42
WEALTH CREATORS’ CONTRIBUTION TO HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION
WEALTH
CREATORS’
CONTRIBUTIONTO
HOLISTIC
TRANSFORMATION
WEALTHCREATORS’
CONTRIBUTIONTO
HOLISTIC
TRANSFORMATION
Global Consultation on Wealth Creation for
Transformation
March 2017
lausanne.org•bamglobal.org
THEWEALTHCREATORS
ApaperfromtheGlobalConsultationon
WealthCreationforTransformation
organizedbytheLausanneMovementandBAMGlobal
inChiangMai,Thailand,inMarch2017.
© LausanneMovement&BAMGlobal
Permissionisgrantedtodistributethispaperforpersonalandeducationaluse,
freeofcharge.Commercialuseisprohibited.
Pleaseincludethisacknowledgementwhensharingandquoting:
2017GlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforTransformation;Lausanne
Movement&BAMGlobal.
Weencouragethedisseminationofthispaperandalsothevarious
translationsoftheWealthCreationManifesto.
GlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforTransformationSeries:• WealthCreationandthePoor
• RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreation
• WealthCreation:BiblicalViewsandPerspectives
• WealthCreationandtheStewardshipofCreation
• WealthCreationwithinGlobalCulturalPerspectives
• WealthCreators'ContributiontoHolisticTransformation
• WealthCreationandJustice
Formoreinformationcontact:[email protected]•[email protected]
4
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Foreword...................................................................................................................................5
WealthCreationManifesto.......................................................................................................7
ExecutiveSummary:WealthCreators’ContributiontoHolisticTransformation.....................9
WealthCreators’ContributiontoHolisticTransformation.....................................................10
1.0Introduction:UniqueOpportunitiesforMissionalWealthCreators............................10
2.0ReductioninPovertythroughBusinessovertheLast200Years:aBriefLookatthe
Statistics.......................................................................................................................10
3.0TheAlbanianExample:aCaseforaBusinessFocusbyChristians...............................14
4.0TheNewContextforMission.......................................................................................18
5.0BusinessthatAlleviatesPoverty...................................................................................24
6.0BusinessCases..............................................................................................................25
7.0Conclusion....................................................................................................................30
Appendix1..............................................................................................................................31
Appendix2..............................................................................................................................37
Endnotes.................................................................................................................................41
5
Foreword
‘RemembertheLORDyourGod,foritishewhogivesyoutheabilitytoproducewealth’(Deut
8:18).
TheBibletalksaboutwealthinthreeways;oneisbadandtwoaregood.Hoardingofwealth
iscondemned.Sharingofwealthisencouraged.Creationofwealthisbothagodlygiftanda
command,andthereisnowealthtobesharedunlessithasfirstbeencreated.Butalltoooftentheissueofwealthcreationismisunderstood,neglected,orevenrejected.Thesame
thingappliestowealthcreators.
TheGlobalConsultationonTheRoleofWealthCreationforHolisticTransformationaimed
ataddressingthat.Wewereabout30peoplefrom20nations,primarilyfromthebusiness
world,andalsofromchurch,missionsandacademia.DuringtheConsultationprocess2016–
2017wediscussedvariousaspectsofwealthcreation,includingjustice,poverty,biblical
foundations,culture,wealthcreators,stewardshipofcreationandtheroleofthechurch.
ThefindingshavebeensummarizedintheWealthCreationManifesto,andwillalsobe
publishedinseveralreportsandabook,aswellasaneducationalvideo.
Allthesecontainawealthofknowledgeandinsights,basedontheScriptures,rootedin
historyandinformedbypresent-dayconversationsandexamples.
Goldinthegroundhasnoparticularvalueuntilitisdiscovered,extracted,andtraded.Using
themetaphorofminingletmementionthree‘goldmines’thatwehavesoughttodiginto
duringourConsultationprocess.
ThebiblicalgoldmineFromtheManifesto:‘WealthcreationisrootedinGodtheCreator,whocreatedaworldthat
flourisheswithabundanceanddiversity.WearecreatedinGod’simage,toco-createwith
himandforhim,tocreateproductsandservicesforthecommongood.Wealthcreationisa
holycalling,andaGod-givengift,whichiscommendedintheBible.’Thereisalotmoregold
tobefoundinthebiblicalgoldmine.
Thehistoricalgoldmine
Wealthcreationleadingtotransformationisnotnew.FromtheManifesto:‘Wealthcreation
throughbusinesshasprovenpowertoliftpeopleandnationsoutofpoverty.’Therearemany
storiesofholistictransformationthroughwealthcreationthroughouthistory,andsomeare
stilluntold.Wealthcreationhasahistoryandweneedtoexploreitfurther.Throughour
reportsyoucandigintohistoricalgoldmines.
6
TheglobalgoldmineWealthcreationisnotaWesternorrich-worldphenomenon.Manymenandwomenare
makingadifferencethroughbusinessesonallcontinents.FromtheManifesto:‘Wealth
creatorsshouldbeaffirmedbytheChurch,andequippedanddeployedtoserveinthe
marketplaceamongallpeoplesandnations.’Weneedtolearnfromthemandothersandto
extracttheglobalgold,alsofoundinthesereports.
DiscoverandextracttheintellectualwealthintheManifesto,thereportsandbooksaswellasthevideo,andletthemaddvaluetoyourlifeandwork.Sharewithothers.
PleasestartbyreadingtheWealthCreationManifesto.Itwillgiveyouacontextanda
frameworktobetterunderstandeachreport.PleasealsoseetheappendixConsultationon
WealthCreation:BackgroundandContext.
MatsTunehag
ChairmanoftheConveningTeam
7
WealthCreationManifesto
Background
TheLausanneMovementandBAMGlobalorganizedaGlobalConsultationonTheRoleofWealthCreationforHolisticTransformation,inChiangMai,Thailand,inMarch2017.About
30peoplefrom20nationsparticipated,primarilyfromthebusinessworld,andalsofrom
church,missionsandacademia.Thefindingswillbepublishedinseveralpapersandabook,
aswellasaneducationalvideo.ThisManifestoconveystheessentialsofourdeliberations
beforeandduringtheConsultation.
Affirmations
1. WealthcreationisrootedinGodtheCreator,whocreatedaworldthatflourishes
withabundanceanddiversity.
2. WearecreatedinGod’simage,toco-createwithhimandforhim,tocreateproducts
andservicesforthecommongood.
3. Wealthcreationisaholycalling,andaGod-givengift,whichiscommendedinthe
Bible.
4. WealthcreatorsshouldbeaffirmedbytheChurch,andequippedanddeployedto
serveinthemarketplaceamongallpeoplesandnations.
5. Wealthhoardingiswrong,andwealthsharingshouldbeencouraged,butthereisno
wealthtobesharedunlessithasbeencreated.
6. Thereisauniversalcalltogenerosity,andcontentmentisavirtue,butmaterial
simplicityisapersonalchoice,andinvoluntarypovertyshouldbealleviated.
7. Thepurposeofwealthcreationthroughbusinessgoesbeyondgivinggenerously,
althoughthatistobecommended;goodbusinesshasintrinsicvalueasameansof
materialprovisionandcanbeanagentofpositivetransformationinsociety.
8. Businesshasaspecialcapacitytocreatefinancialwealth,butalsohasthepotential
tocreatedifferentkindsofwealthformanystakeholders,includingsocial,
intellectual,physicalandspiritualwealth.
9. Wealthcreationthroughbusinesshasprovenpowertoliftpeopleandnationsoutof
poverty.
10. Wealthcreationmustalwaysbepursuedwithjusticeandaconcernforthepoor,and
shouldbesensitivetoeachuniqueculturalcontext.
8
11. Creationcareisnotoptional.Stewardshipofcreationandbusinesssolutionstoenvironmentalchallengesshouldbeanintegralpartofwealthcreationthrough
business.
Appeal
WepresenttheseaffirmationstotheChurchworldwide,andespeciallytoleadersin
business,church,government,andacademia.1
• Wecallthechurchtoembracewealthcreationascentraltoourmissionofholistic
transformationofpeoplesandsocieties.
• Wecallforfresh,ongoingeffortstoequipandlaunchwealthcreatorstothatvery
end.
• Wecallwealthcreatorstoperseverance,diligentlyusingtheirGod-givengiftsto
serveGodandpeople.
AdmaioremDeigloriam—ForthegreatergloryofGod
9
ExecutiveSummary:WealthCreators’ContributiontoHolisticTransformation
[Quotesinitalicsareexcerptsfromthereport,unlessotherwisestated.]
Thisreportexploresthehistoricalandcurrenteffectofwealthcreationthroughbusinesson
poverty.Itprovidesexamplesandsuggestionsforwealthcreatorstointentionallycontribute
toholistictransformation.
Indefiningwealthcreation,thisreportholdstruewealthistheabilitytofullyembraceour
Creator’sworldcompletewithrelationships,helpingotherstocreatewealthandhavinga
sustainableandscalablewealthcreationmodel.Deuteronomy8:18remindsusthatitisour
Godwhogivesusthecapacitytocreatewealth.Godintendsmaterialblessingforus,butwe
mustrememberhiminthemidstofallourcreating.
WeexploredtheIndustrialRevolutionandtherecentglobalizationofbusinessandits
impactonpovertystatistics.ThedecreaseinpovertyfollowedtheIndustrialRevolution.As
productivityincreased,thefactorysystemgrew.Whilethecountriesattheforefrontof
industrializationprospered,thecountriesfromwhichtherawmaterialsweregathered—the
GlobalSouthortheFarEast—didnotalwaysfinditapositiveforcetobringthemoutof
poverty.Ittookactuallymakingandsellingthegoodstodothat.
AsacountrystudywelookedatAlbaniaascommunismfellandthecountryopenedtothe
gospel.ReligiousfreedomandthegrowthofthechurchdidnotbringAlbaniaoutofpoverty.
ForeignAidalsodidnotbringAlbaniaoutofpoverty.Perhapsitcouldbesaidthatwhileaid
ishelpful,whenitdoesnotfocusoneconomicdevelopment,peopleremaininpoverty.Yes,
povertyhasgonedownabout10percent,buteventhatisbasedononlyUSD1.25perday:
clearlyinadequate.
Lookingatpastsuccessfulmovestobringthegospelandwealthcreation,wereviewedthe
historicalspreadofthegospelalongthetraderoutes.ForinstancetheNestorianstraveled
theSilkRoadreachingChinawiththegospelbythesixthcentury.Theyutilizedthesame
wordforevangelistasbusinessperson.Wealsolookedattheexemplarybusinessprinciples
oftheQuakers,Moravians,andBaselmission.
