Tag Archive for: movement

BAM is Not New: A Short History of Business and Mission Separation versus Integration

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by Larry Sharp

 

Recently, I was reading the Bible verse which says: “What has been, will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Eccl. 1:9. I am sure that in our age of innovation and entrepreneurship, people might want to dispute it but let us take it at face value regarding Business as Mission (BAM).

Some imply that BAM is something new and some even have told me that it is a passing fad; but, what about the essence of BAM? BAM believes Deut. 8:18 where God tells Moses that He (God) gives mankind the ability to create wealth. BAM believes the Great Commandment of Jesus that we love our neighbor (MK 12:31), one application of which is to create jobs. BAM believes we are to make disciples of Jesus (MT 28:19-20). BAM believes that we are to be stewards of all of God’s creation (Gen 2:15).

All of that did not start 30 years ago. The latest iteration of it may have; but not the essence of it. Let’s look at a super-short history of God at work in the world.

Old Testament: Think of any character in the Old Testament and while there are many prophets, most were marketplace people, whom God used to accomplish his purposes—Noah, Abraham, Moses, Boaz, Daniel, David, Deborah, Gideon, Hezekiah, Job, Nehemiah, and more.

New Testament: While the New Testament is rightly heavy on the apostles, especially Paul, Acts 8:1-4 explains how the gospel spread so quickly. “…all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” and they “…preached the word wherever they went…” In fact, they went even beyond to other places such as Asia and Africa. They met in homes and they lived out the gospel in the marketplace.

Early Centuries: Paul’s bi-vocational ministry model was common among apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors in the Early Church. Tertullian, a renowned 2nd century church father, lauded the practice. It not only provided for God’s servants and for the poor but relieved the growing church of heavy financial burdens.

From the 3rd-5th centuries, prominent bishops in different parts of Christendom were tentmakers. Chrysostom of Constantinople spoke of rural pastors who yoked oxen and drove the plough. Of course, local believers lived out their faith in the workplace.

Constantine to the Reformation: We have this era to blame for the “sacred-secular divide.” Constantine (300’s AD) began the practice of paying the clergy and thus began the practice of the professional clergy, something affirmed by Augustine in the 5th century. All the while, the church grew as individuals testified and demonstrated the Good News.

Reformers: As Martin Luther declared the “priesthood of the believers”, he challenged the idea of a divide between the sacred and the secular. Luther, Calvin, and other reformers validated the idea that living out the faith at all times was something normal in all venues of life, not something segmented off for the professional clergy.

Reformation to nineteenth century: Somewhere along the line, the first-century term “tentmaker” caught on again, and bi-vocational missional workers emerged again. Perhaps most notable were the Moravians who took their trade with them wherever they went. These practical skills contributed to the economic development of the people they served, and provided frequent, natural contacts for spiritual outreach.

The Father of Modern Missions, William Carey, was a tentmaker as he brought spiritual and societal transformation to north India as a plantation manager, college professor, translator, printer and publisher. Similarly, David Livingstone, E. Stanley Jones, Robert Morrison, Gladys Aylward, Lottie Moon, and many others integrated “secular” work with their sacred calling in a holistic transformational manner.

Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: Phenomena such as colonial dependency, international banking, the faith mission concept, and the dichotomy of rich and poor nations brought about the demise of tentmaking and exacerbated the sacred-secular divide that we have today. By the end of the twentieth century, the norm was to send and pay clergy, called missionaries, to spread the gospel while everyone else was to pray and give money. It did not help that many western countries took a well-meaning political ideology called the “separation of church and state” and applied it to all of life, thus allowing the unfortunate “sacred-secular divide” to raise its ugly head.

Hope for the Future: Toward the end of the twentieth century, the closing of most countries of the world to missionaries and the development of a robust theology of work gave impetus to a tentmaker strategy again along with the Business as Mission movement. Billy Graham set the tone for what many call the Faith-Work movement, or Marketplace Ministries when he stated, “I believe one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace.” [1]

In the “Business as Mission” iteration of God at work in the world of work today, we have the pioneers of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s to thank for the courage to demonstrate and articulate what it is. These are people whose names are familiar to us today as current leaders in the movement, among many others from all continents.

Our Business as Mission strategy is the latest and best outworking of the integration of faith and work. Gea Gort, a leader in BAM Netherlands, quotes a friend as saying “Five hundred years ago, we had a reformation of dogma. Now, we have a reformation of mission.” She summed it up in one sentence. “It is a missional way of living out the whole incarnated gospel in our daily life, where we work and where we live.”

To my way of thinking, it is a return to the MO (modus operandi) of the New Testament believers who “…went from place to place, proclaiming the word.” (Acts 8:4 RSV) or in the words of Michael Green, “…this must often have been not formal preaching, but the informal chattering to friends or chance acquaintances, in homes and wine shops, on walks, and around market stalls… they did it naturally, enthusiastically, and with the conviction of those who are not paid to say that sort of thing.” [2]

 

First published on the IBEC Ventures Blog and republished here with kind permission from the author.

 

Larry Sharp is the Founder and current BAM Support Specialist of a Business for Transformation (BAM, B4t) consulting firm, International Business and Education Consultants (www.ibecventures.com). Larry served 21 years in Brazil and then 20 years as Crossworld VP of Operations and as Vice President of Business Partnerships. He is currently a VP Emeritus and consultant with Crossworld. Since 2007 he has devoted energies toward Business as Mission (BAM) and currently is a consultant on BAM and education themes. Larry travels within North America speaking and teaching in conferences, colleges and churches on themes related to Business As Mission (BAM, B4t) and missions. His travels abroad relate to BAM, crisis preparation and management, and team building. 

 

 

 

Get Larry’s Book: Missions Disrupted

Available at all good book stores online!

 

 

Footnotes:

[1] Os Hillman in C. Neal Johnson, Business as Mission, 2009, p. 90

[2] Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church, 1970, p. 173

 

 

 

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

 

 

Why All BAM Practitioners Can Benefit from Mission Agencies

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by Larry Sharp

 

The word ‘missionary’ is relatively new in the history of the English language. It has its origin with the Jesuits who sent certain members on a mission to establish Roman Catholic churches where there were none. The term is derived from Latin missionem nom., missio), meaning ‘act of sending’ or mittere, meaning ‘to send’.

Today Protestant missionaries have a strong history but with mixed understandings of what is meant by the term. Common definitions are not unlike one on Wikipedia, “a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people.”

Nondenominational protestant missionary agencies as we know them today date back to the late 1700s with the likes of the Basel Mission in Switzerland, The Baptist Missionary Society and London Missionary Society in England and the ABCFM in the United States (1810). Today in the United States, the Missio Nexus agency networking group claims 376 organization members demonstrating the rapid increase of agencies in the past half century.

So, what does this have to do with Business as Mission?

Business as mission (BAM) as we define it today is only about 30 years old. Of course, we know that missional laborers in the marketplace have existed since New Testament times but as a movement contextualized to modern modalities, BAM is very young.

Commonalities and Distinctives of BAM and Traditional Mission Agency Focus

Some key assumptions for this conversation which are common to both missionary work and business as mission:

1. Both the missionary movement and the BAM movement have kingdom of God missional purposes which involve the transformation of individuals and communities.

2. Both the missionary movement and the BAM movement often work in cross cultural environments.

3. Both movements tend to focus on the underserved, i.e. the least reached or the most impoverished, underprivileged and victimized peoples.

Some key assumptions of differences between the two:

1. Mission agency workers are typically full-time religious workers and, if working overseas, seek a religious workers visa for the countries where they work. BAM workers are full-time missional professional businesspeople with business visas, if needed. In terms of mission history, think of medical missionaries and education missionaries as the corollary of business missionaries.

2. Mission agencies often prioritize evangelism and church planting as their modus operandi and report progress to home entities in terms of disciples and churches. BAM workers tend to use the Quadruple Bottom Line as a metric (profitability and sustainability; job creation and social outcomes; spiritual transformation; and creation care.) BAM is hence more eclectic.

3. Many mission agencies would cite the Great Commission as first and foremost priority while BAM workers understand and operationalize the Great Commandment of Jesus to love our fellow humans, along with the Great Commission.

4. Missionaries have a robust mission agency history to depend on for training, support and networking. BAM workers have very little of these and what does exist is relatively immature.

While the above assumptions have many nuances and some may charge that they are oversimplified and superficial, it is the fourth point which is interesting and important as the driving focus of this article.

One BAM practitioner I interviewed, whilst leading robust business operations in Asia, insisted that kingdom businesses need mission agencies, meaning that the agencies have a lot to offer to the BAM operators and the movement. Having served in executive leadership in a mid-sized agency myself for 20 years and nearly as long immersed in the BAM movement, I wholeheartedly concur.

What can the mature agency movement offer to the BAM movement?

Many of the following areas of expertise apply more readily to those BAM practitioners working across cultures, or in near culture situations. I believe all practitioners could benefit from at least some of them.

Training in how to live and serve in another culture

Missionaries are known to stay long term and learn languages and new cultures; they become acculturated to their new homes. They understand the importance of relating to people with their heart language and minimizing cultural mistakes. I well remember how embarrassing it was when we went to a Brazilian birthday party at the time listed on the invitation, which was really 90 minutes or so too early! Learning how to fit in to, another culture is also a concept for ‘doing business’ cross culturally and kingdom business operators can take advantage of systems and trainings developed within the mission community. Even those working primarily in their own culture may have a multi-cultural team or customer base and can learn from agency expertise in this area.

Access to member care

Most mission agencies either provide member care services or outsource to organizations that provide it. It is important that BAM workers flourish personally and professionally. That requires an organized prayer support team, regular communication channels, a godly mentor and resilient team members. Missionaries expect good friends and mentors to ask hard questions. I remember when I supervised missionaries in Brazil, I would visit every year. I did not want to disappoint Dave on the field who, upon my arrival, always asked questions like, “what good books have your read lately?” or “what is God teaching you recently?” When there are specialized needs, agencies have access to counselors, trauma debriefers, pastoral help and reentry coaches etc. It is good to know that BAM Global is currently promoting studies in how to develop support and care for BAM business leaders.

