Leading beyond our Walls - Dental practice to impacts a community for Christ
328 patients served. Dozens of dentists, hygenists and volunteers and $250,000 of free dental services.
A day of dentistry. A day of poetry. Ephesians 2:10 declares we've not just been saved from our sins (Eph 2:8-9), but we've been saved for signifcant work God has for each of us. Paul writes, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." As one volunteer commented, this was an experience in good works, "As I hustled from room to room, I couldn't help but tear up a few minutes as I felt God's amazing love and grace was truly at work!"
Many Christians don't sense what rhyme or reason worship days have with work days -- nor how their faith interfaces with the rhythms of their day-to-day. On this day the McDonalds and others traded-in an "ordinary" days' worth of their skills, time and pay to make an extraordinary and eternal difference.
Have a story of a businessman or women who is trading in their time, talent and business itself to make a difference? Email me at justin@businessasmissionnetwork.com.
Labels: Trader Stories, Traders
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Why Christians must see Office Space
All of these "spaces" are invaluable places to trade in the pursuit of the American dream to use our passions and skills to reach a world that desperately needs Christ.
But the "Office Space" is particularly important because its the space where people spend most of their time and its the space where the professional church staff has the least direct contact.
Let's assume the average work week is 40 hours. Lets also say the average amount of time a person in the spends on church sponsored ministry activities is around 3 hours a week.That adds up to about 120 hours, compared to the 2,080 hours they'll spend in the "office space" over the next 12 months.
That's means that in one year we'll have almost 20 times as many opportunities for ministry in the office space.
So much untapped potential. We haven't even begun to to scratch the ceiling of how far the Christian movement can go if we start embracing work as an opportunity for worship.
That's means that in one year we'll have almost 20 times as many opportunities for ministry in the office space.
So much untapped potential. We haven't even begun to to scratch the ceiling of how far the Christian movement can go if we start embracing work as an opportunity for worship.
Labels: Office Space, Sacred and Secular Divide
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Colorado Springs Welcoming International Business as Mission Training Course
"Greetings from the International Business As Mission Resource Team. We are just finishing up our 3rd iBAM Course here in Thailand, reports and testimonials to come on this site and our website (www.businessasmission.com). This year we are “Coming to America” and running the iBAM Course in Colorado Springs in June. The format for iBAM USA is different than iBAM Thailand, where we are offering a 2 week iBAM Explore and a 4 week iBAM Standard PLUS an optional field trip to Asia (possible options are China, India & Thailand) at the end of the 4 weeks. The course dates are 13th June to 26th June 2010 for Explore and 13th June to 9th July 2010 for Standard. The field trip will leave on the 9th July for 8-10 days.
The iBAM Explore Course fee is $1200, and iBAM Standard is $2400. Field trip fee TBA. Scholarships are available to those involved in full-time ministry or non-profit work.
Application packs and more information are available from our website at www.businessasmission.com/nextcourse.html, but if you have any questions now we would be happy to answer them. Please write to ibamusa@businessasmission.com.
Labels: Events and Conferences, IBAM, YWAM
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Do we make the most of $70 Billion?
I greatly
admire how both organizations are extremely intentional on telling us where they
spend each dollar. Their “scoreboard” typically says that as much as 81 cents
of every dollar that is given goes towards the ministry programs. That means as
little as 19% is spent on overhead and salaries to get the funds where they are
intended to go. Now I realize that number may be a little inflated. That administration may only refer to the administration of the home office and not all the on field administration. That number may only be 50%, I'm not close enough to all the details to pretend to know and that's not my point.
Sometimes I
wonder what would happen if we had that accountability to publish where we
spend our resources in our local churches here in the US?
I think it’s
healthy that we communicate how much we take in each month and how much we
spend in expenses. But in a world of increasing transparency and donors wanting
to make the most of every dollar, is it time for us to take it even further?
Last year it’s
estimated that local churches in the United States received nearly 70 Billion dollars in giving. As much
as we have the potential to give even more, that’s a staggering number.
Would some
of us be shocked to learn that sometimes we spend 70-80% of that to cover
infrastructure, staff salaries and building? Once it became more known, how
would it change us? Would we rely upon volunteer leaders even more?
Labels: Giving
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Videre Microfinance in Dallas, Texas is Hiring Several Positions
Dallas Operations Manager
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 The Dallas Operations Manager is in charge of executing all day-to-day activities in the U.S. to continue the growth of Videre.This position is absolutely critical for Videre's second year of growth as a new organization and will provide first-hand training in running a start-up nonprofit. Specific roles include, but are not limited to, Donor Cultivation, Record-keeping, Basic Marketing, Network Building and Logistics Management. There will also be opportunities for overseas travel to get first-hand economic development experience on the field. For full job description, please click here. |
East Africa Regional Director
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 The East Africa Regional Director will oversee the region in Africa that includes Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and other East African countries. The Director will be stationed in Kampala, Uganda, and will be running operations and building strategic partnerships in the region. This position 1) brings Videre closer to the people it serves in Sudan, allowing more effective operations, and 2) moves Videre towards an international expansion strategy through new operation sites, church partnerships, and an international donor base. The goal of this director position is to cultivate and disciple nationals to take over the position in a 2-5 year period. Videre will also be looking for an assistant director in this region. For full job description, please click here. |
East/Southeast Asia Regional Director
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 Videre is looking to expand its microfinance and business training program into Asia. Videre is looking to position a regional director in Asia to scout out new microfinance site opportunities, build church relationships, and train and disciple local entrepreneurs. The job description for Asia Regional Director would be similar to the position for East Africa Regional Director. If you have an interest in economic development in Asia, please contact Iris Liang |
Internship Opportunities
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Videre has 10-12 week (or longer) internship opportunities for those who are interested in business as missions and economic development. Videre is looking for interns to start as soon as possible. Summer 2010 internships are also available. Dallas Operations Intern Marketing and Communications Intern Internships are not limited to the above. Please contact Iris Liang if you are interested in interning with Videre. |
Labels: Microfinance, Recruitment and Job Opportunities
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I had a discussion tonight with a banker, lawyer, retail manager, and hair stylist about the meaning of work
JR Vassar is the Pastor of Apostles Church, in the heart of New York City. He's speaking at the RightNow Conference in Dallas, Nov 11-12th. Its refreshing to hear a pastor located in the country's business capital tackle the Biblical basis for business and ministry. Here's an excerpt, or click here to read the full thing.