Askinghowwemightexaminebusinessestoday,wedevelopedagridtomeasurebusinesses
onstrategicandintentionalbiblicalwealthcreation.Tomakethegridpracticalweprovided
examplesofthreebusinesses.
Finally,wealsosuggestedforminganorganizationtoprovideyoungbusinessleaders
experienceandmentoringbyexperiencedwealthcreators.
Inconclusion:
WebelievethatcreatingrealwealthiswhatGoddesiresfromus:wealththatblesses
families,communities,andcountries.Thatblessingincludessharingfaithandlove,providing
jobsthataremeaningfulandreflectthecreativenessofourGod.Buildingbusinessforthe
longhaul:sustainableandscalable....Wetrustthattheseexampleswillsparkthechurch
andbusinesscommunitytoconsiderhowtheymightaffirm,alignandreleasewealth
creatorstotheministryofthegospel.
10
WealthCreators’ContributiontoHolisticTransformation
NoraHughes,PaulLee,WesleyMontechiariFigueira,SteveDubbeldam,PuspakPatro,TitusYu
1.0Introduction:UniqueOpportunitiesforMissionalWealthCreators
Aswelookaroundtoday’sworldoffast-pacedchangesinpolitical,social,andbusiness
structures,itwouldbeeasytowonderifChristiansandtheirorganizationsreallyhavea
placeinthisnewworldorder.Webelievewedo.Businesspeopletypicallylookatproblems
asopportunitiesthathavenotyetfoundasolution.Businessistheonlyorganizationthat
createswealththatisscalableandsustainable.2Sincethebeginningoftime,businesshas
beenorderedandblessedbyGod,theCreator.Businessitselfhasnotalwaysbeengood,fair,
orgodly—weunderstanditsexcessesandhistory.However,webelieveitiswaitingtobe
usedbyGodtodayinnew,yetoldsolutionstoalleviatepovertyandspreadthegospel.But
firstashortjourneytowherewearetodayandhowwegothere.
Inthispaper,lookingatpovertyreductionasaresultofglobalizingbusiness,weaskthe
question:doesbusinessingeneralreallyreducepovertyorisitanexcuseforsometoget
richwhileothersgetpoor?ThispaperthenlooksatwealthcreationbyChristiansoverthe
centuriesasthegospelmovesalongtraderoutes.Wealsoprovideseveralcasestudiesof
wealthcreatorstodayandhowtheyusethatwealthtoblessthecommunitiesaroundthem.
Finally,weproposeaplantosupportthenextgenerationofwealthcreators.
Defining‘wealth’First,wemustdefinewealthcreationandwealthcreators.Creatingwealthtodayisoften
seenassomepeoplegettingobscenelyrichwhileothersremainingdesperatelypoor.Is
wealthcreationjustaboutmakingmoney,investinginthestockmarket,forinstance,and
passivelywatchingyourmoneygrow?Maybe,butourdefinitionofwealthcreationis
broaderthanonepersonoronefamilyearningmoney.Creatingwealthtypicallybeginswith
thefamily,transmittingvaluesofworkandcreativenessthatresultinuniqueandsalable
productsorservices.Humaningenuityandcreativeness,aswellasnaturalresources,create
wealth.Butwealthismorethanhavingasurplusofmoney.Truewealthistheabilitytofully
embraceourCreator’sworldcompletewithrelationships,helpingotherstocreatewealth
andhavingasustainableandscalablewealthcreationmodel.Deuteronomy8:18remindsus
thatitisourGodwhogivesusthecapacitytocreatewealth.Godintendsmaterialblessing
forus,butwemustrememberhiminthemidstofallourcreating.
2.0ReductioninPovertythroughBusinessovertheLast200Years:aBriefLookatthe
StatisticsOverthelast200yearswehaveseenamazingreductionsofpovertyintheGlobalNorthor
whatiscalledtheWest.Whatwerethemechanisms?Howdidithappen?Todayweoften
11
seeaidusedinanefforttoreducepoverty.Wealsoseemicro-loansandmicro-business.But
havethoseprocessesreallymadea
difference?Hasitworkedinthe
past?Diditsomehowworkin
today’srichcountriesresultingin
theirwealth?Lookingatthearticle
‘Whatreallyreducespoverty?’,3
MaxRoserandEstebanOrtiz-
OspinahaveutilizedWorldBank
statisticstoanalyzethecausesand
progressofGlobalExtremePoverty,
whichisdefinedasthoselivingon
underUSD1.25perday.ChartOne
showstheprogressinsomeofthe
countriesweconsiderrichtoday.
ChartTwoshowsthedeclineof
povertyasglobalbusiness
increased.
Thedecreaseinpoverty
followedtheIndustrial
Revolution.Asproductivity
increased,thefactorysystem
grew.Whilethecountriesat
theforefrontof
industrializationprospered,
thecountriesfromwhichthe
rawmaterialswere
gathered—theGlobalSouthor
theFarEast—didnotalways
finditapositiveforcetobring
themoutofpoverty.Ittook
actuallymakingandsellingthe
goodstodothat.
WecanfollowthepathofglobalizationinChartThreefromtheWesttotheEastbylooking
attheFourAsianTigers.4Whilethisfollowsthepathofglobalization,italsoshowsthe
increaseinproductivityasprocessesweremechanized.
From1981onward,wehavemoreaccurateempiricaldataonglobalextremepoverty.5
BourguignonandMorrisonestimatethepastarebasedonnationalaccountsandadditional
informationonthelevelofinequalitywithincountries.Thedatafrom1981onwardscomes
fromtheWorldBank,whichbasestheirestimatesonhouseholdsurveys.
ChartOne
ChartTwo
12
Accordingtothesehousehold
surveys,44percentoftheworld
populationlivedinabsolutepoverty
in1981.Sincethen,theshareofpoor
peoplehasdeclinedveryfast—infact
fasterthaneverbeforeinworld
history.In32yearstheshareof
peoplelivinginextremepovertywas
dividedbyfour,reachinglevelsbelow
11percentin2013.Althoughthe
WorldBankestimatesfor2015are
notavailable,theprojectionssuggest
thattheincidenceofextremepoverty
hasfallenbelow10percent.
Wemightrejoiceatthestatisticsof
economicgrowthduetobusiness
andfeelthattheproblemofpoverty
willtakecareofitself...eventually.Butagain,thatisachimeraasthefollowingshows:
Whileglobalinequalityisstillveryhigh,wearenowlivinginaperiodoffallinginequality:
In2003thisratiowas37.6.TheGinicoefficienthasalsofallenfrom68.7to64.9.Taking
thehistoricalexperienceasaguideforwhatispossibleinthefuture,wehaveto
concludethatglobalinequalitywillremainhighforalongtime.Toseethiswecanask
howlongitwilltakeforthosewithincomesatthepoorest10percentcutofftoachieve
thecurrentincomesoftherichest10percentcutoffwhichis14,500international-USD.
ThisincomelevelisroughlythelevelofGDPpercapitaabovewhichthepoverty
headcountgetsclosetozeropercentformostcountries.6
2.1Howlongdoesittakeforincomestogrowfrom480USDto14,500USD?
2percentgrowth 172.1years
4percentgrowth 86.9years
6percentgrowth 58.5years
8percentgrowth 44.3years
10percentgrowth 35.8years
Evenunderaveryoptimisticscenarioitwilltakeseveraldecadesforthepoortoreach
theincomeleveloftheglobaltop10percent.7
Wemustthenconcludethatasbusinesshasgrownduetotheopportunitiesofglobalization,
povertywasreduced.Whileeachcountryshouldbeexaminedfortheirparticularities,itis
clearthatgrowthofbusinessreducespovertyandincreasesincome.Didtheincreasein
businessjusthappenorwasittiedtootherevents?
GDPpercapitafortheFourAsianTigers(Singapore,Hong
Kong,TaiwanandKorea)between1960and2014,
expressedinconstant2011USdollars.Datafor"RealGDPat
ConstantNationalPrices"and"Population"fromEconomic
ResearchattheFederalReserveBankofSt.Louis.Creative
Commons,Kanguole
ChartThree
13
2.2PoliticalchangeledtoeconomicchangeandanewcontextformissionAshortrecapofthepoliticalstateoftheworldfrom1990totoday,showingthespreadof
gospelandthebiblicalmandateofhelpingthepoor:
Ascommunismfellintheearly1990s,StateOwnedEnterprises(SOEs)wereprivatizedand
begantocompeteglobally.InsomecountriessuchasRussia,thisprocesswasquitecorrupt
allowingafewoligarchstobecomerich.Butmanypeoplebecamepoorerastheynolonger
hadaguaranteedincome,nomatterhowsmall,fromthestate.However,thesenewlyfreed
largebusinessesfoundopportunitiestoglobalizeandgrowrevenues.InRussia,thestate
encouragedsmallbusiness,oftencalledshoppingbagbusinesses,andbegantogrowa
privatesector.8
Businessnaturallyseeksopportunities.Andtheopportunityofagenerationpresenteditself
withthefallofcommunismintheUSSRandEasternEurope.Theopeningupofthe15
countriescreatedfromtheUSSRaswellasthe12fromEasternEurope(notcountingEast
GermanywhichjoinedWestGermany)wasanunprecedentedopportunity.Manycompanies
fromthemostindustrializedcountriesfoundtheirwayintotheformercommunistcountries
andChinasettingthestageforanextraordinaryglobalizationofbusiness.
Theopennesstobusinesscreatedopennesstonewideasandthinkingagainaboutreligion,
whichwaslargelycondemnedundercommunism.AsthecountriesoftheformerSoviet
Unionanditssatellitecountriesopenedtheirdoorstothewest,missionariescameflooding
in,andthestagewassetforanincreaseinopenopportunitytospreadthegospel.
Chinawasaspecialcaseasitmaintaineditscommunistpoliticalstructure,butchangedits
economicstructuretocapitalismwithaChineseface.9Forthefirsttimesincethecommunist
revolutionofthe1950s,foreignChristianworkerscouldcarefullylookaroundandseethe
unprecedentedgrowthofthegospelunderpersecution.Itwasajoyful,yethumblingtime.
Whilecommunismwasstillintact,Christianitywasontheriseand,ifcareful,Christian
workerscouldenterChinaasteachers,socialworkers,students,andthelike.
