table discussions, workshops and times of prayer best practices and ways to deepen involvement in the the Great Commission!
For more information how to register email: Europe@call2all.org.
2. Cebu City Philippines 2012 March 13-16
3. Jakarta Indonesia 2012 August 1-4
Labels: Call2All, Events and Conferences
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Social-profit enterprises: Stop Debating and get them going
In the same vein as Echoing Green and the Unreasonable Institute, Praxis launched its first year-long accelerator programme in 2011 to mentor young social entrepreneurs and accelerate their success. The 2011-2012 class of Praxis Fellows includes 12 innovative organizations. Through a sequence of three events and 25+ mentors, Praxis aims to scale up and improve initiatives with a current budget under $1 million. Praxis believes the right network and knowledge can accelerate each organization’s mission to advance the common good.Read the rest of the article.
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Wall Street Journal asks if a Philanthropy should act like a Business?
That's one way to look at it, anyway.
Others argue that things work differently in the world of nonprofits and social change. Tackling some of society's biggest problems is unlikely to produce anything like the steady, chartable path of progress that investors require. And that's simply something donors have to live with if they want to help those most in need.
Read the Wall Street Journal Article
Labels: Wall Street Journal
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Global CEO Event Coming to Chicago April 11-13
The focus is on “commercial” business as mission, a segment of the movement that is supported by their operational cash flows. While individuals or small groups of investors own most of such companies, they may be owned or operated by mission organization or initially capitalized through donor funds. The operational distinction of depending on your business cash flow to survive and grow creates a commonality of issues. Combining business challenges with Kingdom intent adds to the complexity, as does the orientation toward international operations.
Who can attend? The meetings are held by invitation so that participants can gather with like-minded people who facing similar challenges.
The meeting participants should (1) have a vision and desire to use business for advancing God’s Kingdom, and (2) are directly involved in a “commercial” business as a owner, executive or manager.
A limited number of reservations are reserved for those who support the business as mission movement and are contributing strategically to the movement.
If you would benefit from connecting with others facing the same challenges, to hear the good, the bad and the ugly about international business please request more information from sringler@ecgroup-intl.com To insure confidentially there is no website related to this conference, all information will be provided directly to those who are interested.
Please identify that you heard about The Global CEO Network from the Business as Mission Network and receive $50 off the registration price.
Labels: Events and Conferences, Global CEO Network
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12 Ways to Glorify God at Work by Desiring God Ministries
1. Believe that all legitimate work is holy or unholy before God based on our faith, not the nature of the work itself.
But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
2. Be just and honest in all your dealings with money.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight (Proverbs 11:1)
Labels: Books and Articles, Desiring God
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CNN Feature Story on Marketplace Chaplains
Not too long ago, CNN featured a story on Marketplace Chaplains. Again, marketplace chaplaincy continues to be a great opportunity to improve the bottom line across the board.
You can watch the YouTube Video above or click on this link to watch it on the Marketplace Chaplains Website.
Labels: Chaplaincy, CNN, Marketplace Chaplains, Video and Media
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Applying Timeless Truths Drives Superior Business
From the C12 Group - America’s leading provider of Christian CEO and business owner roundtables since 1992, reports a surprising positive impact from adoption of Biblical servant leadership principles. C12 President and CEO, Don Barefoot, reports that “both public research data and C12’s own historical experience clearly demonstrate the practical performance benefits of such leadership, in addition to the eternal implications.” C12 has more than 1000 members across more than 65 metro areas in 30 states. C12 members dedicate one day each month to a peer advisory board and one-on-one counsel to learn, sharpen their skills, and receive spiritual refreshment, accountability and counsel. They focus on business excellence as well as ministering to those they touch through the normal conduct of business. C12 member companies are generally privately-held firms with annual revenues ranging from $1 million to more than $1 billion.Over the long-term, C12 has seen the proven impact of the peer sharpening and lifelong learning according to best practices consistent with Biblical principles through its members’ results. A 1995-2005 study comparing contemporaneous C12 member company performance against 350 small-to-midsized American leadership companies from research sponsored by The Business Roundtable revealed a remarkable performance advantage for the typical C12 company versus their non-C12 peers. This difference showed up impressively in a head-to-head business comparison of annual sales and profit growth rates. Even though C12 member companies certainly focus on more than just annual financial performance, they outperformed the broader economic benchmarks quite sharply with average 10-year revenue and profit growth rates which were more than triple those reported by the “leadership companies” (i.e., 15.2% vs. 4.2%, and 22.1% vs. 8.5%, respectively).
