Research and Teaching: How Academics Help the Growth and Sustainability of the BAM Movement
by Andrea Soberg
How can academics assist in the growth and sustainability of BAM organizations?
When I started to write this blog, I asked ChatGPT (as is done by many academics today to begin the thought process of a writing project) what the role of an academic was. The answer indicated that we, as academics, have a two-fold responsibility to society. Through our advanced education, that gets us to the level of being identified as an academic, we are expected to share our knowledge and skills through teaching the next generation and we are also expected to expand our knowledge on our areas of discipline by conducting scholarly research.
As Christian academics we have an added responsibility to enhance our teaching and research by discovering the biblical foundation of discipline specific concepts, theories, and practices. This is accomplished by doing personal research and development on integration of faith and learning, and by giving of our gifts and talents to the requirement for knowledge of best practices in demonstrating missio Dei in the marketplace.
As part of our jobs at universities and colleges, no matter if these institutions are Christian or secular, we are given time, and sometimes financial resources, to conduct research and further learning in our areas of expertise. Businesses and business leaders in the BAM sphere need help in knowing how best to manage and sustain their organizations that have a quadruple bottom line. We, as Christian academics can provide that help.
In 2004, at the conclusion of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism, held in Pattaya, Thailand, the Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 59 was published on Business as Mission. In that report, many recommendations were made that included those for Christian Training Institutions. These recommendations included the development and delivery of courses which had a “biblically integrated holistic worldview” and also conducting research and developing case studies on enterprises and their kingdom impact. Since that time, some research has been conducted, in the form of doctoral theses, but it appears that there hasn’t been a coordinated and concerted effort towards scholarly research that could assist and enhance the work of BAM leaders and organizations around the globe.
Over the last several years, many BAM Global reports and academic research have indicated the need for more development in this area. This need for research was highlighted in a BAM Global Think Tank Report in 2014 that indicated the need for scholars in BAM research. In the abstract of the article by Rundle and Lee (2022)[1] they indicate, “interest in BAM has grown exponentially, and with it, demand for support services, training, and financing. For all the attention, however, scholarly research in this area has not kept pace, and there remain many unknowns about the personal and contextual factors that contribute to the impact and sustainability of a BAM enterprise”. Conclusions from research that I conducted in 2023[2], indicated that very few Christian universities and colleges are offering courses or programs focused on BAM that would prepare future business professionals and missionaries for BAM work. The conclusion of these reports is that much work by academics is needed to further enhance the Kingdom of God in the workplace, society, and the economy.
The Eido Research report on the State of the BAM Movement and the international study, referenced above, conducted by Rundle and Lee (2022) help us in recognizing some of the knowledge and skill gaps. Rundle and Lee identified specific future research that is needed. Many business professors at Christian colleges and universities don’t know how or where to begin with their scholarly work, which, in many institutions, is the requirement for promotion and tenure. These two studies provide academics with the direction for further work and demonstrate to us, as Christian academics, the need for our involvement in the BAM ecosystem. Here are very specific avenues where God can use our talents, skills, and areas of passion to enhance His kingdom. Let’s show the world how God’s Word and Spirit can transform society.
In 2024, upon retirement from being faculty at the School of Business at Trinity Western University in Canada, I was given the opportunity by BAM Global to develop a network and catalyze connections for academics interested in teaching and research in the field of BAM. In 2024 and 2025, the BAM Academic Network was involved in the BAM Global Summits by providing presentations on some recent research on BAM related topics. Over the last year, a data base of like-minded academics from around the globe has been created and some networking has begun.
The goal of the BAM Academics Network is three-fold: networking; research; and teaching/student engagement. Let’s work together to achieve these goals. Let me know how you might get engaged – connect with me via the BAM Academics Network page.
Andrea Soberg is Professor Emerita of Business at Trinity Western University (TWU), Canada. She held several positions in her career at TWU including Dean and Associate Dean of the School of Business, Director of the Centre for Global Entrepreneurship, tenured faculty teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate business program and led the development and growth of the undergraduate program in human resource management. She is the author of several articles in the field of human resources and has been a presenter at several national and international conferences. She has also been a guest lecturer at other business schools in Canada, US, Europe, and China and is currently a reviewer of books and articles on leadership for the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics (CEME), Oxford. Her recent research is on the integration of faith in the markeplace.
Footnotes
[1] Rundle, S., & Lee, M.-D. P. (2022). The motivations, backgrounds, and practices of business as mission practitioners: Insights from an international survey. Missiology, 50(4), 420-441.
[2] Soberg, A. (2025) Are Christian Business Schools Adequately Developing Leaders for Organizations with a Business as Mission Purpose? Zadok Papers, S291, Autumn 2025.