"Tonight, I had dinner with some men at Apostles (a banker, a lawyer, a retail manager, and a hair stylist) really struggling through questions about God's perspective on their careers. It was a great conversation and it reminded me of some things we talked about recently at Apostles while I was preaching through Ephesians. God is redeeming all of created life – even our work lives. The opening chapters of Genesis reveal that work is good, an expression of the image of God in us, but deeply affected by the fall so many things go wrong in it and it becomes a source of suffering and conflict. Some things to think about.
Your identity is not to be in any position, but in a Person. In Ephesians 6, Paul tells slaves they belong to Jesus. They are his, bought with a price, his prized possession called now to ultimately serve his purpose. We are not to primarily see ourselves in light of what we do before people, but in light of how we are loved by God.
Work is Worship. Your work is to be done to the Lord. This means that while we are doing work we will be thinking of the Lord and doing our work mindful of him. Christianity creates no division of secular and sacred and every vocational domain has value. Every task we undertake, paid or not paid, is to be done to the Lord – your job, or if you are building something, cooking a meal, changing a diaper, sweeping the floor – is all done to the Lord, for his pleasure and in his presence, giving thanks for his provision. Your work is sacred. Dorothy Sayers said it like this, “Let the Church remember this: that every maker and worker is called to serve God in his profession or trade—not outside it. The Apostles complained rightly when they said it was not meet they should leave the word of God and serve tables; their vocation was to preach the word. But the person whose vocation it is to prepare the meals beautifully might with equal justice protest: It is not meet for us to leave the service of our tables to preach the word.”
Since work is worship, your work needs to be Good Work. Again, Sayers is helpful, “We should ask of an enterprise, not ‘will it pay?’ but ‘is it good?’” Good work has an upward, outward and inward dimension to it. Upward in that it is done for God’s honor. He would want this done and delights in the quality of my work and the attitude in which I performed the work. Some work is unethical and unjust. It can’t be done as worship and should be abandoned. Outward in that it benefits others. It does not oppress or deceive or deprive others. It is not unjust nor involve cruel practices. It brings about the good of others. And the rewards of your labor can be used to benefit others. Inward in that it gives you joy. Do you enjoy it? See the value of it? There are many who feel that what they are doing has appallingly little value. To truly enjoy your work means you see the importance in it (even if only to earn money to provide for your family and leverage for the good of others. Future shaping generosity can give new joy to your labor). Being a mercenary who only works for the money is not a very fulfilling way to live... Click here to read the full article on JR's site
Labels: JR Vassar, Pastor, Sacred and Secular Divide
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Business as Mission Company looking for US Business Development Manager to lead eBook Division
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Job Description
Business Development Manager eBook Conversion Services Olive Technology, Inc.
Reports to: Managing Director – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Location: Any major air transportation hub in the USA
Contact: Send resume in PDF format to hr@olivetech.com with subject as “eBook BDM”
Job Objective: Responsible for the development and performance of all marketing activities in eBook Conversion Services. Provide leadership towards the achievement of maximum profitability and growth in line with company vision and values in the eBook conversion services offering. Establishes plans and strategies to acquire a customer base in the eBook Conversion Services area and contributes to the development of training programs for prospects, clients, channel partners and sales agents.
Responsibilities:
Develops a business plan and sales strategy for eBook Conversion Services to ensure attainment of company sales goals, targets and profitability.
Responsible for the performance and development of channel partners and sales agents.
Prepares action plan for effective search of sales leads and prospects.
Assists in the development and implementation of marketing plans as needed.
Provides timely feedback to senior management regarding performance.
Creates and conducts proposal presentations and RFP responses.
Provides timely, accurate, competitive proposals to prospects.
Maintains accurate records of all pricings, sales, and activity reports.
Assists channel partners and sales agents in preparation of proposals and presentations.
Willingness to learn the eBook conversion process and engage in continual process improvement.
Engaging with offshore teams in coordinating project initiation and managing client relationships.
Controls expenses to meet budget guidelines.
Adheres to all company policies, procedures and business ethics codes.
Demonstrates ability to interact and cooperate with all company employees
Job Specifications:
5-7 years of experience in book publishing industry, preferably in sales.
Must have strong contacts and relationships in the book publishing industry.
Experience in all aspects of Customer Relationship Management.
Strong understanding of customer and market dynamics and requirements.
Willingness to travel and work in a global team of professionals.
Proven leadership and ability to drive sales.
Have the capacity to work from a home office or willingness to work at the company offices in Colorado Springs, CO.
Labels: Olive Technology, Virginia Thomas
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