Disciple-making training

This is priority for both missionaries and BAMers, but the agency trains its members to do it, often cross culturally, and holds them accountable. This type of training can be contextualised to host cultures. Methodologies have been developed which can prepare individuals focusing on helping people come to follow Jesus. Recently, while reading the Gospel of Mark, I was reminded of how Jesus’ method of teaching is much like most of the world day. For example, when I teach in American colleges, I teach a principle and give an example to illustrate, but many cultures expect to hear a story first (think parables of Jesus) followed by a principle. It is important that BAM operatives learn cultural expectations.

Resources for being a family overseas

Most agencies have developed broad guidelines to assist families in their decisions relative to how to provide for kids’ education, friendships in the host culture, navigating the idea of being a ‘Third Culture Kid,’ marital life abroad, family transitions, peer counseling etc.. My oldest daughter works for Barnabas International, and she focuses on helping missionary children do transitions well—going overseas initially, reentry to parents’ homeland, going to college. Such resources should be known and available to BAM workers where they are needed.

Contingency planning and crisis management

Because God calls missionaries often into situations which are high risk, agencies train missionaries in assessing risk and developing mitigation strategies. This greatly helps create higher levels of safety, but trauma and accidents do occur. When I served as manager for critical incidents, I headed up a team focused on getting a missionary released from a jail in Asia (it took six months); arranged for trauma relief after an earthquake in Haiti; hired a leer jet in Moscow to rescue an injured child in the Ukraine, among other critical services which international workers need from time to time. Certainly, some BAM workers need this same expertise available to them.

Strategic planning and accountability

Missionaries are sent by individuals and churches which rightly expect diligence, faithfulness and strategic work. This means that teams are trained and held accountable for certain activities while depending on the work of the Holy Spirit. It is rare that a missionary today works as a lone ranger, doing his own thing. I dream of the day, and indeed work toward it, when every BAM entrepreneur and operator has a team working together toward strategic ends for all the four quadruple bottom lines, being accountable to an advisory board.

Logistics details

There are so many little but important details which personnel encounter if they are going abroad to live. How do I meet local government expectations? Who is my employer? How do I get and maintain a visa? What is the best way to travel? How do I find a place to live? How will I get banking services and transfer money? What is the best way to communicate and travel—get internet service, best air, bus and taxi service? Where can the kids go to school? What if I need to see a physician? What about my medical insurance; will it work there? What are legal issues I need to know about? And much more. As an operational guy serving missionaries overseas, I was fulfilled and got great joy in helping personnel be at peace with the logistics of overseas work. BAM workers likewise need access to logistic answers, whether overseas or in a near culture situation.

 

In conclusion, mission agencies have intellectual property and management experience which is valuable to BAM workers. Our goal should be to access some of it or replicate it in ways that best serve our BAM teams. The BAM movement is not a traditional missionary movement but the spiritual ends of both are the same, which means we can often learn from a more mature entity – the mission agency.

 

If you are interested in this topic, I recommend the comprehensive BAM Global Report on BAM and Mission Agencies which probes the relationship between the agency and BAM.

 

Larry Sharp is the Founder and current BAM Support Specialist of a Business for Transformation (BAM, B4t) consulting firm, International Business and Education Consultants (www.ibecventures.com). Larry served 21 years in Brazil and then 20 years as Crossworld VP of Operations and as Vice President of Business Partnerships. He is currently a VP Emeritus and consultant with Crossworld. Since 2007 he has devoted energies toward Business as Mission (BAM) and currently is a consultant on BAM and education themes. Larry travels within North America speaking and teaching in conferences, colleges and churches on themes related to Business As Mission (BAM, B4t) and missions.  His travels abroad relate to BAM, crisis preparation and management, and team building. 

 

 

 

Get Larry’s Book: Missions Disrupted

Available at all good book stores online!

 

 


Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

 

BAM Featured in an International Business Magazine: Mats Tunehag Interview

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An Interview with Mats Tunehag


Business as mission has been recently featured in an international business magazine; in three languages. Mats Tunehag was interviewed for the Destake News Business Magazine, you can read the full original version in English, French or Portuguese here or read an excerpt below.

 

Vision & Purpose

You often say that business can be a response to the world’s greatest challenges. What does Business as Mission, BAM mean in practice?

Business is God’s gift to transform the world, and we need to be good stewards of that gift. It means developing businesses so they honor God, and contribute to the total wellbeing of people and societies.

Drug and human trafficking are also businesses, and if business is primarily about making money why not do these things? Well, they are dehumanizing and against values we hold dear, and do not align with biblical principles.

Businesses run according to biblical values can become an impactful response to challenges such as poverty, unemployment, human trafficking, environmental degradation, and lack of hope.

 

At what point in your life did you realize that business could be an expression of faith and mission?

This realization emerged gradually in the early 1990s, when I was working in the Soviet Union and Central Asia, before and after the collapse of communism.

Societies were facing massive unemployment, social breakdown, and loss of dignity. Without meaningful work and economic opportunity, people and nations can not flourish.

At the same time, businesses were entering these regions rapidly, but often without ethical considerations. That contrast helped me see that business itself should be an expression of faith, by proposing a better way of doing business, grounded in biblical values,  service, and long-term value creation.

 

Where does your passion for connecting business with social and spiritual transformation come from?

It is deeply rooted in my faith and Judeo-Christian values. It comes from a conviction that human beings are holistic. We are economic, social, physical and spiritual beings. When we compartmentalize these dimensions too sharply, we misunderstand both people and markets.

 

Global Journey

Was there a particular encounter or project that changed your perspective on mission through business?

There are many. One example comes from the Middle East, where a manufacturing company intentionally employed women with disabilities—a group often marginalized twice over, both socially and economically.

One woman, who had little prospect of ever finding work, was treated with dignity, offered meaningful employment, and became part of a healthy workplace community. Her life changed—economically, socially, and personally. Families and the wider community were impacted as well.

She later asked herself why this workplace was so different. Knowing that the founder was a follower of Jesus, she concluded: If this is what following Jesus looks like, I want to follow him too. It was a costly and risky decision in her context.

What drew her was not a religious program, but a job with dignity, professional excellence, ethical leadership, and human resource management shaped by biblical values — underpinned by prayer. Ultimately, it was God’s work, not a mere business strategy. Lives were changed—holistically—through a God-inspired business.

 

What cultural differences most influence how purpose-driven business is practiced in different regions?

Cultural context matters greatly. In some regions, business is viewed with suspicion because of historical or contemporary exploitation. In others, entrepreneurship may be admired, but is disconnected from social responsibility and long term thinking.

Purpose-driven business must always listen carefully to local realities. While expressions differ across nations, cultures and industries, the core principles remain the same. Effective Business as Mission adapts without compromising biblical values. It is about serving people, aligning with God’s purposes, being good stewards of the planet, and making a profit. With a special focus of countries and regions with dire needs.

 

Challenges and Realities of BAM

What is the biggest misconception people have about Business as Mission?

One misconception is that it is about using business to merely push religious beliefs. It is not. Business as Mission is about offering a coherent value proposition that integrates economic excellence with ethical, social, environmental, and spiritual responsibility. It is about seeking the welfare – the shalom, the total wellbeing of people and societies as we do business.

A global study by McKinsey showed clearly that the vast majority of people around the world consider spiritual health as very important. That was regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, culture and faith. So, we make God a part of our value proposition, not an imposition.

 

What challenges do Christian entrepreneurs face today in maintaining ethics and sustainability in business?

There are both external and internal issues. External, things we face running a business. Short-term pressure related to sales and cash flow can be a great challenge, and a temptation to compromise with values. Entrepreneurs also face complex environments when corruption is normalized.

But there are also internal issues, like support systems to help us manage business decisions, and maneuver in a tough marketplace. It can be a lack of understanding that business is a godly calling, and a God given gift to transform the world. Thus, we need to affirm Christian entrepreneurs in their calling, equip and deploy them to serve God and people in the marketplace.

 

The Future of the BAM Movement

What has the experience of the pandemic and recent global crises taught the BAM ecosystem?

The importance of staying mission true, and plan flexible. We all learned that during the Covid pandemic. So, we need to be clear about the purpose of our business. What is our mission and our timeless core values?

This needs to be translated into continuity planning, which is more than succession planning. Our mission and values need to continuously be imparted into the organization. Staff come and go, management may change, and we may move from a founder CEO to a second-generation company. But will the mission continue, and will the values survive changes?

 

What advice would you give to young professionals who want to integrate purpose and work?

Be intentional. Learn. Ask questions. Read. Watch videos. Find a mentor. Keep learning, and applying. BAM Global has developed pathways for those who want to integrate purpose, work and business.

Connect with others. Don’t journey alone. BAM Global is providing an interactive global ecosystem map where people can connect with others around the globe and in different spheres of the BAM ecosystem.

You can find the BAM Pathways and the BAM Ecosystem Map at businessasmission.com.

 

>> Read full interview here

English, French and Portuguese versions available.


Mats Tunehag is the Chairman of BAM Global, and he is a global thought leader on Business as Mission, BAM. Since the 1990’s he has created numerous networks of leaders from business, church, missions and academia from all continents. He has served as an advisor to groups involved in business, investment, freedom businesses, research and partnership development. He is the chief architect of the ‘Business as Mission Manifesto’ and the ‘Wealth Creation Manifesto’, which is a conceptual framework for the global BAM movement. See: matstunehag.com/about/ for more about Mats.

 

 

 

Photo by BETZY AROSEMENA on Unsplash

 

 

Moving the Needle: Why We’re Thankful for Exponential BAM Growth

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by the BAM Global Executive Team

 

In this season of thanksgiving and expectant waiting, we reflect on how we’ve seen the ‘needle move’ for the BAM movement in the past two decades and longer, adapted from our opening message in our last annual report.

