God, help me find a job!
Our friends at Red Letter Believers wrote a great post that really follows up on the question of what a church's role should be when it comes to business and ministry?A Sacramento-area church has ventured into the arena of helping job seekers prepare for the brutal employment market, believing that God can help.
The church offers workshops on finding God’s will, finding jobs specific to giftings, and helps keep the unemployed from despair.
The ministry is called “Career Coaching” and is in response to increased unemployment. More than 200 job seekers have been part of the program and a number have found work either during or after completing the program.
Readers of this blog know the emphasis we place on faith and the workplace, but this is an entirely new question. Does faith GET you into the workplace? Is it possible that a proper spiritual perspective just might lead you to a job? What about those who have lost a job? Is God part of that as well? ...
As the economy continues to drift downward, will the church need to shift away from programs and buildings and staff and become more focused on the very real and present needs that will grip our nation?
Good questions all – but are we prepared for the answers?
Robert Geyer is a business executive and David Rupert is a communication professional. Together, they are researching, writing and stirring the thoughts about the intersection of faith and life -- at work, in the community and in the world. Read more at http://redletterbelievers.blogspot.com/
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Can you Change Global Poverty?
Are you moved to act on extreme global poverty? Have you heard about the positive difference microfinance (a.k.a., “microcredit”) makes in the lives of the economically impoverished? Do you want to learn more and know how you can act in ways that are effective, responsible and lasting?If so, this conference is for you! The 2009 Pacific Northwest Microfinance Conference, May 8-9, 2009 at Seattle Pacific Univserity is a collaborative event that seeks to deepen knowledge, connect people, and mobilize action toward developing lasting solutions to global poverty. The current global economic crisis threatens to have a devastating impact on economically impoverished people around the globe. While caring about others when we are fearful about our own situations seems counter-intuitive, true tests of our compassion come during troubling times.
Its a stacked lineup of featured speakers, including Rick Beckett, CEO, Global Partnerships, Peter Bladin, Executive Vice President, Grameen Foundation and Executive Director Grameen Technology Center, Tamara Cook, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Matt Flannery, CEO and Co-founder, Kiva, Skip Li, Founder, Agros International, and Atul Tandon, Senior Vice President, World Vision. Click here for more information.
Labels: Events and Conferences, Grameen Foundation, Kiva, Matt Flannery, Microfinance, World Vision
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Top Business as Mission Company's Story comes to Book - Merchant to Romania
The year 1989 saw the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. In Romania, a bloody revolution toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, ending with his execution.Following these dramatic events, Jeri Little, a young entrepreneur from the white-collar business world of Orange County, California, felt the Lord was calling him to move to Romania to use his business skills in missions.
He and his family arrived in Iasi in 1993 to begin the adventure of a lifetime. This is Jeri's amazing account of how the Lord has used Church Resource Ministries to birth a variety of business enterprises in Romania. This revealing narrative is laced with cultural and historical insights as Jeri describes each small step of faith in his journey towards establishing 'businesses as missions' in the former Communist bloc: earning money locally to fund ministries and plant churches in Romania and in neighboring Moldova.
This is a gripping tale of how God has used business in Eastern Europe as a vehicle for reaching people with the good news of Jesus.
Several times we've featured Jeri's businesses, including Little Texas on the website. You can find out more about the book and order a copy at http://www.merchanttoromania.com/
Labels: Jeri Little, Little Texas, Romania
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Quotable - We've been taught to give, but how do we make money?
"Last night I taught a Kingdom Business seminar to about 100 local Christian Business people. They were about 60% business ladies. They really liked the seminar. Several said God touched their hearts.One guy said, "this is what Tanzania needs. We have been taught to give money by the church, but the Church has never taught us how to make money. Tonight many of my questions were answered. We need more of this." I met with two govt. officials the District Commissionar and the Trade officer. They confirmed the need for training. The trade officer is a believer (a pastor even) and he said "our greatest need is to have our minds transformed. Our people are surrounded by opportunity but they can't see it."
So what do you think? In times of global economic crisis, how much should the church give back in on the job training? Should that be different in places like Africa where few have little to give but much to learn?
