by Jo Plummer & Mats Tunehag

This post is the second in a series of three that share the BAM Global Big Hairy Audacious Goals – our ‘BHAGs’ for the global business as mission movement.

BAM Global aims to be a catalyst for connection and communication across the BAM community. These goals are not ones we expect to accomplish by ourselves, instead they drive our mission to invigorate the BAM movement – to strengthen and enrich this community so that the hundreds and thousands of companies, networks, agencies, churches, institutions, etc. in the movement see these BHAGs realised together.

The BHAG: Reach a tipping point for macro impact through BAM businesses

The global BAM movement has grown rapidly in the last 20-plus years. There are now thousands of BAM businesses, and countless BAM-related initiatives in businesses, churches, missions and academia. As a growing number of business people follow Jesus in the marketplace and shape their businesses for God’s glory and the common good, they will have a positive impact on the financial, social, environmental and spiritual well-being of people and societies.

Through the BAM Think Tank processes we have documented significant holistic transformation taking place through companies, affecting many stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers, neighbours, officials, etc. – and on many levels. The BAM ecosystem is now large, varied and global, and has the hallmarks of a true movement. This is a positive growth and a strength. 

However, now we need to go further, to build on this growth and better ‘connect the dots’ of BAM to enable greater impact. Transformation on a macro level is yet to emerge; on cultures, industries, cities and nations. To create momentum for macro transformation we need to scale up, multiply and reach a critical mass of business as mission initiatives in cities, nations and industries.

BAM Global works alongside others to increase both intellectual and social capital in the business as mission movement globally, to catalyse growth in both the number and quality of BAM businesses. We want to see more BAM businesses of all sizes, bigger BAM businesses and better connected BAM businesses. We need a growing diversity of businesses in terms of scale, industry and focus, supported by a healthy BAM ecosystem that provides supporting functions to BAM companies. This ecosystem will include a growing number of incubators, accelerators, investors, mentors, trainers, community builders, intercessors, researchers, teachers, and so on, connected to each other and to BAM companies.

Growth will require focused efforts on mobilising and equipping more BAM practitioners, as well as providing venues for the BAM community learn and cooperate. It will also involve engaging with other transformational influencers in society, building vertical links with policy shapers, legislators, educators, and others.

To this end, BAM Global will facilitate communication, connection and collaboration among BAM leaders and practitioners. BAM Global will nurture networks and communities focused around industries, geographical areas and special interests. We will also provide forums, tools, resources and case studies that support the growth of the BAM ecosystem as whole.

As the Business as Mission Manifesto puts it:  

We believe that the Gospel has the power to transform individuals, communities and societies. Christians in business should therefore be a part of this holistic transformation through business. We recognise that there is a need for job creation and for multiplication of businesses all over the world, aiming at the quadruple bottom line: spiritual, economical, social and environmental transformation. We acknowledge that real bottom line of BAM is “ad maiorem Dei gloriam” – for the greater glory of God.

 

Read More >> Transforming Views of Business in the Church Worldwide

Read More >> Solving Global Issues with Innovative BAM Solutions

 

Download PDF copy of the three BAM Global BHAGs

 

Mats Tunehag is a senior global ambassador for BAM and has worked in over half the countries of the world. He is the chairman of BAM Global and contributes to TransformationalSME.org. Visit MatsTunehag.com for BAM resources in 21 languages.

 

 Jo Plummer is the co-chair of BAM Global and co-editor the Lausanne Occasional Paper on Business as Mission. She has been developing resources for BAM since 2001 and currently serves as Editor of the Business as Mission website and blog.

 

 

 

This blog was first published on The BAM Review in April 2019 and is reposted this month to tie in with our February Future-Think webinar series, part of the lead-in to the BAM Global Congress.

 

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