Solving Global Issues with Innovative BAM Solutions

by Jo Plummer & Mats Tunehag

This post is the third 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 is one of the founding partners of this website and 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: Solve global issues with innovative BAM solutions

Business as mission is about serving God and people, seeking holistic transformation through business. We know that businesses are strong transformational agents and they can bring solutions to many human problems and needs.

The biggest lift out of poverty in the history of mankind has taken place in our generation. This has happened not through aid but trade – through businesses – especially small and medium sized companies. Financial wealth has been created through business, but so has physical wealth (health, medicines, etc.), cultural wealth (books, theatres, museums, etc.), and many other kids of wealth. Wealth creation through business and job creation has been and continues to be a key driver for welcome progress in society. 

BAM Global focuses attention on BAM solutions to strategic global issues on every continent. These issues are global and transnational, and they affect nations and peoples around the world. As a global BAM movement, we are addressing some of these challenges, but we need further reflection and action. Thus, BAM Global focuses on strategic issues such as:

‣  Unreached peoples – the role of business in bringing the whole gospel to the whole world.

‣  Poverty – the need for job creation and providing essential goods and services.

‣  Slavery – the role of business in prevention and restoration of victims of human trafficking.

‣  Corruption – encouraging Christian business leaders as they model and multiply ethical business practices.

‣  Creation care – the opportunity for businesses to take a lead in good stewardship of earth’s resources, and to innovate and find business solutions to environmental issues.

BAM Global is working alongside networks and groups in the global BAM ecosystem focused on these issues, and we will initiate new Think Tank Working Groups where there are gaps. We will also continue to create resources and promote case studies that will equip practitioners focused on these global issues.

From the  Wealth Creation Manifesto and Business as Mission Manifesto:

Business has a special capacity to create financial wealth, but also has the potential to create different kinds of wealth for many stakeholders, including social, intellectual, physical and spiritual wealth. Wealth creation through business has proven power to lift people and nations out of poverty.

We believe in following in the footsteps of Jesus, who constantly and consistently met the needs of the people he encountered, thus demonstrating the love of God and the rule of His kingdom. We recognise the fact that poverty and unemployment are often rampant in areas where the name of Jesus is rarely heard and understood.

 

Read More >> Reaching a Tipping Point for Macro Impact Through BAM Businesses
Read More >> Transforming Views of Business in the Church Worldwide

 

Download PDF copy of the three BAM Global BHAGs

 

Mats TunehagMats 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 of the Freedom Business Alliance. Visit MatsTunehag.com for BAM resources in 19 languages.

 

Jo Plummer 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.