1. Seek the Lord
Take time to pray. If God is calling you to serve Him in business, ask where, when, how, with who? What path of preparation is He leading you on?
WHAT IS BAM?
CLICK HERE TO READ AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AS MISSION
What is Business as Mission?
As Dallas Willard once said, “Business is a primary moving force of the love of God in human history.” Business, done well, is glorifying to God. Period. There is an intrinsic power in business to create dignified jobs, to multiply resources through creativity and hard work, to provide for families and communities, to push forward innovation, and, in short, to do good in society. We don’t have to tack on a mission strategy to justify a company’s purpose or to somehow make that work holy. Business professionals following Jesus in the marketplace already have a sacred vocation.
However, there is also a huge opportunity before us to leverage that God-given power of business to address some of the most pressing spiritual, social, environmental and economic issues in the world today… To make a positive impact through for-profit business, along the ‘quadruple bottom lines’ of people, planet, profit and eternal purpose.
There is a growing movement in the global church of people grasping this opportunity and they go by many different labels. One of them is ‘Business as Mission’ – a community of those building God’s kingdom through business, among the most vulnerable, most disadvantaged and most out of reach of the gospel in our neighborhoods and around the world today.
Business as mission is demonstrating what the Kingdom of God is like in the context of business – and as we do so, engaging with the world’s more pressing social, economic, environmental and spiritual issues.
Defining BAM?!
There is no one universally agreed definition of business as mission, but there are some key common denominators in the global BAM movement. And while there is growing consensus around the concept, many other terms are also used for the same, or similar, idea. Many prefer terms such as: missional entrepreneurship, transformational business, missional business or business for transformation (B4T), among others. Business as mission, or “BAM”, is just one widely used term in the English language, other terms have developed in other languages.
This is the working definition of business as mission used by BAM Global:
Business as Mission is:
- Profitable and sustainable businesses;
- Intentional about Kingdom of God purpose and impact on people and nations;
- Focused on holistic transformation and the multiple bottom lines of economic, social, environmental and spiritual outcomes;
- Concerned about the world’s poorest and least evangelized peoples.
Intentional and Integrated
Business as mission is not a new idea! Business and mission have been combined in different ways, at different times throughout Church history. However, the contemporary business as mission movement represents a growing intentionality in the global Church to fully integrate business goals with the call to the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. It is an answer to the prayer, ‘May Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’, as people and communities are positively transformed through for-profit business activities. BAM is the intentional integration of business and mission.
Business is a God-given vocation and institution in society, with the potential to bring multiple benefits to people, communities and nations. Business as mission intentionally leverages this intrinsic power of business to address spiritual needs, hand in hand with social, economic and environmental needs.
The idea of integration is important. This is not ‘ministry’ tacked onto business for convenience or business tacked onto ministry. Instead the mission is worked out in and through the business, through its activities, through the products and services and through relationships.
As already stated, business is design by God to have the potential and power to generate wealth through a combination of creativity, hard work and risk. A profitable and sustainable business is able to create new jobs, drive new innovations and increase resources for society. Business can provide goods and services that are needed in a community and is established on a wide network of relationships.
These activities, products and relationships are integral to business and part of the God-given potential of business to do good in the world and glorify Him. We can harness that potential and power of business to join in with God’s mission to the world in strategic ways. Through business we can intentionally tackle poverty, increase quality of life, bring positive social change, and carry with us the message of eternal life.
Business as mission is a concept that can and should be applied everywhere, but the business as mission movement has a special concern for people and places where there are dire economic, social, environmental and spiritual needs – Mats Tunehag
We invite you to be inspired and equipped by the stories and resources that we’ve created and curated on this Business as Mission Resource website.
by Jo Plummer
Updated October 2023
WHAT IS GOD DOING THROUGH BUSINESS?!
10 THINGS TO READ NEXT
4 THINGS TO READ NEXT
Four Things to Read Next
From shortest to longest:
4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS AS MISSION
A blog length article covering the fundamentals of BAM.
BUSINESS AS MISSION AND THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE
A short introduction to business as mission and why it is strategic in global mission today. Includes a recommended resource list.
A six page introduction and overview of some key ideas in business as mission. Just one of many introductory articles by Mats Tunehag, in numerous language translations.
LAUSANNE OCCASIONAL PAPER ON BUSINESS AS MISSION
Written as a result of a unique collaborative effort by more than 70 Christian leaders and business as mission pioneers, this was the first attempt to bring a broad international and multi-disciplined perspective to business as mission. Chapter 9 is the one page BAM Manifesto.
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A collection of reports on various topics such as BAM and Church Planting, BAM and Human Trafficking, Franchising, Biblical Foundations for BAM, plus reports from different global regions and countries. Something for everyone.
6 BOOKS TO START WITH
Six Recommended Books
Gea Gort & Mats Tunehag, 2018
A great introductory book to business as mission. Interweaves foundation-laying chapters on the concept of BAM, with case study chapters, sharing the stories of real companies.