ThefallofcommunismopenedthedoorstobusinessandthegospelinEasternEuropeand
theformerSovietcountries.China,thoughstillcommunist,wasopeninamorediscreteway
tobusinessandthegospel.Thechangesthisbroughtcouldbefeltacrosstheglobe.In2005,
NewYorkTimeswriter,ThomasFriedman,wrotehisfamousbook,TheWorldisFlat:ABrief
HistoryoftheTwenty-FirstCentury.10Friedmanheldthattheopportunitiesofglobalization
wouldmaketheworld“flat”allowingallanequaleconomicplayingfield.Inthe12years
sinceitspublicationmanyhaveseenthattheplayingfieldisnotasflatasFriedmanthought.
However,inmanyplacespovertywasreducedwiththedevelopmentofglobalbusiness.
Increasingthewealthofafamily,community,orcountrycreatessocialchange.Thatsocial
changewasnotalwayswelcomeorwantedasfamilystructures,educationsystems,and
evengovernmentschangedtoaccommodatetheculturalchangesbroughtbyglobal
businessthinking.ForinstanceinChengdu,Chinaasahigh-techcompanyhirednewcollege
14
graduatesthoseworkersfeltthatafterfiveyearsofworkingforahigh-techmultinational
corporation,theirvalueswouldbesodifferenttheywouldnotfitintotheirfamilystructure
anylonger:
AnexpatriatemanagerwithmanyyearsofHighTechexperience,hadsomeofthe
sameissues:IthinkIusedtobemorewillingtotoleratepeople’sproblemsthanIam
now.IthinknowItreateverythinglikea[HighTech]meetingandifsomeonefailsto
meetmyexpectations,outsidetheworkforce,IthinkIshouldapplya[HighTech]
standardin‘Heyyoufailedtomeetmyexpectations.’Youcan’thavethat
conversationwitheithersomeonewhodoesn’tunderstandwhattherulesareor
withsomeonewhoshouldn’thavetomeetyourexpectationsbecausethat’snotthe
basisoftherelationship....IthinkIhavehardenedmorethanIwouldliketohave
hardened.Iliketothinkthatsomewhereinthereyoudon’ttotallyloseyour
compassion,yourabilitytoempathize,butIthinkyoudotosomeextent.Sothat’s
thestuffthattroublesme.11
AscountriesopenedtoglobalbusinessChristiansfoundwaystotakethegospeltothose
countries.EasternEuropewasparticularlyfruitfulforthegospel.We’lllookatjustone
example—Albania:ThemostclosedcountryinEurope,whichcouldbelikenedtotheNorth
Koreaofitsday.
3.0TheAlbanianExample:aCaseforaBusinessFocusbyChristians.12
3.1Historicalsetting
HistoricallyAlbaniawasChristianuntiltheOttomanEmpireconqueredtheminthemid
1400s.Atthattimeabout70percentofthepopulationbecameMuslim.Itisbelievedthe
changeofreligionwaspredicatedonlivinginaMuslimstatethatdidnotallowanynon-
Muslimaccesstotherightsofcitizenship.Albaniabecameitsowncountryin1912uponthe
weakeningoftheOttomanEmpire.ManyAlbanianswouldhavebeenhappytocontinueto
beapartofthenewTurkey,buttheywantedtousetheirownlanguage,whichwas
forbiddenbytheTurks.Sotheyseparatedandsetuptheirowncountry,whichlastedabit
morethan30years.CommunismcametoAlbaniain1946withEnverHoxhaasthe
communistdictator.
Noreligionwasallowedduringcommunisttimes,neitherChristiannorMuslim.Albaniawas
acompletelyclosedcountryfromtherestofEurope.Independenttotheend,theyallowed
themselvestobeaclientstateoffirstYugoslavia,thenRussiaandfinallyChina.Theyfound
eachonenotStalinistenough.In1967theyoustedtheChinese,theirlastcommunistpartner,
anddeclaredthemselvesanatheisticsocialistcountry.
Duringcommunismapproximately25percentofthepopulationwasputintointernal
prisonsandallreligiousleaderswereexecuted.Therewasnoundergroundchurchor
mosque.Noonecouldevenbenamedabiblicalname,althoughafewbravegrandmothers
didbaptizetheirgrandchildrenattheriskoftheirlives.
15
3.2Fromcommunismtocapitalism
AlbaniawasthelastEasternEuropeancountrytooverthrowcommunism.Inastudent
revolutionledbylawprofessorZefBrozi,thegovernmentfellinMarchof1992.Aspeople
understoodhowthecommunistsdupedthem,theybecameangryanddestroyedallthe
meansofproductionbelievingtheywerethetoolsofanoppressivegovernment.Therewas
noprivatebusinessatallundercommunism.SoAlbaniawasvirtuallyablankslate:no
religionwhatsoever,noindustryorbusiness;justpeoplegoingthroughatimeofphysical
starvationanddealingwithunprecedentedsocialchange.
AsAlbaniadescendedintoever-greaterpoverty,Christianworkersfloodedin.TheAlbanian
EncouragementProject(AEP)wasbegunin1993withabout45foreignmissionagencies
workingtogether.
AresearcherinOctober1992attemptedtotabulatetheamazingevangelical
presenceinAlbania.Helisted40couples,25singlemenand22singlewomen
workinginTiranaand14othercenters.Amoreprecisefigurerecentlylisted204
evangelicalactivists.Theycomefromanamazingnumberofcountries;Australia,
Belgium,Canada,NewZealand,Switzerland,Brazil,SouthAfrica,Finland,Greece,
Norway,Sweden,England,theUnitedStates,Austria,Germany,Hungary,Italy,
HollandandMexico.Besidesevangelismandchurch-plantingtheyengageinmedical
work,orphanages,publications,Bibletranslation,literaturedistribution,student
work,agriculturalcounseling,schoolrepairsandreliefwork.Thisisallsovery
incredible!13
ManyAlbaniansembracedthegospel,buttheworkofthemissionariesdidnotinclude
business.TheWesttypicallysupportednewpastorsandthechurchwasvulnerabletosocial
changes.In1997duringaperiodofextremecivilunrestborderingoncivilwar,allthe
ChristianorganizationsexceptCatholicReliefSocietyleftAlbania.TheonlyotherNGOthat
wascontinuingtoworkinthecountrywastheAlbanianEducationDevelopmentProjectof
Soros.ThatgapleftpeoplefeelingabandonedbythechurchandtheWest.Therewereafew
localpastors,buttheyhadnoincome.Thechurchthatisdependentuponforeignmoneyisa
weakchurchbothforitsownstructureandalsoforitsabilitytoaffectitscommunityfor
Christ.
InAugustof1991,theUNICEFMissiontoTiranareportedthatAlbaniapercapitaincome
was‘byfarthelowestinEurope.’By2014,23yearslater,onecouldhopethatitwouldbe
better,butthegainsweresmall.
Despiterecentyearsofeconomicgrowth,povertypersistsinAlbaniaasaresultof
continuinglowemploymentandlow-incomelevels,particularlyinruralmountain
areas,anditreflectstheunequalpatternofeconomicgrowth.Manysmall-scale
farmerslackaccesstomarketoutletsfortheirproduce,particularlyinmountain
areas.Withoutoutlets,farmerscannotincreasetheirincomesandstandardsofliving.
Theirproblemsarecompoundedbyascarcityofmarketinformation,lackof
16
compliancewithfoodhygieneandsafetystandardsandinadequaciesinpackaging
andlabeling,whichmaketheirproductsuncompetitive.Manyfarmers,asserting
reactive,post-communistindividualism,areskepticalofthepotentialbenefitsof
moreformalbusinesscollaboration,suchasmember-runmarketingandtrading
associations.
Farmproductionandproductivityarehinderedalsobylimitedtechnicalknowledge,
obsoleteequipmentandlimitedavailabilityofinputs.Marketsaredistant,thereisa
lackoffinancialservicesandtheageingfarmingpopulationiscomposedmainlyof
womenbecausemenmigrateinsearchofemployment.Unlessprocessingindustries
arestimulatedtoactascatalystsinsupplynetworks,opportunitiesforAlbanian
farmerswillremainunderexploited,andcommerciallyorientedfarmingwillremaina
sporadicandunorganizedactivity.14
Fromthequoteaboveitisapparentthatthelackofbusinesssystemsholdpeopleinpoverty.
TheUNstatisticsshowthatpoverty
hasgonefrom25.4percentin2002
to14.3percentin2012,basedon
thecriteriaof1.25USDperday.
However,considering1.25USDper
dayasthelevelofpoverty,onehas
toaskwhether1.25USDisaproper
criteriaorwhatthenumberwould
beusingtheWorldBank’s1.90USD.
Theanswerisclearfromother
statisticssuchasmalnutrition,infant
deaths,etcthattheAlbanian’slifeis
houndedbylack.Therefore,we
wouldmaintainthatinreality,
povertyismuchhigherthan14.3
percent.
3.3Today’ssituation
ChartFourshowsthatfrom2000–
2008foreignaidtoAlbaniahas
beenreducedone-third.15Within
foreignaidsomewasallocatedto
economicdevelopment.However,
fromChartFiveonecanseethat
theamountgivenforEconomic
Developmentisquitesmallin
comparisonwithotheraid.
ChartFour
ChartFive
17
Perhapsitcouldbesaidthatwhileaidishelpful,whenitdoesnotfocusoneconomic
development,peopleremaininpoverty.Yes,povertyhasgonedownabout10percent,but
eventhatisbasedononly1.25USDperday—clearlyinadequate.
3.4Thecaptivityofcorruption
WealsowanttopointoutanotherissuehinderingbusinesslifeinAlbania:corruption.Ina
largelycorruptcountry,mostsecularbusinesswillnotcomein.Manystoriesaretoldabout
companiesthathavetriedtosetupbusinessinAlbania,butwerecheatedoutoftheir
capitalandopportunity.AccordingtotheEuropeanUnion,
Corruptionrepresentsthefailureofthesocietytomanagethecompetinginterestsof
differentgroupsinafairandmeritocraticway.AccordingtotheTransparency
International,corruptioninAlbaniawithinthepublicsectorremainsoneofthe
country’sbiggestchallenges,particularlyinareassuchaspoliticalparties,health,and
justicesystems.Thelowwages,thesocialacceptanceofbriberyandthenarrow
socialnetworksmakedifficultthetaskofcombatingcorruptionamongpolice,judges
andcustomsofficials.
In2012theTransparencyInternationalReport(E.U.),despitethe‘zerotolerance’
policybythegovernmentofSaliBerisha,rankedAlbaniaasthemostcorruptcountry
inEuropeandalsoasoneofthemostcorruptcountriesintheworld.Thecountry
wasin116thpositionoutof176countriesin2012,downfrom95thplacein2011.
