I just got off the phone with one of the “Greats’ of the BAM world. I have been privileged to know him and work on projects with him for twenty years. It got me to thinking, “I know a lot of the BAM greats and I learned a lot from them. Why don’t I share some of their wisdom in a short blog?’ So here goes.
- Simply put, Business as Mission is walking with God at work. BJ
- My company mission statement reminds me regularly that my business “exists to further the expansion of the kingdom of God among the unreached through the seamless integration of business as mission.” MB
- Business constitutes ministry in and through its daily activities. PL
- God did not call me to be a minister or a missionary; He called me to be a businessman – and I see no difference. MC
- If God has called you to be a businessperson, do not stoop to be a preacher. MT
- Today, the greatest opportunities for mission advancement still lie with Christians in the business community. Consider this: If you overlay a map of world poverty with a map of world evangelization, you will find that the areas most in need of business development are also the most unevangelized. Many of the most unreached places in the world, most closed to Christian missionaries, have arms wide open to any kind of [businessperson]… The next wave of missions will be carried forward, I believe, on the wings of business. JDG
- Remember that the Jews used a term “Tikkan Olam” which means to repair the world which refers to our co-creating with God, bridging the gap and bringing hope through business. MT
- Seek to be a blessing to the community. BJ
- The modern Business as Mission movement is not actually new at all. It is more of a rediscovery of a powerful truth that all callings from God are high, holy and honorable – including business and work. MB
- Biblical Entrepreneurship is about exercising stewardship over God’s resources to serve others for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. PT
- Work of any kind, if done unto God, is worship. PL
- My faith and the ethic of my life became a reality as I was able to serve those I led. It was the salt and light of what I believed, and provided a platform for me to share my faith, WP
- There are few closed doors to doing business. The opportunities are as wide as a man’s ingenuity, as deep as his character, and as high as his faith in God. PL
- Rabbi Ira F. Stone clarifies this when he writes; The Hebrew word for service, “avodah”, is the same word we use for both work and worship. PL
- The most basic description of missional enterprise is the Triple Bottom Line of financial sustainability (Make Money), spiritual transformation (Make Disciples), and social/environmental impact (Make a Difference). KC
Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com