Jesus famously summarized the law and prophets by citing the two greatest commandments, to love God and to love neighbor. To illustrate what it meant to love one’s neighbor he told the parable of the Good Samaritan, the beautiful story of a traveler who, in contrast to a priest and a Levite, cared for an injured robbing victim by carrying him to a hotel, nursing his wounds, and covering his expenses.

Living overseas as the Internet took hold around the world, we became acutely aware of the growing trend toward global interconnectedness, commonly referred to as globalization. The economy is the fuel, the engine, the steering wheel, the accelerator, and the driver of globalization. The economy of globalization has advanced technology, generated wealth, and created a more interdependent world. But in its haste, the global economy has also bypassed many impoverished, abused victims who lay helpless on the roadside. My wife and I began thinking and praying about how the Church could be the Good Samaritan in the age of globalization. We came to realize that any truly effective approach would have to seriously address the long-term nature of need and the dependency problem as well as engage the processes of the global economy. As an undergraduate student I studied International Business at Auburn University. When I sensed God calling me into international missions, neither I nor anyone else I knew acknowledged that business might have something to do with missions.

After several years of working in ministry and living overseas, I have realized that the two must go together. To engage these issues more systematically, I enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Intercultural Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Through this process I have grown increasingly fond of microfinance, an innovative development intervention with the potential to do everything I was looking to accomplish:

1) provide more permanent solutions to poverty, not temporary hand-outs

2) empower individuals within their local contexts, not create dependency

3) significantly engage the economy

Microfinance has gained global notoriety since Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Few people are aware, however, of how the church has used, is using and could enhance its use of microfinance as a powerful tool to be the Good Samaritan in the age of globalization. We will discuss these important issues in upcoming articles on this blog.

Mark L. Russell (mark@markrussell.org) is Director of Spiritual Integration at HOPE International, a network of 13 Christ-centered Microenterprise Development organizations (www.hopeinternational.org). He has a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Auburn University. His doctoral dissertation focused on Business as Mission (BAM). He has lived and worked in Russia, Chile and Germany and has traveled extensively in over 60 countries on a variety of business, educational, humanitarian and religious projects. Mark lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Laurie, and their children, Noah and Anastasia.

Labels: Editorials, Hope International, Mark Russell, Microfinance

Continue reading 'The Church and Microfinance, Guest Blog by Mark Russell'

Business as Mission Survey 2007: Taking the Pulse of the Movement represents the first annual report on the state of the global Business as Mission movement. While there is some information available on Business as Mission, very few, if any, research surveys have focused on measuring the extent or impact of the movement.

This foundational study was designed to find answers to some key questions related specifically to the perspectives and practices of Business as Mission around the world. When Business as Mission practitioners began integrating a traditional business worldview with a traditional mission worldview many years ago, they were faced with a number of fundamental issues and challenges. The current study shows how the BAM movement has addressed challenges and identifies new areas that merit further research. Created by EC Institute and based on responses from nearly 500 practitioners, educators, and supporters of Business as Mission, the study addresses the following key issues:

• Who makes up the Business as Mission community?
• How does Business as Mission create kingdom impact?
• How have BAM practitioners integrated their business and spiritual backgrounds?
• How can the church support the Business as Mission movement?

Visit www.ecgroup-intl.com/consulting/publications/bam-survey/2007_report to learn more.

With the BAM Survey 2007 report, you will learn how the Business as Mission movement is changing as it moves into its next stage of growth, including:

• The profile of who is leading the Business as Mission movement.
• Critical factors that have influenced the integration of business with missions.
• The distinctive differences between elements of company structure and management philosophy that enhance missional purpose.
• Performance measurement practices, including how BAM companies define effectiveness and manage resources.
• Capitalization strategies companies, non-profit leaders and academics endorse, including analysis of the implications of different strategies.
• Discussion of how spiritual activities are integrated into the business context.

We are please to offer two ways to access the report:

• Electronic copy of entire report – available for instant download. Price: $149.99
• Twenty five (25) part series – available online in bi-weekly installments. Price: free

We offer quantity discounts and special pricing for non-profit and academic institutions.

To order your copy:Visit www.ecgroup-intl.com/consulting/publications/bam-survey/2007_report. Follow the links to either Download Instantly or Subscribe to Series.

Follow the links to either Download Instantly or Subscribe to Series. I encourage you to take the deeper dive into understanding Business as Mission by getting your own copy of BAM Survey 2007 – Taking the Pulse of the Movement today.

Blessings!

Kevin Ring
VP Consulting Services,
EC Group International

Labels: EC Group, Editorials, Global CEO Network, Kevin Ring, Surveys, Tom Sudyk

Continue reading 'EC Group International Announces Business as Mission Survey 2007 – Taking the Pulse of the Movement'

Have you ever wondered why they call it the Dead Sea?

I think most of us understand that our main commission from God is to be a light to an unsaved world and do so in a way so as to glorify Him. If we truly understand this then why do so many of us cloister ourselves away from the unsaved of the earth?

We seem fixated on the notion that the adage of iron sharpening iron is all that is required in order to progress spiritually. By only seeking a form of accountability that is comfortable and formulaic we do a tremendous disservice to our own walks and to those that need to see us in that process. We need to walk out the process of spiritual maturity on our knees as well as in the public square. Not so our deeds can be seen or so we are elevated but so that Jesus Christ can be acknowledged as the author of the process and other may see Gods’ hand at work. This is seldom the chosen path for most and instead they cluster with only those that are also saved and called to be salty.

Why? Why do we allow the salt content in our lives to get to toxic levels? It might be enjoyable for us to exist in redeemed exclusion but it is not an environment that allows for life to thrive in us personally or His bride as a whole. Many of us seem bent on holing ourselves up within the confines of our church, our homes, our friends and our activities without so much as a wisp of involvement with those that don’t understand the Good News of Jesus Christ.

There is no question that the act of fellowship and accountability should be vital pursuits in any Christian walk but if one’s life is a 24/7 heathen sabbatical, I think we have missed the boat. It’s kind of hard to season anything if you stay in the shaker with all the other grains and never really hit the t-bone. Given our nature and desire to enjoy the path of least resistance, it is easy to justify a life lived only among those of like mind and convictions. As easy and enjoyable as it is, it is profoundly wrong. Salt is meant to mingle and blend in order to accent and make things more delicious. Instead of accenting and mingling with the unsaved, we run back to our Morton Tabernacle and breathe a collective sigh of relief. Far too often that process results in a Dead Sea environment. The salt no longer has a seasoning quality but is concentrated to the point of it being uninhabitable. The environment becomes poisonous not because the people are poison, but because we are not using our life as instructed.