C12’s Barefoot said, “This data shows that leading businesses according to Biblical principles is quite compatible with achieving top-notch performance according to pure business metrics. But this is only a small part of the overall picture. Improved business performance also provides a growing platform from which C12 member companies can share Christ’s love with those they serve.” Barefoot continued, “These performance conclusions are consistent with findings from the substantial long-term public company research reported by Jim Collins in his best-selling book, Good to Great, which corroborates the breakthrough impact of long-term servant leader CEOs. One of the common distinguishing traits of the 11 ‘great’ companies that stood out above all others in Collins’ study of more than 1400 public companies over three decades was the presence of a humble, but firm CEO operating with a diligent and persevering focus according to unwavering core values.” “Further,” says Barefoot, “a December, 2010 Barna Group survey of 1022 American adults found that those who support or prefer to do business with apparently ‘Christian’ companies significantly outnumber those who avoid doing business with them due to their ‘faith connection,’ by 14-to-1. In the end, timeless truth will always prevail!”
The C12 Group was founded in 1992 by Buck Jacobs, a Christian CEO and author. C12 is a growing network with more than 100 groups meeting in 65 metro areas across America. Monthly peer advisory meetings and one-on-one sessions are held to discuss a wide range of highly relevant and challenging
topics that challenge members to be excellent servant leaders and stewards.
If you would like more information on The C12 Group, please go to www.C12Group.com or contact C12’s Home Office (336-841-7100 or info@C12Group.com).
Labels: Buck Jacobs, C12 Group, Don Barefoot
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Os Hillman Hosts Kingdom Vue Online Event
Transformation 2012 Virtual Conference & Expo will be held February 18, 2012 in an online-only, virtual expo platform containing both live and on-demand keynote speakers, video interviews, downloadable articles, video chat rooms, and interactive exhibitor displays highlighting ministries that are making a cultural impact around the world.
Why a Virtual Conference? With skyrocketing gas prices and a fragile economy, a virtual conference just makes sense. It allows believers and organizations from around the world to participate in a high-quality conference at a fraction of the price you might pay for travel, meals, and lodging. Plus the content will be available on-demand for 3 months after the event so you can return again and again to watch the parts you missed."
For More Information Visit: www.KingdomVue.com
Labels: Events and Conferences, Os Hillman
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Hope International Looking for 21 Summer Interns and Fellows
HOPE International is seeking candidates for internships & fellowships! For available positions, click here.
HOPE International is a global nonprofit working to empower men, women, and families to break the cycles of physical and spiritual poverty through the provision of loans, savings services, basic business training, mentoring, and discipleship. HOPE serves nearly 300,000 clients worldwide through microenterprise development. For more information, see http://www.hopeinternational.
HOPE International’s GROW Internship Program
- Emphasizes spiritual formation, professional enrichment and significant involvement. To see available positions, click here.
- Offers positions in countries such as Rwanda, Haiti, Dominican Republic, China, India, USA, Moldova, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, etc.
Eligibility
- Students who have completed at least their junior year by the start of the internship, graduate students and recently graduated students are eligible to apply.
- Submit all materials to Rachel Weaver at intern@hopeinternational.org. All materials should be submitted at once, although if necessary, letters of recommendation can be emailed separately.
Internship Application (see link above to download application)
- Resume
- Cover letter
- One-page essay (please, no longer than one page): As a follower of Christ, how do you believe you are called to respond to the crisis of global poverty?
- Letter of recommendation (preferably from a professor, pastor, or supervisor)
Application deadline: Application deadline is 5 pm EST on February 15, 2012. Interviews are currently being conducted, so the earlier you can submit your materials, the better!
Labels: Hope International
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RightNow looking to add 8 Sales, Design and Programming Staff in early 2012
For those of you guys new to the blog, RightNow is a Christian Media organization in Richardson, TX with
95 creative and energetic people on our team. We love hard work but we also have
a very family friendly environment.
We love serving churches. To accomplish our mission, RightNow is involved in several initiatives to equip the church. We have served over 110,000 churches through our video Bible study resources (BluefishTV.com), leadership conferences (RightNowConferences.org) and online training tools (RightNowTraining.org). The RightNow team has worked with great teachers and communicators including Max Lucado, Francis Chan, Third Day, Dave Ramsey, Chris Tomlin, Matt Chandler, Gary Thomas, Chip Ingram and many more. We are on a mission to help people trade in the pursuit of the American Dream for a world that desperately needs Christ.
