Serving In Mission’s vision is to invite others into a relationship with Christ and many workers use their professional skills to cross barriers and serve in communities where there are few, if any Christians.
With the average person spending 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime, the workplace is a key environment for entrepreneurs, professionals, and tradespeople to use their skills as a platform to share the gospel with clients, colleagues and customers.
Business can also be used to reach people and see God’s kingdom grow, especially in regions with restricted access to the gospel. As our workers help others engage in work, earn a wage, and experience dignity, disciples are made and communities transformed.
Two years ago, businessman C* took a job with a Christian software company in a place where most people have never heard the gospel.
He was able to build relationships and then share the good news with colleagues and friends and recently, set up a consulting business that will establish an SIM base in this corner of South East Asia for the first time.
More than just a platform to serve in creative access countries, the vision of SIM’s Business Ministries is to see flourishing workers in sustainable business environments that are transforming communities where Christ is least known.
While serving in northern Ghana, Yvonne introduced a biblical model of agriculture, known as Farming God’s Way, which loves and cares for both people and the environment. Many lives are being transformed as the missional business helps lift the rural farming out of poverty.
A vocational training centre in a South Asian country where Christians are in the minority, offers both a practical and spiritual lifeline for illiterate young men, who travel from poor, rural areas, to learn a trade, including motorcycle mechanics.
After graduating, many have chosen to join SIM’s church-planting programme and then go on to lead churches in their villages.
“Business people bring their unique skills and experience to create natural avenues for work and the prospect of economic advantage,” explains JP Gradone, SIM’s Global Ministry Point Person for Business Ministries.
“They may deviate from the traditional style of mission work, but we want to open people’s eyes to the many opportunities that exist in the area of business and to help Christian professionals view businesses as another tool in our toolbox to reach places where Christ is least known.
“Many missional businesses are slow-growing and require patience, endurance and prayer, but we want everyone to know that spiritual transformation does occur through missional business!
“However, it’s not just about launching a business that glorifies God while providing jobs in hard places, it’s also about living out biblical values in the workplace and building day-to-day connections that will help to cross barriers and reach people with the good news of Jesus.”
Despite the challenges – from language barriers and government regulations, to working and living in a culture closed to Christianity – missional business creates opportunities for people who’ve always had a desire to serve God oversees, but only saw the possibility in the context of the traditional mission model.
There are many routes into mission through commercial endeavours, including:
1. Business as Mission (BAM)
BAM refers to a business used as the actual ministry venue. It models biblical principles to employees, suppliers, clients, government workers and business associates, and is a testimony to the local community.
2. Business for Transformation (B4T)
B4T are businesses strategically placed in areas where Christ is unknown or least known. They are designed to create local jobs and bring transformation to the community, specifically through evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
3. Business-Based Mission (BBM)
BBM refers to a business used as a way for mission workers to stay in the country as it can provide them with a partial or full salary. The primary ministry is usually outside the business, although some ministry can also occur within the company.
4. Business for Mission (BFM)
BFM describes ventures with the primary intention to make profit to support missions work. Examples could be operating a tour company that offers special tickets to mission workers, or operating a publishing company solely dedicated to publishing materials for use in missions.
5. Micro-finance
Micro-finance programmes provide small loans to individuals or groups to help them start and run small businesses. They are most relevant in poorer communities, where employment opportunities are limited. The organisation that provides the capital typically trains the loan recipients and supervises the programme.
Let SIM help you use your business skills in mission
Please get in touch to find out the many opportunities to use your business gifts and skills to serve with SIM.
Please pray
- praise God for the different skills he gives people to use in his global mission;
- for lives and communities to be transformed through SIM businesses;
- for God to mobilise more of his people to open doors to the gospel through business.