Cards from Africa Business as Mission Company on NBC's Today Show
Other press comments listed on the Cards from Africa Site
"Each of the cardmakers have lost both parents and support at least one younger sibling. Working for Cards from Africa gives these young adults an opportunity to provide food, shelter, health care, and education for their siblings."
-- TODAY Show Holiday Guide, Top Gifts That Give Back
-- TODAY Show Holiday Guide, Top Gifts That Give Back
"Cards that Give Back. Encourage peace on Earth with recycled-paper cards made in Rwanda by young people orphaned by AIDS or genocide."
-- O Magazine
-- O Magazine
"Most of us won't ever travel to Rwanda or have a chance to assist directly in its reconciliation process. But we can support organizations that do ... The cards are beautiful with lots of detail."
-- World Magazine
-- World Magazine
Click here to read the full list on the Cards from Africa website (http://cardsfromafrica.com/press_mentions.php)
Labels: Cards from Africa, Chris Page, Video and Media
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Partners WorldWide Creates 1,141 New Jobs in 2009
By Doug Seebeck of Partners Worldwide - For businesspeople in our Partners Worldwide network, following a call to serve God is not limited to preaching in a pulpit:"A businessman can minister in his own business," says Timothy, one of our Ugandan partners. "In all things we can make our work our calling and serve the Lord."
I agree with Timothy. Partners Worldwide has seen profound transformation as Christian businesspeople all over the world live our their ministry through their business. Last year our 46 partner affiliates in 20 countries created 1,141 new jobs and helped member businesses and farms retain 22,016 jobs that are supporting families and transforming lives! We are grateful for the support of friends like you who make possible the work of Partners Worldwide.
Labels: Doug Seebeck, Partners Worldwide, Video and Media
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Business as Missions: your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
By Allan Lunsford at Insidework.net - Type in the Google search “business as missions.” You’ll find lots there, reflecting an increasing tempo of conversation aboutmarketplace ministry…enough to suggest it could be the Next Big Thing, as far as many Christian communities are concerned.
I appreciate the sentiment . . . sort of. What concerns me is wondering whether the conversation is informed by the biblical text—whether people are re-framing their understanding of business in a biblical worldview or simply putting a new coat of paint on the old structure called “missions”— because I don’t think the old structure is transferable. I think it’s an example of the “new wineskin/old wineskin” thing Jesus talked about:
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. — Mark 2:21-22
I’m afraid of a bait and switch. In my twenties, the prevailing attitude in the campus ministry group I was around was “As a Christian you should be a missionary. So while you are at college, missions are what you should be about . . . reaching people for Christ and discipling them. If you happen to get a degree while you’re here that would be nice . . . but you are basically here to do ministry.” Lately I’m beginning to hear statements that sound similar . . . “The marketplace is the mission field. You go to work to lead people to Christ and disciple them. You are a “priest” and that should be the focus of your foundation at work.” Read the full article here.
Labels: Allan Lunsford, InsideWork.net
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Business as Mission Company in Grand Rapids Looking for Part Time Marketing Coordinator
EC Group International is a Grand Rapids company that believes in using its international business operations to glorify Christ. We are seeking a high-energy person(s) who can assist us in coordinating our marketing message across our group of companies. This is a part time position and would be hands on in developing web content, marketing materials and coordinating marketing strategies which include sales initiatives.
Current company operations include software development, medical transcription, medical transcription training, art glass products, sales assessments with coaching and networking of business-as-mission companies. The company has operation in the US, India and China. Websites include: www.ecgroup-intl.com ; www.ecgroup.in ; www.truthininglass.com ; www.psymetricsglobal.com ; www.saleskeysolutions.com ; www.globalceonetwork.org . The position is located in Comstock Park not far from the 5/3 Ball Park.
Interested parties should submit resumes and letter of interest to Lynda Sudyk at lsudyk@ecgroup-intl.com.
Labels: EC Group, Recruitment and Job Opportunities
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Navigating Tax Code Important for Business as Mission Companies
By Tom Sudyk of EC Group - The US Internal Revenue Service has increased it interest in foreign corporations owned or controlled by US citizens. The IRS 5471 has been part of the US Tax code for years but last year the IRS stepped up enforcement of the substantial penalties for failing to file the form which range from $10,000 to $50,000+. Now if you file late you automatically get a $10,000 penalty for each foreign corporation.