We are expanding into some new opportunities which require people with a variety of skills and passions. You can learn more about our mission and our projects at these websites listed above and at RightNow.org
JOB OPENINGS:
We love serving churches. To accomplish our mission, RightNow is involved in several initiatives to equip the church. We have served over 110,000 churches through our video Bible study resources (BluefishTV.com), leadership conferences (RightNowConferences.org) and online training tools (RightNowTraining.org). The RightNow team has worked with great teachers and communicators including Max Lucado, Francis Chan, Third Day, Dave Ramsey, Chris Tomlin, Matt Chandler, Gary Thomas, Chip Ingram and many more. We are on a mission to help people trade in the pursuit of the American Dream for a world that desperately needs Christ.
We are expanding into some new opportunities which require people with a variety of skills and passions. You can learn more about our mission and our projects at these websites listed above and at RightNow.org
JOB OPENINGS:
- 3 Sales Directors
- 3 Sales Coordinators
- Graphic Designer & Marketing Coordinator
- .NET Programmer/Developer
Find out more about these jobs by going to www.rightnow.org/careers
Print a flyer to post on your job board here -http://collateral.rightnow.org/jobs/RightNow_JobFlyer.pdf
Labels: Recruitment and Job Opportunities, The Rightnow Campaign
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Wasted Charity: Why the 'compassion industry' is not helping the poor. A review of 'Toxic Charity' by Christianity Today
An encouraging conversation that continues to emerge is "How do we make the maximum impact with our charity?"Its interesting to see more groups point to how prolonged (or poorly planned) relief efforts can drag on and eventually create crippling dependency. There's obvious times Charity is desperately needed. But charity can do more harm than good if not part of a comprehensive plan.
I'm incredibly encouraged to see things like Acton's "PovertyCure" initiative talk about taking people "from aid to enterprise". Their passion to inspire economic development as a tool for sustainable transformation is incredibly encouraging.
Another eye opening book on this issue recently was release by Robert Lupton. As a 40 year veteran he speaks to the dangers, the risks and opportunities to change how we perceive transformation in Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It). Click on the links to read Christianity Today's recent review.
"Robert Lupton's new book is going to ruffle some feathers.
In Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) (HarperOne), the 40-year veteran urban minister "takes the gloves off" and argues that much of Americans' charitable giving "is either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted to help."
The reason is that the "compassion industry" is "almost universally accepted as a virtuous and constructive enterprise," but its "outcomes are almost entirely unexamined." Years of charitable giving at home and abroad, Lupton contends, have made barely a dent in reducing poverty and often encourage dependency. Toxic Charity offers some statistics, but more stories, as evidence that both our philosophy and practice of charity are frequently misguided.
In Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) (HarperOne), the 40-year veteran urban minister "takes the gloves off" and argues that much of Americans' charitable giving "is either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted to help."
The reason is that the "compassion industry" is "almost universally accepted as a virtuous and constructive enterprise," but its "outcomes are almost entirely unexamined." Years of charitable giving at home and abroad, Lupton contends, have made barely a dent in reducing poverty and often encourage dependency. Toxic Charity offers some statistics, but more stories, as evidence that both our philosophy and practice of charity are frequently misguided.
The news here is painful. Our self-centeredness contributes to the problem. We evaluate our giving, Lupton argues, "by the rewards we receive through service, rather than the benefits received by the served." ... Read the full review.
Labels: Books and Articles, Robert Lupton
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Marketplace Chaplains Featured on NBC Evening News
Marketplace Chaplaincy is quickly becoming one of the best ways to improve your emotional, spiritual and financial bottom lines.
You may have missed this last year, but there was a story featured on NBC's evening news. You can also click on this link to view it straight from the Marketplace Chaplains website.
Labels: Marketplace Chaplains, Video and Media
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Retired CEO of Lenscrafters David Browne on Faith and Work
Article written by Kevin Miller (Watch the Video Interview Here) - At the tender age of 29, David Browne was living every entrepreneur’s dream. As CEO and President of LensCrafters, the multi-million dollar eyewear company he co-founded, every sign indicated that his star would continue to rise. However, even though David admits he thought of himself as “hot stuff” at the time, he couldn’t have been more miserable.So what was the problem?
David was having an increasingly difficult time reconciling his Christian faith with his business success. While the former told him to put God and people first, the latter made the bottom line king. If people or ethics had to be swept aside in order to achieve a profit, so be it. So even while David had achieved success according to the world’s terms, he sensed he was nowhere near as successful as he could be were he able to reconcile these two facets of his life.