I am also not saying that fellowship is an atmosphere that is harmful. Oh contraire! It is a needed element for believers as we hold one another accountable and encourage one another to press on. I am taking about the extremes. If we allow ourselves to become utterly immersed in nothing but fellowship we may develop a life of well intentioned but counterproductive isolationism.

Isolationism can lead to the creation of our own language or inside lingo that nobody else can relate to. It can also foster an environment that lends itself to being overly critical of others that are outside of our group. A critical heart is a heart that is no more than an eyelash away from a self-righteous, callous heart. We will have all of eternity to be with those that call Jesus Lord. Our time now is to be spent spreading the good news of Christ and not completely insulating ourselves from the glare of the nonbeliever. The Great Commission can only be engaged during the act of living alongside and serving those who don’t yet know God. Then, and only then, is your salty character of eternal, kingdom expanding value.

Don’t allow your life to be lived in an environment that is so salty it becomes toxic to anyone unfortunate enough to stray into its waters. Dead Sea headquarters will always have a functional population of zero. There may be bodies present but they will not be life sustaining or life giving. We should not allow ourselves to pile up like the salt on the floor of the Dead Sea. A big ole salty pig pile on the sanctuary carpet might be fun but it won’t draw people to Jesus. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not a healthy habitat for Christians to live in either. The body of Christ is most functional when those seeking Christ, those new in Christ and those mature in Christ interact together in a common cause. The possibilities for growth, discovery, mentoring and service are endless. This type of an environment only happens when the flavor of our salvation is used as intended. Go on, take a chance, let your hair down, roll up your sleeves and venture out into the land of bland. The world will be a tastier place and your faith will be confirmed and energized.

A Prayer:

Lord, I wish for a purposeful and ordered walk in the service of you. At times my witness feels random and scattered to say the least. Bring into my life those people with whom I might share you with and those that will see you by virtue of Your hand in my life. Help me to see my life as a needed ingredient for an unsaved world. I do not wish to view those that do not know you as a source of potential conflict. Rather, cause me to see beyond the bravado of self to the obvious cry for assurance in those that do not call You Lord. I know what so many don’t and I wish for that understanding to drive me to move out of my comfort zone. I wish to season, I wish to accent and enhance. Use my life to draw others to You and keep me from seeking a life of refuge among only those of like mind.

Labels: Editorials, Ron DeMiglio

Continue reading 'An Affinity For Salinity - Ron DeMiglio'

If God paid the highest price that could be paid to provide for the salvation of His children, how does, or should, that fact interdict the way we view and operate the businesses that we manage for Him? If it’s His property how do we use it in alignment with His ultimate ourpose, recociliation with His children?

I see it this way. The business brings us into contact with countless people who will never likely darken the door of a church. (Estimates vary between 70-75% of Americans are unchurched) Every time we have contact with the customer, employee, competitor, or supplier who make up the daily relational interaction of business, we have the opportunity to give them an impression about God. This happens as a result of how we interact with them in the various roles that we play with one another as we “do business.” We have the same opportunity as we relate to them as neighbors, relatives, friends, or others that we rub shoulders with simply by living in the world.

By what we say and what we do (both/and) we give them an impression. If that impression is positive it earns us credibility with them. Over time the relationships that we have with them may earn us the right to discuss our values with them. If we are Christians, our ultimate value is our relationship with God in Christ and we will have the opportunity to express that with them in countless ways.

Last night Bonnie and I had dinner in the home of a friend that is an atheist. I have been playing golf with him and sharing life with him for over 10 years. Last night he invited me to say grace before our meal. That would never have happened 10 years ago. I have had some very direct discussions and even arguements with him over the years. Once we even got so upset with each other that we quit speaking for a couple of months. Then God convicted me of my sin and pride and I called my friend and asked for his forgiveness and told him I valued our friendship and knew that I was wrong to treat it and him as I had. We resumed our friendship and he told me that no one had ever asked his forgivenness for anything in his life. He’s not there yet but the relationship deepens and my love for him grows and I pray that its not too late.

We have the same kind of opportunities in our businesses. People come into our lives for different reasons, not to play golf, but to buy or sell or work with us. Most of them are lost and need to know our Saviour. God brings them across our paths and plants us in their way as His Ambassador. When we understand that as our primary purpose we can respond to the opportunity appropriately and in obedience to His Spirit. When we do God’s purpose is fulfilled and “eternal fruit” is produced. What is “eternal fruit?” Stay tuned, we will talk abot that subject next.

Buck Jacobs is the Chairman of the Board and Founder of the C12 Group, a network of Christian CEO's and Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a greater purpose. As CEO of The C12 Group, Buck has written several books and feature magazine articles, including A Light Shines Bright in Babylon – A Handbook for Christian Business Owners, An Action Plan for Ministry, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians – all available by visiting C12’s online store at http://www.c12group.com/index.php.

Labels: Buck Jacobs, Editorials

Continue reading 'Christian Business Owner/CEO - Fruit, Much Fruit - Buck Jacobs'

It's the list of the Top 25 Business as Mission Books that has appeared in newsletters and magazines across the country.

As everyone gets ready for that summer vacation, we had some avid readers add their input and help us re-rank the Top 25 books addressing the issue of faith and business.

Maintaining its place at the top is God is at Work by Ken Eldred. Our team also welcomed some new finds to the list (#6 Marketplace Christianity with Robert Fraser, #10 Transformation with Ed Silvoso, #18 Where there are No Job by David Befus, Kingdom Path with Alan Ross, Doing Business God's Way, and Releasing Kings for Minisry in the Marketplace).

Add your comments! We welcome any new finds to consider in the future.

The Top 25 Business as Mission Books

1. God is at Work :: Ken Eldred
2. Lausanne Forum Papers
3. Business as Mission :: Michael Baer
4. On Kingdom Business :: Eldred and Yamamori
5. Great Commission Companies :: Steven Rundle and Tom Steffen
6. Marketplace Christianity :: Robert Fraser - (NEW to the List)
7. Business for the Glory of God :: Wayne Grudem
8. God at Work :: David Miller
9. Kingdom Catalyst :: Johnny Combs
10. Doing God's Business :: Paul Stevens
11. Tentmaking :: Patrick Lai
12. Transformation :: Ed Silvoso - (NEW to the List)
13. Business as a Calling :: Michael Novak
14. Devotional Ventures :: Corey Cleek
15. Annointed for Business :: Ed Silvoso
16. Convergence :: Brett Johnson
17. God at Work :: Rich Marshall
18. Where there are no jobs :: David Befus (NEW to the List)
19. Kingdom Companies :: Knoblauch and Opprecht
20. Transform the World :: Nordstrom
21. Entreprenuer's Creed :: Oster and Hamel
22. Business as Mission :: Steffen and Barnett
23. The Gods of Business :: Albertson
24. Loving Mondays :: Beckett
25. Galtrnoics Story :: William Goheen

The Next Group ...

