Let’s Get Local: Developing Both the Localization and Globalization of BAM

by Joseph Vijayam

In 2013 I was on a business trip in Jakarta. One afternoon my host asked if I would join him for a gathering of believers in his office building. To my surprise, this was not a small gathering of believers; it was a full-fledged worship service with songs, intercession, testimonies, and a short sermon with over 100 people in attendance. During the time of testimonies, people were sharing about their needs, including those at work, home, and in their communities. One of the business owners in the room shared that he sees himself as a pastor to his co-workers. At that moment, I realized that here in one of the megacities of Asia, weekly church service had taken a new form. The venue was a business conference room, the people in attendance came as individuals rather than families, significant time was spent in sharing of testimonies by new believers, and the time of their meeting was on a busy weekday. Every aspect of the event perfectly fit the needs of first-generation believers working in high rise offices in Jakarta. 

Though the purpose and function of the Body of Christ have remained the same, its local form has changed from age to age and from one culture to another. What I experienced in Jakarta was a unique expression of the local church that is ideal to the city of Jakarta for this generation. If the gathering of believers can take different forms, can our approach to bringing people into the Church be just as creative and specific to their situation? Not only do I believe that it can, I think it is essential.  Read more

What is Success? Advancing Spiritual Impact in BAM

by Tom

It is easy to be confused by how success in business as mission (BAM) is defined today from a spiritual perspective.

Once-upon-a-time the core concept of BAM was to have a spiritual impact. The reality that a business needed to be profitable should also have been a given, after all, a business that does not make money can’t survive or, as we say in BAM, cannot be sustainable. Even with this relative simplicity, being able to measure spiritual impact seemed elusive.

Early definitions struggled between Business AS Mission and Business FOR Mission both of which held that a central purpose was spiritual transformation. Early theological debates centered around the secular-sacred divide, could business even be spiritual? There were common perceptions of money and profit, often portrayed as evil and exploitive among Christians, that needed to be overcome. Business AS Mission assumed that when operations aligned with spiritual values, businesses could and would produce spiritual results when driven by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Business FOR Mission simply used the profits of a business to support traditional missional activity.

Today the definition of BAM has expanded to include an emphasis on poverty alleviation and job creation etc., issues that are also popular in the secular social enterprise world. However, one danger we face is that while we are expanding, we might also lose what makes us distinctive, appearing to put less and less emphasis on spirituality or spiritual impact. Yet, without intentional spiritual impact BAM is not any different than any well-meaning secular program.

Twenty years on from the early days of the business as mission movement, we continue to wrestle with this topic of spiritual impact in BAM!  Read more

50+ BAM Job Opportunities Around the World

Each quarter we post an updated list of BAM Job Opportunities on The BAM Review. Welcome to the May 2019 edition.

 

NEW: Agriculture Company for Ownership Transfer – East Asia

We are an American company registered as manufacturer of small agriculture machines. We can also import and sell small ag related products; develop, produce and sell, environmental protection tech/equipment, greenhouse technology; consulting, horticulture, seeds fertilizers etc. Including VAT license, and I-E approval. Download PDF for more info
 

Positions in Multiple Companies – Transformational SME

Transformational SME is a global community that assists Christian-owned and managed small-to-medium size enterprises (SMEs) to grow in size, profitability and wholistic impact across North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Transformational SME helps companies to identify, recruit, deploy and support entrepreneurs, managers and other professionals for strategic roles. Whether your strength is business management, people development or you have a passion for maximizing business and manufacturing processes, business as mission has something for you!  Most companies have need for competent people with business skills to manage growth and impact. Using your transferable skills and passionate spirit for the Kingdom of God, you can contribute to the wholistic impact of an existing BAM company across North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. For an exploratory conversation contact: TransformationalSME@gmail.com

CEO – International School in South Asia

This International School supports the educational needs of a wide variety of expatriates and nationals serving in this nation including mission, NGO, business and diplomatic families. The CEO should be a Christian with management and/or small business skills. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO is responsible for the operation of the school and works closely with the Principal who manages the Academics and day to day functions of the school, and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) who implements, manages and reviews all aspects of HR and asset management. Contact Email 

Microcredit Company – Central Asia

The company began by experimenting with small loans for business development 20 years ago and has turned into a profitable and growing company of 80 staff in 7 branches. It has 4500 active clients and close to $3M in loans outstanding. These loans help farmers and business people expand business and create jobs in a creative access country in Central Asia. They are currently recruiting for the following roles:

Finance/Accounting Manager – 2+ years

Manager of Operations, Sales and Marketing – 2+ years

IT Specialist/Programmer – A short-term (1-2 month) commitment would be considered for this role

Contact Email 

Goat Dairy – Southeast Asia

This Goat Dairy Company has leveraged a technologically innovative and scalable model for producing shelf stable goat milk and related products at commercially significant volumes to meet the demand of an existing and dynamically expanding market.  The farm’s milking operations, processing and packaging is done on site.  The Company aims to address poverty and human trafficking in the communities in which it operates by creating sustainable income-generating opportunities for the rural poor. 

Farm Manager – The company is in a period of rapid growth and recruiting for a Farm Manager with experience in any commercial dairy farm management. Language learning is recommended. The candidate should hold a degree in farm management or 3-5 years’ experience. An in-country salary will be paid based on experience.  Some fund raising may be necessary. 

Head of Herd Reproductive and Health Services – The qualified candidate should be a Vet, Vet Tech, Animal Scientist or have required practical experience in developing and implementing herd health protocols and artificial insemination in dairy animals; small ruminants preferred, but not required. Language learning is recommended. An in-country salary will be paid based on experience.  Some fund raising may be necessary.

Contact Email   Read more

Transforming the Church, One Engaged Business Person at a Time

by Larry Sharp

Over the years I have had various business owners and executives travel with me as I’ve coached and supported companies around the world. On one particular trip, the VP of a Fortune 500 company came with me and some others to a former Soviet Republic country. He had gone on many mission trips, built churches, passed out tracts, and tutored English – all good things! But in Kazakhstan he helped Kazakh believers and expats with business mentoring on topics like making financial projections, contract law, and international marketing. On the trip home he told me that he finally saw how his skills can be used to build the kingdom of God. “Where are we going next?” he asked, after a short time of reflection at home.

I have had many experiences like this, witnessing firsthand the moment business people have felt affirmed and become engaged in using their skills and experience in business as mission. They go from seeing their contribution as limited to PRAY or PAY, and start to realise they can be actively involved – i.e. PLAY! And there are multiple ways for people to get engaged.

For the first time she saw that her business ability and position was a God-given asset.

A young fellow about 30 years old heard me speak in a large mega-church in Pennsylvania. He asked to meet with me and said, “All this is new to me and I don’t think my wife will want to move outside the state, what can I do?” After finding out he was the owner of an SEO company with 14 employees, I said absolutely – and you don’t even have to leave your computer. He has been a wonderful contributor to business startups in unreached areas of the world.

On another occasion, I spoke in a church in the Philadelphia area one Sunday morning. The pastor seemed open to all I spoke about that morning but the real encouragement was talking to several business people afterwards. One woman was a chemical engineer, a former Proctor and Gamble manager who supervised the development of Pampers. She joined our team and helped us with our “product development” when we were just getting going as a BAM consulting group.  Read more