Labels: David Browne, Lenscrafters, Video and Media
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C12 Group Celebrates 20 Years of Business Impact and Influence
In 1992, Buck developed the C12 Group’s proprietary process, various tailored product offerings, and a body of targeted leadership, general management, and marketplace ministry materials aimed at increasing the fruitfulness of executives. By integrating ‘best-in-class’ business practices with timeless Biblical application, C12 became known as a practical, targeted, and highly effective resource to address a Christian leader’s real-life concerns and opportunities. This proven impact was underscored in a 2006 C12 study that compared the performance of long-term C12 members against a cross-section of U.S. small-to-midsized leadership companies captured in a study sponsored by The Business Roundtable. Looking at the decade spanning 1995-2005, C12’s member companies outperformed their marketplace counterparts in compound annual sales and profit growth by more than three-to-one. More importantly, says Jacobs, the number of adults coming to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ in these long-time C12 companies far exceeded the typical number of annual salvations enjoyed by the average American church.
What began as a solitary Christian CEO roundtable practice with three groups in the Tampa Bay area has now grown to more than 1000 members in more than 100 groups and 65 metro areas across America.C12 members span all industries and range in size from $1 million to more than $1 billion in annual sales. According to Don Barefoot, C12’s President and CEO, “C12 has been a source of blessing to more than 3000 Christian CEOs, Presidents and Owners, as well as an estimated 12 to 15 million stakeholders in these companies – employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders – many of whom have either come to the Lord, been encouraged in their Christian faith, or been served in the love of Christ through their everyday interactions with C12 member companies that share a bit of God’s provision and purpose.”
C12 recently launched its 20th year by hosting a successful Leaders Conference in Orlando, FL with record attendance in excess of 400 Christian CEOs and spouses, despite the weak economy. The conference theme, Standing in the Gap, was devoted to providing inspiration and practical help through a variety of business and ministry topics to Christian CEOs dedicated to Building GREAT Businesses for a GREATER Purpose. With such continued growth and interest, Buck says, ”An idea that many said couldn’t work has flourished into the growing C12 organization we see today, 20 years later, growing at double digits by doing things God’s way and still working to provide our members with real value and a safe community of like-minded peers.” Barefoot chimed in, “The combination of servant leadership, continual peer sharpening, and the well-informed application of timeless truths is an unbeatable combination for Christian CEOs looking to develop their businesses to the next level while leading and living in a way that makes an eternal difference.”
If you would like more information on The C12 Group, please go to www.C12Group.com or contact C12 Home Office (336-841-7100 or info@C12Group.com).
Labels: Buck Jacobs, C12 Group, Don Barefoot
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Seattle Pacific leading Business Track at Urbana 2012
Whether it’s on Main Street, on Wall Street, or in a market on another continent, business is changing the world.In an age of increasing urbanization, few parts of the world could flourish without goods and services fueled by business and economic growth. Unfortunately, in recent years we’ve seen ethical lapses and market failures that have wreaked havoc on communities at home and across the world. Public trust has been eroded and the imagination for what business can be has been seriously marred.
But what if business were to be understood as a source of blessing and healing for the nations? What if business were recognized as a creative force, an ethical steward and partner, and a life-giving institution for the benefit of others?
The CIB-hosted Business Track at Urbana 12 will explore the idea of business as stewardship in both North America and internationally — enabling people to serve across cultures. Real-world examples of businesses demonstrating value creation will act as a model for what business can and should be.
From microenterprise to family-owned businesses, venture capital to large global corporations, this track is for anyone interested in exploring the role of business in Gods’ greater economy, and in bringing economic, social, and spiritual vitality to people around the world.
Urbana 2012 -- InterVarsity's 23rd Student Missions Conference will be held December 27-31, 2012, in St. Louis, Missouri. Watch the CIB Event page for more details.
Labels: Events and Conferences, Seattle Pacific, Urbana12
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Monday Morning Athiest by Doug Spada
I love guys who understand the importance that the Church owns the mission of helping their people see their Work as Worship. Doug Spada at Work Life has been a big champion of that. In a few weeks Doug is releasing a new book called "Monday Morning Atheist". Here's the scoop..."Do you at times work as though God does not exist? Maybe ignorning Him? Turning Him off?
Here's the truth - we all suffer with this at one time or another even if we truly want to serve God. It's only a matter of when and to what degree we function as a Monday Morning Atheist.
In this groundbreaking book based on years of research from thousands of Christ followers, Doug Spada and David Scott unpack the tops barriers that spiritually short-circuit your work. Then, they guide you to identify how to biblically and practically change your thinking and behavior to find Life in your work."