Labels: Africa, Quotable, Tanzania
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President Obama's Briefcase from Business as Mission Company
Barrington is a Business as Mission company based in our backyard of Dallas. For year's they've been creating high end leather goods at their remarkable plant in Xiamen, China. Last week the Dallas Morning News ran a very complimentary article about the company ..."When Time magazine's Web site recently posted a photo of an aide carrying President Barack Obama's briefcase off Air Force One, Dallas-based Barrington Group Ltd. got a celebrity endorsement money can't buy.
"Oh man, it's unbelievable," says David Gowdey, co-founder of Barrington, which made the bag. "My favorite part is the hangtag that says 'The President.' That was his doing. The only thing we embossed on it was Ole Miss." The president received his "captain's bag" from the University of Mississippi as a debate gift last fall. Now the Big D corporate gift company hopes to spur interest in its leather offerings."
Beyond the notoriety of the President using their bag, what I found most encouraging was how the article went on to highlight the incredible ways how Barrington's factory has exceeded all expectations in China, "The plant is a Chinese anomaly. Barrington pays above-market wages with health insurance and maternity leave. Workers receive financial planning, continuing education and summertime camps for their kids. In a society that shuns the disabled, Barrington hires the physically challenged and invests in orphanages that minister to children with special needs." Click here to read the full article on Dallas Morning News Website
Labels: Barrington, China
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Dead Aid in Africa - Mats Tunehag
In the past fifty years, more than $1 trillion in development-related aid has been transferred from rich countries to Africa. Has this improved the lives of Africans? No. In fact the recipients of this aid are not better off as a result of it, but worse—much worse. This is said by Ms Dambisa Moyo who grew up in Zambia. Her training in economics took her from the World Bank to Harvard and on to Oxford, where she obtained her doctorate. She spent eight successful years at Goldman Sachs as the Head of Economic Research and Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa.In her book Dead Aid, Dambisa Moyo describes a sharp contrast between African countries that have rejected the aid route and prospered versus others that have become aid-dependent and seen poverty increase. Moyo shows how overreliance on aid has trapped developing nations in a vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further poverty, leaving them with nothing but the “need” for more aid.
Dambiso Moyo visited Rwanda recently, a country with a budget which is at least 70 per cent dependent on foreign aid. She wrote about her trip ... Read the rest of the article
Labels: Africa, Mats Tunehag
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Its not about you, help people follow their dreams
Brian Proffit from Rev Magazine had a great commentary on a story reported by CNN."CNN reported today about a man they called a hero. Jorge Munoz, a New York bus driver, delivers home-cooked meals to scores of hungry people every night. He and his family have been voluntarily feeding people under an elevated train track 7 nights a week, 365 days a year for more than four years. These days there can be as many as 140 people waiting for a meal from him. He estimates he has served over 70,000 meals.
As a bus driver, he gets paid about $700 a week. The outreach to these people costs $400 - $450 a week. Why do they (his mother and sister spend much of the day cooking these meals while he's driving his bus) spend so much time and money on this? "I have a stable job, my mom, my family, a house... everything I want, I have. And these guys [don't]. So I just think, 'OK, I have the food.' At least for today they're going to have a meal to eat."
On $700 a week, and with a family to feed, he feels so blessed with all that he has that he feels compelled to spend more than half his income and hours every day to help others. He has found his passion point and he is following it.
How can it be that churches complain about having trouble finding volunteers when the human heart has this kind of capacity to care? Maybe it's because we're trying to get them to follow our dreams rather than helping them find their own passion points. I'm convinced that Jorge Munoz, hero that he is, is not fundamentally different from any of the rest of us. When we find what we truly care about, we're willing to sacrifice greatly for it. Maybe, just maybe, if we help people see the real needs in our communities they will find things that touch their own passion points...and we won't be able to stop them from taking on that ministry.
Oh by the way, his mother came to the United States from Colombia to find work after his father was killed. She took a job as a nanny and now she, Munoz, and his sister have become legal citizens. Thousands of people are very glad—perhaps even still alive because—they were allowed into the country."
