A Twenty Something's Business as Mission Journey :: Case Studies, Round Two
The Business as Mission journey continues! We just returned from a week-long trip to another region where we got a much more in-depth interaction with two very different BAM strategies.But, it's also come to my attention that there is confusion as to how you, as a recipient of this note, can interact with what we're sharing. So, wanted to briefly give some ideas here before we send out any more of our case study write-ups. As we said, the purpose of this note is to share observations, reflections and lessons learned as I and others journey in our learning and application of BAM. It is hoped that this sharing will spark your imagination, intercession and action to grow in wisdom and understanding and love and good deeds.
Case Study Background
For many of these BAM businesses we are allowed to interact and/or interview, our view of them is far from complete. We try our best to do research before we meet with people and ask a wide range of questions. But, for some, we are unable to obtain answers to all we ask. And, our time is limited, so our understanding of the breadth of their operations is limited to what we hear and observe. So, what we present to you here is our understanding of what we have seen and heard - presented in such a way as to not compromise any security concerns.
Interacting
Some of you have posted some questions on the case study and also asking just how you can interact with these notes. First, we'd love to have you ask questions and put in your two cents! However, our role in visiting these different people and operations is not as consultants - rather as learners. After our visits, we try to sift through all the information to provide a relatively objective look at the effort, and then among ourselves ask more subjective questions. In this area we welcome your input and ideas - realizing it is more for our internal dialogue than 'consulting' for these practitioners. If you want more specifics about a certain issue, we will gladly share. If we get a lot of feedback, we will try to share it as a follow-up to a given case study - keeping consistent with our desire that this exercise of sharing stirs up many more BAM efforts! If you have ideas on other questions and/or topics to enquire about, please let us know!
Future opportunity
David and Diane have been having a fantastic time here! They both have said how critical the timing of this year has been for them. (They both just graduated in May with undergraduate business degrees) They have been diligent in their language studies, and the weekly interaction with BAM issues and practitioners has been a practical way to work through what they've learned in school. Both feel that the language, culture and business interaction is a win-win for wherever they might go in the future.
So... with their recommendation, I'm encouraging them to spread the word to their schools and colleagues that we will do this BAM internship again next year! It's a one-year (with an option to come earlier and participate in a summer program) program that will run from late August '08 to July '09. Full-time language and culture study with a weekly (sometimes twice per week) time together to discuss Biblical foundations, core BAM principles and issues and then visit BAM practitioners to see how these foundations and principles are being worked out. If you are interested, please contact Liz Miller liz@imi.org and start the application process!
Security Issues
We seek to learn from others, but not to compromise their situation. So you will notice that we aspire to use careful wording in what we write. We ask you to do the same when you write to us. We are not ashamed of BAM but seek to avoid certain words that have other negative baggage associated with them. Thank you for your sensitivity in this matter.
Labels: A Twenty Something's Business as Mission Journey, Case Studies