Click Here to Read More or Pre-Order it at Doug's Site
Labels: Books and Articles, Top 25 Business as Mission Books
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The 25 Best Work as Worship Books
Recently for our Work as Worship Conference I put together a list of the "The 25 Best Work as Worship Books". This is 6 years in the making. A lot of meetings, reading and relationships have been built to come up with this list. Enjoy!
1. Our Souls at Work by Mark Russell
2. Business With Soul by Michael Cardone
3. God is at Work by Ken Eldred
4. Your Work Matters to God by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks
5. On Kingdom Business by Ted Yamamori and Ken Eldred
6. Marketplace Christianity by Robert Fraser
7. Missional Entrepreneur by Mark Russell
8. Work, the Meaning of Your Life by Lester DeKoster
9. Business for the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem
10. Business by the Book by Larry Burkett
11. Great Commission Companies by Steve Rundle and Tom Steffen
12. Devotional Ventures by Corey Cleek
13. GOD at Work by David Miller
14. Business as Mission by Neal Johnson
15. The Integrated Life by Ken Eldred
16. The 9 to 5 Window by Os Hillman
17. More than a Hobby by David Green
18. Workplace Grace by Bill Peel and Walt Larimore
19. Mastering Monday by John Beckett
20. Business as Mission by Michael Baer
21. My Business, My Mission by Doug Seebeck and Timothy Stoner
22. Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey
23. Shepherding Horses by Kent Humphreys
24. The Poor will be Glad by Peter Greer
25. Convergence by Brett Johnson
2. Business With Soul by Michael Cardone
3. God is at Work by Ken Eldred
4. Your Work Matters to God by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks
5. On Kingdom Business by Ted Yamamori and Ken Eldred
6. Marketplace Christianity by Robert Fraser
7. Missional Entrepreneur by Mark Russell
8. Work, the Meaning of Your Life by Lester DeKoster
9. Business for the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem
10. Business by the Book by Larry Burkett
11. Great Commission Companies by Steve Rundle and Tom Steffen
12. Devotional Ventures by Corey Cleek
13. GOD at Work by David Miller
14. Business as Mission by Neal Johnson
15. The Integrated Life by Ken Eldred
16. The 9 to 5 Window by Os Hillman
17. More than a Hobby by David Green
18. Workplace Grace by Bill Peel and Walt Larimore
19. Mastering Monday by John Beckett
20. Business as Mission by Michael Baer
21. My Business, My Mission by Doug Seebeck and Timothy Stoner
22. Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey
23. Shepherding Horses by Kent Humphreys
24. The Poor will be Glad by Peter Greer
25. Convergence by Brett Johnson
Labels: Books and Articles, Top 25 Business as Mission Books
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Changing a Mindset to Work as Worship. See you Thursday at the Conference.
I'm looking forward to Thursday. Its going to be fun to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends at the first Work as Worship conference in Dallas.
Its a chance for entrepreneurs, trail blazers and people who love business to come together. Even if it isn't intentional I think its easy for leaders in business to feel like a "second class citizen" because they never felt called to "full time, vocational ministry" with a church.
But that's the past. Days like Thursdays are milestone markers. They recognize that today is a new day. Hundreds of business leaders and thousands of church leaders will leave realizing that everyone is given time and talents to make a difference in our work.
And the encouraging news is we're not alone. This movement is large. The pews of the church are full of entrepreneurs, bankers and business people who want to find meaning in their work.
Over the past few years I've had the privilege of meeting some of them. Guys like David Green and his family at Hobby Lobby, Dave Evans the co-founder of Electronic Arts, Steve Lynn the CEO who helped turn around Sonic and store operators from Chick-fil-a and home builders here in Texas.
God is starting to unleash what I believe is one of the greatest untapped opportunities. To live out the gospel in our workplace.
Just consider this for a moment. When the 350 business leaders return to their workplaces they will come into contact with more non-believing employees and customers in one day than what will set foot in the 3,000+ churches of Dallas on Sunday.
If we can change the way we view our work, we won't need to look far for opportunities. They're already coming right to us. But it starts with a changed mindset.
Look forward to seeing many of you Thursday!
Labels: Events and Conferences, RightNow Conference, Work as Worship Conference
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Why Business Matters to God - Jeff Van Duzer
This lecture was given as part of the Gospel & Culture Lecture series featuring Jeff Van Duzer. Jeff Van Duzer is in his tenth year as the Dean of the School of Business and Economics at Seattle Pacific University. He is the author of Why Business Matters to God, and his areas of research include the ethics of wealth creation and distribution and the applied integration of business and theology.