Patrick Lai, 2015
This is a book that focuses on the practical how-tos of doing business for transformation. It’s a good, concise guide for people who want to start a BAM company.
BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business
Wayne Grudem, 2003
A short read which will a lay strong foundation for thinking biblically about business. Consider fundamental tenants of business, such as ownership, profit, employment, competition, in a whole new light.
BUSINESS AS MISSION: The Power of Business in the Kingdom of God
Mike Baer, 2006
Takes the reader from where they are on a journey towards the seamless integration of business as mission. A great place to start on your BAM journey.
GREAT COMMISSION COMPANIES: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions
Steve Rundle and Tom Steffen, 2011 (Second Edition)
The first half covers principles for business as mission and the second half is dedicated to six stories of BAM in practice. Together these form a comprehensive overview that brings BAM alive for the reader.
THE MISSIONAL ENTREPRENEUR: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission
Mark Russell, 2009
Based on an extensive study of what BAM looks like in real-life, this is a great introduction to business as mission in practice. Recommended for its user-friendly approach to equipping would-be missional entrepreneurs.
GET READY
FOUR PILLARS OF BAM PREPARATION
INTRODUCTION
A BAM business is like a house built on pillars, no matter what shape it is, what it looks like on the outside, the pillars (or foundations) must be strong to support the house. BAM models and strategies will naturally be diverse. God is creative and He has made each of us to be creative. There is no single BAM model that will work for everyone, everywhere. Each individual launching into BAM will have different experiences and a different journey of preparation. However, there are at least four areas that need to be intentionally built to form a strong foundation for all BAM businesses.
Like the pillars supporting a house if one of these areas is weak or missing, the whole structure will be unstable. If you are getting ready for business as mission, be intentional about building up these four pillars of BAM preparation.
PILLAR #1
Personal Character and Spiritual Formation
Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5, NIV). We will not magically become godly business as mission owners or employees that bear much fruit. Right where we are now, let’s be committed to walking closely with Jesus in everything we do, growing in the fruit of the Spirit as His disciples. Prayer, ethical business practice, healthy marriage and family life, the way we relate to others, our attitude to money, the leading of the Holy Spirit, these are all essential areas to nurture and cultivate for healthy lives – and healthy BAM practice. Neglect or outright sin in these areas will destroy our credibility and quite possibly our business. Weak character or immaturity in Christ will be a hidden fault line in our BAM foundations. Although all of us fall short and our efforts and resources alone will not please God; we must be quick to repent, patient to seek God and be committed to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5: 13-25).
PILLAR #2
Biblical Foundations
Ideas have consequences. The way we think and what we value will shape our actions, behaviours and what we build. Whether our thinking about business has been moulded by secular ideas or from our church heritage, we need to make an honest evaluation. Many of us need to dismantle the way that we think about business and intentionally develop a biblical worldview of work, business and the economic sphere (not to mention, mission, relationships and human flourishing!) In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, Paul the Apostle unpacks one of the reasons he was in the ‘tentmaking’ business. He explains that he worked hard in order to give the Thessalonians an example to imitate. Paul was teaching, and also modelling, the Bible’s view about work and business. At the time, the prevailing Greek-Roman culture had a low view of the material world, manual labour was disdained. There was a sharp divide between what was considered ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’. This sacred-secular divide is prevalent in our churches today and influences the thinking of many Christians, weakening our foundations. All work, all vocations have the potential to glorify God and business has an innate power to transform lives and communities for good. Business as mission is merely an expression of that potential that should be built on strong biblical foundations.
PILLAR #3
Business Excellence
As we launch into business as mission we cannot neglect the sound business practice that applies to any business. The business and economic sphere is governed by natural laws, just as gravity is. We wouldn’t dream of going to the top of a tall building, praying with our prayer partner and jumping off, expecting an act of spiritual devotion to save us! Yet too often in business as mission we have prayed and hoped for the best whilst neglecting fundamental business principles. Business startups have a high failure rate in general, BAM startups face a whole range of additional challenges. We must gain the business skills and experience that we will need to understand our industry, business model and business context. We need to crunch the numbers, do the financial planning, conduct market research, develop an HR plan, manage our risk and so on. We cannot neglect the expertise we will need to put the necessary systems in place as our business grows. If we don’t have the experience and expertise we need, we must diligently build a team, develop partnerships, take a course, find a coach or mentor, engage a board of advisors, hire a lawyer and so on. Let us be committed to do business with excellence.
PILLAR #4
Business as Mission Best Practice
We are building on the shoulders of a generation of business as mission pioneers. There have been successes and failures that we can learn from. There is a growing body of resources dedicated to unearthing BAM principles and fruitful practices. Let us learn from those and avoid reinventing the wheel or making unnecessary mistakes. Take time to build up your understanding of fruitful BAM practice: read stories, research BAM experiences in a particular industry, visit BAM companies, go to a BAM conference. In whatever way possible, learn lessons from others who are willing to share them. Here are some helpful resources to start: BAM Think Tank papers, Stories, Books containing case studies.
