Explaining Business as Mission

A New Wine Skin for 21st Century China

In 2002, Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM gave the challenge to a group of some 200 people that "China will be the next largest mission sending country".

Indeed, just as the economic scene of China is changing rapidly and new developments taking place, so is the spiritual scene of the church. Strategies that works 20 years ago may no longer be as effective for 21st century China as needs have changed and things have evolved.

As the church experienced revival and exponential growth rate, what have been the resounding need now for the 21st century Chinese church is training, equipping of believers and providing a means through BAM for them to be sent out as missionaries.

What is Business as Missions (BAM)/Kingdom Business?

There is an increasing global awareness about BAM and different groups have tried to define what BAM is. It is a growing and evolving movement that God is doing worldwide. No one has the complete answers to BAM nor can claim that he or she has the one perfect model. Neither do we. Having looked at the various definitions and matching them to what we do, the following are 2 definitions on BAM that we have the closest fit with:

"Business as mission is a strategy for the specific purpose of the transformation of people and communities: spiritually, economically and socially - for the glory of God, through a viable and sustainable business which has Kingdom of God values, purpose, perspective and impact".
YWAM Global Leadership website

"Business as Missions is based on the principle of holistic mission, which is an attempt to bring all aspects of life and godliness into an organic whole. It includes God's concerns for economic development, employment and unemployment, economic justice and the use and distribution of natural and creative resources. Kingdom Business is an integration of several factors, including missions, successful business practices, work and faith, economic development, spreading the gospel, and transforming nations and lives".
2000 Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization (LCWE)

What Business as Missions (BAM)/Kingdom Business is NOT to us:

1. BAM is not just doing business to generate finances to fund other kinds of ministry. Don't get us wrong. BAM is for-profit business because running a profitable and Sustainable business is necessary and glorifying to God. More than that, it makes great sense to the lost. However, good business practices alone will not bring people into the kingdom. Through the business, we need to be able to see transformation where the lives of people are changed and society impacted.
2. BAM is not just having a business as a platform. Much as there are challenges to stay in certain countries, having a business as a platform without attempting to make it profitable will in the long run make our credibility questionable to the people we have set out to reach. Why would you continue to run something that is not profitable would be the logical question of the people.
3. BAM is not separating business and missions BAM is not seeing that working itself is a waste of time and something you have to do to stay in the country. It is not where after work hours, your ministry begins. It is a struggle and sometimes it takes a paradigm shift to see that the business is a ministry itself and that the daily work is itself part of the ministry.

Through the business environment, you get to meet real people in real life situations. You do not just see them in a church or discipleship context. A role in a work environment offers you many opportunities to meet people from all walks of life, how they live in the work environment and the struggles they faced. This gives us a chance to impart good work ethics and characters to the people around us. It also opens up the door to influence when challenges on integrity and other issues arise and a stance is made for God's principles.

8 Benefits of BAM

There are many different benefits for BAM. Here are 8 that we have experienced:

1. BAM brings not only spiritual transformation, but economic, social and community transformation.
2. BAM provides opportunities to be in difficult places.
3. BAM helps generates funding for church growth and expansion.
4. BAM creates and provides jobs.
5. BAM helps improve the skill level of the people and abilities to find jobs.
6. BAM brings kingdom values into the market place, transforming work ethics and principles.
7. BAM provides a natural environment for you to meet people and opportunities to influence a wide sphere of people.
8. BAM helps the local economy.

Testimony

We met David a year ago. This is his story. David was a young man when he joined his church program to be trained as an evangelist some 8 years ago. Upon graduation, he was sent out by his church but soon found himself without support and money to feed himself and his family. The leaders told him that they do not have the funds to support him anymore and he will just have to rely on God. After 6 months, he was left alone and nearly gave up. He finally met someone who came along side him.

Today he is a pastor over a region with several thousand flocks under him. He and his group are ready to send out workers to other parts, however, the issue of finance and a means to stay remain a key hindrance. His kids are now of school age. In his years of service, he has given up everything and does not have a home to go back to. He does not even have money for the kids' education and has to send one back to the village. He is so discouraged and wonder how he and his family is going to make it.

David is one of the many examples of real life people who has a great love for God and have sacrificed everything they have. They have come to see that BAM is an answer for 21st century China.

Food for Thoughts

As Solomon said in the Book of Ecclesiastes, "Nothing is new under the sun," neither is BAM. The following are just a few of the many Biblical examples about BAM. Food for thoughts for you?

Joseph the Dreamer or Joseph the Great Business Manager?
When we think about Joseph from the Old Testament, we often think about him as a dreamer, about perseverance, vision and so on. But here's a question. What was Joseph's occupation and who are the people he influenced? He was the 2nd man to Pharoah - he was an estate manager, a financial controller, he was good with public relation for sure as he has to deal with many people, he was a shrewd investor, knowing when to store and when to sell so much so that Pharaoh end up owning all the land and people still thanking him for saving their families lives. Joseph the Business Manager was greatly used by God.

Abraham, Father of the Nations and Abraham, the Wealthy Sheep Owner
When God told Abraham to leave his father's house and that he will become the Father of the nations, he did not immediately set off to evangelize the world. He was described as increasing in livestock and wealth as he proceeds in obedience to what God told him to do. Through his encounter with other kingdoms, God made Himself known to be Abraham's God and through it, made himself know to the nations.

Jesus Our Savior and Jesus as a Businessman?
Everyone talks about Jesus ministry which was when He was on earth for the last 3 years. But we seldom talk about what Jesus was in his first 30 years. He was a carpenter. He was also head of the household after Joseph his father died. He had brothers and sisters which means he has responsibilities to take care of them and his mother. What does a carpenter have to do? He has to have good knowledge of the types of wood, project cost so as to make a profit, hire and fire people, negotiate contracts and so on. Jesus understands business clearly. He uses many business examples in his parables.

We are a ministry of YWAM China. This material is copy righted. Please do not quote us or use our examples with asking for permission.