Labels: Brian Proffit, Rev Magazine
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Convene - BBL Forum Changes its Name
BBL Forum has changed its name to Convene. For those of you that aren't familiar with the group, it is "a gathering of Christian CEOs and Business Owners helping each other excel at building better businesses, increasing leadership success, and having greater Kingdom impact.We call these leaders Significants because they’re pursuing priorities that matter to the success of their businesses, their families, and God."
The new website features some great videos outlining the tough issues that Christian CEO's face like: integrating faith, finding profitability and making strategic decisions.
It also has a search tool that allows you to easily find a group meeting in your area. Check out their brand new website, http://www.convenenow.com/
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At $347,000 Per Baptism Maybe It’s Time To Rethink Church?
Inside Work website just published a thought provoking editorial, here's a teaser of the first pew paragraphs but check out their website to read the full article. The absence of trust today is palpable. We don’t need to hear leaders, pundits and ordinary Joes talking about the breakdown of trust as the reality of the financial meltdown touches our lives—so many stories, of credit denied, of honest families victimized in financial scandals, of hardworking people losing their nest eggs in the stock market, of faithful employees laid off by companies they devoted themselves to for years… We can feel the distrust growing—in our banking system, government, corporations, even religious organizations.
How do we stop this? What treatment can heal these deep wounds? Wide sweeping federal policy? Complete reform of our banking system? State and local initiatives? Independent corporate reform through industry associations? Spiritual reformation?
There is also denial in the air. Last week in a board meeting of a nonprofit I am committed to the executive director stated that their umbrella association told them that even during downturns giving remains consistent. I silently shook my head but didn’t get a chance to remind them this isn’t just any downturn. When some of their wealthiest donors lose 50% of their wealth and 18% of overall American wealth disappears, it will affect their giving.
While contemplating on these larger scale issues, I narrowed my thinking to Christendom because I wanted to revisit a number that kept bothering me after reading Al Lunsford’s piece, Business is Our Mission. Al referred to research that indicated a global cost of $347,000 per baptism. What?? I had to do a double take. Of course you cannot put a price on a soul, and no one knows what the Spirit of God is doing or how long that work will take in a person’s life (or how long it has gone on already), but that’s not what this is about. When Nike states their customer acquisition costs are $100 per person against a lifetime customer value of x, are they placing a value on human life? Of course not. They are using financial tools to pursue efficiency and improve their understanding and intelligently utilize resources. And that, we have to assume, is what that $347,000 per baptism number is all about as well.
Read the rest of the article at the Inside Work Website
Labels: Editorials
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The Kingdom Entrepreneur by Jonathan Shibley
Recently the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) put out an article entitled: “Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition”. Their objectives were to define and classify genuine social entrepreneurship.The article was very intriguing and informative. Although written from a non-Biblical worldview context, many of their points had correlation with Kingdom principles.
For instance, social entrepreneurship strives for social change or transformation. Kingdom economics is all about getting the life of Christ integrated into the patterns of this world so that genuine change can occur.
The very essence or meaning of the word “entrepreneur” was termed by Jean-Baptiste Say in the 19th century. It is one who “shifts economic resources from lower to higher productivity or yield”. Sound familiar? How about when Jesus spoke of the parable of the talents in Luke 19. The familiar charge of the Master to “do business until I come” urged resourcefulness, creativity, and productive yield. The Master honored and rewarded those who produced given the opportunity and rebuked the one who gave no genuine effort.
SSIR goes on to tout the innate entrepreneurial quality of “alertness” as one of the chief critical abilities. Interesting that God’s word picks up on this quality. God honors problem solvers and those who see the redemptive opportunities within evil or broken systems and situations. Ephesians 5:15-16 admonishes us to “be careful how we live, being wise to make the most of every opportunity”. 1 Peter 1:13 challenges us to “prepare our minds for action”. Certainly the successful Kingdom entrepreneur lives in this reality of alertly seeking for opportunities to advance God’s work on the earth.
The characteristics of entrepreneurs drive them towards refusing to accept suboptimal status quo, thus creating better solutions that will result in new realities. Paul in Romans 12 urges us not to be conformed to the world’s patterns, but transformed by the renewing of our minds. Kingdom entrepreneurs are seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance to align with Father God and the Son in bringing His purposes to the Earth and breaking the works or patterns of darkness. God’s creative genius finds outlets through His business partners to splash life, hope, restoration and peace into the world that will bring Him glory.