By God’s grace we have seen an exponential growth of the global business as mission movement in the last twenty five years. A movement, per definition, consists of many organizations and initiatives, which are independent but choose to be interdependent. The nature of a movement means that no one but God has the exact figures of the growth, but the trends are clear and even the approximate numbers are astonishing.

Twenty five years ago, we talked about BAM businesses in the dozens, often micro to small size businesses. Today there are thousands, mainly in the SME sector, but also large companies. Twenty five years ago, there were no BAM incubators or accelerators, but today they exist in about 20 countries. Two decades ago we were talking about investments in BAM companies in thousands of dollars, today in tens of millions of dollars.

Twenty five years ago, churches and denominations had not embraced BAM and only a handful of mission organizations had started to include it in their strategies. Today, most of the oldest, major evangelical mission agencies and all kinds of churches and denominations are engaged in business as mission.

Twenty five years ago, there were no BAM networks. Today there are 30+ BAM networks, most related to a country or a region, but others focusing on an issue, industry or constituency.

 

João Mordomo (Executive Director), Jo Plummer (Creative Director), Mats Tunehag (Chairman)

Leading the BAM Issue Network at The Fourth Lausanne Congress 2024

 

Mats, Jo and João editing the Lausanne Occasional Paper on BAM in 2004

 

How did the needle move?

Business as mission is clearly a move of the Holy Spirit. Interest and engagement in BAM has been rising up on all continents, not orchestrated by one group or initiative. However, movements grow with shared mission, values, and principles, through communication and collaboration. BAM Global has taken a central role in convening, catalyzing, and aggregating to this end.

Twenty five years ago we initiated the first global think tank on BAM. Since then, we’ve convened around 40 global consultations resulting in over 30 white papers on BAM, thousands of relational connections and scores of new initiatives.

Twenty five years ago, there were around a dozen BAM resources. When we relaunched the BAM Resource Centre in 2024, there were almost 1000 blogs and Resource Library entries aggregated on businessasmission.com alone.

God is good, and He is at work. We are joining in what He is doing through BAM and we are in great anticipation for what He will continue to do through the global BAM movement.

In Christ,

Mats, Jo, and João

BAM Global Executive Team

 

Our Mission is to Accelerate the Business as Mission Movement Globally. Business is a gift from God to transform the world. Yet, Christian entrepreneurs often lack affirmation in their calling. We empower Christian businesswomen and businessmen to grasp God’s redemptive plan at work through enterprise. Our initiatives equip and connect the global business as mission (BAM) community, enabling greater impact for God’s kingdom.

Our Vision is a Movement of Businesses Transforming People and Nations for God’s Glory. Business as mission is an essential strategy for global mission today. We’re championing the power of business to respond to the world’s most pressing needs. Discover more about how your generous support can make a difference in the BAM Global Impact Report. Explore how you can partner with us to shape the future of the business as mission movement.

 

 

 

 

Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash

 

 

 

Business as Mission: Reflecting the Heart of God

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by Grace Kim

 

In a world marked by brokenness, injustice, and spiritual emptiness, the heart of God longs to restore what sin has fractured. He is not distant from the struggles of daily life—economic hardship, oppression, exploitation, and hopelessness. Instead, He enters into the mess with a vision of wholeness, and one of the surprising ways He brings that about is through business.

Business: God’s Original Design

From the beginning, work and creativity were part of God’s good design. In Genesis, God created and called it “very good.” He gave humanity a mandate: to steward the earth, cultivate it, and bring fruitfulness from it. Business is one expression of that mandate. When we create value, serve others, and meet real needs through business, we are participating in God’s character — a Provider, a Creator, a Sustainer.

Work was never meant to be a curse; it was meant to be worship. Business, when surrendered to God, becomes holy.

BAM: More Than Economics

Business as Mission (BAM) reflects the heart of God because it brings together the spiritual and the practical. In many parts of the world, traditional missionary models are no longer welcome. But business is. Through real, sustainable, and ethically run businesses, Christians are building relationships, meeting needs, and sharing Christ in places that might never hear the gospel otherwise.

But BAM is not just about access—it’s about impact. God cares not only about souls but about systems: systems of injustice, poverty, and exploitation. Through BAM, believers are creating jobs that restore dignity, paying fair wages, discipling employees, and standing against corruption. They are being salt and light in boardrooms, marketplaces, and factory floors.

The Heart of God on Display

At its deepest level, BAM reflects the compassion, justice, and redemptive love of God:

  • God is a Provider – BAM meets real needs.
  • God is a Redeemer – BAM restores broken systems and broken people.
  • God is on mission – and business becomes a vehicle for that mission.

This isn’t about using business as a cover for ministry. It’s about doing business as ministry — with integrity, love, and purpose, because Jesus is Lord over every square inch of life, including the economy.

A Call to Join Him

God is raising up entrepreneurs, investors, and workers who don’t separate their faith from their work, but see business as an act of worship and mission. Whether you’re running a coffee shop, designing software, or managing a farm, your work can reflect the heart of God when Christ is at the center.

In a world desperate for hope, truth, and restoration, BAM is a powerful reminder that God uses everyday work to bring eternal change. Business is not just a tool for income—it’s a tool for the Kingdom.

Business is not separate from God’s heart. It is deeply aligned with it when it reflects His love, justice, and purpose in the world.

 

This article was first published in the SfK Newsletter and is reposted here with kind permission.

 

Grace Kim is the Editor of the SfK Newsletter. Synergy for the Kingdom is a global network of for-profit or non-profit enterprises and people, aiming to produce holistic transformation in the lives of people in Asia and Africa by seeking Synergy for the Kingdom of God.

 

 

Photo by Fadi Xd on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

Business is Not a Silver Bullet: The BAM Movement is an Ecosystem

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by Jo Plummer

 

Business is obviously at the heart of business as mission! A major part of the international BAM community is made up of businesses and business people. This is business as mission and at its core it involves for-profit companies. But, as Mats Tunehag says in the video below, business is not a silver bullet!

Business as mission is a movement and that movement is made up of four major constituencies—including leaders from business, mission, church and academia—plus others. 

BAM companies and business people will not thrive outside of a healthy ecosystem made up of many types of individuals, skills, perspectives, and institutions. We will not see macro impact through business as mission unless our business constituency is connected to and supported by a much broader network.

Introducing the Four Major BAM Constituencies

For business as mission to be fruitful, we need the involvement of entrepreneurs and business professionals of all kinds, in a diverse range of roles—plus churches, mission agencies and NGOs, academic institutions, researchers, and others. The BAM community is certainly made up of many different people from many different constituencies, but over the years, we have identified the four major ones, as follows:

The Four Major Constituencies in the BAM Movement

BAM thought-leader Peter Shaukat expresses this same idea as the 4 As: 1

  • Academy: scholars and educational institutions
  • Agency: mission agencies, yes, but also other kinds of entities with specialist functions
  • Assembly: local churches and congregations
  • Actualizers: the business people who run business as mission enterprises

 

Here is a brief introduction to each of these four constituencies:

Business People

As well as entrepreneurs that start BAM enterprises, there are also many other types of business professionals (involved in management and specialist roles) that help develop and scale a company towards stability and longevity. The BAM movement revolves around these business starters and professionals—the business operators that are involved directly in running BAM companies. But we also need other kinds of business people to surround and support the operators, including investors, mentors, coaches, incubators, trainers and others—often called capacity builders for the BAM movement.

Church Leaders

The Church with a big C–i.e. the global body of Christ—is made up of people from all vocations, including business. The church with a small c—i.e. local churches and denominations—have business people and other professionals sitting in their pews each time they are the ‘gathered church’. It is the role of the clergy or church leader to serve the laity and equip them for works of service as the ‘scattered church’ in their daily vocational lives (Ephesians 4:12). Therefore, the BAM movement also needs Church leaders and staff who recognise BAM as an effective ministry strategy and are looking to resource and mobilise the business people in their congregations or denomination. Read more about BAM and the Church.

Academics

Christian academics and researchers are uniquely positioned to add value to the BAM movement by driving research into critical business as mission issues and being a frontline catalyst for student engagement. Scholarship and education are engines for business as mission, helping to equip the next generation and ensuring that vital issues for BAM practitioners are undergirded by robust research. The BAM movement needs academics looking to inspire their students for BAM, educators / trainers to develop curriculum, and researchers that connect their study with real BAM practice. Explore the Academics Pathway Toolbox.

Mission Leaders and NGOs

Those sent out to do BAM with an agency affiliation have been among the pioneers of business as mission and continue to be engaged at the frontlines—although now that many more business people are getting engaged the relative numbers are going down. Mission leaders and NGOs staff have filled key supporting roles in the BAM ecosystem, with many areas of expertise that can fruitfully contribute, such as: pastoral care, counselling, mission mobilisation, cross-cultural communication, language learning, training in specific mission strategies and focus areas, community development expertise, and so on. The BAM movement needs agency and NGO leaders that see how business as mission aligns with the strategic goals of their organisation, that can effectively oversee and care for the BAM company leaders associated with them, and that can form fruitful partnerships to enrich the whole BAM ecosystem. Read more about BAM and Mission Agencies.

Watch this episode from the Lausanne Global Classroom on Business as Mission to learn more:

 

 

 

Jo Plummer is the Creative Director & Co-Founder of BAM Global and the co-editor of 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 The BAM Review Blog. 

 

 

[1] Peter Shaukat in Appendix D: Transformational SME – Business Incubation Process and Lessons Learned, p44 of the BAM Incubation Issue Report.

A couple of sections of this article have been adapted from an older post.

 

Photo by Emma Henderson on Unsplash

 

 

 

BAM Helpers: Expanding Capacity for Business as Mission

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by Jo Plummer

 

The BAM movement needs you! For business as mission to be fruitful, we need all kinds of people, fulfilling different roles in BAM, including:

1) Do-ers: Those getting involved by doing business as mission themselves, either by developing a BAM company or by joining one.

