In This Issue: Exploring ‘Business as Mission’
- NOTE TO READERS – Behind the Scenes at Missions Catalyst
- FEATURE – Exploring the World of Business as Mission
- FEATURE – Business as Mission, A Relevant Response to World Needs
- EVENTS – Perspectives Classes to Open in 16 US States
Dear Readers,
This week we have some tips from the growing world of “business as mission” which is knocking down some of the walls between full-time Christian ministry and regular life. But first, I want to let you know about a few recent, behind-the-scenes improvements to Missions Catalyst e-Magazine.
1. Archives: All 2009 editions of Missions Catalyst are now archived in one place, along with resource reviews and practical mobilization columns since 2004.
2. Organization: While we can’t provide a fancy tag cloud, we’ve labeled each edition news briefs, resource reviews, or practical mobilization to help you browse. Or use our search engine to take you to what you seek.
3. Comments: It’s now possible to leave comments on items that interest you. OK, it’s pretty clunky. (We’re limited in the programming department!) But we hope you’ll persevere and participate. And you’re always welcome to write us directly.
4. Syndication: Some readers prefer to get their news from web feeds instead of emails (or have systems that reject our emails, sadly). Since we started publishing our archives through a blog system we’ve been able to offer an RSS feed option.
Cheers,
P.S.: Want to help produce Missions Catalyst? We’re looking for some “guest columnists.” Let me know if you are interested or want to nominate a friend!
FEATURE – Exploring the World of Business as Mission
Source: Missions Catalyst staff
It just could be that you’re the kind of person (or connected to the kind of person) whom God is pushing toward the nations, even toward the unevangelized parts of the globe – but maybe not toward the whole “missionary” thing.
Are you?
If so, you need to know about a growing body of ideas and approaches loosely grouped under the label “business as mission.” In fact, this could be the missing component that makes your whole life make sense! Hyperbole? Perhaps. But many people have seen the business-as-mission concept link their lives to God’s kingdom in wonderful, new ways.
Here are a few places you can go for an overview and some fresh thinking in this area. (Thanks to Tom and William for their help!) We’d love your input as well.
Send Shane or Marti your tips about this topic and we’ll try to include them in our September 30 edition of Missions Catalyst.
GREAT WEBSITES
We’ve pointed you to the Business as Mission Network before and we’re happy to do so again! But see also YWAM’s Business as Mission Resource Centre and the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship.
TRAINING
Where (besides the school of hard knocks!) can you go for training? One of your best bets may be the Introduction to Business as Mission (iBAM) course offered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in January/February 2010.
EVENTS RELATED TO BAM
September 15-19 – Eurasia Call2All Congress (Kiev, Ukraine). “Come strategize and plan with other leaders, pastors, and evangelists in all areas of world mission.”
October 23-24 – Reaching the World through Your Profession (Burlingame, CA, USA). Bi-vocational missions conference sponsored by Gospel Operation International (a ministry to Chinese Christians). Most sessions in English!
November 19-21 – OPEN Expo 2009 (York, PA, USA). Sponsored by the Overseas Professional Employees Network (OPEN).
November 5-7 – Venture’09 (Fullerton, CA, USA). Conference for global Christians passionate about using their professional skills to see church-planting movements multiply among the unreached. Sponsored by PIONEERS. [EDITOR’S NOTE: CANCELED 10-7-09]
February 4-6 – OPEN Expo 2010 (Portland, OR, USA). Sponsored by the Overseas Professional Employees Network (OPEN).
FEATURE – Business as Mission, a Relevant Response to World Needs
Source: Mats Tunehag
Concerned about the economy? Even the fairly small church to which I (Marti) belong is starting a ministry to help and encourage those unable to find work. Giving is down, budgets are tight, and the food bank serves a record number of people.
Yet many of the world’s poor have needs far greater than those suffered by people in my town. Serving as agents of transformation in their communities looks like too big a job to leave to local church leaders, pastors, and missionaries. What about business people? Seems like we all need to work together!