INTRODUCTION
A BAM business is like a house built on pillars, no matter what shape it is, what it looks like on the outside, the pillars (or foundations) must be strong to support the house. BAM models and strategies will naturally be diverse. God is creative and He has made each of us to be creative. There is no single BAM model that will work for everyone, everywhere. Each individual launching into BAM will have different experiences and a different journey of preparation. However, there are at least four areas that need to be intentionally built to form a strong foundation for all BAM businesses.
Like the pillars supporting a house if one of these areas is weak or missing, the whole structure will be unstable. If you are getting ready for business as mission, be intentional about building up these four pillars of BAM preparation.
PILLAR #1
Personal Character and Spiritual Formation
Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5, NIV). We will not magically become godly business as mission owners or employees that bear much fruit. Right where we are now, let’s be committed to walking closely with Jesus in everything we do, growing in the fruit of the Spirit as His disciples. Prayer, ethical business practice, healthy marriage and family life, the way we relate to others, our attitude to money, the leading of the Holy Spirit, these are all essential areas to nurture and cultivate for healthy lives – and healthy BAM practice. Neglect or outright sin in these areas will destroy our credibility and quite possibly our business. Weak character or immaturity in Christ will be a hidden fault line in our BAM foundations. Although all of us fall short and our efforts and resources alone will not please God; we must be quick to repent, patient to seek God and be committed to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5: 13-25).
PILLAR #2
Biblical Foundations
Ideas have consequences. The way we think and what we value will shape our actions, behaviours and what we build. Whether our thinking about business has been moulded by secular ideas or from our church heritage, we need to make an honest evaluation. Many of us need to dismantle the way that we think about business and intentionally develop a biblical worldview of work, business and the economic sphere (not to mention, mission, relationships and human flourishing!) In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, Paul the Apostle unpacks one of the reasons he was in the ‘tentmaking’ business. He explains that he worked hard in order to give the Thessalonians an example to imitate. Paul was teaching, and also modelling, the Bible’s view about work and business. At the time, the prevailing Greek-Roman culture had a low view of the material world, manual labour was disdained. There was a sharp divide between what was considered ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’. This sacred-secular divide is prevalent in our churches today and influences the thinking of many Christians, weakening our foundations. All work, all vocations have the potential to glorify God and business has an innate power to transform lives and communities for good. Business as mission is merely an expression of that potential that should be built on strong biblical foundations.
PILLAR #3
Business Excellence
As we launch into business as mission we cannot neglect the sound business practice that applies to any business. The business and economic sphere is governed by natural laws, just as gravity is. We wouldn’t dream of going to the top of a tall building, praying with our prayer partner and jumping off, expecting an act of spiritual devotion to save us! Yet too often in business as mission we have prayed and hoped for the best whilst neglecting fundamental business principles. Business startups have a high failure rate in general, BAM startups face a whole range of additional challenges. We must gain the business skills and experience that we will need to understand our industry, business model and business context. We need to crunch the numbers, do the financial planning, conduct market research, develop an HR plan, manage our risk and so on. We cannot neglect the expertise we will need to put the necessary systems in place as our business grows. If we don’t have the experience and expertise we need, we must diligently build a team, develop partnerships, take a course, find a coach or mentor, engage a board of advisors, hire a lawyer and so on. Let us be committed to do business with excellence.
PILLAR #4
Business as Mission Best Practice
We are building on the shoulders of a generation of business as mission pioneers. There have been successes and failures that we can learn from. There is a growing body of resources dedicated to unearthing BAM principles and fruitful practices. Let us learn from those and avoid reinventing the wheel or making unnecessary mistakes. Take time to build up your understanding of fruitful BAM practice: read stories, research BAM experiences in a particular industry, visit BAM companies, go to a BAM conference. In whatever way possible, learn lessons from others who are willing to share them. Here are some helpful resources to start: BAM Think Tank papers, Stories, Books containing case studies.
NEXT STEPS
FIVE TIPS FOR STARTING A BAM JOURNEY
Getting stirred up for business as mission? Wondering how to get started? Here are our top five tips:
EXPLORE MORE
Ideas for an interactive element for ‘Take the Next Step’
1 . Accordion Slider
GET READY
A BAM business is like a house built on pillars, no matter what shape it is, what it looks like on the outside, the pillars (or foundations) must be strong to support the house. BAM models and strategies will naturally be diverse. God is creative and He has made each of us to be creative. There is no single BAM model that will work for everyone, everywhere. Each individual launching into BAM will have different experiences and a different journey of preparation. However, there are at least four areas that need to be intentionally built to form a strong foundation for all BAM businesses.
Like the pillars supporting a house if one of these areas is weak or missing, the whole structure will be unstable. If you are getting ready for business as mission, be intentional about building up these four pillars of BAM preparation.
>> PILLAR 1
PILLAR #1
PILLAR #2
PILLAR #3
PILLAR #4
2. Horizontal gallery
3. Icon Circles
4. Masonary portfolio
5. Timeline