2) Helpers: Those enabling, resourcing, and connecting others doing BAM—through activities such as mentoring, investing, praying, network-building, incubating, training, mobilising, researching, and so on!

3) Explorers: Those new to BAM who are exploring the concept and finding out where they fit.

We’ve created thirteen different toolboxes under these three main headings of ‘Do-er‘, ‘Helper‘ and ‘Explorer‘—we call these different routes the BAM Pathways!

God has equipped each of us with different backgrounds, skills, and passions and He is leading each of us on unique paths. However, your unique path will almost certainly have things in common with others. Thus, each Toolbox gives advice and recommended resources for a particular area of BAM engagement. Whatever your involvement or interest area, you can easily navigate to some helpful materials and make connections with those on a similar journey.

Introducing the BAM Helpers Pathway

We have previously released the BAM Do-ers and BAM Explorers Pathways, and this month we are launching the BAM Helpers Pathway section.

BAM Helpers are those who help others do BAM in any capacity. BAM Helpers might serve one particular BAM company, they might support a particular network or interest-area, or they might serve the broader BAM community across the world.

We often refer to the Business as Mission movement as an ‘ecosystem’. BAM Helpers are those who help build and strengthen this ecosystem, allowing BAM practitioners and companies to thrive.

This includes obvious roles such as business incubators, investors, and mentors…

To perhaps less obvious ones, like church leaders, network builders, recruiters, educators, and communicators, that enable the pipeline of people getting involved in BAM to flow…

Or perhaps board members, pastors, counsellors, or mission leaders to provide care and accountability…

Or or prayer partners to help us all keep in step with the Holy Spirit…

What follows is not designed to be an exhaustive list of helping roles, there are many diverse opportunities to serve in the BAM ecosystem! Instead these Pathways are designed to give an introduction to ideas and resources under some main categories.

We’ve developed six toolboxes in the BAM Helpers Pathway, the first three are functions within the BAM community and the last three are the other constituencies—or spheres—that are vital partners (alongside the business sphere) when it comes to BAM.

3 Vital Functions

 

Intercessors

Intercessors are passionate about supporting the BAM movement through prayer and intercession. BAM intercessors lay a vital foundation in prayer for everything else that happens in business as mission globally. Visit the Intercessors Toolbox.

Networkers

Networkers are catalysts for growth and engagement in business as mission. They connect people and resources in a particular geographic region or for a particular industry or BAM-related issue. They are motivated to gather people, whether together online and in-person, so that resources and know-how can be shared and everyone can be better equipped. They are also advocates and mobilisers, helping new people get interested and engaged in business as mission. Visit the Networkers Toolbox.

Capacity Builders

Capacity builders are contributing their professional skills or mission experience to build a strong ecosystem around BAM companies and increase their capacity. Capacity builders may focus at different levels, for example:

  • Providing support and services to an individual BAM practitioner or company, such as consulting, investing.
  • Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports multiple businesses in a particular group, region or industry, for example a country-focused business incubator, investment for companies in the 10/40 window, or training for the agribusiness sector, and so on.
  • Contributing skills or services to the global BAM ecosystem as a whole, such as communications, prayer, etc..

And these often overlap, for instance, we pray both for individual BAM companies and the BAM movement every month in BAM Global prayer calls. A city-wide business incubator will nurture the whole business ecosystem, as well as provide services to individual companies.

Capacity building can have a strong overlap with network building, and vice versa. The Capacity Builders toolbox is coming soon!

3 Vital Partner Constituencies

Business is obviously at the heart of business as mission, and much of the focus of the helping roles outlined above is on supporting strong, fruitful companies. However, the business sphere cannot stand alone. For business as mission to be fruitful, we need the involvement of churches, mission agencies and NGOs, academic institutions, researchers, and others. That is why the final three Helpers toolboxes—to be launched later this month—will be focused on three key partner constituencies:

Church Leaders

Church leaders or staff who recognise BAM as an effective ministry strategy and are looking to resource and mobilise the business people in their congregations or denomination.

Academics

Academics looking to inspire and equip students for BAM, integrate BAM into their curriculum and/or connect research in their institution with real BAM practice. It also includes educators, scholars, and researchers operating outside formal institutions, or undertaking individual study.

Mission Leaders

Mission leaders and staff that see how BAM aligns with the strategic goals of their organisation and/or are responsible for overseeing BAM policies and companies.

 

Our hope is each of these constituencies will connect with those in the wider BAM ecosystem, as well as others from the same constituency who they can learn from.

Discover More about the BAM Pathways…

 

Click to Open PDF & Download

 

The following BAM Pathways are now available:

 

Jo Plummer is the Creative Director & Co-Founder of BAM Global and the co-editor of 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 The BAM Review Blog. 

 

 

A couple of short sections of this article have been adapted from an older post.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

 

 

Business as Mission: Shining God’s Light in a World of Shadows

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by Grace Kim

 

In our rapidly changing world, businesses play an influential role in shaping societies. With economic instability, social injustice, and environmental crises intensifying, we need leaders who will build companies that reflect God’s goodness rather than chase shifting cultural trends.

The words of James 1:17 speak clearly into this moment:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NIV)

This verse reminds us that God is the source of every true and lasting good. While the marketplace is often driven by fluctuating values—where ethics are sacrificed for profit and people are treated as means to an end—God calls business leaders to reflect His consistent character: goodness, generosity, and integrity.

The Reality of the World Today

If we look around honestly, it’s clear the business world is struggling with some deep issues:

  • Economic Instability: Huge portions of the world’s population still face poverty, unemployment, and financial injustice, while wealth often remains concentrated in the hands of a few.
  • Social Injustice: Workplaces sometimes mirror the divisions we see in society—whether through discrimination, lack of opportunity, or unfair treatment of marginalized communities.
  • Environmental Crisis: Many businesses ignore the long-term health of our planet in pursuit of short-term gains, harming creation and leaving others to deal with the fallout.
  • Moral Compromise: Too often, we see businesses prioritizing profit over people, cutting ethical corners, and losing sight of their higher purpose.

What Does It Look Like to Reflect God’s Goodness in Business?

It doesn’t mean running a religious company. It means running a good company—one that values people, creates meaningful work, and operates with integrity.

Imagine businesses where leaders genuinely care for their employees’ well-being, where decisions are made not just for shareholder gain but for community flourishing, and where environmental impact is thoughtfully considered because we are stewards of God’s creation.

It’s about bringing generosity into the workplace culture, making room for compassion in leadership, and recognizing that our ability to create and lead businesses is a gift meant to bless others.

The Steadiness of God in a Shifting Marketplace

Markets shift. Economies fluctuate. What was a winning business model yesterday might be obsolete tomorrow. But God’s goodness doesn’t change. He is still the “Father of the heavenly lights”—steadfast, faithful, and true.

As business leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs, we are called to reflect that same steadiness in how we work and lead.

  • Be generous when the world says to hoard.
  • Be honest when the world says to cut corners.
  • Care for people when the world says they’re just resources.
  • Build for the long-term when the world chases short-term gains.

A Light in the Shadows

The business world is full of shifting shadows—trends that fade, crises that shake confidence, and values that change with the headlines. But through it all, we have an opportunity to point to something better.

When our work reflects the goodness of God, business becomes more than profit. It becomes purpose.

And in a world desperate for hope and integrity, that is a gift worth offering.

 

This article was first published in the SfK Newsletter and is reposted here with kind permission.

 

Grace Kim is the Editor of the SfK Newsletter. Synergy for the Kingdom is a global network of for-profit or non-profit enterprises and people, aiming to produce holistic transformation in the lives of people in Asia and Africa by seeking Synergy for the Kingdom of God.

 

 

Photo by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash

 

 

 

Raising Up the Next Generation of BAM Leaders

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by Mike Baer

 

We’ve had quite a ride. For over 40 years, the Business as Mission (BAM) movement has been breaking ground (even before it was called that)—taking the Gospel to the marketplace and planting it right in the middle of real life. This idea—that business isn’t second-tier, but rather a high calling from God—has flipped a lot of thinking upside down. From scattered dreamers and explorers in the 1980s to a global movement with countless books, companies, conferences, podcasts, YouTube channels, degrees, and investment funds, BAM has gone from fringe to full-on force. But here’s the big question: is this just the beginning… or the end of a chapter?

It’s possible that we’re at a crossroads. Ronald Reagan once said that freedom is never more than a generation from extinction. I think BAM is the same. If we don’t pass it on with intention and heart, it won’t last. But Paul’s words to Timothy (in 2 Tim. 2:2) give us more hope and a better plan—train up faithful people who will teach others. That’s the long game. That’s how movements survive.

Put those two thoughts together, and you get a bit of a wake-up call. We need to raise up the next generation of BAM leaders—not just to keep the movement alive, but to take it somewhere we’ve never even imagined. This is about legacy, and legacy means people.

Now, I’m not saying we’re old… but let’s be honest, many of us are turning into “OGs.” In hip-hop, that stands for “Original Gangster”—someone who’s been around from the start. In BAM, that’s a bunch of us. We’ve pioneered. We’ve fought the early battles. And now it’s time to pass the baton to the NGs—the New Gangsters. The next wave. The future of BAM.

From where I sit—with my Boomer perspective—I’m actually pretty hopeful. (And I want to call out the Gen Xers and Millennials too, we all need to think about building from generation to generation, no matter our age or stage.) Gen Z (Zoomers) are full of fire. They’re purpose-driven, passionate, and looking for a cause that’s worth their lives. Reminds me a bit of my generation—we protested war, launched campaigns against hunger, reshaped politics, and kicked off the Jesus Movement. There’s power in this next crew. But here’s the issue: most of them don’t know what “missions” even means. They’re globally connected but often spiritually short-sighted. They don’t know the need, the urgency. Most haven’t yet discovered the next step beyond TikTok activism. That’s the first challenge—help them fall in love with Jesus and His mission.

