Undercover Boss Features Story of David Kim of Baja Fresh - CEO and Christian
Labels: Baja Fresh, David Kim, Video and Media
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God Means Business!
Guest Post by Bob Kulhman - If there ever were a phrase that has a double meaning, this title is it! If you’re a believer, you know that God doesn’t mess around. He means business. His justice is real. His judgment is real. So is the care and compassion and love he has for us. On the other hand, for those involved in the Business as Missions movement, the idea that “God means business,” captures our conviction. For us, following God means business—what we do, day in and day out. It means we see our work—the commute to the office, the break at the water cooler, the copy room, the planning meeting in the board room—we see all of this as part of a place that God has called us to, a place where we minister and make a difference for him. God means business!
Not long ago I spoke at Wheaton College, a Christian school in the Chicago area, along with Mats Tunehag, a businessman and missionary from Sweden. Mats (pronounced “Motts”) and I outlined the vision and strategy for \Business as Missions (BAM). We talked about its scriptural bases and history, and offered advice from our own personal experiences on how this cutting edge strategy could be used by the next generation of missionaries to reach places where the Gospel has never gone before, especially some of those countries we think of as “closed” to mission work.
I was gratified to see the students “get it” as we talked about the biblical alignment of BAM and evangelism. It’s really nothing more than living out your life as a believer in front of non-Christians, making such a compelling impression on them through your honesty and excellence in the business arena, that they naturally inquire what makes you “different” from others. Let me share with you the principles we challenged these students with about BAM:
BAM is rooted in Scripture and history
God is the original entrepreneur. Ever since creation, God’s people have been using business as missions for His glory. In Eden, the Lord instructed Adam and Eve to “till the garden;” Abraham was a successful businessman; the honorable woman in Proverbs 31 was a businesswoman; even Jesus worked in a family business for many years. God has given us minds and creativity to reflect His own. He has given us countless examples of people serving in business with a holy purpose and passion.
BAM is being a follower of Jesus
Jesus, our perfect teacher and model, has commanded that we focus our energy on serving those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and in prison. Just look at Matthew 25. Unemployment—and underemployment—is a major cause of this litany of human suffering around the world. Helping the struggling start businesses makes serving poor in the name of Christ real. Needs are met and people get back on their feet. It allows us to live out our faith in Jesus and serve as his hands and feet to those in need. Entrepreneurs have a special opportunity to serve in the marketplace, and do business “as unto the Lord.”
BAM is a relevant response to human needs
The poorest regions of the world have unemployment rates of 30 to 80 percent. Among other problems, high unemployment leads to an increase in human trafficking and prostitution. As horrific as they may be, Christians cannot turn a blind eye to these unspeakable evils in our day. Both those who traffic and those who are victims in this evil circle of human misery need better alternatives. Businesses are desperately needed to improve the economy, provide jobs, and ultimately to find long-term, effective solutions to such devastating social problems. Ultimately, many in the poorest areas have great spiritual needs as well. They’ve never even heard the name of Jesus before! Using Business as Missions is an extraordinary way to demonstrate the love of God among the lost and afflicted. People are suffering and we have been given the resources to reach out and change their lives—for now and for eternity!
You may think that BAM is simply a business activity or a job creation scheme. But in fact, Business as Missions is about creating stable and profitable businesses while passionately building the Kingdom of God and seeing the spiritual transformation of people and society. The economic and social changes are byproducts that also bring glory to God!
BAM has an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God
We pray that more and more people will effectively use business as mission we will bring hope where there is despair, compassion where there is cruelty, and love where there is hate. As we provide jobs and business opportunities, our desire is to see lives change for the better. With God’s love and compassion and by His command, we are reaching out to those less fortunate. One day, the King will say, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Bob Kuhlman, formerly an investment banker in Chicago, serves as president of Integra Ventures, a business as mission ministry focusing on Central and Eastern Europe. Integra’s mission is to impact society, change communities, and touch lives with the Gospel through business development. Bob lives in the western suburbs of Chicago. Learn more about Integra at www.IntegraUSA.org.