1. Kingdom Path :: Alan Ross - (NEW to the List)
2. God is my CEO :: Larry Julian
3. The Church in the Workplace :: Wagner
4. The 9to5 Window :: Hillman
5. Doing Business God's Way - (NEW to the List)
6. Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace - (NEW to the List)
7. Your Work Matters to God :: Hendricks and Sherman - (NEW to the List)
8. Business by the Book :: Larry Burkett - (NEW to the List)
9. Church on Sunday, Work on Monday :: Laura Nash - (NEW to the List)
10. The Other 6 Days: Vocation, Work and Ministry - (NEW to the List)
11. About My Father's Business - (NEW to the List)

New Books to Keep an Eye out for in the coming Months:

1. A new book from Ken Eldred
2. A new book from Steve Rundle

Labels: Books and Articles, Editorials, Top 25 Business as Mission Books

Continue reading 'The Top 25 Business as Mission Books - Updated'

There are at least two dimensions to this question. First, if you are the only one in your business that sees the business as the platform for ministry and stewardship responsibility that it truly is, and are using it as such, and you leave, sell, or die - the ministry, your ministry, ends with a period. It would be described as personal, singular, and single generation in scope.

If you are engaging others in the ministry, and they are actively and strategically seeking to do ministry in and through the business, your ministry, at least for a season, ends with a comma. Yet, even if you have a fantastic ministry team of co-laborers ministering with you and are experiencing outstanding ministry fruitfulness and business success, and you sell the business to unbelievers, your ministry ends with a period. Don’t be deceived, unbelievers can’t and won’t continue ministry. It would be multi-dimensional but single generational.

The choice will be yours. The consequences of your choice can be eternally significant.
We are talking about a type of succession planning here that is rarely discussed but should be considered in great depth. It is all related to the answer to the fundamental question, “Who owns the business?” If God owns it, and we are merely stewards, and if we rightly see it as our platform for ministry, and are using as such, do you imagine that God would want it to end with a period? Can you imaging God wanting the ministry in a successful church to end with a period when the pastor leaves or dies? It is possible but I think much more likely that God is into multi-generational creation, investing in us so that our ministry always ends with a comma. What do you think?

Buck Jacobs is the Chairman of the Board and Founder of the C12 Group, a network of Christian CEO's and Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a greater purpose. As CEO of The C12 Group, Buck has written several books and feature magazine articles, including A Light Shines Bright in Babylon – A Handbook for Christian Business Owners, An Action Plan for Ministry, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians – all available by visiting C12’s online store at http://www.c12group.com/index.php.

Labels: Buck Jacobs, C12 Group, Editorials

Continue reading 'Will Your Ministry in God’s Business end with a “Period” or a “Comma”'

Words have meaning and the use of words is important. For instance, it troubles me to hear people say that there can be no such thing as a “Christian” business. These same people have no trouble describing a school as a “Christian” school or music as “Christian” music. They say that a business can’t be “Christian” because it can’t go to heaven! As if a school or “music” can. Christian can be, and is, used very appropriately as an adjective, a word that brings greater meaning or clarity to a noun or pronoun. Think about it; does a different picture come to your mind if I were to describe someone as a businessman Christian or a Christian business man (or woman)? When used as an adjective Christian means that the noun is Christian in character, purpose, and acts in ways that are consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Can a school be so described? Of course it can, and so can a business.A business that is consecrated, committed, or set apart, to adhere to and promote the values and message of Jesus is appropriately called “Christian” in the same way that a school so established and committed. It is simply an evasion of responsibility to assert that a business is exempt from the claims of Christ. Sin is sin at work, in the church, or in the home, there are no exemptions! If anything Jesus calls His people to a higher standard in the world of trade, never compromising there or anywhere else. So, how would you describe yourself? Your business? More importantly, how would Jesus?

Buck Jacobs is the Chairman of the Board and Founder of the C12 Group, a network of Christian CEO's and Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a greater purpose. As CEO of The C12 Group, Buck has written several books and feature magazine articles, including A Light Shines Bright in Babylon – A Handbook for Christian Business Owners, An Action Plan for Ministry, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians – all available by visiting C12’s online store at http://www.c12group.com/index.php.

Labels: Buck Jacobs, C12 Group, Editorials

Continue reading 'Are You a Christian Business man or woman? - Buck Jacobs'

If God created the universe, then He created all the rules for the activities of His universe. Obviously, His rules govern how we worship Him and the personal choices that we make in life, but they apply equally to the practice of business.

Connecting God and business is difficult—they seem almost mutually exclusive. But the reality of God’s universe is that lasting success only occurs when we align with God’s rules. Hence, the degree to which any organization enjoys lasting success is proportional to its degree of alignment with God’s rules of business.

As a case study consider Carl Karcher, an entrepreneur who leveraged a hot dog stand into a fast-food empire. His lifelong entrepreneurial effort led to the CKE Restaurants, which featured the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands.

Carl died at the age of ninety in January 2008. Barring the return of Christ, death is the destiny of all us. I would like to use Carl’s death as an opportunity for reflection. What can we learn from Carl, both good and bad, about God’s rules of business?

Carl was an outgoing service-oriented person who applied himself to business. He was not born into privilege; he worked hard and lived life with zeal. He was a devoted Roman Catholic who was active in his church, shared his faith with others, and supported conservative political causes.

Carl grew up at a time when biblical values were widely accepted and practiced in the culture. He employed many of these values in business and therefore enjoyed great favor. Some examples of the biblical principles he used were:hard work (Proverbs 14:23), superior service to customers—exceeding their expectations (Mark 9:35), excellence and taking pride in his work (Colossians 3:17, 23), faithfulness (Luke 19:17), and generous giving (Acts 20:33).

These principles served him well and were a major reason he enjoyed long-term success. Toward the end of his life, however, he strayed from biblical principles, which caused him much difficulty.

Recently I conducted a seminar on the biblical worldview of investing. I taught a key principle of successful investing: alignment with God (Psalm 1). Using this principle and the Beyond Babel Model presented in my book titled Beyond Babel, one of the seminar participants, Randall Hobson, provided an astute analysis of why Carl’s latter days were not as good as his former days. (Please note that the Beyond Babel Model is a biblical model for building organizations. It includes five key elements—biblical worldview, equally yoked senior leaders, strategic planning, executional excellence, and customer validation.) Here is Randall’s perspective on Carl.