Then comes the second challenge. Once they’re on fire for Jesus, they still face a stale set of choices: either be a good little layperson in the marketplace, or go “pro” and join the ministry as a pastor or missionary. Two tracks. Black and white. But we know better. BAM throws out the old two-track map. We don’t accept the sacred and the secular divide. We preach Jesus as Lord of all, and business is one of His tools to heal and bless this broken world. So let’s show this new generation that there are more than two doors.

Before they choose, we’ve got to reach them. And here are a few ways to start: Read more

God is at Work: How the BAM Movement Has Grown Over 25 Years

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by Mats Tunehag


By God’s grace we have seen an exponential growth of the global business as mission movement in the last 25 years. A movement, per definition, consists of many organizations and initiatives, which are independent but choose to be interdependent. They share mission and values, and they communicate and collaborate.

The nature of a movement means that no-one but God has the exact figures of the growth, but BAM Global has been tracking the direction of growth over the years. The trends are clear, and even the approximate numbers are astonishing.

Please allow us to paint a picture of this encouraging growth—looking at ten variables—and how they have changed in the last 25 years:

1. 25 years ago, we talked about BAM businesses in the dozens, often micro to small size businesses. Today there are thousands, mainly in the SME sector, but also large companies.

2. 25 years ago, churches and denominations had not embraced BAM. Today there are all kinds of churches and whole denominations like in Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, USA, Russia, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which are engaged in BAM.

3. 25 years ago, a handful of mission organizations had started to include BAM in their strategies. Today most of the oldest and major Evangelical mission agencies in the world are involved in BAM.

4. 25 years ago, BAM was not a topic in academic institutions. Today many universities and MBA programs teach BAM, and there are dozens of PhD’s and a lot more Master theses on BAM from all over the world.

5. 25 years ago, we talked about investments in BAM companies in thousands of dollars, today in millions of dollars.

6. 25 years ago, there were no BAM incubators or accelerators, but today they exist in about 20 countries.

7. 25 years ago, there were no BAM networks. Today there are 30+ BAM networks—national, regional and international. Most are related to a country or a region, and others are focusing on an issue, industry or constituency.

8. 25 years ago, the conversations about BAM were in English. Today there is BAM material, conversations and work in over 20 languages.

9. 25 years ago, BAM was not a part of the Lausanne Movement, but it was introduced 2002, which was the start of the first global think tank on business as mission culminating at the Lausanne Forum in Thailand in 2004 and the Lausanne Occasional Paper on BAM. Since then, around 40 global consultations on business as mission topics have been convened, resulting in over 30 white papers on BAM. At the Fourth Lausanne Congress in Korea, September 2024, where 5000 people from about 200 countries participated, around half the attendees had indicated on the registration form that they were interested in faith at work, including business as mission.

10. 25 years ago, we approximate that there were about a dozen BAM resources. Today there are almost 1000 BAM Resource Library entries and Blogs here on the BAM Resource Centre at businessasmission.com alone—articles, papers, videos, books, organizations, and more.

God is good, and he is at work. There is a significant kairos moment in our generation, manifesting itself on all continents. We are in anticipation for what He will continue to do in the next generation.

AMDG—Ad Maoirem Dei Gloriam—for the greater glory of God!

 

Mats Tunehag is the Chairman of BAM Global, and he is a global thought leader on Business as Mission, BAM. Since the 1990’s he has created numerous networks of leaders from business, church, missions and academia from all continents. He has served as an advisor to groups involved in business, investment, freedom businesses, research and partnership development. He is the chief architect of the ‘Business as Mission Manifesto’ and the ‘Wealth Creation Manifesto’, which is a conceptual framework for the global BAM movement. See: matstunehag.com/about/ for more about Mats.

Together, Towards, Tomorrow
Building from Generation to Generation

That’s the theme of the BAM Global Summit this year. Join us and discover what God is doing through business as mission.

 

Discover More About the Summit & Register

 


 

Photo by Imagine Buddy on Unsplash

 

 

BAM: A Game Changer in a World of Trade Wars and Political Chaos

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by Grace Kim


The world feels like it’s on edge. Tariff wars are shaking up global trade, the U.S. is more divided than ever, and businesses everywhere are scrambling to keep up. In times like these, Business as Mission (BAM) isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a necessity. BAM isn’t about just making money; it’s about using business to create real, lasting change—economically, socially, and even spiritually. And right now, that mission is more important than ever.

BAM vs. the Global Trade Wars

Let’s face it—trade wars are messy. The U.S. and China have been locked in a battle of tariffs, leaving businesses caught in the crossfire. Supply chains are disrupted, costs are rising, and small businesses are struggling. BAM, however, offers a different way forward. Instead of relying on fragile international trade deals, BAM businesses focus on local economies, fair trade, and sustainability.

Think about it: when businesses invest in local suppliers and ethical sourcing, they build economic resilience. BAM-driven companies aren’t just chasing the cheapest deal; they’re creating jobs and opportunities where they’re needed most, reducing dependence on unstable global markets. This isn’t just smart business, it’s a way to fight poverty and promote fairness in an unpredictable world.

BAM in the Middle of U.S. Political Turmoil

Meanwhile, in the U.S., things are far from stable. Political unrest, social division, economic uncertainty—businesses are navigating a minefield. But BAM can be a force for unity and stability. Instead of adding to the chaos, BAM businesses focus on ethical leadership, employee care, and community impact.

At a time when people are losing trust in big corporations and political leaders, BAM companies stand out by doing business with integrity and purpose. They create jobs in struggling communities, invest in social entrepreneurship, and promote values that bring people together, not tear them apart. In a polarized world, BAM is proof that business can be a bridge, not a battleground. Read more

Nationals or Expatriates? The Key to Lasting Impact in BAM

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by Mike Baer


As the global Business as Mission (BAM) movement has evolved into a truly global (all nations) effort, a strategic question surfaces more and more often—should we focus on sending more expatriates to lead BAM initiatives in other countries, or is the greater impact found in equipping and supporting local nationals to build BAM businesses in their own regions?

And, as we explore this question, let’s go back to the foundational principles of the modern BAM movement (and, indeed, BAM through the ages). First, business, like all of life, is created by God for His glory and the good of humanity. That means God is has used it and is using it and calling many into it. Second, God’s heart is for the nations, the ethnoi, the people groups of the entire earth. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and its companion verse in Acts (Acts 1:8) make it clear that all peoples and, especially, the unreached peoples should remain at the center of today’s BAM efforts. If we use these two principles as harbor lights, we can arrive at a strategic and biblical answer to the question.

At first glance, the straight forward answer is “both.” Indeed, God is calling His whole church to reach all peoples: Acts 1:8 tells us that the power of the Holy Spirit was given so that we, God’s people, can be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Many communities around the world have no local believers, no way of knowing who Jesus is. For the Good News to reach those people, cultural and geographical boundaries will likely need to be crossed. I want to say right at the start, if God has been clearly stirring you for BAM in a particular place, to reach a particular underserved people, the intention here is not to discourage you. We need more, not less, individuals willing to plant businesses cross-culturally, or in near cultures. There are plenty of resources here on the BAM Blog and in the Resource Library to help you do that effectively—and the principles below on partnering with those who know the cultural context well will stand you in good stead.

Yet, as we dig deeper and zoom out to consider our strategic focus as a movement, I believe the scales begin to tip. If the goal is lasting transformation—socially, spiritually, environmentally, and economically—the weight rests on empowering nationals. This isn’t to dismiss the critical role of expatriates, but to recognize that the future of BAM depends on a strategic shift toward greater mobilization and equipping of those already embedded in the culture and context.

So, what does this look like in practice? Let’s unpack the rationale, the roles, and the blueprint for moving forward.

The Biblical Case for Multiplication through Locals

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) sets the tone. Jesus didn’t stay in one place to oversee the growth of the early Church—He raised up local leaders. Paul followed the same model, planting churches but quickly transitioning leadership to local believers (Titus 1:5). The principle is simple: outsiders may initiate, but insiders multiply.

In the same way, expatriates can spark the BAM movement in new regions, but true cultural transformation takes root when nationals catch the vision, take ownership, and drive it forward.

Why the focus on nationals? I see four key reasons:

1. Cultural Fluency and Trust

Nationals possess an innate understanding of the language, customs, and social dynamics of their regions. These factors are essential in building relationships, establishing trust, and leading businesses that are culturally relevant.

Expatriates may take years to develop a basic level of insight—if they ever do. In contrast, nationals already hold many of these keys, allowing them to navigate business and discipleship opportunities with greater ease and fluidity. Read more

A Decade of Nurturing the BAM Community & A Year in Review

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BAM Global has been celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2024, having been formally founded in 2014 on the foundation of earlier network-building efforts. We look back on this year, within a decade of BAM Global.

by Jo Plummer & João Mordomo

 

As we conclude 2024, we reflect on a decade of God’s faithfulness and the transformative work accomplished through the Business as Mission (BAM) movement. This year has marked BAM Global’s 10th Anniversary, a milestone that has allowed us to evaluate our journey and set our sights on the future. Although the roots of our work resourcing the business as mission movement stretch right back to the late 1990s, we had our formal inception in 2014, after the BAM Think Tank project and the Global Congress of 2013. Read more about our history here.

Our Highlights in 2024

Throughout our history, our intention has remained constant: To build a vibrant community of practitioners dedicated to integrating business with mission, to live out the Great Commandment and fulfil the Great Commission. Our efforts in network building, resource provision, research, and thought-leadership have significantly contributed to the growth and impact of BAM worldwide.



Our vision is for a movement of businesses transforming people and nations for God’s glory!

And we fulfil our mission to accelerate the global business as mission movement through six key initiatives:

Partner Network Initiative

In 2024 we relaunched the initiative that works to nurture and establish BAM networks around the world, renaming it the Partner Network Initiative. Partner Networks focus on regions, issues or industries for business as mission connection and collaboration. In 2024 we launched a new Community of Practice for Partner Network Leaders to support one another and this year, 28 leaders from 24 global networks went through the introduction process. Regular Zoom calls and online forums have been established to help leaders learn from each other and plug into the global BAM community on an ongoing basis. The Partner Network Initiative will serve as an incubator to see the growth of robust, flourishing regional, issue-focused and industry-based networks in the coming decade and beyond.