The 5471 filing requirement includes US citizens, partnerships or corporations with ownership of more than 10% ownership of a foreign corporation or those who exercise control over a foreign corporation (for as little as a 30 day period). It is important to note that the IRS definition of ownership includes “constructive” ownership or control meaning if you have used one corporation to own another or actually can control a corporation even if you do not “own” it you may be responsible to file or face the consequences. As a 5471 filer I strongly recommend talking with your tax advisor and reviewing the IRS instructions on the 5471 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i5471.pdf.
Labels: EC Group, Taxes, Tom Sudyk
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India's changes in Visa Laws Impacting Business as Mission Companies
By Tom Sudyk - EC Group International is becoming increasingly aware that India is tightening its visa policies. Last month an associate of ours was turn back at the boarder with a valid tourist visa. Now the government is announcing that those in India on long-term tourist visas will be required to be out of the country for two months prior to reentry.The U.S. Mission in India wishes to inform U.S. citizens traveling to India that the Government of India is reviewing its regulations pertaining to the entry of American citizens holding long-term Indian tourist visas. To date, these new regulations are not finalized and are being implemented inconsistently. The U.S. Embassy and consulates throughout India have received conflicting information regarding the new rules, but it is clear that the rules will only affect those who wish to enter India on a tourist visa within two months of their last departure from India. Tourists traveling to or departing from India are urged to review travel plans in light of these changing procedures and to contact the nearest Indian High Commission or Foreign Registration Office to ensure they have the most current information.
December 9, 2009 American Citizens Services Unit, U.S. Consulate General, 78, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026, India
This creates a significant problem for missionaries who are living in India on tourist visas and are maintaining residency by brief boarder crossing trips.
Our research indicates that this tightening of policy may stem from the recent arrest of David Headley, a US Citizen, now implicated in the Mumbai terrorist attack last year. David traveled extensively to India on a tourist visa scouting for the attack. Born Daood Gilani in Washington, D.C., in 1960 to a Pakistani father and an American mother he lives with his wife and children in Chicago. He changed his name to David Headley (Headley being his mother's maiden name) in 2005. Authorities say the change was made to ease travel and make him seem more American. He did not use his true fathers name on his Indian visa application, which would have identified him as the son of a former Pakistani diplomat. Headley claimed to have been employed by First World Immigration Services, a company owned by Pakistan-born Canadian citizen Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Rana was arrested on conspiracy charges.
The Indian government has also announced that there will be more scrutiny of business visa applications and that this will cause delays in processing visa requests. Given the employment claims of Headley it can be expected that Indian law enforcement authorities will be investigating those already holding business visas to determine if the businesses are legitimate enterprises and not terrorist fronts. Such scrutiny may place missionaries using business visas in the crosshairs of anti terrorism investigations.
Those conducting legitimate commercial business activities in India should not be affected although delays may be experienced in processing new business visa application.
Enforcement so far has been at exit from India with passports being stamped with a reentry requirement or at immigration though denial of entry. If you are denied entry and have a valid visa the airlines are required to return you to point of origin. I will keep you informed of new information as it develops.
Labels: EC Group, India, Tom Sudyk
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John Mackey's Whole Foods Vision to Reshape Capitalism
Few weeks ago we highlighted some fascinating quotes from John Mackey, CEO of the 8 Billion Dollar Retailer Whole Foods. Fast Company just published another article online. A fascinating take on his idea of what he calls "Conscious Capitalism"... Be sure to click on the link below and read the full article.Just to be clear, John Mackey isn't Moses. "It's not like you go up to the mountaintop and God talks to you: Here is your purpose -- execute," he says.
"It is something you discover and also create." Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, is riffing on the gospel of what he calls Conscious Capitalism. It has been a brutal couple of months for Mackey, who simultaneously became both the punching bag of the progressives and the poster boy of the right wing late last summer, after writing an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that railed against a government health-care option. Liberal Whole Foods customers organized nationwide boycotts, while self-described "radical conservative" Tea Party types rallied around Mackey, calling for Whole Foods "buycotts." Now, sitting in a soulless beige conference room in Whole Foods' Austin headquarters, with Mount Bonnell looming beyond the window and two protective publicists at his side, Mackey finally starts to relax.