Thisnumbersoundsthealarmforthedemocraticstabilityofthecountry.16
Althoughthissamestorycouldbetoldaboutmanyoftheformercommunistcountries,
Albania’spositionasatransitpointfordrugsandhumantraffickingmakeitparticularly
noxious.Multinationalcompaniescannotgointoaplacethiscorrupt;equally,small
businessesfaceanimpossibleenvironmentandarerunout.Thus,povertyabounds.
Isthisnotsomethingthechurchshouldtackle?InhisLausannepublication,Fred
Catherwoodquotesnumerousscripturalexamplesandthenstates:
ThesepassagesshowthatinbothOldandNewTestaments,briberyisregardedasa
sinagainstGod;aperversionofjusticewhichallowstherichtoexploitthepoor,and
anabuseorexploitationofpowertosatisfygreed.TheyteachthatthepeopleofGod
mustbehonest.
ThefightagainstcorruptionhastobeawholeheartedeffortbytheentireChurch,
andnotleftasabattletobefoughtonlybythosewholiveinovertlycorrupt
cultures....Christiansarethe‘saltoftheearth’andtheprimepurposeofsaltisto
preventcorruption.17
Thisisanopportunityforthechurchandforthoseworkingwiththechurch.Weareabout
twenty-fiveyearsintoaseachangeofgovernmentsaroundtheworldwithlargemovesin
18
globalizingbusiness,andyetwestillseepeopleinpoverty.Coulditbethatwehavenot
focusedwellonwhereGod’sheartis?AsCatherwoodstates,briberyisasinagainstGod.
Andyetweareoftenambivalentorquietlycomplicit.Wedonottakeastrongstandagainst
corruptionandfeelthatwithoutpayingabribewecannotgetavisa,openourbusiness,etc.
Orwearguethatwearesimplyinsyncwiththecultureofthisorthatcountry,not
understandingthatwearepartofasystemthatisunfairandkeepspeopleinpoverty.
3.5Summary
LookingattheexampleofAlbaniarevealsfourthingsthatperhapscanhelpusunderstand
theissueshinderingthechurchinothercountries:
1. Thechurchisgrowingandthecountryisopentosharethegospel.
2. Thestructuresofgovernmenthavebeenputinplaceandtheinternational
communityishelpingtosomedegree.
3. Butpovertyisstillloominglargeandthereislittlefocusonbusinessfromtheaid
agenciesnorthemissioncommunity.
4. Corruptiondoesnotgoawaybyitselfandispartofcreatinggreaterviabilityforthe
church
4.0TheNewContextforMission
Whileweseethechurchdevelopingandgrowing
acrosstheentireformercommunistworld.Itis
typicallysupportedbyforeignmissionagenciesthat
providefundsandpersonnelfor‘church-planting’but
notforbusiness.18Ourquestionis,canthechurchbe
viable—abletostandonitsown—withoutastrong
businesseconomyamongthecongregants?Havewe
builtahollowchurchstructurethatcollapseswhen
foreignfundingisreducedbecausethechurchis
financiallyimpoverished?Christiansoftenlookatthe
churchastheChurchUniversal,leftintheworldby
God.However,thereisthepractical,legalstructure
thatallorganizationshavewithinthegovernment
structurewheretheylive.
AreportbythePewResearchCenteronJune21,2016
showsthatmanycountrieshaveincreased
governmentalrestrictionsonreligion.ChartSixshows
thedifferencebetween2013and2014.19
Fromjustthesesmallsamples,itisapparentthatnew
religiouslawscompoundthepressureonlocal
churchesaswellasforeignNGOsthatworkwiththe
churchinthatcountry.
ChartSix
19
4.1Isthisanunsolvableproblem?Theshortanswerisyes.Thatis,yes,ifallwehadwerethecurrentstateoftheconfluenceof
governments,legalstructures,socialissues,missionagencies,andchurchstructures.But
thatisnotallwehave.Godhaslefthischurchonearthasabodythatisdestinedtoimpact
allofsociety.Andalltheprocessesofsocietyareatitsdisposal.Weareinaplaceof
unprecedentedchangeandunprecedentedopportunitytobethechurchsharinghisgospel.
Afterall,eventheoldestmissionagenciesareonlyabout150yearsold(forinstance,China
InlandMissionwhichisnowOMFisoneofthefirstintoChina).Sohowdidthegospelgetto
Chinabythe6thcenturylongbeforemissionagenciesexisted?Howdidthegospelmove
fromJerusalemtoEuropeortoConstantinopleandBabylon?Ifwelookatthehistoryofthe
churchandthespreadofthegospelweseeapatternemergethatisclearlyreplicabletoday.
Thereisnodoubtthatthechurchofoldhaddifficultieswithgovernmentsandtyrannical
leaderssuchasGenghisKahnandTamerlane,butthegospelprevailedeveninthosedays.
Whatwastherethatallowedthegospeltopermeatetheancientsocieties?Wewantto
suggestthatitwastheancienttraderoutes.ThosetraderoutesallowedlayChristian
businesspeople,sometimesalongwithanecclesiasticalstructure,liketheNestorians,to
movealongthetraderoutessharingthegospel.Therewasapowerinthecombinationof
businessandgospelsharingthatchangedtheworld.
Onecanclearlyseethisphenomenonwhenwelookatmapsofthetraderoutesand
comparethemwiththespreadofthechurch.
MapOneoutlinestheseveral
routesonwhatiscalledthe
SilkRoad.LuceBoulnois,inher
well-researchedbook,holds
thatthePersianNestorians,
whowerepersecutedbythe
Byzantines,wereforced
eastwardandnevertheless
reachedChangan(Xian)China
duringthesixthcentury.20
Moffettreportsthatwhilethey
hadanecclesiasticalstructure,
theywerealsoknownas
merchantswhoopenedtrade
fromPersiatoChina.21An
earlierstoryrelatesthata
Yemenimerchantnamed
HayyanwasonabusinesstripfromHimyaritestoConstantinopleandstoppedatHirawhere
hemetagroupofNestoriansandwasconverted.HereturnedtoYemenandevangelizedhis
Arabfamilyandneighbors.22
MapOne
20
WhiletherewereconstantborderwarsbetweentheByzantinesandPersians(nottheleast
ofwhichwerecontinualbackandforthchargesofapostasybetweenthetwobranchesof
Christianity)thegovernmentalstructureswerealsoatwarmoreoftenthannot.Eveninthat
turbulentsituation,thegospelwentforth:
Inhissixth-century‘LivesoftheEasternSaints,’JohnofEphesustellsthestoryof
ElijahandTheodore,twotraders‘whobesidesworldlytradeengagedmoreoverin
divine[trade]also.’TheywerenativesofAmidaineastSyriaontheRomansideof
thePersianfrontier,butfortwentyyearstheycarriedontheirbusinessinPersia,
addingthewitnessoftheirlivestotheirtestimonytothefaith,forthey‘abstained
entirelyfromtheevilpracticeswhichtradersoftheworldarewanttofollow,thatis
fromoathsofallkinds,andfromlying,andfromextortion,andfromdiverseweights
andmeasures.’23
Soweclearlyseethatinthe
tumultofthemajortrade
routesofold,thegospel
movedasbusinesspeople
faithfullysharedthegood
newsofJesusandlivedupto
biblicalprinciplesofbusiness.
MapTwoshowsthesea-lanes
oftheSpiceRouteaswellas
theSilkRoad.Theastute
readerwillnoticethatthe
areascoveredarequiteakinto
the10/40Windowoftoday’s
missionfocus.
Munsonreports:
ThecorrelationbetweenthepathsoftradeandthespreadofChristianityinAsiamay
beobvious,buttheintentionalityoftherelationshipisnotaseasytorecognize.
However,infact,AsianChristianspurposelyusedtraderoutesaspartoftheir
missionstrategy....ThisismostclearintheworkofNestorianPatriarchYeshuyabII
duringthe7thcentury.HeauthorizedthemissiontoChinautilizingtheoverlandtrade
route,oftenknownastheSilkRoad....Thevisionwastosetupmonasteriesand
churchesina5,000milelongstringacrossthebreadthofAsia,alongtheSilkRoad.
Fromthere,Christianitycouldgointothesurroundingpeoples....24Traderoutes
providedpartofthemethodofmissionaswell.Forexample,amissionteamput
togethertoreachtheHaphthaliteHunsinthe6thcenturywascomposedoftwo
merchants,amissionarybishop,andfourpriests.25Laypeopleservedasmissionaries,
notjustpriests.Thisuseofmerchantsinmissionscouldgobeyondthis.Itis
interestingtonotethatintheearlyAsianchurch,theSyriacwordfor‘merchant’was
usedasametaphorforevangelist.26
MapTwo
21
Itis,therefore,abundantlyclearthatatleastinAsiatheancienttraderouteshelpedthe
spreadofthegospelthroughbusinesspeoplesimplysharingtheirfaithastheyworkedin
theirbusinesses.
MunsongoesontoshowthesimilaritiesofthecountriesbetweenJerusalemandChina
todaywhencomparedwiththefirstfewcenturiesafterChrist.Hestatestheadvantagesof
beingabusiness-persondoingmissionwork:
1. Aclearjustificationfortheirpresence
2. Traveltocosmopolitancentersthataremulti-ethnicandmulticulturalprovidinga
multiculturalenvironmentandthefreedomforpeopletoseekGod
3. Theformofoutreachcanincludeschoolsandhospitalsandimpactalargerscopeof
thepopulation.27
Sowehaveseentheverybeginningofthegospelspreadingbeyondthedisciplesin
Jerusalem.PatrickJohnstoneproposesthat,
Bytheyear1000theNestorianshadspreadfromSyriatoIranandYemenandthen
acrosscentralAsia,Mongolia,Tibet,China,partsofIndia,ThailandandBurma.Itwas
thedominantfaithbetweentheCaspianSeaandthebordersofChina.Therewere
then12millionassociatedwiththisChurchin250dioceses.Bythethirteenthcentury
therewere72metropolitanpatriarchsand200bishopsinChinaandsurrounding
areas.Thisrepresented24%ofallChristiansintheworldofthattime,andover6%of
thepopulationofAsia.28
TheSilkRoadwasaneconomicprizecovetedbymany.29ThoughtheNestorianshadplansto
reachacriticalmassinAsia,theywerenotabletowithstandthecomingMongolandMuslim
conquerors.GenghisKhanusedhissonstoconquertheSilkRoad,butwasnotabletohold
thetradingcenterswithoutputtinghisdaughtersintostrategicmarriageswithlocal
leaders.30WhileweoftenthinkofGenghisKhanandhisdescendantsasfighterstobefeared,
bothGenghisandhisdescendant,KublaiKahnwerequiteopentoamultiplicityofreligions
andeventoChristianityasTheTravelsofMarcoPoloreveals.31Someofhisdaughters,in
strategicmarriages,wereNestorianChristiansthemselves,butoncethenextgeneration
cameintopower,Christianityfailed.