Why Business Matters to God - Jeff Van Duzer from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
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Why Business Matters to God - Jeff Van Duzer from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
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Tim Keller - Why Work Matters
This lecture was given as part of the Gospel & Culture Lecture series featuring Dr. Timothy Keller. Tim is the Founding and Senior Pastor Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Redeemer has become especially effective in reaching Manhattan professionals from many diverse occupations and cultural backgrounds. He is the author of several books, including The Reason for God, Counterfeit Gods, and The Prodigal God. His most recent book, King's Cross, was released February
2011.
Gospel and Culture Lecture Series: Tim Keller from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
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2011.
Gospel and Culture Lecture Series: Tim Keller from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
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Work can be Worship by Max Lucado
Jesus’s word for frustrated workers can be found in the fifth chapter of Luke’s gospel. Peter, Andrew, James, and John made their living catching and selling fish. Like other fishermen, they worked the night shift, when cool water brought the game to the surface. And, like other fishermen, they knew the drudgery of a fishless night.
While Jesus preaches, they clean nets. And as the crowd grows, Christ has an idea.
He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was [Peter’s] and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. (vv. 2–3 msg)
Jesus claims Peter’s boat. He doesn’t request the use of it. Christ doesn’t fill out an application or ask permission; he simply boards the boat and begins to preach.
He can do that, you know. All boats belong to Christ. Your boat is where you spend your day, make your living, and to a large degree live your life. The taxi you drive, the horse stable you clean, the dental office you manage, the family you feed and transport—this is your boat. Christ shoulder-taps us and reminds:
“You drive my truck.”
“You preside in my courtroom.”
“You work on my job site.”
“You serve my hospital wing.”
To us all, Jesus says, “Your work is my work.”
“You preside in my courtroom.”
“You work on my job site.”
“You serve my hospital wing.”
To us all, Jesus says, “Your work is my work.”
Our Wednesdays matter to him as much as our Sundays. He blurs the secular and sacred. One stay-at-home mom keeps this sign over her kitchen sink: Divine tasks performed here, daily. An executive hung this plaque in her office: My desk is my altar. Both are correct. With God, our work matters as much as our worship. Indeed, work can be worship.
Peter, the boat owner, later wrote: “You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God” (1 Pet. 2:9 nlt).
A priest represents God, and you, my friend, represent God. So “let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus” (Col. 3:17 msg). You don’t drive to an office; you drive to a sanctuary. You don’t attend a school; you attend a temple. You may not wear a clerical collar, but you could. Your boat is God’s pulpit.
From Cure for the Common Life
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado
From Cure for the Common Life
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado
Labels: Devotional, Max Lucado, Work as Worship Conference
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Helping Rebuild Hati one Business at a Time
Evelien de Gier moved to Haiti 28 years ago from the Netherlands to work for a picture-frame production company. Her vision had three objectives. First was to create desperately needed jobs for Haitians. Second was to generate money for missionaries working in Haiti. Third was to witness good deeds to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In a country brimming with obstacles, the greatest obstacle Evelien faced was from Christians who did not affirm her call to business.
The moment she and her husband, Kees, stepped foot into business, they experienced harsh critique. In many Christian circles — including peers in mission, community development, advocacy or humanitarian work — people questioned why those suffering in poverty around Evelien needed something like a picture frame.
“Nobody seemed to see the direct connection between consistent income for our employees and the call of business people to facilitate that income,” Evelien says. “To me, providing employment is the most obvious and effective way a Christian can care for the poor.”
Evelien struggled for years with the dichotomy between “traditional ministry” and business. In churches around the world there is hierarchy of holy activities, with missionaries and pastors at the top, educators and social workers in the middle, then business people somewhere near the bottom.
Many Christians do not see how business can be a holy activity on par with the vocation of pastor, Evelien says. But she came to the conclusion that helping people work themselves out of poverty through business is a biblical mandate.
“Yes, Jesus fed the 5,000 with a few fish and breads, but on another occasion,” Evelien notes, “he told his disciples to put their nets out on the other side of the boat, and that was hard work when their nets got so full.”
She points to another example in the Book of Ruth where “owners are instructed not to work their whole field but to leave the edges for the poor to work, and yet many people these days tend to work the whole field, bag the excess, and then hand out the bags to the poor.”
Evelien did not grow up with a passion for business. She studied and practiced physical therapy in the Netherlands. But other passions and interests began to emerge: building capacity in those around her, practicing stewardship, accountability, and leadership. “It all seemed to fit the vocation that God was calling me to — business,” she says.
She met her husband when both were leaders at a Christian youth camp. They courted for four years, married in 1982, and one year later moved to Haiti and began producing and selling picture frames.