Carl appears to have founded his company on a proper worldview, attempting to incorporate biblical philosophy, values, and principles into his business. It appears that he possessed clear strategic vision as evidenced by the consistent and profitable growth that occurred during the first forty years of his organization’s existence. Executional excellence was reinforced as Carl made it a practice to eat several meals a week at his restaurants. Furthermore, he showed sensitivity to his customers by personally handing out coupons for free hamburgers.
In 1980, Carl brought his brother into the business. Shortly thereafter the company went public. Why did it go public after a four-decade track record of solid, incremental growth as a private company? Was this an evidence of unequal yoking? Was greed, rather than principle, a driving influence? Greed is an indicator of the worship of money, which was probably the critical flaw that led to other mistakes. Perhaps the greed in Carl had been dormant, but when his brother joined the company, the restraint on greed may have been lifted. Greed then opened the door for a series of mistakes.

After going public Carl led the company on a disjointed and financially costly expansion effort. This strategic initiative was flawed and therefore failed.

During this time of financial stress, Carl and some of his family members were accused by the SEC of violating insider trading laws. Though Carl denied wrongdoing, he settled the matter by paying a substantial fine.

Carl also made a number of personal investments that failed. As a result he nearly went bankrupt.Carl’s SEC problems, misguided business decisions, and failed personal investments led to not only a personal crisis but also a confidence crisis with the company’s directors. The directors replaced Carl with an ex-Nordstrom executive. Carl was stripped of power and removed from the company he had founded.

All of these problems have taken a toll on both Carl and the company. I (Randall) know personally that the local Hardee’s Restaurants struggle with executional excellence and customer validation. At one time I was a consistent customer of Hardee’s. Today I rarely make a purchase from them.

The root of all of these issues was greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Randall’s analysis reflects keen insight into how to build businesses in God’s universe according to God’s rules. He deftly used the Beyond Babel Model as an analysis tool to test Carl’s alignment with biblical principles.

Though Carl enjoyed success over several decades, in the end he compromised his principles and revealed his true motive. Carl built a modern-day version of the tower of Babel. His business was all about him, which means that he was trying to make a name for himself (Genesis 11:4). Initially he used biblical principles to build his business and had success, just as with the tower of Babel project. But eventually his real motive of self-glorification was exposed. Self-glorification happens when obedience to God’s principles is subordinated to our personal agendas. And when we put our agendas ahead of God’s agenda, we become idolaters.

The sin of self-glorification will blind anyone. And when sin blinds us, we can’t see the prosperity of God (Jeremiah 17:1–6); hence, we make bad choices. Carl made numerous bad choices.
Carl was a devout Roman Catholic, but I would posit that he did not have spiritual accountability in his life. Had Carl been committed to a discipling relationship with a person who had a biblical worldview, that person would have challenged the decisions that led him astray. This would have been Carl’s safety net to keep him aligned with God. But Carl apparently didn’t have a discipler to whom he was submitted, so he strayed from biblical principles and fell under judgment just as did the people who built the tower of Babel project.

God does not look at reality as man does. Man looks at outward signs, such as money. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), which is the seat of man’s motives. Solomon stressed the importance of motives when he instructed his sons to “guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The reason for this admonition is that motives not aligned with God will be judged.

God is always seeking to bring His creation into alignment with Himself; hence, though people who reject God may appear to have success, in the end they will be judged (Psalm 73).
Let us be wise and remember that we are living in God’s universe; therefore, we must live by His rules, including having the right motives. The story of the tower of Babel illustrates that it is not enough to have good teams, sound leadership, clear vision, and skilled execution. God requires that we have the right motive. The only motive He will bless over the long term will be the motive to glorify Him. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.

Labels: Editorials, Gerald Chester

Continue reading 'Doing Business in God’s Universe :: Gerald Chester'

Working professionals from many backgrounds sat in our living room sharing their stories, which they do whenever we start a rep training cycle. “I can tell you exactly the exit on the Interstate 5 freeway where my dream died,” said John, an I.T. professional. It sounded as though John were describing a gravestone. He was a graduate of a well known Bible College who had dreamed of being a minister, but had ended up sidelined in the technology sector, so he thought. The dream of being in ministry finally gave up and died.

Jessica was different. She realized many years ago that she was called to business, but when she excitedly told her pastor about this epiphany he told her bluntly, “Forget about thinking that you are going to try and change the world's system. The only thing you can do to have real impact is to leave the world and join the ministry. You have your ladder up the wrong wall.” Jessica was devastated. “I wondered why God had given me these gifts if they were of no value to him.” Her dream was deflated and she entered a desert season, questioning her calling.

Bob had started well - having been to the same Bible College as John - he pastored a church, worked in “full time Christian ministry,” and was successful, by all accounts. But God had led him down a different path and he ended up leading a software startup. Many thought he had left the ministry to do a “secular” job. “Poor Bob,” some thought, “he lost the thread.”

John, Jessica and Bob all converged on Southeast Asia where I had the privilege of being on a team with them. We gathered in Jakarta to serve business owners using both our business skills and the many life experiences God had built into us. Our goal was simple: Repurposing Business - Transforming Society®. This was the beginning of a five year process where rep would take a new team to Jakarta every six months to work with our colleagues there to see their city transformed through godly business. We believed - and still do - that if we can see 100 key businesses transformed in a city, this can be the yeast that spreads through the entire business community, and then into other sectors of society.

Our team of 10 people saw amazing transformation happen in the lives of the business owners there. Many began to deliberately deploy their companies to expand the kingdom of God. Within a few years we had repurposed 45 corporations with a customer base of more than 130 million people. We - the business leaders and rep team members - identified the “giants” in the nation and specifically crafted business strategies to tackle these giants. Giants such as corruption, poverty and unemployment have been impacted.

What was just as amazing was how the Holy Spirit breathed air back into the purpose of John, Jessica and Bob. John has a great knack of naturally including God in his work. He is keenly aware that he is 100% businessman and 100% missionary. As the Chief Information Officer of a cutting edge media company he and his colleagues are set to influence millions of people. The dream has been resurrected. God is getting a good return on his investment in John's seminary training.

Jessica went on to be a consultant on four rep Ventures, and then took her own business through the two week consultation on the client side of the table. She now consults to a former rep client in South Africa and is helping transform a group of companies. She has also begun work in other nations in Africa where she is ministering through business. She is convinced that her ladder was not up the wrong wall after all. “God was faithful and eventually connected me with like-minded people who believed that business belonged to God. They were able to provide me with the necessary support and guidance to use my gifts to help build His Kingdom.”

Bob, in his integrated world of work and ministry, is director of a private foundation and the Team Leader for rep in Southeast Asia. He has mobilized many businesspeople, trained them, and commissioned them as marketplace ministers. “I used to see ministry as a higher calling that demanded that you leave everything, including business, behind to serve God. Now I am convinced that the marketplace is where God always intended the Church and the Kingdom of God to flourish. The world that God intends to transform isn't in a building on Sunday morning. It is in the marketplace seven days a week. All of us are called as priests to advance the Kingdom of God in our society, not just a few of us with a higher calling.”