Labels: Bob Kuhlman, Integra Ventures
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Pastor Steve Stroope in Dallas - Your Work Matters to God
I've had the chance to hear Steve teach several times and this weekend I enjoyed listening to his series on work.
Steve brought such clarity to the meaning of work. I loved this quote, "The curse was about the weeds in the garden, not work. No matter what job you have in this fallen world, there will be weeds."
It's packed full of good stuff, check out the video podcast when you get a chance.
Labels: Audio, Steve Sroope, Video and Media
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Redefining Radical. What ever happened to a theology of calling and vocation?
Here's a few excerpts ...
"Here’s the problem--when we call people to radical Christian activism, we tend to define what qualifies as “radical” very narrowly. Radical is moving overseas to rescue orphans. Radical is not being an attorney for the EPA. Radical is leaving your medical practice to vaccinate refugees in Sudan. Radical is not taking care of young children at home in the suburbs. Radical is planting a church in Detroit. Radical is not working on an assembly line."
"What we communicate, either explicitly or implicitly, by this call to radical activism is that experiencing the fullness of the Christian life depends upon one’s circumstances and actions. Sure, the man working on an assembly line for 50 years can be a faithful Christian, but he’s not going to experience the same sense of fulfillment and significance as the one who does something extreme--who cashes in his 401k and relocates to Madagascar to rescue slaves. What I had neglected for too long, and what I feel is absent in many parts of the church today, is Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7. The believers in Corinth wanted to know what kind of life most honored God; what conditions and circumstances made a Christian life significant. Was it best to be married or unmarried? Circumcised or uncircumcised? Paul’s answer, which he calls his “rule in all the churches” and repeats three times, is for everyone to remain where they are “with God” (1 Cor. 7:24). That’s a message we don’t hear often at missions (or missional) conferences."
"Paul wanted to draw the Corinthians’ attention away from their circumstances and emphasize that the full Christian life could be lived anywhere by anyone if lived in deep communion with God. Do we really believe that? Really? Os Guinness reminds us that, “First and foremost we are called to Someone, not to something or to somewhere.” We should remember that the word radical is from Latin meaning “root.” If our lives are rooted in a continual communion with God, then every person’s life, no matter how mundane, is elevated to sacred heights--including a suburban mom’s, the office worker’s, and the EPA attorney’s. And it’s not just radical when they behave like a missionary or social activist in their free time. Even working the assembly line becomes a holy activity when done “with God.”
... In ages past this meant the butcher’s calling was respected as a work given, ordained, and blessed by God for the benefit of others and fluorishing of the whole community. And, if God called the butcher to hang up his cleaver to be a pastor or missionary, he would obey. But one vocation was no more radical or holy than another. This was a significant corrective to the Roman Catholic hierarchy at the time that exalted clergy and demeaned the laity. But in some ways we have returned to a hierarchical view by labeling certain activities and circumstances “radical” and others “ordinary.” (This is no doubt the result of a very narrow eschatology that believes nothing in this world will endure, and therefore only rescuing souls off this sinking ship really matters. But that’s a discussion for another day.)"
Labels: Christianity Today, Skye Jethani
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Os Hillman and other Business and Ministry Leaders coming to Columbus
Guest Post from Patrick McBane at Marketplace Solutions-
Are you a leader in your workplace, business, church or ministry?
Are You Influencing and Impacting Your World for Jesus Christ?
Is Your Life being purposed by God to bring Hope and Healing to your sphere of influence?
Now is the TIME for Equipped – Envisioned – and Focused followers of Christ to become Change Agents in their workplace and spheres of cultural influence.
Join us May 12 – 14, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio for the – As One Columbus Transformation Conference
Labels: Events and Conferences
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