In 2003, Evelien and Kees joined a good friend in launching another company, Maxima S.A., in Port-au-Prince to produce wooden cabinetry and caskets. By 2009, they employed 59 Haitians.
The Port-au-Prince earthquake in January 2010 killed more than 200,000 Haitians and displaced a million more. With no more demand for cabinets and caskets, the team at Maxima got creative. Their business took on a mission — to put homeless families back into homes. They repurposed their production equipment to manufacture houses and took contracts from large NGOs like World Vision and Tearfund.
Sixteen months after the earthquake, Maxima has manufactured homes for 5,000 families. To fulfill these orders Maxima increased its number of employees from 59 to 275. Those 275 jobs provide for more than 1,300 people (it’s estimated the 1 full-time job provides for 5 people, and in Haiti that ratio may be higher).
More orders are on the horizon.
“It’s been a crash course for over a year and I feel like I’m being molded by the Potter’s hand,” Evelien says, “but my story is no superwoman story. I avoid ever thinking that I myself have come this far alone. I am a product of what so many people around me have done for me and my family, using their talents to help me build mine. I try to do the same for others. This is the body of Christ.”
That body of Christ includes Evelien’s church, l‘Église de la Communauté Evangélique d’Haiti in a fast-paced middle class neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. The congregation is filled with Haitian doctors, lawyers, and business professionals who don’t just affirm her calling to business — they live out their own passion for business as she does.
“Take the doctors and therapists,” Evelien says. “They’ve been providing care to the poor in the countryside as volunteers this year, on top of the 70-hour weeks they work in their own for-profit clinics — clinics that provide jobs and fuel the economy.”
Once seemingly alone in her call to business, Evelien is now encouraged. “They used to hold us businesspeople as far away as they could,” she says. “The biggest surprise now is that organizations and churches are looking to us for advice, long-term strategic planning, discernment, and guidance! Something good is starting to happen here.”
Jacqueline Klamer is a writer with Partners Worldwide, a faith-based international business development organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Partners Worldwide has worked with Haitian businesspeople since 1999, connecting Haitian entrepreneurs and business owners in the SME sector with business training, access to capital, networking opportunities, and business mentors. Partners Worldwide is active in 20 countries.
Labels: Hati, Maxima, Partners Worldwide
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Charity vs. Enterprise with Robert Sirico of PovertyCures.org
Acton Institute is a big voice in the conversation that happens at the intersection of Work and Worship. If you haven't already, check out their website, povertycure.org. Love the site, how they lay out the videos and love a lot of the language of the mission.
It is time to move:
- From aid to enterprise
- From poverty alleviation to wealth creation
- From paternalism to partnerships
- From handouts to investments
- From seeing the poor as consumers or burdens to seeing them as creators
- From viewing the poor as recipients of charity to acknowledging them as agents of change with dignity, capacity, and creativity.
- From viewing people and economies as experiments to pursuing solidarity with the poor
- From encouraging dependency to integrating the poor into networks of productivity and exchange
- From subsidies and protectionism to open trade and competition
- From seeing the global economy as a fixed pie to understanding that human enterprise can grow economies
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Redeemer Center for Faith and Work in New York City
There's probably not a better example of a church that understands that Work itself can be such an incredible opportunity for worship than Redeemer in New York City. Take a look at this short video on what their church is doing validate and unleash the people in their church.
Redeemer Center for Faith & Work: Why Faith & Work? from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
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Redeemer Center for Faith & Work: Why Faith & Work? from Redeemer Video on Vimeo.
Labels: Rdeemer New York City, Tim Keller
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Tim Keller on the Doctrine of Work and Rest
"Unless you find the Biblical doctrine of Work, you will never find rest." - Tim Keller
I enjoyed listening to an older message Dr. Tim Keller gave on the talk of work as Worship a while back.
It doesn't look like there's a church out there doing a better job unleashing their businessmen and women than what Redeemer is doing (You can check out their site at www.faithandwork.org.
When you get a chance, give it a listen.
It doesn't look like there's a church out there doing a better job unleashing their businessmen and women than what Redeemer is doing (You can check out their site at www.faithandwork.org.
When you get a chance, give it a listen.
Labels: Audio, FaithandWork.org, Tim Keller
Continue reading 'Tim Keller on the Doctrine of Work and Rest'
Hewlett Packard's taking Mission and Work Seriously
A friend passed along this video that Hewlett Packard put together. I think it was created just for an in house audience (but I'm sure they knew it would get out). It's pretty powerful. Friends have mentioned that their experiences have matched the support and the mission they see on this video (some are even in the video). This isn't a "business as mission" driven initiative from the top down. But many from HP are using this as an opportunity to use their time and talents to make a difference and are being supported by it. Take a look at this video that highlights HP's global efforts. They give away millions of dollars every year.