"You see, Conscious Capitalism is a fairly new idea, but it's going to have a huge impact," he begins, describing the philosophy he developed as he built his tiny natural-foods store into an $8 billion retail beast. "I do believe it will become the dominant paradigm of business in the 21st century." Conscious Capitalism, Mackey insists, moves corporations to refocus on purpose instead of profit. In theory, it underscores the importance of all of a company's interdependent "stakeholders": employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, community, and the environment. When all of those constituencies' interests are factored into the company's decisions and aligned, his thinking goes, all -- including, not incidentally, the bottom line -- will flourish. Read the full article on the Fast Company Website.
"It is something you discover and also create." Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, is riffing on the gospel of what he calls Conscious Capitalism. It has been a brutal couple of months for Mackey, who simultaneously became both the punching bag of the progressives and the poster boy of the right wing late last summer, after writing an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that railed against a government health-care option. Liberal Whole Foods customers organized nationwide boycotts, while self-described "radical conservative" Tea Party types rallied around Mackey, calling for Whole Foods "buycotts." Now, sitting in a soulless beige conference room in Whole Foods' Austin headquarters, with Mount Bonnell looming beyond the window and two protective publicists at his side, Mackey finally starts to relax.
"You see, Conscious Capitalism is a fairly new idea, but it's going to have a huge impact," he begins, describing the philosophy he developed as he built his tiny natural-foods store into an $8 billion retail beast. "I do believe it will become the dominant paradigm of business in the 21st century." Conscious Capitalism, Mackey insists, moves corporations to refocus on purpose instead of profit. In theory, it underscores the importance of all of a company's interdependent "stakeholders": employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, community, and the environment. When all of those constituencies' interests are factored into the company's decisions and aligned, his thinking goes, all -- including, not incidentally, the bottom line -- will flourish. Read the full article on the Fast Company Website.
Labels: Fast Company, John Mackey, Whole Foods
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I need your help finding Superman
There's no other way to say it. I need your help finding Superman.My generation has grown up without "heros" they can look up to. When someone talks about trading in their pursuit of climbing the corporate ladder to use their time, talent and businesses themselves as ministry, they have few examples to follow.
But there's heros all around. We've highlighted some of them like Red Dot, Olive Technology, EC Group, Mexia and others. But we must keep going.
You or your friends might not be looking for recognition. I admire that. But we need to tell the story so young entrepreneurs in my generation will be inspired to get involved.
Maybe you've got a great story to tell but can't due to the sensitivity of where you're located. We'd be happy to keep it anonymous or talk about it in a bigger picture to be respectful of you and anyone in your community.
So here's how you can help. Click here to email me a brief synopsis of the story or the business. Please be sure to include your name and contact information. Also include the contacts of the business leaders if your sharing about a friend.
Please email these before the start of the new year so we can spend some time in the new year, highlighting them. Thanks for all your help!
Labels: Case Studies, Heros
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God is at Work by Ken Eldred: Still Defining a Movement
Every significant movement can point to a book, paper, article or series of all of the above that communicates in one clear voice the vision of a movement.3 years after we first published this post, God is at Work by Ken Eldred continues to defines and gives examples for the movement of Business as Mission with clear cut precision. Sharing from personal experience with two companies and acclaimed success Ken forecasts a movement of the Church and the Christian community to Business as Mission with speed similar to that of the response to the California gold rush.
Taking what appears to be some content from a previous book that he c0-authored called On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies the book establishes maybe one of the most widely recognized baseline definitions for business as mission.
The last chapters of the book clearly outline the key forms of business as mission and the role that each play. Everything from micro enterprise development to overseas privately owned companies. One of the things that is most insightful about the book are the specific case studies of people that are living out the concepts in countries around the world. It is refreshing to see a book that it so intent on highlighting specific next steps rather than living in a world of theory.
Of all the books that are exist on business as mission this has been the one brought up most frequently at events or meetings with business and mission agency leadership teams. It is also the book that I received the most email replies about when nominating business as mission catalysts to watch back in 2007.
It's a great read, and I encourage you to visit the website to take a look. You can purchase a copy of the book and read exerts by clicking on this link: http://www.godisatwork.org/.
Labels: 22 Business as Mission Catalysts to Watch in 2007, Books and Articles
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