Events

We continue to support regional and network-based events around the world, promoting them in the wider BAM ecosystem and providing content and speakers. If you have an in-person BAM event in your region, we want to encourage you to get to it! However, one of our unique functions is convening online BAM Events that enable the global business as mission community to come together. In 2024 we hosted two main virtual events, attracting around 550 attendees: the BAM Global Summit and the BAM Global Connect. The Summit in May 2024 was a full day program billed as the annual global connecting point for business as mission. With the theme of ‘Accelerate’ we offered 12 hours of BAM content, including main stage keynotes, case studies, panels, workshops and roundtables. In November, we hosted our annual free networking event, which is always a great opportunity for new people to find out more about BAM and veterans to come and connect on the topics that interest them.

BGlobal Community

We now have over 800 members through organic growth in the BGlobal Community, a secure online platform for the international BAM community to connect and collaborate. The platform already has an active Members Directory, Live Feed, Jobs Board and direct messaging. We are planning a rebrand for BGlobal early in 2025, with new features and communities of practice coming soon.

Think Tank

BAM Global initiates working consultations under its BAM Global Think Tank initiative where there are identified gaps in the BAM ecosystem. BAM Global Consultations open up an unprecedented opportunity for discussion, collaboration and networking with the results captured in a published BAM Global Report and outworked in new projects and communities of practice. In 2024, a major new report in BAM and Mission Agencies was published after a multi-year consultation process, and a new BAM Global Consultation on BAM Practitioner Care and Well-being was launched. This new Consultation group will collaborate throughout 2025 and is currently seeking input from the preliminary survey that will help shape its agenda and direction.

Media & Communications

Our long-established social media accounts, websites and mailing lists have been serving the BAM community for over a decade, both aggregating and creating new business as mission resources. In 2024 we refreshed our logo and branding for BAM Global and and relaunched our two main websites. Our BAM Global organisation website at bamglobal.org hosts over 30 published BAM Global Reports and the landing pages for our events and other initiatives. This BAM Resource Center website hosted at businessasmission.com is one of our communications initiatives and is home to the online BAM Resource Library and The BAM Review Blog, with over 650 short articles on business as mission related topics.

Prayer

In 2024, we celebrated 5 years of monthly prayer for the business as mission movement. Since May 2019, BAM Global has hosted a monthly Zoom prayer call, sent a monthly Prayer Update email (now to around 150 subscribers) and shared prayer concerns in a BAM-focused WhatsApp Prayer Group. We have a mechanism for subscribers to our BAM Review email news to submit BAM-related prayer requests and have intercessors engaged with praying for concerns in our community.

Help us Continue to Accelerate in 2025

Since our formal inception in 2014, BAM Global has been instrumental in building a vibrant community of practitioners dedicated to integrating business with mission in order to live out the Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission. Our efforts in network building, resource provision, research, and thought-leadership have significantly contributed to the growth and impact of BAM worldwide. As the movement continues to evolve, we remain committed to catalysing new initiatives, addressing global challenges, and envisioning the next generation of BAM leaders.

As we prepare for 2025, we invite you to partner with us in accelerating the global BAM movement. We are grateful that generous donors have offered $15,000 in matching funds for our year-end giving campaign. This means your contribution will be doubled, amplifying and accelerating our efforts globally.

Give Now

U.S. Donors: We encourage you to make your donation by December 31st! International Donors: Donations will be matched through January 31st 2025

Thank you!

 

 Jo Plummer is the Creative Director & Co-Founder of BAM Global and the co-editor of 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 The BAM Review Blog. 


Dr. João Mordomo loves to help start and lead anything — mission agencies, churches, businesses, networks — that helps fulfill the Great Commission. He is a founding board member and Executive Director of BAM Global, and Catalyst for Business as Mission at the Lausanne Movement. João serves variously as owner, managing director and board member of several BAM companies, and designs and teaches BAM and other courses at several universities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Gap in the BAM Ecosystem: BAM Practitioner Care and Well-being

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BAM Global initiates working consultations under its BAM Global Think Tank initiative where there are identified gaps in the BAM ecosystem. BAM Global Consultations open up an unprecedented opportunity for discussion, collaboration and networking as a group works through a process of connecting, listening, learning, sharing and recommending. The results are captured in a published BAM Global Report and outworked in new projects and communities of practice. These enable the next generation involved in business as mission to go further, faster.  We are excited to announce the launch of a new BAM Global Consultation.

by Jo Plummer

Business is a powerful strategy in the mission of the global Church today. Those engaging in business as mission (BAM) have a unique opportunity to bring the whole gospel to the whole world with for-profit solutions to pressing global issues. Yet these BAM practitioners also face the unique pressures of integrating holistic missional impact with for-profit business. These pressures can take a toll on the spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational health of the BAM practitioner and that of their family and team. Ultimately these attritional effects can endanger the long-term viability and fruitfulness of BAM companies, especially where there is a lack of support and care for the people involved. 

Mature businesses may have access to human resource departments, staff training, chaplains or coaches. Mission agencies often have ‘member care’ provision for their workers. However, often BAM practitioners are at a unique intersection of business and mission with little to no support or resource provision for their personal and inter-relational well-being. There is a corresponding lack of research on the felt-needs of BAMers in this area, nor work seeking to identify and redress resource gaps. The new Consultation on BAM Practitioner Care and Well-being will address these concerns.

Consultation Introduction

Jo and Mike introduce the new Consultation at the BAM Global Connect event in November:

Vision and Purpose

Our vision is for thriving BAM practitioners, with healthy spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational lives, able to effectively lead businesses that are transforming people and nations––for God’s glory!

The purpose of the Consultation is to strengthen the BAM ecosystem to be able support BAM practitioners in the areas of life care and well-being—through greater access to training, coaching, counseling, support structures, and resources—in order to increase the fruitfulness and longevity of business as mission companies. 

Specific Objectives

  1. Identify critical life and career needs of BAM practitioners (through surveys and interviews)
  2. Share case studies and stories that highlight current needs, solutions and approaches
  3. Explore the current landscape (map the ecosystem) and identify current best practices and resource gaps.
  4. Make recommendations about what training, coaching, counseling, support structures, and resources are most effective and how best to intentionally close gaps and provide resources/training going forward.
  5. Strengthen relationships among interested individuals and organizations for this area of work in order to further catalyze partnerships, collaborative projects and action in response to the recommendations made.

Outcomes we anticipate from this work include:

  • A growing community of practice around this area of interest
  • A recommended resource list for BAMers and organizations to utilize
  • A BAM Global Report on BAM Practitioner Care and Well-being to serve as a guide for the BAM movement on this topic
  • New providers that respond to identified gaps with training, resources and solutions

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 Jo Plummer is the Creative Director & Co-Founder of BAM Global and the co-editor of 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 The BAM Review Blog. 

 

 

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

What is Business as Mission? A Short Introduction

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by Jo Plummer

Business as mission, simply put, is the seamless integration of excellent business with intentional mission. It is doing business for God’s glory, the gospel, and the common good.

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. Business as mission is strategic today because it is often best placed to meet a wide range of needs in communities around the world.

Let’s start with business

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. We see in the Bible and throughout history that business is able to create dignified jobs,  multiply resources, provide for families and communities, push forward innovation, and, in short, do good in society. A company does not need a business as mission strategy to justify its purpose or to somehow make it more ‘holy’. Business professionals following Jesus in the marketplace already have a sacred vocation. Business is a good idea that comes from God.

Yet, God has called us, His Church, to partner with him in the work of mission. To love our neighbour as ourselves, to care for the poor and vulnerable, and to share the gospel and make disciples in every part of the world. And business people, along with their skills and experiences, are some of the most needed in the work of global mission today. Alongside more traditional forms of mission, the world is crying out for for-profit, business solutions to some of its most pressing issues. These issues include job scarcity, human trafficking, economic exploitation, corruption, environmental degradation, dire poverty, and the challenge of sharing the love of God and His good news with those who haven’t yet heard it.

Business as Mission

In the global marketplace today, we have an opportunity to harness the God-given power of business to address these pressing spiritual, social, environmental, and economic issues. Business as mission is a movement of business professionals, mission leaders, church leaders and academics who are doing just that. They are taking the instrument of business, with its innate, God-given ability and power, and intentionally using that power in the work of mission. They are using their professional know-how and the gifts of entrepreneurship and good management to bring creative and long-term, sustainable solutions to local and global challenges. They are making a positive impact through for-profit business, along the ‘four bottom lines’: social, environmental, financial and spiritual. We sometimes refer to these as the 4Ps: people, planet, profit, and eternal purpose.

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.

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 built in daily business life—with employees, customers, suppliers, officials, business networks, and the wider community.

As already stated, business is designed by God to provide livelihoods, multiply resources, and enable communities to flourish through a combination of creativity, hard work and risk. A profitable and sustainable business is able to create new jobs, drive innovation, provide needed goods and services, and help societies develop. Through business as mission we can intentionally tackle poverty, bring positive social and environmental 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.

Download this article as a PDF.

Watch the 3 Minute What is BAM? Explainer Video

The first version of What is BAM? was published on The BAM Review in 2015, this version was updated in 2024.

Want to find out more about BAM?

Join us at the BAM Global Connect on the 13th November

 

 

More About Event

 

 Jo Plummer is the Creative Director & Co-Founder of BAM Global and the co-editor of 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 The BAM Review Blog. 

 

 

 

 

Photo by M. Cooper on Unsplash

 

 

 

BAM Community: How We Stay Mission True and Continue to Bear Fruit in the Next 10 Years

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BAM Global is celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2024, having been formally founded in 2014 on the foundation of earlier network-building efforts. This month BAM Global leaders are looking back, taking stock, and then looking forward – exploring how the worldwide business as mission community has been flourishing and continues to grow. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

by Jo Plummer

 

BAM Community,

Look what God has done! Look what He is doing!