SSIR listed other key characteristics of entrepreneurs such as inspiration, creativity, direct action, courage and fortitude. One could spend days preaching the Godly nature of these characteristics and both Biblical and modern day examples of Christ-followers who portrayed these character traits.
When it came around to defining social entrepreneurship motives of the heart came into play. Regular entrepreneurs typically seek some type of personal profit from their ventures (which is not a bad thing). Social entrepreneurs were defined as those whose motives transcended financial profit to large-scale transformational benefit that impacts lives heightens social impact. The target sector of the social entrepreneur are the largely neglected, disadvantaged or underserved who need someone from the outside to boost them beyond suboptimal realities. In many ways the Kingdom entrepreneur seeks to do the same by displaying the life of the King into all situations. The Kingdom entrepreneur understands that all who are outside of Christ are living in a suboptimal situation which necessitates the importance of bringing as many people out of darkness into the Kingdom of light. In addition, the Kingdom entrepreneur looks for ways to best utilize his talents, giftings and strengths to glorify God. If money can be made in a way that will lift people and generate Kingdom inertia, the Kingdom entrepreneur is attracted to such opportunities.
The ultimate aim of social and Kingdom entrepreneurs is that their influence and activity will set off a chain reaction of positive momentum resulting in social transformation. Many times the entrepreneur is the first to break barriers, causing others to think outside the box and offer similar or better solutions, all the while benefiting from the path paved by the original pioneer. The Kingdom entrepreneur realizes this to be a good thing and that his original contribution although powerful, will be exponentially magnified by others following suite and playing off the original idea or strategy.
I believe God is raising up Kingdom entrepreneurs worldwide who will inject Jesus into suboptimal situations for large scale impact. This will take place in the form of businesses and new strategies that the Church has not seen. Who else is better suited than the Kingdom entrepreneurs to generate massive amounts of trapped capital for Kingdom purposes?
The primary distinction between the social entrepreneur and the Kingdom entrepreneur is this: The end goal for the Kingdom entrepreneur is getting people to Jesus on a large scale so He can transform their lives. While social entrepreneurs do many wonderful things that will improve qualities of life and culture for many, their focus typically is not eternal. The Kingdom entrepreneur seeks to help humanity on many fronts but the primary importance is to help usher people into the Kingdom and the Kingdom of God into society. When the life of Jesus is injected into a person or culture, there is a lifting process which brings dignity, creativity, order, justice, righteousness, peace, and ultimate prosperity.
In short, a Kingdom entrepreneur uses his God-given strengths, talents and abilities to capture opportunities that will both loosen trapped capital and lift people and cultures out darkness or suboptimal reality into God’s Kingdom of light. The Kingdom entrepreneur looks for creative ways to display the majesty of Christ, thus impacting people for His glory. The primary concern is the eternal condition of men’s hearts followed by ways to help solve problems and create solutions for the betterment of man and society.
Thank God for social entrepreneurs. Let’s pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up more Kingdom entrepreneurs who take social entrepreneurship one step further: Advancing the Kingdom of God.
Jonathan Shibley serves as vice president of Global Advance. His primary focus is directing the Marketplace Missions program for equipping business leaders in developing nations. He also is engaged in international business. Before joining Global Advance, he earned a business degree from Baylor University and served with Promise Keepers and Teen Mania. Jonathan and his wife, Sarah, have three children.
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BEYOND PROFIT - When Businesses partner with disadvantaged communities everybody benefits
One of our readers, Lauren found a great article "Beyond Profit" that I thought I'd pass along."People start businesses in order to make money. With profit as the ultimate goal, businesses often compete fiercely, sometimes ruthlessly. They spend millions not only to perfect their product but also to outthink, outdo, and outproduce their competitors, with the ends often believed to justify the means. Thus the oft-quoted “It’s just business,” a phrase used to excuse a multitude of sins.
But can “just business” be turned on its head and redefined to mean business that seeks to be just? Is there a higher, more life-giving purpose for businesses, one that goes beyond profit to challenge the assumptions of our capitalist society and to share opportunities and resources rather than compete for them?