What is your story? Have you made the transition from businessperson to marketplace minister? Have you shifted from occupation to vocation? If you love Jesus and love business, then you are most likely called to work, and your work can be used by God to impact nations for Him. You are in fulltime Christian ministry. You have your ladder up the right wall.

Brett Johnson is President of The Institute for Innovation, Integration and Impact, Inc. rep is the arm of The Institute that mobilizes and trains teams of businesspeople in repurposing businesses to positively impact society using both marketplace and Biblical best practices. They take approximately 10 teams around the world annually to use their business skills for short term missions assignments. They have worked with over 220 companies in Africa, Southeast Asia, India and the US. Find them on the web at www.inst.net and www.repurposing.biz Brett is the author of three books: Convergence: integrating your Career, Community, Creativity and Calling; I-Operations: How the Internet can transform your Operating Model; and LEMON Leadership.

Labels: Brett Johnson, Editorials, Rep

Continue reading 'Working Faith: Getting Your Ladder Up the Right Wall - Brett Johnson'

Have you ever wondered if you can use your business skills and experiences in an overseas missions context?

Labels: Corey Cleek, Devotional Ventures, Editorials

Continue reading 'Using Our Business Skills to Extend Our Impact: Corey Cleek'

You know the phrase, you hear it in those big shot movies that immortalize the image of the hot shot leader who just made a deal. It's that big phrase "It's not personal, it's just business."

I got to thinking about that phrase this weekend. Many of you know that in addition to the Business as Mission Network, I have the real privilege of being apart of the leadership of a business as mission company called Bluefish TV and The Rightnow Campaign. We first and foremost view it as a ministry, but we are also very much a self sustaining business.

We're in the thick of ministering to this generation of 20 and 30 somethings who are in the search for meaning, significance and purpose. One of those twenty and thirty somethings is my younger brother.

Over the past few weeks, I've experienced the impact of our ministry up close. Recently, I've been able to share my passion for what we do and how work can be an opportunity for ministry. I was also able to share some tools and resources that I believe can help him on his journey as he is getting a fresh start and taking his life in a new direction.

A lot of people ask, "What really makes something Business as Mission?" I'm beginning to think that some of that lies somewhere when what your doing becomes more than a job and more of a reflection of who you are. When a business becomes your ministry, we're in essence reversing that corporate, Hollywood phrase to say "It's not just Business, it's Personal."

When it becomes personal, the decisions we make and how we lead become more than just business decisions. They become a personal reflection of who God is in our lives.

Labels: Bluefish TV, Editorials, Justin Forman, The Rightnow Campaign

Continue reading '"It's not just Business, it's Personal"'

At this exact moment I am sitting on an airplane, on a return flight from Saudi Arabia to my home north of Seattle Washington. I have just spent a week in what the locals like to refer to as “The Kingdom”. Additionally, the majority of the week was spent in one of the most chaste and fundamental cities in Saudi Arabia. The majority of Muslims in this particular city adhere to the strictest and most rigid interpretation of their faith. At first I was taken aback by the intensity of their spiritual resolve and wondered how it could be that such devout people could be at odds with my understanding of God.

On the morning of the second day we began to train the people that were to expand my company into this region of the world. Neither they nor I fully knew how to respond to one another. I was looked upon with mild interest and absolute suspicion. I must admit that I was not overly festive about the notion of chumming about with grown men that appeared to be wearing pressed night gowns and perpetually smelled of sandalwood. If both sides were dead bang honest about it, they wondered if we thought they were all terrorists and we wondered if they thought of us as nothing but vile, worthless infidels. But as common cause and curiosity often dictate, we began to dialog. At first it was casual and uneventful at best. We discussed our training schedule and how it would be administered over the course of the week. As we jointly observed the training regiment and we began to be more at ease with one another, a number of casual friendships started to grow. As it turned out, they were as fascinated at what we might think of them as we were as to what their impressions of us would be. In my immediate conversations, what I thought of them and their faith was all they really wanted to discuss at first. It really wasn’t until the third day (how Messiahnically fitting) that bonds began to form and the personal shields went down. My impressions and experiences are as follows.

Those that work for my partner and I also serve the Lord Jesus Christ and none of us knew if what we believed could be talked about as openly as they did their own faith. On our own turf we would have no such apprehensions but we were in the land of Allah. Having much of our perceptions of Saudi Arabia formed by conflict reports, gruesome videos and sensationalized news stories we were not of a mindset to carve too heavily on any sacred Islamic cow. But being intensely stubborn and annoyed by double standards I prodded around the flanks and nibbled just a might at the haunches. None of which by the way was well received or welcomed by several of my new acquaintances. Others though had a more openly engaging nature and fully enjoyed the exchange of reasoning, exegesis and personal convictions. Overall, most of them were happy to debate and challenge one another with regard to what we believe and why we believed it as long as it was assumed that the Quran was the basis for the discussion. Presupposing that the Quran is the bedrock of any significant discussion of theology is akin to discussing tsunami risks for only the Red Sea. By ignoring every other body of water, the conversation becomes myopic. This may be a very effective tact for a study of Red Sea events but does little for understanding the nature and risk of tsunamis worldwide. They spoke frequently about a noble and fervent quest for the truth but it seemed that journey would not welcome or entertain any level of dissent, or at least none that was ever conceded to. At times I will confess that it was overwhelming and by the evening, between work and theology I was exhausted. I would go back to my hotel room feeling like the proverbial cockroach hoping to survive the coming nuclear debate. I cannot help but think that some of their one-dimensional thinking was in part due to perceptions they had about Christianity and those that adhere to its precepts.

For instance, it was told to me with utmost sincerity that Muslins, unlike Christians pray without agenda and solely to glorify and worship God. In their opinion, Christians pray in order to get something, petition for something or request assistance for something. Is this perception completely unfounded? I would say that if my only understanding of Christianity was to come from TV or Radio, I might have the same notion. In the day-to-day reality of most Christians though, I believe that the majority of prayers focus on the glorification of God or for God to give us the strength to overcome “self” so that our lives might more effectively glorify Him. It was this kind of misinformation that made them certain in their beliefs and confirmed in them the error of those that follow Jesus. Presupposed or assumptive justification has always held a special place of pigeon-holing, tickedoffedness in my heart and I find it dehumanizing to boot.

It was also told to me on several occasions that Islam was based on fact and not on the anecdotal tales of once and twice removed sources as the Christian faith is. It made me wonder how often I reinforce my own beliefs based on presupposed or inadequate information. I like to think of myself as somewhat of a pragmatist when it comes to my faith. I do not feel as if I should ever have to check my intellect at the door in order to enter the church sanctuary. For that reason, I seldom shy away from any intellectual scrum. Yes, even when it is clear that I will take a debate thrashing. I always come away challenged to study and inevitably learn from the process. This trip was no exception. When it was over, I felt as if I had held my own and made an honest and straightforward defense of the gospel. It confirmed in me all the more that business was indeed my mission field. I felt as if I had made more inroads in 6 days then I could have in an entire year as a classical missionary. I was given the opportunity by God to change minds and not just on a classical theological platform. I am certain that as Christians we were more educated about our faith then many of them expected. This was evident by the level of candor and vulnerability that was verbalized near the end of the trip.