About 25 years ago the term business as mission was coined to try and capture something that God had already been stirring among His people – business people, mission agency people, church people, educators and others. Small clusters of those people began talking to each other about what they were seeing: the potential of business to help solve the pressing mission issues they were working on. The intention to leverage the intrinsic God-designed power of business to do good in the world and bring glory to Him has only increased from there. Those clusters have become a global movement.

My friends and co-leaders, João and Mats, started this series of posts by looking back (part 1) and looking at what we are doing now, and why (part 2). My message to you in part 3 is forward-looking. How can we continue to grow and bear fruit as a movement? How do we avoid mission drift and stay mission-true?

Staying Mission True

In my view, one of the most important things we can do to stay mission true is to intentionally and vocally keep the Great Commission central to our messaging and engagement in business as mission.

Let me unpack what I mean by that.

Mission is central to God’s identity. As God’s image-bearers and co-creators, it is also central to the identity of His Church and every Christ-follower in it. Whatever our vocation, we are all participants (ministers) in God’s missio Dei (the mission of God). [1]

The implication is that we who follow Jesus are all ‘on mission’ every day in all our vocations – family, work, and stewarding creation. In an article for Missio Nexus, Greg Wilton calls this ‘missionhood’ which describes the centrality of mission in Christian identity:

Missionhood – all Christians must know and be convinced of their identity in God’s universal call to his missio Dei.

Within that, business people should know God’s design for business, and therefore be convinced of their unique identity and role as business people in the mission of God.

Commissionaries

When Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples…’, many scholars agree that he did not mean primarily ‘go elsewhere and make disciples’, but instead ‘as you are going, make disciples’.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28: 18-20

‘Go’ is not the operative word in the Great Commission, ‘making disciples’ is. We are all disciples of Jesus and we make disciples in all our daily contexts. Or, as Greg Wilton goes on to say, we are all ‘commissionaries’.

Commissionary – all Christians must know, understand, and practice the Great Commission in their daily life.

The first reason we need to keep the Great Commission central is because it reminds entrepreneurs and business professionals who follow Jesus that they too are ‘commissionaries’.

Read more

How to Catalyze and Accelerate a Global BAM Movement

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BAM Global is celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2024, having been formally founded in 2014 on the foundation of earlier network-building efforts. This month BAM Global leaders are looking back, taking stock, and then looking forward – exploring how the worldwide business as mission community has been flourishing and continues to grow. Read Part 1.

by Mats Tunehag

A movement is different from an organization. The latter is registered, has a board, a budget and they hire (and fire) staff. It is defined and operates under some kind of legal and management control. A movement, on the other hand, consists of many independent initiatives and organizations. The movement flourishes as these independent entities choose to be interdependent; they share a common vision and are aligned in mission and values. Examples are the abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement, and the BAM movement.

Hallmarks of a Movement

Historically movements start small, are in a minority and face big challenges. As groups connect and work together, they gradually gain critical mass towards a tipping point, and transformation can take place.

Nobody has an executive control or power over a movement, but it is held together by a common cause. Movements grow through collaboration built on trusted relationships.

Today BAM is a global movement, with numerous initiatives on all continents; in business, missions, church and academia. The glue is our common vision, our aligned mission and values, as briefly expressed in the two manifestos: the BAM Manifesto and the Wealth Creation Manifesto.

These manifestos help form a common conceptual language, which enables meaningful communication and impactful collaboration.

Social Movement Organizations

A movement can be served by an ‘SMO’, a social movement organization. BAM Global is such an entity. An SMO facilitates communication and collaborations within and outside a movement, and it catalyzes new initiatives.

BAM Global exists to accelerate, serve, and equip the global BAM movement. We do that by creating and sharing intellectual and social capital in the global business as mission community through our three core activities:

  • Nurturing Partner Networks
  • Creating Global Forums
  • Delivering Essential Resources

In other words, we develop BAM concepts and create resources, sharing them broadly, and we connect people and initiatives with each other.

Our manifestos form a common conceptual language, which enables meaningful communication and impactful collaboration.

Nurturing Partner Networks

BAM Global catalyzes and helps grow BAM related networks around the globe, today about 40 of them. Most are geographical, and others are related to a particular group like church leaders or academics. There are also groups working on particular issues, like business solutions to human trafficking, and creation care. Others are related to industries. We have regular meetings with leaders of existing and emerging networks, to learn, support, strategize and create a community of practice – all to grow the movement. We are currently piloting a new initiative, the BAM Global Partner Networks Initiative that will acceleration the growth of business as mission networks globally. Read more

How BAM Global is Nurturing the BAM Community: A 10-Year Retrospective

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BAM Global is celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2024, having been formally founded in 2014 on the foundation of earlier network-building efforts. This month BAM Global leaders are looking back, taking stock, and then looking forward – exploring how the worldwide business as mission community has been flourishing and continues to grow.

by João Mordomo

Over the past decade, Business as Mission (BAM) has evolved into a vibrant global movement, playing a pivotal role in the integration of business with mission to address spiritual, economic, social, and environmental challenges. BAM Global, at the heart of this movement, has been instrumental in fostering a community that is not only committed to business excellence but also deeply rooted in Christian missions. Let’s explore how BAM Global has built and strengthened the BAM community over the last ten years, reflecting on key milestones, challenges, and future directions.

The Foundations of BAM Global

BAM Global’s origins are closely tied to the Lausanne Movement, which has significantly influenced modern Christian mission strategies for 50 years. Since its inception, BAM Global has focused on leveraging business as a powerful tool for holistic transformation, guided by the belief that business activities, when conducted ethically and missionally, can serve as a conduit for the Gospel. This approach, which integrates faithful ministry with good business, seeks to fulfill the Great Commission through sustainable and scalable models.

One of the foundational moments for BAM Global was the 2004 Lausanne Forum in Pattaya, Thailand, where the concept of BAM was formally recognized and endorsed. This event produced the Lausanne Occasional Paper on Business as Mission (LOP 5) and the BAM Manifesto, both of which have become cornerstone texts for BAM practitioners. These documents have articulated the theological and missiological foundations of BAM, providing a framework for how business can be used to advance the Kingdom of God.

The Lausanne Forum in 2004 brought together over 70 people from all continents at the conclusion of a year-long virtual consultation process. This first truly international, collaborative effort also marked the beginning of BAM’s journey as a global movement and set the stage for the later creation of BAM Global as an organization dedicated to advancing this mission-focused approach to business.

Building a Global BAM Ecosystem

Over the past decade, BAM Global has played a crucial role in building a global ecosystem that supports and nurtures BAM initiatives, mobilizes involvement, and deepens understanding in business as mission. This ecosystem includes a diverse network of businesses, churches, mission agencies, educational institutions, BAM networks, and other organizations that share a commitment to integrating business with mission. BAM Global has facilitated this through many key activities, including creating and connecting networks, hosting global forums and events, and creating and curating BAM resources.  Read more

Staying Mission True: Business as Mission Looking Forward

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by Mats Tunehag

Part 3 of a 3 part series on Business as Mission: Roots, Scope & Future. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

BHAGs: Big Hairy Audacious Goals

We have briefly reviewed the BAM concept’s historical roots, and painted a picture, albeit incomplete, of the scope and nature of the global BAM movement. Now, let’s look ahead. What are some of the challenges facing us?

Over the years and through the global conversations we’ve had, three major challenges have been identified. We call them BHAGs, these are major issues that can only be dealt with if we continue to stay on course and grow the strength of the movement. These are macro issues, which force us to think and act intergenerationally, and to intentionally build an eco-system to optimize holistic impact. They will not be achieved by one company, organization or network alone, but through collaborative effort.

Let me briefly describe them, in no particular order.

1. Align Views of Business with Biblical Principles

BAM is not a technique, but a worldview and a lifestyle. Or as BAM Global puts it: “Business as mission is not simply a method or strategy; it encompasses a worldview and business praxis based on biblical principles and the church’s teaching.”[1]

The sacred-secular divide has been an ongoing issue throughout the history of the church. But Pope John Paul II clearly states: “There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand, the so-called “spiritual” life, with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called “secular” life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social relationships, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture. … This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age.”[2]

Back to BAM Global’s BHAG statement:

Read more

The Present Movement: Business as Mission Today

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by Mats Tunehag

Part 2 of a 3 part series on Business as Mission: Roots, Scope & Future. Read Part 1 here.

Why is There a BAM Movement?

Each generation has to review and highlight old-age concepts and truths and see how they apply to today’s context. That includes various arenas and constituencies, like business, church, and academia.

While acknowledging our roots, we also recognize the emergence of a global BAM movement in our generation. Today we can talk about a global BAM movement – we could not do that 25 years ago. Today there are tens of thousands of businesses on all continents on a BAM journey. Today there are churches and denominations embracing Business as Mission. Today most of the oldest and biggest Evangelical mission agencies in the world are pursuing BAM. Today there are many academic institutions teaching BAM and producing Master and Doctoral theses on Business as Mission. This was not the case just a few decades ago.

Thus, we may ask: why is there a global BAM movement? How did that come about? First and foremost, we recognize that God is the ultimate initiator and conductor of the movement. But allow me to also mention three essential building blocks: common language, communication and collaboration.

Without a common language you cannot communicate. If you cannot communicate you cannot collaborate, and it will lead to disconnected initiatives with limited impact.