Below is an excerpt from the 10-page article, “God Means Business! An Introduction to Business as Mission,” by subject-area expert Mats Tunehag. Used with permission.
Business as Mission: A Relevant Response to World Needs
By Mats Tunehag
The biblical mandate is clear: [to take] the whole gospel to all peoples and nations, preaching and demonstrating God’s kingdom. We are to work towards spiritual, social, and economic transformation of people and societies – to God’s glory.
What are some of the major needs around the world? If we are to make a market analysis – what do we find? Five things correlate and stand out:
1. Most unreached peoples are found in the Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist worlds. Most of them live in the so-called 10/40 Window. These are areas and people groups where the name of Jesus is rarely heard, or seldom understood.
2. Here you will also find a large majority of the world’s poorest of the poor.
3. These countries also often have unemployment rates ranging from 30 to 50 or 70 percent.
4. Often 50 percent or so of the population is young, under 15-20 years of age.
5. These areas are high-risk areas for human trafficking.
Looking ahead, hundreds of millions of young people are coming into the marketplace looking for jobs. The name of Jesus is rarely heard in these regions. The rampant unemployment makes people vulnerable to human trafficking; little prospect of decent jobs creates high-risk environments for trafficking and prostitution. These evils and dire needs correlate. We can never have long-term, sustainable, and relevant solutions unless we address economic issues and business development. BAM (Business as Mission) gives an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate the love of God among the least, the lost, and the lowliest.
>> Full article (190 KB PDF)
>> BAM section of the Lausanne Movement’s website.
EVENTS – Perspectives Classes to Open in 16 US States
Source: Perspectives Study Program, July 27, 2009
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement classes are starting across the US in a few weeks. Help recruit; visit for free during the first or second week and bring a friend. If there’s no class near you, consider helping coordinate one in 2010!
Louisville, KY (starts 8/10/2009)
Louisville, KY (starts 8/11/2009)
Cincinnati, OH (starts 8/12/2009)
Chattanooga, TN (starts 8/16/2009)
Bixby, OK (starts 8/17/2009)
Brentwood, TN (starts 8/17/2009)
Hampton, VA (starts 8/17/2009)
Vista, CA (starts 8/17/2009)
Lemon Grove, CA (starts 8/18/2009)
Wilmington, NC (starts 8/18/2009)
San Diego, CA (starts 8/19/2009)
Wasilla, AK (starts 8/20/2009)
Johnson City, TN (starts 8/23/2009)
Aspen, CO (starts 8/24/2009)
Auburn, AL (starts 8/24/2009)
Brea, CA (starts 8/24/2009)
Gainesville, FL (starts 8/24/2009)
Kansas City, MO (starts 8/24/2009)
Tyler, TX (starts 8/24/2009)
Largo, FL (starts 8/25/2009)
Midland, TX (starts 8/25/2009)
Santa Ana, CA (starts 8/25/2009)
St. Joseph, MO (starts 8/25/2009)
Keller, TX (starts 8/27/2009)
Colorado Springs, CO (starts 8/30/2009)
Grove City, PA (starts 8/31/2009)
Lubbock, TX (starts 8/31/2009)
Salt Lake City, UT (starts 8/31/2009 )
Frisco, TX (starts 9/1/2009)
Harrisonburg, VA (starts 9/1/2009)
Lynchburg, VA (starts 9/1/2009)
Elverson, PA (starts 9/13/2009)
Gardena, CA (starts 9/14/2009)
Las Vegas, NV (starts 9/14/2009)
Chandler, AZ (starts 9/5/2009)
Lancaster, PA (starts 9/6/2009)
Wayne, PA (starts 9/6/2009)
Pittsburgh, PA (starts 9/8/2009)
Upper St. Clair, PA (starts 9/9/2009)
>> Find classes in other parts of the world.
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