TheMoghulEmpirewasquitedifferentthantheMongols.EmirTamerwasacruelleader
thatgavenoquartertoanyotherreligionbutMuslim.Ifacitywouldnotcapitulate,his
warriorsswoopedinandkilledallmen,women,andchildren.Nexthecutofftheirheads
andpiledthemupatthegatestothecityasamessagetothenextcityheattacked.Asthe
MoghulssweptacrossAsia,notonlyChristianity,butBuddhismandotherreligionswere
wipedout.
4.2Awayforward
Thehistoricalanalysisabovedemonstratesthatthechangingpolitical,legal,andcultural
environmentsincreasinglymakestheconventionalparadigmofmissionthatwehave
22
becomeaccustomedtointhelast150yearsmoreandmorechallenging.Atthishistoric
juncture,insteadofseeingthecurrentsituationasacrisis,weseeitasanopportunitytore-
examineourparadigmofmissionandre-envision.Todoso,wecangoallthewaybackto
therootofglobalmissionmovementinitiatedbytheHolySpirit(Acts1:8;2:2-4).Cross-
culturalmissiondidnotbeginbythechurchsendingoutprofessionalevangelists,butbythe
workoftheHolySpiritinthemidstofordinarysocio-culturalinteractions(Acts2:5-13)and
byChrist-followersmovingtodifferentgeographiclocationsandlivingaswitnessesofChrist
(Acts8:1;11:19).Eventhewell-knownearlychurchmissionaryduo,PaulandBarnabas,were
notfull-timemissionariesintoday’ssenseoftheterm.Instead,theywerebusiness
professionalswhocarriedouttheirbusinesspracticeandfoundopportunitiestosharethe
gospelinthemarketplace(Acts17:17;18:3;1Cor9:6).
InmuchofChristianhistory,missionwasnotanindependentchurchprojectthatisseparate
fromthecommunity’slivelihood.Rather,missionandlifewereintricatelylinkedtogether.In
otherwords,themessageofthegospelwasembeddedineverydaylife.Throughthegospel,
theKingdomofGodinvadedeverysphereoflife.
4.3Quakers
AmorerecentexampleofhowtheGospelwaslivedouttheinthecontextofbusinessand
hadatransformativeeffectonthesocietycanbefoundamongasmallChristiansectcalled
Quakers.AlthoughQuakersalwaysremainedarelativelysmallsectofProtestantChristianity,
theyhadanoutsizedimpactonbusiness.Inmanyways,theywerewealthcreatorsthathad
holisticallytransformativeimpactonsociety.
QuakerismisamovementofcharismaticChristiansthatbeganinEnglandinmid-
seventeenthcentury.Whiletheyareoftenperceivedasquiet,peace-lovingandpassive
people,therealityisfarfromthetruth.Historically,Quakershavebeenactivesocial
reformers.Forexample,theyopenlyopposedslaveryandadvocatedequalrightsforwomen
andreligiousfreedomforallfaithgroups.
BecausetheChurchofEnglandaswellasthePuritanspersecutedQuakers,therewasvery
littleopportunityforthemtoparticipateinpoliticsorevenacademia.So,mostQuakers
pursuedwhatwasevidentlytheleastdiscriminatoryvocation—commerce.Theybuiltlasting
businessesandtransformedbusinesscultureonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.Someofthe
businessesthatQuakersfoundedarestillhouseholdnamesinBritishcommerce(egBarclays
Bank,CadburyChocolate,32Lloyd’sBank,ClarksBostonian,etc).
Interestingly,despitetheirdeepcommitmenttothegospel,Quakersarenotknownfortheir
missionaryzeal.Infact,someQuakertheologianswereskepticalofevangelisticworks.In
Quakertheology,theGreatCommandmenttoloveGodandloveotherstakesprecedence
overtheGreatCommission.Forexample,aQuakertheologianarguesthatthebestwitness
isagroupofdedicatedChristianslivingoutthegospeland“savingsoulsbecomeaby-
productoffollowingGod’sleading.”33Therefore,beingawitnessisaboutproclaimingthe
totalgospelexpressedinthecreationofhealthycommunityofbelieversandtheministryof
caring.
23
Thispursuitoftotalgospelthroughtheministryofcaringisevidentinthebusinesspractices
ofmanyQuakerestablishments.EntrepreneurslikeJosephRowntreeandRichardCadbury
werepioneersinprogressiveindustrialrelationsandpeople-management.RichardCadbury
‘alwaysfeltthat,afterhisfamily,hisfirstresponsibilitywastowardsthosewhoworkedfor
him...andneverconsideredhisobligationstowardsthemceasedwhenhehadpaidthem
theirwages.’34Tocareforhisemployees,hemaintainedhisfactoriescleanandsafe,and
triedtomaketheworkspaceahappyspace.Heinstitutedapaidhalf-holidayforworkers
eachweekduringthesummer,andprovidedeveningclassesforprofessionaldevelopment
twiceaweek.BothRowntreeandCadburyinvestedinbuildingaffordablequalityhousingin
thecommunitieswhereworkerslived.
TheQuakerbusinesseshadatransformativeeffectonbusinessculture,especially,onlabor
relations.WhiletheyalsoledmorningBiblestudieswiththeirworkers,theirprimary
‘ministry’wasembodyingbiblicalprinciplesintheirmanagementpracticeandcreatinga
caringorganization.TheQuakerbusinessleaders’intentionalefforttointegratebusiness
andlifehadalastingimpactonmodernbusinesscultureaswellasthelivesthatthey
touched.
Quakerbusinesseswerealsouniqueintheirgroomingofthenextgenerationbusiness
leaders.BecauseQuakerswereexcludedfromeducationalestablishmentsasteachers,they
emphasizedtransferringknowledgethroughapprenticeship.Itwasnotuncommontosenda
nextgenerationleadertootherQuakerbusinesses(evenindifferentindustries)tolearnthe
businessasapprentices.Thepracticeofexchangeapprenticeshipnaturallycreatedclose-
knitnetworksofstrongpersonaltiesamongQuakerbusinessleaders.Thesepersonal
networksgeneratedknowledgesharingandmoralsaswellaspracticalsupportstoQuaker
entrepreneurs.Moreover,forQuakers,therewasnodichotomybetweenchurchand
business.Forexample,atthemonthlyandquarterlymeetingsthatbroughtmanylocal
churchestogether,themembersoftherelatedindustrieswouldgathertogether.These
regularsocialinteractionsalsocreatedopportunitiesforanexchangeofinformationon
tradeaswellaseducationoftheyoungergeneration.
WhiletheQuakersshowtheeffectsofgoodbusinesspracticeswithinthechurch,others
showthenaturaluseofbusinesswithinmission.
4.4MoraviansandBasel
TheMoravians,alsocalledtheBrethren,wereapersecutedgroupthatleftMoraviaand
foundedacommunitycalledHerrnhutonthegroundsofCountZinzendorf’slandinwhatis
nowGermany.Theyweretypicallyartisansandtradesmen.Astheyprayedandwereledby
theHolySpirit,theycaughtamissionaryfervorthatledthemtobegintothinkofother
peoplewhohadnothadtheopportunitytohearthegospel.
SixtyyearsbeforeCareyleftforIndiaand150yearsbeforeHudsonTaylorlandedin
China,theMoraviansalreadyhaddispatchedtwomissionariestotheWestIndian
islandofSt.ThomastospreadthegospelofJesusChrist.Withintwentyyearsofthe
commencementoftheirmissionaryactivities,theMoravianBrethrenhadstarted
24
moremissionsthanAnglicansandotherProtestantshadduringthetwopreceding
centuries.35
Theirmissionarystrategywastent-making.Whenthemissionarywentouttheywere
providedtheirfare,butnosupportmoney.Asartisans,theyquicklygotjobsorstarted
businessestoprovidefortheirneeds.ItwasSarasin,fromthelikemindedBaselEvangelical
MissionSocietywho,inalettertoIndiain1854,articulatedbesttheprinciplesofthis
‘missionarycommerce’whenhewrote:
TheBusinessarmoftheMissionisnotjustanaidtomissionsbutitisthemissionitself
• amissionnotthroughpreachingbutthroughthepowerofexample
• amissionofrevealingChristianityinpracticallifesituations
• amissiondoingeverythingpossibletomakegodlinessvisible
• AmissionthatshowsChristianitytohavepromisenotonlyforthelifetocome
butalsoforthislife36
LiketheMoravians,asBasel’scommercialactivitiesdeveloped,theyrealizedtheirvaluewas
aReibungsflache,astheyputit,africtionsurfaceinthecommunity.Thatis,apowerto
influenceandmakeanimpactonthepeople.37
LiketheMoravianstheyunderstoodastheMoravianWeissputit,‘Demonstrationis
asimportantasproclamationintheChristianWorldMission’andChristian
businessmenpracticingtheir‘faithactiveinlove’inthedailyaffairsofthemarket
placewere(andforustodayare)apowerfulaudio-visualaidtoChristianmission.38
Thiswasnotonlyinchurchservicesbutalsowhereitreallymatters—inthemarketplaceand
ontheplantation.
WehaveseenhowbusinesshasbeenusedbyGodinthepasttobothspreadthegospeland
alleviatepovertyinournot-so-distantpast.Nowweturntotodaytolookatcurrent
examplesofbusinessalleviatingpoverty.
5.0BusinessthatAlleviatesPoverty
TheUNandotherinternationalbodiesdefinepovertyintermsofanamountofmoney
earnedeachday.Wehaveseenfromthefirstpartofthispaperthatnumberisinsufficient
forpeople,createdinGod’simage,toflourish.Businesscan,andshould,createaclimateof
flourishingthatgoesbeyondsimplyajobtokeeppovertyatbay.Followingareseveral
examplesofbusinessesandtheirmeasurementofimpact.Wehaveutilizedarevisedversion
ofthe‘grid’fromMeasuringBAMImpact.39
Wealthcreationforholistictransformationgrid
Thepurposeofthisgridistohelpwealthcreatorstounderstandwheretheyareintermsof
theirholistictransformationimpactandbemorestrategicandintentionalabouttheir
impact.
25
• Bystrategicwemeanthatwealthcreatorscanbetterunderstandthecontextfor
holistictransformationimpact(egidentifyingtargetaudienceaswellastargetareas
ofinjustice/need;understandingtheirstrengthsandweaknesses)usingthegrid.