BAM Global Think Tank

BAM Global has since 2002 focused on creating and sharing intellectual and social capital. What does that mean? An underlying principle is the belief that there is wisdom in the counsel of many. To that end we have been facilitating global listening processes, where voices from both history and today’s world could be heard, discussions were held, and documented.[1] These inclusive and participatory conversations created ownership of the concept, which continues to be discussed and shared in many languages and contexts. We have also brought people together to not only listen, share and learn, but also to connect and act. The BAM Manifesto and the Wealth Creation Manifesto are essential for establishing a common language for communication and collaboration, to create greater impact. See the BAM A – Z booklet which also expresses the common BAM language.[2]

The 2nd BAM Global Think Tank (2011 – 2013) started over 30 national, regional and international working groups, dealing with BAM in a particular country or region, or BAM related to issues like poverty, human trafficking, unreached peoples, metrics, funding and incubation. Many of these groups produced a report, but the ongoing conversations also catalyzed BAM initiatives around the world which further propelled the global movement. Today there is a growing number of BAM Global Ambassadors serving regions and issues.[3]

Read more

Deeply Rooted: Business as Mission Looking Back

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by Mats Tunehag

Part 1 of a 3 part series on Business as Mission: Roots, Scope & Future

She was amazed and perplexed at the same time. She was treated with respect and dignity. She was a woman challenged with disabilities. But her life had changed. With little or no prospect of ever getting a job, she was now working in a manufacturing company. She was creative, she had made friends, and she made money.

Women in this country and religious context were treated as second-class citizens. If they had mental or physical handicaps they were often further down.

But the company she worked for employed and offered jobs with dignity to women with disabilities. It was unheard of, and it made a huge difference not only in her life, but also for the other women who worked there. It even had a transformational impact on families and the community.

This woman asked herself: why is this workplace so different? It changes lives on many levels. She knew that the founder and CEO was a follower of Jesus. So she told herself: If that’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus, I will also follow him. It was a huge and risky step for a handicapped woman in a conservative Muslim environment.

What brought her to Christ? A gospel tract? A Jesus film? A bible study? No, it was human resource management informed by biblical values, underpinned with prayer. Ultimately, it was, of course, God’s doing.

BAM: Concept, Practice, Movement

This true story from the Middle East points towards three aspects of Business as Mission, BAM, which is about serving God and people in and through business, with a Great Commission perspective. BAM is a biblical concept, which is practiced and applied by people around the world with a wide variety of backgrounds, which together form a global movement.

BAM Global has since 2002 engaged around 500 significant leaders in business, church, missions & NGOs and academia, from about 50 countries, in global conversations about the concept and the practice. This has resulted in about 30 peer produced and peer reviewed think tank reports, and two manifestos which summarize our findings [1]. The global and participatory nature of the think tank processes have created an unprecedented spread and ownership of the BAM concept.[2]

Read more

We’re Taking a Break: Enjoy our Blog Archive!

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We had a blast at the recent BAM Global Congress in April – in total 865 people registered and over 75 countries were represented!

In order to give our team a break after this major project, focus on the Post-Congress Series and take some time to re-evaluate the future direction of The BAM Review Blog and Email, we are taking a break.

We’ll be back later this year with even more great resources on Business as Mission.

Meanwhile, we have over 550 original blogs on BAM to explore from the past 6 years:

 

EXPLORE BUSINESS AS MISSION BLOG TOPICS

 

 

Read about our Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) for BAM:

Read More >> Reaching a Tipping Point for Macro Impact Through BAM Businesses
Read More >> Transforming Views of Business in the Church Worldwide
Read More >> Solving Global Issues with Innovative BAM Solutions

 

Download PDF of the BAM BHAGs

 

 

Transforming Views of Business in the Church Worldwide

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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: Transform views on business in the church worldwide

Business as mission is not simply a method or strategy; it encompasses a worldview and business praxis based on biblical principles and the church’s teaching. The sacred-secular divide is still permeating the church. What is considered ‘sacred’ (worship, faith, church activities, etc.) is often judged to be more valuable that the ‘secular’ (work, business, material goods, etc.) The clergy (pastor, missionary, etc.) are considered to have a higher calling than the laity (teacher, business professional, lawyer, etc.). This is still a dominating paradigm among many Christians around the globe.

As a consequence, business people and professionals in the church do not fully understand that their gifts, skills and experience are vital to God’s kingdom work on earth. Many feel that the most ‘spiritual’ thing they can do is to give financially to those doing the ‘real ministry’, and, if they really want to serve God, they should leave their company behind and become a missionary or pastor. While generosity and a true calling to church leadership is to be commended, this narrow view of the value of business ultimately hinders the mission of the church.  Read more

Reaching a Tipping Point for Macro Impact Through BAM Businesses

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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.  Read more

Solving Global Issues with Innovative BAM Solutions

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by Jo Plummer & Mats Tunehag

This post is the first 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.  Read more

3 Reasons to Scale Your Business to Reach the Unreached: Best of BAM Blog

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AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Our goal is to provide the BAM Community with great content and resources. Each year we do a summer roundup of articles which have stood out in the past 6 months.

Below is our second “Staff Pick” for January to June 2019.

Please enjoy and thanks for following!

by Mike Baer

In all entrepreneurial circles, the hot topic is “How to scale the business.” How do we take our company from me (and possibly a few others) to many? How do we add more employees? Customers? Lines of business? Locations? Profits?

Scaling in General

“Scale or Die” is the cry that comes from many startups and from virtually all investors. Growth is an evidence of life and health. Healthy companies grow. But it’s not easy, especially in a business as mission endeavor.

Where will you find the funding to expand? Bootstrapping or “cash-flowing” expansion is extremely difficult and tediously slow.

What about managers sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to lead a larger business who also share your faith and focus? Where will you find them? How will you pay them? Who will move to your location? Do you use locals? Expats?

And, most importantly, what about your own experience or lack thereof? If you’ve never done it before, it’s daunting and difficult to say the least! The overwhelming majority of startups fail to scale.  Read more

How Business as Mission Can Help End Poverty for Good: Best of BAM Blog

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AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Our goal is to provide the BAM Community with great content and resources. Each year we do a summer roundup of articles which have stood out in the past 6 months.

Below is our first “Staff Pick” for January to June 2019.

Please enjoy and thanks for following!

by Doug Seebeck

The Business as Mission movement has made remarkable advances over the past 20 years. It is a powerful movement that affirms God’s call to business and the central role of business in missions and insists that business is critical to the redemptive work of God in the world and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

While there is much to celebrate, now is the time for a rallying cry for what can and must be done in the 20 years ahead of us. Indeed, the health of our planet, the flourishing of our neighbors, and the integrity of the Gospel itself depend upon our concerted focus and action. And that focus is the end of extreme global poverty as we know it today. To this end, we need the Business as Mission movement to serve those at the bottom of the pyramid who are scraping by on less than $2 per day.

Our vision at Partners Worldwide is to see the end of poverty so that all may have life, and have it abundantly. This is a grand, audacious goal we know we can’t accomplish alone. And yet, for the first time in human history, the number of our fellow human beings who face extreme poverty has fallen to under 10 percent. The latest figures from World Bank suggest the extreme poverty rate fell to 8.6 percent last year—a rapid decrease from 36 percent in 1990. It is truly amazing!  Read more

Let Freedom Ring! Fighting Slavery with Business Solutions

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by Mats Tunehag

Young children sold to sexual slavery. Yes, it was a grim fact of life year after year in a remote village in the Himalayas. Poverty was rampant and there was a lack of jobs. This made families desperate and vulnerable, and traffickers exploited the situation.

Some seasoned BAMers explored how they could change the situation. In communication and collaboration with the villagers they started an adventure tourism company with village home-stays. To make a long story short: this new economic opportunity transformed the village, and its families, for the good. Jobs with dignity were created and no more young children from this village have since been sold into slavery.

This is more than a sweet, and true, story from Nepal. This is an example of a growing number of companies that fight human trafficking through business. They are dealing with root causes to modern day slavery and they are tackling the systemic issues underpinning today’s evil – and highly profitable – slavery business.

Learning from History

In the 1700’s the slave trade was widely accepted and legal. It was, in fact, a backbone of the economy of the British Empire. It was a big, organised and transnational business.

William Wilberforce and the Clapham group decided to fight this evil trade. They chose to attack the systemic issue – the legality of the slave trade and slavery. To that end they organised a decades long campaign focusing on justice, aiming at a root cause. They worked politically to change unjust and ungodly laws that permitted that dehumanising trade.  Read more

How Business as Mission Can Help End Poverty for Good

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by Doug Seebeck

The Business as Mission movement has made remarkable advances over the past 20 years. It is a powerful movement that affirms God’s call to business and the central role of business in missions and insists that business is critical to the redemptive work of God in the world and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

While there is much to celebrate, now is the time for a rallying cry for what can and must be done in the 20 years ahead of us. Indeed, the health of our planet, the flourishing of our neighbors, and the integrity of the Gospel itself depend upon our concerted focus and action. And that focus is the end of extreme global poverty as we know it today. To this end, we need the Business as Mission movement to serve those at the bottom of the pyramid who are scraping by on less than $2 per day.

Our vision at Partners Worldwide is to see the end of poverty so that all may have life, and have it abundantly. This is a grand, audacious goal we know we can’t accomplish alone. And yet, for the first time in human history, the number of our fellow human beings who face extreme poverty has fallen to under 10 percent. The latest figures from World Bank suggest the extreme poverty rate fell to 8.6 percent last year—a rapid decrease from 36 percent in 1990. It is truly amazing!  Read more

3 Reasons to Scale Your Business to Reach the Unreached

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by Mike Baer

In all entrepreneurial circles, the hot topic is “How to scale the business.” How do we take our company from me (and possibly a few others) to many? How do we add more employees? Customers? Lines of business? Locations? Profits?

Scaling in General

“Scale or Die” is the cry that comes from many startups and from virtually all investors. Growth is an evidence of life and health. Healthy companies grow. But it’s not easy, especially in a business as mission endeavor.

Where will you find the funding to expand? Bootstrapping or “cash-flowing” expansion is extremely difficult and tediously slow.

What about managers sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to lead a larger business who also share your faith and focus? Where will you find them? How will you pay them? Who will move to your location? Do you use locals? Expats?

And, most importantly, what about your own experience or lack thereof? If you’ve never done it before, it’s daunting and difficult to say the least! The overwhelming majority of startups fail to scale.  Read more