But here is the rub. While I readily conceded that Islam had at one time contributed mightily to the scientific debate about the existence of God, they would concede no such value or contribution from Christianity ever. They were convinced that the entirety of Christianity was based on myth, slight of hand, divine intervention and/or historical revisionism. With that as a presupposed fact in their mind, no honest examination of the truth could ever be engaged in no matter how much they claimed to be open to it. Who knows, maybe I am as equally convinced as to the faulty foundations of their faith that I don’t genuinely consider anything they have to say. I hope that is not the case. It is my intent to never stray into unalterable dogmatic waters. It is a process for me that requires frequent checks and balances. What nags at me is this; this has to be about truth and seeking the heart and truth of God. I am 99.4% (in that general vicinity) certain that my historical and factual understanding attest to the deity of Jesus Christ. Yes, ultimately I think God would desire me to be 100% certain of my faith. If the process cannot ultimately end in complete assuredness, is it really a process or just an intellectual hamster wheel? Anyway, I also know that it is very personal to me and spills into areas of country, heritage, pride and relationship. For me, these are areas of buttressing that cannot bear the same intellectual weight as the cold, hard and unvarnished facts of what I believe and why. Nor should they.

If I was totally confident that what I believe was absolutely and unequivocally true, any open exchange of ideas and knowledge would never offend or unnerve me. The fact that it often does, tells me that I am not as completely grounded in my beliefs’ as God would have me be. Is that OK to admit? To admit anything else would be to say that there is no longer room for me to learn or entertain how others got to the place they are. I know this is anathema to many but if my understanding of God never leaves any room for contest or debate, then whom can I actually win to Christ from another faith? That rationale might convince a person that has no prior cultural or relational frame of reference but will not even mildly intrigue a zealot. If both parties enter a discussion without the slightest inclination to genuinely consider the logic of the other, it strikes me as useless engagement. This all may sound as if I am unsure of what I hold as truth and can be swayed by every convincing wind of doctrine or logic. In reality, I think it to be the only honest way to engage people with whom I disagree with and wish to call brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have personally heard other world-views that depending on ones presuppositions are entirely defensible. I feel as if I need to be intellectually open to being persuaded even if I believe in my heart that nobody could ever undermine the foundational elements of what I hold as fact. To me the ultimate sign of weak or poorly founded beliefs is to intentionally disregard any other mindset or stated world-view. Again let me say though that I am firmly convinced that if pursued, any historical or factual study would confirm that my understanding of God would result in the fortification of Christ as the Savior.

Consider the following:

Luke 7: 18-22 (New International Version)

John’s (John the Baptist) disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses’ and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind received sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Jesus’ response was not condescending or even overtly direct. He did not chastise them or berate their lack of understanding. He challenged them to rise above the preconceived notions of whom it was they sought and instead challenged them to reach a conclusion based on the evidence that was before them. What he said was in essence, look at the miracles, look at the facts and “you” decide from them. Isn’t any defensible, real world-view about a continual examination of the evidence and how that evidence aligns with what we hold as truth? I am not talking about the core precept of Christianity. We had better of arrived at the sound conclusion that Jesus was and is the Christ if we ever hope to have our faith endure. I feel as if it is the responsibility of any Christian to be ready to mount a defense of the gospel at any time while simultaneously being open to alteration of what we hold dear. If we were completely assured of our position then this openness of heart would not even elicit an intellectual wince from us. By being open, we place ourselves in a position of reliance on something more than our own grey matter….and that is a good thing regardless of an individuals degree of scholastic accomplishments. To contend anything else would be to say that, all is known to us, and there is no longer room for epiphany or revealed understanding. The God I serve is not a definable entity and as such is not subject to my humanity or ability to comprehend. Discovering what is perceived truth and holding that knowledge against what we know as unassailable facts about God (what He has told us) is a delicate balance of motivation, application and process.

Now you may get the impression that I see my faith as this sterile, discovery dominated wind sprint that is always on the edge of plunging off the cliff. I hope I am never that antiseptic about issues that involve purpose, love and sacrifice. Even though I contend that no mutual quest for truth can take place without a willingness to exchange and consider; I also believe that our heart and spirit can be invaluable confirmers of truth when responding cleanly to issues of faith. The bottom line for me though is that I refuse to engage in a window dressing debate with an unreachable attitude that lurks just below the surface. I was made in Gods image. I was not asked to make God into the image of my politics, heritage or familiarity. The blessing my country has experienced speaks to God’s divine providence and not to her intellectual superiority over other cultures. The blessing is a result of the stated freedom to seek God as any individual deems appropriate. I believe that the precepts of Christianity flourish in a free society and whither in a theocratic environment. In my observation the same cannot be said of any other major faith.

I find dogmas to be helpful in and of them selves. It is dogmas in concert with a fundamental ignorance of another faith or set of understandings that render themselves impotent. I started this blather with a personal experience that involved followers of the Islamic faith. I do not think that what I propose here is limited to other faiths alone. I see it as an essential quality if Christianity is ever to make significant inroads in any other defensible world-view. The only thing that can be heard over the din of dogma is an open and honest spirit diligently thirsting for truth. This has to be about truth or the process is merely intellectual chest pounding.

John 18:36-38 (New International Version)

36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. 
 Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

Jesus says that the very purpose for Him coming was to testify to the truth. Again, ultimately this has to be about truth. Not truth that is subjective or based on context. That kind of truth is a vapor will always be insufficient for explaining the condition of people or inspiring them to rise above circumstances. Truth is truth and it is not diminished or altered based on our pet peeves, cultural familiarity, fervent desires or social preferences. I can think of no higher aspiration or relevant life application than an unbridled quest for the purest possible form of truth. Being open to revealed and/or discovered truth while walking comfortably in our own beliefs is a little tricky. It is tricky because it makes us utilize a potion of our being that intellectuals like to discount. Being vulnerable is an issue of the heart. If we ever fully divorce our heart from the process of intellectually defending our faith, we have already relinquished the high ground. We may ultimately win the debate but that victory will result in the hollow thud of a self-aggrandizing act. The mind wants and needs to be right but the heart understands that truth imparted with love liberates people while truth uttered for the purpose of undermining the value of others is self-defeating. We need to decide why we are in the debate. Do we desperately want to see people saved and God revealed or is our need to be right so insatiable that it dictates us to defend that which we don’t even see as life changing? Our minds left to their own devices will always tend to stray towards self. Having our heart involved in the process keeps within us a sense as to what it is that we are attempting to accomplish. Pilate stood before Jesus and asked, “What is truth?” Based on his next action, which was to say that “ I find no basis for a charge against him”, his question most likely was sincere. I hope that we never quit asking the same question that Pilate did and always seek Him with a sense of reverence, compassion and intellectual tenacity.