I thought it was encouraging to see their CEO at the end deliver the message "together we are redefining corporate success beyond creating value for shareholder to also creating a better world".
I thought it was encouraging to see their CEO at the end deliver the message "together we are redefining corporate success beyond creating value for shareholder to also creating a better world".
Labels: Hewlett Packard
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JR Packer on Work and Worship
For those of you who aren't familiar, J. I Packer is a British-born Canadian Christian theologian. He is considered one of the most influential evangelicals in North America. Here's a quick sound bite on his view of Work being Worship that was captured by the team at High Callings.
Labels: High Callings, J I Packer, Work as Worship
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God gave me this idea for Business
So we ask them some apparently non-spiritual questions?
- Do you have any experience within this industry (whatever industry their idea fits within)?
- Do you have a business plan?
- How will you market it?
- Where is the capital going to come from?
- Do you know others with the expertise to help you?
Usually the import of their answer is something like this: "God gave me this idea. Therefore it will succeed." We often come away with the impression they think it will bring in a large amount of money for a minimum amount of effort, because, after all, God is in it.
In one sense, we have every sympathy with them. Jesus gave us an idea for a business out of the blue, and it has succeeded to the place where we have a team of people working for us leaving us free to do anything God asks us to do within the Kingdom. So we are convinced God is looking to give people an idea to "create wealth that he might establish his covenant" (Deut 8:18-- a verse we prayed for many months). He is looking to free people financially through business to work in the Kingdom. We know many people for whom he has done this.
However, we had to learn from painful experience that a business will not succeed without good business practices and principles.
God doesn't often give us shortcuts. He expects us to be diligent to learn, put in long hours where necessary, use good business practices, bring in expertise (like lawyers and accountants) where needed. God isn't into "get rich quick" schemes.
And he delights to bless.
About Felicity - In 2000, she helped to start House2House, initially a print magazine and now a website that provides resources for the large house/simple/organic church movement that now exists here in the US. She has written or co-authored, several books--Simply Church, Getting Started: A Church Planting Manual, The Rabbit and the Elephant and An Army of Ordinary People.
Labels: Felicity Dale
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The Role of Patience in Noah’s Platform
Noah found himself in a similar situation in Genesis chapter 6. He worked with unflinching trust in God and His faithfulness for years on a massive construction project – the ark. While he looked foolish to those around him, he knew that the results of his endeavor would be worthwhile over the long term. By some estimates it could have taken as long as 100 years to build the ark. Yet he persisted against all odds. God used this act of obedience on Noah’s part as a ministry platform to all who passed by. They may have laughed, shaken their heads or inquisitively dialogued with Noah, but none could doubt his commitment to the cause. In reality, Noah’s patient service, which ultimately led to the preservation of creation, is what left the lasting legacy that still impacts those with whom we live and work today.
Noah isn’t the only one being watched. People watch us as we work. When faced with adversity and uncertainty in the workplace we can have a significant impact on our families, coworkers and community by being committed and diligent in our work and steadfast in our faith in God’s faithfulness toward us. The world takes a short-term view of effort and reward, reflecting a desire for instant gratification. We, on the other hand, should stand apart as people who see things from a long term perspective, remembering that reality has a timeline that stretches into eternity. Patience is a sign of Christian maturity and is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
Responding to workplace situations with a patient attitude can set us apart from those who do not place their trust in a God who is faithful and never forgets to reward us for our efforts . . . but it may take longer than we would like. We can have a powerful witness when we wait on the Lord for expected outcomes rather than the cultural norm of seeking instant gratification.
Joseph Vijayam is Managing Director of Olive Technologies. Prior to founding Olive, he served as the Chief Executive of Matrix Computer Consultancy, India. He earned a B.S. with highest honors in Computer Science from Biola University, CA, USA, and an MBA in Information Systems from Georgia State University, GA, USA. Read more from Joseph on his blog, http://www.ministryplatforms.com.
Labels: Joseph Vijayam
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If you're going to work ...
Great quote from Seth Godin on work ..
If you're going to Work ...
work hard.
That way, you'll have something to show for it.
The biggest waste is to do that thing you call work, but to interrupt it,
compromise it, cheat it and still call it work.
In the same amount of time you can expend twice the effort and get far more
in exchange.
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If you're going to Work ...
work hard.
Labels: Quotable, Seth Godin
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