As the stories on the following pages attest, there is indeed a way to conduct business that creates room for compassion, mercy, and justice, a way that serves the poor and underprivileged, gives glory to God, and profits the whole community. These corporate models testify to the possibilities of transformation when Christian businesspeople think beyond profit and commit to the vision of the kingdom of God, where no economic or racial divides exist.
Click here to read a great article from Evangelicals for Social Action
Labels: Editorials, Evangelicals for Social Action, Inner City
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Qutoable: "KGB are not fools. They know what we are doing."
"The KGB here are not fools and they know what we are doing. As long as we are truly creating extra value in what we do, they have left us alone. Thanks for the support."- Business as Mission Entreprenuer in Former Soviet Union
Labels: Integrity, Quotable, Security
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Business as Mission Textbook in the Works
InterVarsity has agreed to publish the book, “Business as Mission: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice” in time for the Urbana conference in December 2009.According to Author Neal Johnson its "almost 500 pages long and hopefully will be a useful textbook for Christian business students and for would-be BAM’rs."
Stay tuned to the Business as Mission Network for more information when it gets closer to its release.
Labels: Books and Articles, Urbana
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Social Entrepreneur Drew Harding of Senai in Ethiopia
Interview by Isaac Klepac of Servant Entrepreneur - I valued enterprise and organizations that produce valuable products before, but my three week trip to Ethiopia change the way I look at business forever. In the United States we talk about how we take things for granted. Is it even possible for us to be conscious of all that we have? Many in our country actually despise business owners. Yes there is greed and many other negative symptoms, but what do we have? Going to another country and seeing needs that we are not used to seeing helps us begin to understand what we lack and what we have. At the same time that there is a great need in Ethiopia there is also a great challenge and a great opportunity. On returning from Ethiopia I began looking for ways to connect back. Through a friend I met Drew Harding the founder of Senai. I was beside myself at how I could connect so quickly with Drew’s vision. I look forward to you having the chance to learn more about the inspiring work of Senai. EntrepreneurThe following is an interview with Drew the founder so Senai
SE What was your favorite thing about growing up in Ethiopia?
DH The people and the language: there isn’t another country I have been to where the people are so radiant and hospitable. They literally will give you their last meal if you come to visit them. In America, we tend to give if we have abundance, rather than giving/sharing as a part of who we are as individuals and families. Being able to connect to the people in their native language of Amharic instantly creates friendships and breaks down any walls of communication. This continues to draw me back to help the people of Ethiopia.
SE Was there anything in particular that set you on the path of building Senai?
DH Seeing the impact of water on the communities in Ethiopia from the time I was 5 years old had a huge impact on why I started Senai. But being able to empower indigenous business, and provide safe water for communities really launched Senai, creating a non-profit that uses Social Enterprise to meet the needs of the poor.
SE Where did the idea for Senai come from?
DH The name came from the Amharic word “Senai” that means “charitable and blessed” It also was one of a few words that could be pronounce in the Western Hemisphere! Senai was birthed out of a passion to empower people through creating and supporting economic engines to lift people out of poverty. I have witnessed many forms of “aid” and empowering people to help themselves always proved to be the most sustainable, thus Senai focuses on being the impetus to creating sustainable economic growth.
SE What kind of people and organizations are you looking to partner with?
DH This is a great question. One of the other reasons for creating Senai, was to not do things on our own, but through partnerships with other businesses and non-profits. We are currently wanting to launch a Micro-Finance division of Senai, so I am looking for people interested in MFI’s and also people to help fund the creation of communities banks in developing countries. I want to engage businessmen and business to partner with Senai to empower indigenous businesses in the developing world, tracking their impact, creating sustainable change.
SE Is there anything that you would want to share with others who are considering starting an organization or social enterprise?
DH Start serving or volunteering where you are at, whether in school, work, or retirement. Then as opportunities come up, connect with existing non-profits that need your expertise and help. If a niche market develops for your own non-profit, go ahead and incorporate, but be ready for a long road of paperwork and fund raising!
Isaac Klepac is a contributor at large to the Business as Mission Network. He's a social entrepreneur and writer behind the blog, Servant Entrepreneur.
Labels: Ethiopia, Isaac Klepac, Servant Entrepreneur Blog
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