Isn’t it just like God to introduce the heart into what our flesh desperately hopes is a process of reason only? Yes, even when our opponents are not shackled by any such dictate. My Islamic friends may never accept anything I have to say. They may dismiss it out of hand without so much as a thought. I will not continue on in the relationship with the same limitations. If I did, I would only be responding out of a sense of injustice when it comes to their conversational criteria. I would also be validating in my own heart the shaky foundation to my own reasoning. Assuredness of ones logic and motivation is an emotionally settling position and not one that should ever induce anxiousness or conversational disdain. The end result in our openness to consider will be that Jesus Christ as Savior will have any chance of being recognized by them. I welcome their dismissal and believe firmly that my willingness to engage them with a “relatively” clean and open heart is how my Savior will ultimately reveal Himself in the hearts of those I do business with and consider friends. One sided, maybe. My ego sure finds it as such. But in practical application, I think that my tact is the only one that actually has a chance to succeed and change hearts. And isn’t that the point?

Labels: Editorials, World Religions

Continue reading 'The Monologue of Discourse :: Anonymous'

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1:1-6 (NIV)

Do you think that the above text from the Bible applies to business?

Do you think that God blesses obedience to His will and punishes the wicked, that is, those who do not obey His will?

James 4:13–17 clearly states that business should be about discerning the will of God. That being the case, one would expect that businesses that don't seek the will of God are like the wicked. Though these businesses may give the appearance of some success for a period of time, in the end, they are like chaff that is blown away by the judgment wind of God.

On the other hand, businesses that are diligently and faithfully seeking the will of God are like the tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit in season and whose leaf never withers. Whatever God has ordained the company to do will prosper.

If we believe that Psalms 1 refers to business, as James 4:13–17 clearly does, then the compelling purpose of every business is to seek and serve the will of God. This means that business is not about money, it is not about jobs and it is not even about great products and services. Though business should be profitable, provide employment opportunities, and produce excellent products and services, these are all by-products of the real purpose of business. The real purpose of business is to seek and serve the will of God. This is the only way to enjoy lasting prosperity and success.

Labels: Editorials, Gerald Chester

Continue reading 'Business and the Will of God :: Gerald Chester'

Frank called to ask if I knew of any job openings. During the course of the conversation, he also asked if I would review and critique his resume. But more importantly, he wanted to know if any of my clients or business contacts needed someone with his skills. After all, for Frank the bottom line was that he needed a paycheck and to receive a paycheck he needed a job.

For most of us, a job is simply a way to earn a living. A job is a chore—a task that is frequently laborious and often not enjoyable. One survey concluded that 84 percent of workers do not have their dream jobs.* This suggests that they do not like their jobs, or at the very least, would be happier doing something else. Why is this?

One possible explanation is that we have the wrong view of work. The common view of work is that it has little purpose other than to make money; hence, work is simply a utilitarian function of life. There is therefore no transcendent meaning—no redeeming purpose and no eternal value to work.

The concept of purpose in life implies a God who establishes that purpose. Atheists reject the concept of purpose because they reject the concept of God. Life and work, therefore, have no purpose or meaning.

There are some theists—those who believe in God—who also reject the idea of purpose in the workplace. While they don't reject the idea of purpose in life, they believe that God does not value the workplace; hence, there is no significance to work. But is this true?

For this to be true, one must conclude that God does not value His physical universe. But such a view would be contrary to Scripture. For example, in the creation account in Genesis 1, at the end of each day God declared that His work was good. At the end of the sixth day, He declared that the physical universe was very good. Clearly, God valued His physical universe.

Furthermore, Genesis 1:26–28 tells us why God made man—to rule God's physical creation. Man's rulership is to be expressed by multiplying (growing) and subduing (mastering) the creation. Hence, human dignity and man's purpose as a created being are inseparable. God so valued His physical universe that He created man to manage and master it.

A biblical view of work is that it is a divinely ordained activity. Work is not simply a utilitarian activity that facilitates making money, but it is an assignment given by God to man.

Since God creates each of us individually, it follows that each of us has a divinely ordained work assignment. Furthermore, each of us was created for our individual work assignment. Our assignment is specific to each of us. And since God is intentional and strategic, our gifts, talents, personalities—indeed all that defines who we are—were given to enable us to fulfill our divinely ordained work assignments. This means that the challenge for each of us in life is to discern that work assignment.

A key concept for each of us is to view our work, not in utilitarian terms as simply a job, but rather as a divinely ordained assignment. Our life work should be a means by which we contribute to the plan and purpose of God. This is what gives work meaning and significance.

If the surveys are correct, there is an 84 percent probability that you are not on your divinely ordained work assignment. My experience leads me to believe that the surveys are optimistic. Anecdotally, I think that the probability that you are not on your divinely ordained work assignment is actually much greater than the survey indicates. Perhaps this is why workers are preoccupied with retirement and generally frustrated and discouraged with their work.

If you feel that you are part of the 84 percent, what should you do? May I suggest that you begin by changing your view of work? Stop thinking of it as simply a job. Embrace the biblical reality that work is a divinely ordained activity that is valued by God.

Consider the words of the psalmist when speaking to God about God's creative work and God's purpose for man:

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: Psalm 8:6 (NIV)

And consider how the psalmist delighted in God's physical universe:

Great are the works of the L ord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2 (NIV)

Work that is consistent with the plan and purpose of God has redeeming eternal value because God made man to do this work. This means that no matter what you do in life, if it is consistent with the plan and purpose of God, your work is valuable.

So give yourself—and God—a priceless Christmas gift. Start viewing work as God does. Recognize the truth about who you are and why you were created. The apostle Paul eloquently stated this reality:

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

If you view your work as simply a job, stop—ask God to reveal your assignment. And if you are not in your assignment, start praying and seeking God about your assignment. And until you find your assignment, be faithful to work as unto the Lord in whatever you are doing. But give yourself a great gift and make it a priority to find your divinely ordained work.

Just a quick footnote: don't let money determine your life work. All too often people make work choices based on money. Instead, allow God to reveal the work that you were uniquely created to do and accept the income that goes with that assignment as God's provision for you.

My Christmas wish for you is that you find your divinely ordained work assignment. Then your heart will sing Merry Christmas every day!