• Byintentionalwemeanthatwealthcreatorscanbetterunderstandwheretheyare
andbemorepurposefulaboutwheretheywanttobeintermsofholistic
transformationimpact.
WebelievethatHolySpirit-ledwealthcreatorscancomeinallshapesandsizes.What
mattersistheentrepreneurs’commitmenttoChristandhiskingdomandtheirintentionfor
holistictransformation.Therefore,wedidnotcreatethegridtojudgewhichtypeofwealth
creatingorganizationsarebetter.Instead,thegridiscreatedtocapturethediversityof
wealthcreatorswhoareimpactingtheworldstrategicallyandintentionallyintheirunique
contexts.Intheend,wehopetoaffirmandempowerallofGod’swealthcreatorsinwhat
theydobygivingthemthetoolstounderstandwheretheyareintermsoftheirholistic
transformationimpactandbemorestrategicandintentionalabouttheirimpact.Pleasesee
Appendix1forafurtherdescriptionoftheGridanditsuse.
6.0BusinessCases
6.1BusinessoneBusinessnameandcountry:TheGivingKeys(TGK),USA40
BusinessSynopsis:TGKwasfoundedbyCaitlinCrosby,asinger-songwriterwhomadea
simplenecklacewithakeychainonitandgotawordstampedonitatalocksmith.Havinga
heartforthepoorsheemployedsomehomelessfriendsofherstostartmakingthese
customizedkeychainnecklaceswhichshesoldwhiletouring.Nowfiveyearslatertheyarea
multi-milliondollarbusinessemployingmanyhomelesspeopleandhelpingthemtransition
outofpoverty.Theirmodelisthepay-it-forwardprinciple.Youbuyakeywithaword
stampedonitthatismeaningfultoyou—ieLove,Brave,Hope—thenwhenyoumeet
someonewhoneedsencouragement,yougivethemyourkey.
BusinessModel:TGKemployshomelesspeoplewhoareintheChrysalisemployment
programinLosAngelestoworkintheproductionoftheirproducts.Theyalsodoextensive
coachinganddevelopmentoftheirhomelessstafftoensurethattheygetnotjustajobbut
alsothesupporttheyneedtothrive.
Management/ownership:Local
Poverty:Theyhaveprovidedpracticaljobsforhundredsofhomelesspeopleovertheyears
sincetheystarted.
Scalabilityandsustainability:Theyhavebeeninbusinesssince2008and,atthetimeof
writingthis,aregrossingover4millionUSDannuallyinsales.
26
ASampleGrid:
6.2BusinesstwoBusinessName&Country:Farms,SoutheastAsiaBusinessSynopsis:FarmsisacoffeebusinessinSoutheastAsiarunbyaDutchcouple.They
providecoffeeseedlingstoseveralmountaincommunities,buyallthecoffeeproducedat
fairprices,roastthecoffee,andsellitbothinSoutheastAsiaandHolland.Theyarealso
developingotherbrandssuchaspeanutbutter.
BusinessModel:Farmshasbuiltthe
businessaroundbiblicalbusiness
principles,andseveraltribal
communitieshavebeenblessed.
Fromthisvision,theyhavebeguna
missiontobelievinglocalpastorsina
neighboringcountrytotrainthemin
sustainablebusinessprocesses,
whichmaynotbecoffee,buta
productthatwillsellintheircountry.
ManagementandOwnership:While
foreignersbeganthecompany,thereislocalmanagementaswellasofficiallocalownership.
TheDutchcouplemanagestheinternationalsalesandprovidesthestrategytogrowthe
company.
Training:Farmshasprovidedtrainingforlocalcommunityfarmersincropmanagementand
organicproductionprocesses.Localpeopledoalltheworkofprocessingthecoffeebeansas
wellasroastingandpackaging.TheonlyforeignersinvolvedinthefarmaretheDutch
couple.
SpiritualPoverty:Thecompanyismanagedwithclearbiblicalprinciplesandalsoprovides
Biblestudiesforstaff.Forinstance,whenakeyemployeewasinjuredandoffworkforan
27
extendedtime,theaveragecompanywouldhavefoundareplacement.Instead,Farmskept
hisjobforhim.Thatexampleledtheemployeetogrowinhisfaithandseekbaptism.All
staffistreatedwiththecompassionofChristastheylearnsolidworkprinciplesand
productionoftheproduct.
PovertyAlleviation:Inadditiontotheindividualswhoarepaidatthefarmheadquartersfor
theirworkproducingthecoffeebeansfromthecoffeecherries,eachcommunityhasthe
incomeoftheproductionandsaleofthecoffeecherries.Whenthecropisripe,the
communityfarmersbringthecoffeetoFarms,anditisweighedandpaidforimmediatelyat
fairmarketprices.Whethertheproductionisampleorfew,allthecoffeeispurchasedso
thecommunitiesknowtheywillhaveanincomefromtheirwork.Manypeoplearealso
employedintheprocessingofthecoffeebeans.
Scalability:Localpastorsfromanearbycountryheardaboutdevelopingbusinessforgodly
purposesandcametobetrainedinthemethodsofbuildingtribalcommunitiesthrough
business.TheDutchcouplehavetakenthesetraineesinandprovidedthemwithnewskills
andunderstandingofhowtoworkintribalareas.Theyaregoingbacktotheircountry
startingbusinesses,whichmaynotproducecoffee,butwillproducegoodbusinessthat
reducespovertyinthosecommunities,aswellassharingbiblicalfaith.
ASampleGrid:6.3BusinessThreeBusinessnameandcountry:5Loaves2Fish(5L2F)fishfarmandMother’sFishChoice
(MFC)cookedfishstallsinGhana.41
BusinessSynopsis:5L2FGhanaisinthebusinessesofsmallfishaquaculturefarms,fish
distribution,fishprocessing,andfoodstalls.Theproductsarefreshandcookedfarmedfish.
Thescaleandformatofthefishfarmsaresmallanddistributedalloverthecountry.The
customersofthefishfarmsaretheirdownstreambusinesses,namelyMFC,ofwhichthe
partnersareyoungentrepreneursfromlocalchurches,singlewomenandwidowsinlocal
communities,whichalsoserveastheirtargetmarket/customers.
28
BusinessModel:Thebusinessmodelof5L2Fisbasedonthecreationandintegrationoffish
businessesthatgenerateincome.Theirtargetis500farmsin10years.Theyattemptto
meetthequadruplebottomlinesofBusiness-for-transformation(B4T).Therefore,theyaim
tohavefinancial,environmental,socialandspiritualimpacts.
Financialaspect:
1. Domesticfishsupplycanmeetlessthan50percentofthelocaldemandinGhana.
2. Theuseoftechnologyallowstheestablishmentofbetterfarms.
3. Themodernfarmingoffish-in-demandcreatesareasonableprofitmarginwhilethe
verticalbusinessintegrationfurthersthis.
Environmentalaspect:
1. Environmentallyfriendly,thisfarmmainlyuseslowcostduckweed,moringa,local
cornsetctokeeplowcostonfeedandenvironmentalfriendly.
2. Thefarmsusefermentationoffruitskintoprocessfishmanureandaddnutrients
andflavorstothefishinanorganicmanner.
3. Thismodelofnumeroussmallfarmssupportthepracticeofsupplyingandeating
localandreducingthecarbonfootprintfromouroperation,suchasthenegative
impactasaresultofdistantdistribution.�
SocialAspect:
1. Creationofmorejobopportunities:Thefishproducewillnotbesoldtoawholesaler,
butwillbedistributedthroughlocalwomen’sgroups(deprivedwomensuchassingle
womenorwidows)byMFCcookedfishstallsinthestreet.Excessfishwillbe
distributedbytheyoungpeople’sgrouptothecornershopsinthecommunity.Itis
smallscalewholesaletotheneighborhood.
2. Furtherempowerment:MFCwilldevelopothersmallbusinessessuchasbaking
bread.Thebreadwillbedistributedbytheentrepreneurgroupanddeprivedwomen.
Spiritualaspect:
ThefarmswillallowmissionariesfromMainlandChinatoworktogetherwithGhanaiansto
providealivingforbothandsharethegospelinanaturalmanner.Additionallytheywill
provideincometolocalchurchestherebystrengtheningthem.
Management/ownership:5L2FwasfoundedbyDrTitusYu,fromHongKong,PrudentialSr
RegionalDirector;PastorDavid,seniorpastorofMalaysiachurch,familybusinessinfishing
sellingover10millionfish/yr;BroEric,businessmaninCanadaonfinancialmanagement,
livedinGhanaoverfiveyears,fatherwasdoingbusinessinGhanaforover30years;Several
partnershipsareincludedinthebusiness:LocalGhanaiansandoverseasChinese,thelocal
churchesandsupportoflocaldeprivedwomenaswellasyoungpeoplefromthechurch
entrepreneurgroup.Theywilleventuallyhaveotherproductssuchasfruit,goats,andcows.
Poverty:Ghanahasapopulationof28.5million.Thenumberofpeoplelivinginpovertyis
6.4millionincluding3.7millionchildren.In15years,thelevelofpovertyinthepoorest
regionhasfallenonlyfrom55.7percentto50.4percent(24.2percentnationally).425L2Fand
29
MFC,throughtheirreplicationanddistributionofsmall-scalefarmandfishstalls,impact
directlyontheremoteregionsofGhana.Eachsmallfarmcanemployfivefarmers,plusfive
youngpeoplefromthechurchentrepreneurgroupdistributingfish.Afarmwillsupportand
empowertenwomentorunfishstalls.Forfivehundredfarms,overtenthousandpeople
willbebeneficiaries.Traininginfishfarming,vegetablefarming,farmoperationand
management,fishstallstartupandbusinessethicsareprovidedforlocal
partners/employees.
Scalabilityandsustainability:
1. Replicationsofsmallfarms:5L2Ftrainsuplocalpeopletorunsmall-scalefarms.
2. Scalabilitybymultiplyingthesmallfarmsspreadingaroundthecountry.
3. Theyemploymodernmethodsformaintainingqualitymanagementandoperationof
newfarms.
4. Co-operative.Theestablishmentoffivehundredsmallfarmsoveraperiodoften
yearswouldallowtheformationofaco-operativetosupportindividualfarms.
TheGrid:
�
6.4SupportingYoungBAMleaders:InternationalBAMorganization
WeproposetocreateaninternationalBAMorganizationtofacilitatementoringfromsenior
leaderstoyoungeraswellasaprocesstohelpsuchyoungleadersstarttheirbusinesses.We
willcallit:B2K,orBusiness2Kingdom.
