My grandson, Kellan, recently returned from a high school trip to Greece. I asked him to tell me something significant that impressed him on the trip. Immediately, he referenced the experience of walking the streets of the Ancient Agora and climbing the Areopagus (Mars Hill). He said it impressed him that the apostle Paul (Acts 17) used what he saw around him in those places—idols, religiosity, and an altar—to initiate a conversation and proclamation about the one true God.
It made me think about one of the Business as Mission bottom lines: spiritual transformation. How does a businessperson initiate a spiritual conversation?
Ryan and Shelly moved to the Middle East as agricultural specialists in a fruit product common to that region. They knew that the fruit industry was in decline and that farmers were living in poverty because of decreased yields and poor fruit quality. Ryan and his team set about using technology and modern techniques to revitalize the industry, putting farmers back to work. Their business model was to lease historic farms and hire farmers to cultivate the land and care for the trees once again. Soon, they became well respected and appreciated throughout the region.
But what about the spiritual component?
The farmers soon saw a clear difference in Ryan’s family and his colleagues. They noticed the excellence and love that were fundamental to their lives as they lived out the love of God. Rising out of poverty was important, but so was the fact that the BAM team leveraged the agricultural opportunity to share their faith and speak about eternal realities. Today, several small groups are studying the Bible in this Islamic country.
The apostle Paul used the context of community idolatry. Ryan and his team used agricultural opportunities. Both were focused on the spiritual bottom line, bringing hope and the love of God to people in need.
Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com