Labels: Christmas, Editorials, Gerald Chester

Continue reading 'A Priceless Christmas Gift :: Gerald Chester'

It’s a common thing in sports for well-meaning players to give God praise in post-game interviews. There are many athletes who offer prayer in tough situations.

Rob Geyer is a health care insurance executive and David Rupert is a communication professional for a government agency. 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. You can learn more about their word at http://redletterbelievers.blogspot.com/.

Labels: David Rupert, Editorials, RedLetterBelievers, Rob Geyer

Continue reading 'Is God on my Team? :: Rob Geyer and David Rupert'

A professor of theology, widely recognized for his practical application of the faith to everyday life, turns his attention to business. Here, Dr. Stevens answers the pervasive question of what makes a business “Christian” by offering ten distinctives.

Running a Christian business is like having a Christian marriage. A marriage is not Christian simply because two Christians get married. They may conduct their marriage in a non-Christian way, without making a covenant marked by leaving father and mother, cleaving in friendship and becoming one flesh (Gen 2:24). Non-Christians may have (unknown to them of course) a Christian marriage if they make such a covenant. In the same way the presence of a Christian in a business or running a business does not guarantee the business is Christian. The Christians may be keeping their faith and daily work in separate compartments on the assumption that "religion and business do not mix." This is especially evident where Christians view business as merely a way of making money where there real interest (and ministry) is in church-work.

The following are ten marks that provide a comprehensive vision for the Christian in business:

1. THE PRESENCE OF A CHRISTIAN OR CHRISTIANS WITH A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE :: The owner/manager of a small or large business has a special opportunity to "incarnate" his or her value system into every aspect of the business. But even "low level" employees have a sphere of influence. It may be useful for clerks, for instance, to draw an imaginary circle of 30' radius around their work station and prayerfully to regard this as their "parish," bathing all the people, structures, equipment and interactions within that circle with continuing prayer.

2. A PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S CREATIONAL PURPOSE :: There is almost no place in the work-world so demonized that a Christian might not be called to serve there. Obviously businesses that thrive on prostitution, drug traffic and the exploitation of the poor are not acceptable options. But Adam and Eve were called to be priests of creation, to "work it and take care of it" as trustees and stewards (Gen 2:15). Further, the command to "fill the earth and subdue it" (Gen 1:28) and "rule over it" (1:26) involves developing and enculturating the world(Gen 4:19-22). The world was not made for Adam and Eve (to use as they wish); they were made for the world. This means that Adam and Eve (and all of us who are restored to our human vocation through new life in Christ) had three full-time jobs: communion with God, community-building, and co-creativity with God. So products or services which are in harmony with God's creational purposes include the following: agriculture, forest management, providing communication services, accounting and financial services, products that make people more beautiful, entertainment and play products and services, processing foodstuffs, governing, politics and government services, town planning, counseling, medical services, education, media, transportation, accounting and stock brokering, selling life insurance, repairing automobiles, composing or performing music, creating beautiful things, crafting environments, making tools and law enforcement. The Christian manager knows that structures can have either a positive or negative influence and ministers wisely both to people and to structures.

3. A MISSION OR BUSINESS PURPOSE THAT IS LARGER AND DEEPER THAN MERE FINANCIAL PROFIT (THOUGH INCLUDING IT) SO THAT THE BUSINESS CONTRIBUTES IN SOME WAY TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. A Christian business person should wisely define what is the mission and hold this before all the employees. The mission is why the business is there; the vision is what we want to be; the values are how we want to live as we pursue our vision. In distinction from a non-profit society, a for-profit business must make money. Profit in a business is like blood in the body. Every organization needs it to survive and function. But no one gets up in the morning and says, "I live for my blood." But if our blood goes away we stop living.

Organizations that state they exist for the purpose of making money are doomed to failure. Organizations exist to serve customers, and they do so when they provide the customers with value. The value added to the customer is such that normally the customer will pay a profit. Therefore profit is a legitimate measure of the value the firm is producing for its customers. Without a surplus the firm will not be able to continue to offer the service or to add value. It is legitimate for a Christian to pray for a profit. But that is not the same as having the company exist "to make money." (Flow) Being a Kingdom business also involves respect for the environment (soil, trees, air, human community) and some share of stewardship of creation rather than raping the earth.

4. THE PRODUCT & SERVICE IS OFFERED WITH SUCH EXCELLENCE THAT IT SUGGESTS THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM AND INVITES THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS :: A Christian in business strives for an excellence of service or product that makes the customer surprised, rather than left demanding more, or resigned to the minimum the business can offer. Jesus invited his disciples to reflect on how much more they were doing than the Gentiles, the tax collectors and the pagans (Matt 5:43-48). A service company that provides extraordinary service or a product that has extraordinary quality invites the question "Why?" It should not only be the fact that someone is a Christian that invites the opportunity to witness to Christ, but the evidence of something special in the way business is done that is a sign of the Kingdom. Unpaid bills, excessiveprofit, slow delivery, no guarantees, poor quality, dishonest advertising, and sloppy workmanship all speak negatively no matter how positive the Christian worker is about being a saved.

5. CUSTOMERS ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY & RESPECT & NOT JUST AS A MEANS OF PROFIT :: "The customer is always right" is the secular version of this. But this is not always true. More than assuming that the customer is always right the Christian business treats every customer as a person to be loved and appreciated whether or not business is transacted. Even difficult customers need love even when they are wrong. Loving customers as oneself is neighbour love (Matt 22: 39). A salesman will sell only when three conditions are met: the customer wants it, needs it and can afford it. Love for competitors is even harder. The Old Testament offers a powerful model of harvesting with the poor in view (Deut 24:19-22), which means leaving something for someone else. In contrast business people that engage in hyper-competition (or predatory competition) find their identity in domination. They are driven by the will to power and the survival of the fittest. Because winning is the only thing there is no space for failure or compassion. They lead relationally deficient lives, measuring others only to see "how they stack up" and if they are judged to be deficient to defeat them.

6. EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS ARE EQUIPPED TO ACHIEVE GREATER POTENTIAL IN THEIR LIFE AND, IF THEY ARE CHRISTIANS, TO WORK WHOLEHEARTEDLY (Col 3:22-25) WITH FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE (1 Cor 13:13; 1 Thess 1:2-3) :: One of the most tragic situations today is that many Christians are noted for being "poor workers" because their real interest is in evangelism and church activities. In a Christian business people work hard and wholeheartedly (Eph 6:7) because (1) work is good for us and the world--given as it was before the Fall (Gen 1:26-31; 2:15); (2) though work has been twisted and spoiled through sin (Gen 3:16) it can be substantially redeemed through Christ; (3) indeed, as Luther taught, there is a "cross" in the marketplace providing a practical arena for our sanctification in the challenges to ourselves that we encounter in the context of our work (Col 3:25; 2 Thess 3:6-13); (4) work is part of our calling (