Theeffectivenessofbusinessleadersinwealthcreationforthekingdomisnotbeing
funneledadequatelyintoBAMinitiatives.Themainreasonforthisisthemultiplicityof
understandingsonhowtodoit.Oneofthemostsuccessfulstoriesofforumsforbusiness
discussionandeducationintheworldhasbeenYoungPresidents`Organization(YPO).
YPOconceptscouldbelinkedtotheChristianWealthCreatorsinaformthatwouldenablea
moreeffectivetransformationofbrutewealthintorealmissions.
30
Thisconceptisbasedon3pillars.These3pillarswouldbeunitedintoalocal,nationaland
supra-nationalorganizationthatwecoulddefineas“B2K”(BusinesstoKingdom).
Forumsaregroupsofnolessthanfour
andnomorethan12BAMersthatget
togetheronceamonthinordertopray,
exchangeexperience,andcoacheach
otherasaBoardofAdvisors.Thelocal
structurecanbeinitiatedbyanygroup
ofChristianBusinessmenwhohave
experiencewiththeirowncompanies
thatexhibitBAMvaluesanddonothave
conflictsofinterest.
WhenaForumovergrowsits12maximum,orwhenevertheForumseestheneed,itcan
multiply.OncemorethanoneForumexists,aChapterisformed.TheChapteristhelocal
(cityormetroarea)gatheringofForums,inamoreorganizedway.AChapterisformedwith
atleasttwoForums.AChapterwillhaveasitsmissiontocreateotherForumsinother
metroareas,andtoleadthecreationofanewChapterinthatregion.TheChapterswilllead
toaNationalOrganizationforBAM.
Thisorganizationwillbeself-fundedbyduescollectedtoruntheForums,Chaptersand
NationalOrganization.Referralsareoftendoneinbusiness.Inthiscase,referralsamong
memberscouldgeneratefeesthatwouldsupporttheorganization.
7.0Conclusion
Wehaveshownthatbusinessdoesreducepoverty,butwealsobelievethatthestatisticsare
barebones.Peoplecannotthriveon1.50-1.90USDperday.Webelievethatcreatingreal
wealthiswhatGoddesiresfromus:wealththatblessesfamilies,communities,and
countries.Thatblessingincludessharingfaithandlove,providingjobsthataremeaningful
andreflectthecreativenessofourGod.Buildingbusinessisforthelonghaul—sustainable
andscalable.
Wehavetakenexamplesfromthepastoftheinvolvementofchurchandagency.Wehave
providedtheexampleofthreebusinessesfromtoday,outliningwhattheydo.Withtheidea
ofTheGridwehavegivenasampleofhowwemightlookatandmeasuretheimpactofa
businessthatreducespoverty,providingsocial,spiritual,andenvironmentalgood.
TheGridprovidesawayforanyonetomeasuretheirbusinessinthesamewayand
determineapathforwardforamoreeffectivebusinessmodel.
Wehavealsoofferedanideatotrainthenextgenerationtodevelopbusinessesthattruly
blesspeople,reducingpovertyandcreatingfutureleaders.
Wetrustthattheseexampleswillsparkthechurchandbusinesscommunitytoconsiderhow
theymightaffirm,align,andreleasewealthcreatorstotheministryofthegospel.
WealthCreators’Forums Referrals
BAMFund(s)
31
Appendix1
WealthCreationforHolisticTransformationGrid
Thepurposeofthisgridistohelpwealthcreatorstounderstandwheretheyareintermsof
theirholistictransformationimpactandbemorestrategicandintentionalabouttheir
impact.
1. Bystrategicwemeanthatwealthcreatorscanbetterunderstandthecontextfor
holistictransformationimpact(egidentifyingtargetaudienceaswellastargetareas
ofinjustice/need;understandingtheirstrengthsandweaknesses)usingthegrid
2. Byintentionalwemeanthatwealthcreatorscanbetterunderstandwheretheyare
andbemorepurposefulaboutwheretheywanttobeintermsofholistic
transformationimpact.
WebelievethatHolySpirit-ledwealthcreatorscancomeinallshapesandsizes.What
mattersistheentrepreneurs’commitmenttoChristandhiskingdomandtheirintentionfor
holistictransformation.Therefore,wedidnotcreatethegridtojudgewhichtypeofwealth
creatingorganizationsarebetter.Instead,thegridiscreatedtocapturethediversityof
wealthcreatorswhoareimpactingtheworldstrategicallyandintentionallyintheirunique
contexts.Intheend,wehopetoaffirmandempowerallofGod’swealthcreatorsinwhat
theydobygivingthemthetoolstounderstandwheretheyareintermsoftheirholistic
transformationimpactandbemorestrategicandintentionalabouttheirimpact.
WealthCreatorsPositionalGrid
ThisgridaimstovisualizeandcelebratethediversityofGod’swealthcreators.Dependingon
thecontext(eggeographiclocation,targetaudienceetc),wealthcreatorscanhaveeither
explicitorimplicitmissionalidentity.So,thex-axisrepresentshowmissionalidentityis
expressed.Wealthcreatorscanalsohavemoreexplicit(egfreedombusinessdesignedto
combathumantrafficking)orimplicitholistictransformationimpact(egseekingtoinfluence
culturethroughhonestbusinesspractices).So,they-axisrepresentshowholistic
transformationimpactisexpressed.Thesizeofthecirclerepresentsthesizeofbusiness(ie
numberofemployees).Weplot12fictionalcompaniesontothegridandexplainwhateach
ofthequadrantrepresents.
QuadrantA(Upperleft)
1. Explicitholistictransformationimpactandimplicitmissionalidentity.
2. EgSocialenterprisesincreative-accesscountrieswhereexplicitexpressionoffaithis
difficult.
QuadrantB(Upperright)
1. Explicitholistictransformationimpactandexplicitmissionalidentity.
2. EgFreedombusinessinSouthAsiathathasexplicitmissionalidentityandaclear
socialgoal.
32
QuadrantC(Bottomleft)
1. Implicitholistictransformationimpactandimplicitmissionalidentity.
2. EgBusinessinMENAareathatareinfluencingtheculturethroughbiblicalbusiness
practices.
QuadrantD(Bottomright)
1. Implicitholistictransformationimpactandexplicitmissionalidentity.
2. EgExcellentbusinessesinopenaccesscountriesthatcanarticulatetheirfaith
identitywhoimpactinthesocietyismoreimplicit.
ByplottingSpirit-led
wealthcreating
businessesontothisgrid,
wesimplyshowthat
therearemanydifferent
typesofwealthcreators.
Wehopewecan
celebrateandempower
alldifferentformsof
wealthcreatorstohave
holistictransformation
impactintheirunique
contexts.Thegridcan
alsobeusedasatoolfor
wealthcreatorsto
identifywheretheyare
andstrategicallyplan
wheretheywanttobe
(seebelowexamplefor
CompanyAandB).
HolisticTransformationScoringChartandGrid
Thequestionshelpyouassesswhereyouareintermsofholistictransformationandplan
whereyouwanttobe.Eachofthefourimpactindicesprovideascorewitharangeof-2to2.
Inthischartandgrid,theindexscorebelowzeromeansnegativeimpactthatwealth
33
creatorsneedtoaddress.WeplottheHolisticTransformationGridusingthesefourindex
scores.
Not
at
all
Not
reallySomewhat
Moderate
Yes
Strong
Yes
Economic
Reporting:Arewebeing
transparentandaccountable
withourfinancialmatters?
1 2 3 4 5
Stewardship:Arewebeing
goodstewardsofthemoney
thathasbeeninvestedwith
us?
1 2 3 4 5
Sustainability:Dowehavethe
cashweneedtooperateand
meetourcommitmentsandis
itlikelythatwewillcontinue
tobesolventinthecoming
year?
1 2 3 4 5
Momentum:Arewebooking
anddevelopingbusiness?1 2 3 4 5
Scalability:Arewe
intentionallyandcreatively
buildingcapacityforgrowth?
(Isa54:2-5)
1 2 3 4 5
(A)EconomicTotal=
Social
JobCreation:Areweincreasing
jobcreationpotentialinthe
supplychain?
1 2 3 4 5
PeopleDevelopment:How
effectivelyarewecaringfor
anddevelopingour
employees?
1 2 3 4 5
ScalablePositiveCultural
Impact:Areweinfluencingthe
culturewithbiblicalvalues?
1 2 3 4 5
34
Community:Arewetangibly
improvingthequalityoflifein
ourcommunity?
1 2 3 4 5
(B)SocialTotal=
Spiritual
SpiritualGrowth:Arewe
contextuallyhelpingpeopleto
makeprogressontheir
spiritualjourney?
1 2 3 4 5
CommitmenttoMission:Are
wedevelopingpeopleand
governancestructureto
sustainthemissionofthe
organization?
1 2 3 4 5
MissionFocus:Arewedoing
whatwesetouttodo?Arewe
beingresponsivetoGod’scall
andtheSpirit’sleading?
1 2 3 4 5
(C)SpiritualTotal=
Environmental
Impact:Areweintentionally
minimizingournegative
impactontheenvironment?
1 2 3 4 5
Sustainability:Arewe
intentionallyenhancingthe
abilityoffuturegenerationsto
enjoyandmeettheirown
needsfromGod’screation?
1 2 3 4 5
(D)EnvironmentalTotal=
EconomicImpactIndex=
(A/5)-3 SocialImpactIndex=(B/4)-3
SpiritualImpactIndex=(C/3)-3 EnvironmentalImpactIndex=
(D/2)-3
CompositeHolisticTransformationScore=
(A+B+C+D)/7
35
HolisticTransformationGridExample
Economic
ImpactIndex
Social
Impact
Index
Spiritual
Impact
Index
Environmental
ImpactIndex
Company
A -1.6 1.5 1.8 -1.2
Company
B 1.6 -0.5 1.4 -1
Economic
ImpactIndex
Social
Impact
Index
Spiritual
Impact
Index
Environmental
ImpactIndex
Company
C
1.5 1 1.8 1.3
Company
D
1 2 -0.5 0
36
37
Appendix2
ConsultationonWealthCreation(CWC):BackgroundandContextTheCWCwasnotjustanevent.TheConsultationheldinThailand,inMarch2017,wasapart
ofaconsultativeprocess,whichinturnispartofbroader,longer,andon-going
conversationsrelatedtoissueslikethechurch,business,poverty,wealthcreation,and
missions.
Therefore,itisimportanttounderstandthebackgroundandcontextofeachCWCreport.
