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“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill A few months ago we published a blog highlighting eight failures in IBEC’s history. Recently, I have been reminded that our audience deserves a complementary piece highlighting some successes, so in the spirit of Churchill who also wrote, […]

The Basic Utility Vehicle, (BUV), is designed for the rural geography of developing countries.  It is a simple low-cost vehicle that is easy to operate, maintain and repair.  It is designed for rugged terrain, and thus is ideal for serving rural Africa, allowing people to earn a livelihood and generate income.  It has a 1,750 […]

It has been interesting to observe and analyze IBEC consultants throughout the 12 years of our existence.  It has been a fun and informative learning experience as I have traveled with some amazing people.  Each one has added value to the projects we visited and helped. IBEC consultants offer encouragement Bob Bush consults with four […]

At 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the armistice for World War I was signed.  This “war to end all wars” had involved most of Europe and cost the lives of nearly 17 million, plus that many or more wounded. My maternal grandmother’s sister served with the Canadian Forces and […]

We have three nationalities in our family.  My wife, Vicki is a US citizen; I am Canadian, and my four kids have three citizenships, each having been born in Brazil and also registered as Canadians and Americans.  Canadians celebrated thanksgiving in October, and Americans will do so this week.  But my Brazilian kids sometimes say, […]

Our blog last week highlighted poverty, poor countries, and the Great Commandment of Jesus to “love your neighbor”.  For IBEC and most BAM businesses, that translates into job creation as a practical way to love those mired in poverty, injustice and unemployment. But Jesus also asked us to make disciples (or followers) of Jesus (MT […]

Business as Mission (BAM) theory proposes that kingdom businesses focus on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus. The Great Commandment has its source in Jesus’ response to a lawyer who asked what the greatest commandments were. Jesus responded that the first commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and […]

This week, I provided a reference for two former employees. One was a phone call from the prospective employer, and one a form to complete on behalf of the applicant. I was struck by the number of questions which related to what we have come to call “soft skills” When I was VP of Operations […]

IBEC is a partner with the Freedom Business Alliance (FBA), which exists to equip and promote the global community of Freedom Businesses. A freedom business is a business that exists to fight human trafficking or commercial exploitation, and one of the founding businesses of the FBA is Sari Bari in north India. Sari Bari was […]