Theyareimportantpiecesofabiggerpuzzle.Tounderstandthepicturethatisemerging,as
weputthepiecestogether,oneneedstoseesomeoftheotherkeypieces.
TheCWCisyetanotheroutcomeofthehistoriccommitmentsadoptedintheLausanne
Covenantof1974.Here,whilecommittingthemselvestotheimportanceofevangelism,
evangelicalsalsoexpressedrepentancefor‘havingsometimesregardedevangelismand
socialconcernasmutuallyexclusive’.Wealthcreationfortheeconomicbettermentofour
worldisoneofthoseneglectedsocialconcerns;anditisthisthattheCWCaddresses.
AllCWCparticipantswerepresentedwithalistofrequiredreading.Thesereadingsall
relatedtotheCWCassignmentofexploringtheRoleofWealthCreationinHolistic
TransformationofPeopleandSocieties.
TheCWCwaspartlyafollowupoftheLausanneGlobalConsultationonProsperityTheology,
PovertyandtheGospelheldinApril2014.Thus,allneededtobefamiliarwiththeAtibaiaStatement:https://www.lausanne.org/content/statement/atibaia-statement(more
informationbelow).
TheLausanneGlobalConsultationonWealthCreationwasincollaborationwithBAMGlobal,andthussomeofitsworkandreportswereincludedintherequiredreading.
‘WhyBotherwithBusinessasMission’,byMatsTunehaghttp://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Why-Bother-with-Business-as-
Mission-v-18-April-2017.pdf
TheexecutivesummariesofthreeBAMThinkTankReports
• BiblicalFoundationsforBusinessasMission
http://bamglobal.org/report-biblical/
• BusinessasMissionandtheendofPoverty
http://bamglobal.org/report-bop/
• BusinessasMissioninHaiti
http://bamglobal.org/report-haiti/
38
CWCislinkedwiththreeotherglobalconsultationsthatdealtwithsimilarissues,held2004,
2009,and2014.
TheLausanneBAMIssueGroup
ThefirstBAMGlobalThinkTankwasheldundertheauspicesofLausanne.TheBusinessas
MissionIssueGroupworkedforayear,addressingissuesrelatingtoGod’spurposesforwork
andbusiness,theroleofbusinesspeopleinchurchandmissions,theneedsoftheworldand
thepotentialresponseofbusiness.ItsummarizeditsfindingsintheBAMManifesto(2004).Hereareafewexcerpts,toillustrateagrowingconsensusamongleadersthatwealth
creatorsarecalledbyGodtoserveinbusiness.
• WebelievethatGodhascreatedallmenandwomeninHisimagewiththeabilityto
becreative,creatinggoodthingsforthemselvesandforothers—thisincludes
business.
• WebelieveinfollowinginthefootstepsofJesus,whoconstantlyandconsistentlymet
theneedsofthepeopleheencountered,thusdemonstratingtheloveofGodandthe
ruleofHiskingdom.
• WebelievethattheHolySpiritempowersallmembersoftheBodyofChristtoserve,tomeettherealspiritualandphysicalneedsofothers,demonstratingthekingdomof
God.
• WebelievethatGodhascalledandequippedbusinesspeopletomake
aKingdomdifferenceinandthroughtheirbusinesses.
• WebelievethattheGospelhasthepowertotransformindividuals,communitiesand
societies.Christiansinbusinessshouldthereforebeapartofthisholistic
transformationthroughbusiness.
• Werecognisethefactthatpovertyandunemploymentareoftenrampantinareas
wherethenameofJesusisrarelyheardandunderstood.
• Werecognisethatthereisaneedforjobcreationandformultiplicationof
businessesallovertheworld,aimingatthequadruplebottomline:spiritual,
economical,socialandenvironmentaltransformation.
• Werecognisethefactthatthechurchhasahugeandlargelyuntappedresourcein
theChristianbusinesscommunitytomeetneedsoftheworld—inandthrough
business—andbringglorytoGodinthemarketplaceandbeyond.
• SeealsoBAMManifesto:http://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BAM-MANIFESTO-2.pdf
WheatonConsultation
AglobalconsultationonBusinessasIntegralCallingwasheldinWheaton,IllinoisinOctober
2009.Itbroughttogetherleadersfromtherealmsofbusiness,non-profitorganizations,and
Christianministrywiththeologiansandacademicleadersinbusiness,economics,and
missions.ExcerptsfromtheDeclaration:
39
• Lamentations
• Welamentthatthechurchandbusinessitselfhaveundervaluedbusinessasavehicle
forlivingoutChrist’scalling,andhavereliedexcessivelyonnon-profitapproaches
thathaveresultedindependence,waste,andanunnecessarylossofhumandignity.
• CelebrationofFaithandHope
• WecelebratethegrowingmovementofpeopleseekingtobeusedbyGodandto
deploybusinesseconomicactivityforGod’sKingdom.
• Businesscancreatevalue,providethedignityofwork,andtransformcommunitiesby
improvinglivelihoods.
• BusinesscanbeanintegralcallingtoproclaimanddemonstratetheKingdomofGod
byhonoringGod,lovingpeople,andservingtheworld.
• Businesscanalsoprovideapowerfulopportunityforthetransformationofindividuals
toachievetheirfullpotentialforcreativityandproductivityandtoflourishand
experiencealifeofabundanceasenvisionedbytheKingdomofGod.
• BusinesscanbeusedtohelprestoreGod’screationfromitsdegradedstate.
• ItisourdeepconvictionthatbusinessesthatfunctioninalignmentwiththecorevaluesoftheKingdomofGodareplayingandincreasinglyshouldplayanimportantroleinholistictransformationofindividuals,communitiesandsocieties.
• SeealsoWheatonDeclaration:http://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Wheaton-Declaration.pdf
AtibaiaConsultation
WealthcreationanddistributionwerediscussedaspartoftheLausanneGlobalConsultationonProsperityTheology,PovertyandtheGospelheldinAtibaia,Brazilin2014.Theconsultationaffirmedthatsharingwealthisgoodandbiblical,butwealthdistributionis
toooftenourmainresponsetomeetingpeoples’needs.Itidentifiedtheneedtoseek
increasinglytounderstandhowbusinessescanbringsolutionstoglobalissues,including
povertyandhumantrafficking.Thenotionofsimplicityasauniversalvaluewasalso
challenged,andneededtobeaddressedfurther.
TheAtibaiaStatementisquitelong,buthereareafewexcerptsrelatedtowealthcreation,businessandthepoor.
• Christiansarecallednotonlytogiveandsharegenerously,buttoworkforthe
alleviationofpoverty.Thisshouldincludeofferingalternative,ethicalways,forthe
creationofwealthandthemaintenanceofsocially-responsiblebusinessesthat
empowerthepoorandprovidematerialbenefit,andindividualandcommunal
dignity.Thismustalwaysbedonewiththeunderstandingthatallwealthandall
creationbelongfirstandforemosttoGod.
40
• Weacknowledgethat,intheglobalmarketeconomy,oneofthemosteffectivetools
fortheeliminationofpovertyiseconomicdevelopment,andyetevangelicalshave
oftenfailedtopromotevalue-drivenbusinesssolutionstopoverty.
• Howcanwemoreeffectivelyworkfortheestablishmentofcreative,ethical,and
sustainablebusinessendeavorsinthefightagainstpoverty?
• SeealsoAtibaiaStatement:https://www.lausanne.org/content/statement/atibaia-
statement
41
Endnotes
1
Editor’sNote:IntheManifesto,‘Church’(withuppercase)and‘church’(withlowercase)areused
intentionally,theformerdenotingtheglobalChurchandthelatterthelocalchurch.2
SeeMichaelPorter,‘WhyBusinessCanbeGoodatSolvingProblems’,TedTalks,
https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_porter_why_business_can_be_good_at_solving_social_problems.
3
MaxRoserandEstebanOrtiz-Ospina,GlobalExtremePoverty,PublishedonlineatOurWorldInData.org(2017),
accessedFebruary2017,https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty/.
4
Singapore,Taiwan,SouthKoreaandHongKong.Seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Asian_Tigers.
5
https://ourworldindata.org/extreme-poverty/.
6
MaxRoser,GlobalEconomicInequality,https://ourworldindata.org/global-economic-inequality.
7
Ibid.8
BorisYeltsin,TheStruggleforRussia,trans.CatherineA.Fitzpatrick(Moscow:SinbadPublishing,2015).
9
SeeRongDeng,DengXiaopingandtheCulturalRevolution:ADaughterRecallstheCriticalYears(Beijing:
ForeignLanguagesPress,2005);andseeXiaopingDeng,X.‘SelectedWorksofDengXiaoping:WeShall
ConcentrateonEconomicDevelopment’(1982),InternetArchive,accessedFebruary2017,
https://archive.org/stream/SelectedWorksOfDengXiaopingVol.3/Deng03_djvu.txt.
10
ThomasL.Friedman,TheWorldisFlat:ABriefHistoryoftheTwenty-FirstCentury(NewYork:Farrar,Straus
andGiroux,2005).11
QuoteextractedfromtranscriptofresearchinterviewforNoraHughes,‘ChangingFaces:HighlySkilled
ChineseWorkersandtheCulturalAdaptationRequiredtoWorkataForeignMulti-NationalCorporation’(PhD
diss.,FieldingUniversity,2007).
12
UsedwithpermissionfromBusiness4Blessing,https://b4blessing.com/.
13
EdwinE.Jacques,ProtestantisminAlbania,ReformationforAlbania&Kosovo(PrintedoriginallyinLiria,
January,1994:8-10),accessedFebruary2017,https://reformation.edu/albania/pages/protestantism-
albania.htm.14
‘RuralPovertyinAlbania,’https://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/albania.
15
‘ForeignAidtoAlbaniaforDifferentSectors,’http://open.data.al/en/lajme/lajm/id/320/Foreign-aid-to-
Albania-for-different-sectors.
16
MarsidaNence,‘Corruption,Albania’sBiggestChallengeforIntegrationintotheEU,’PECOB,accessed
February2,2017,http://www.pecob.eu/Corruption-Albania-biggest-challenge-integration-E-U.
17
FredCatherwood,Light,SaltandtheWorldofBusiness:WhyWeMustStandAgainstCorruption(Lausanne:
LausanneMovement,2008),2,20.18
Foranothervisionofbusiness,whichlimitsitnotsimplytoprovidingsupportforthosebuildingthekingdom,
butseesitsownworkasitselfbuildingthekingdom,seeBridgetAdamsandManojRaithatha,Buildingthe
KingdomThroughBusiness:AMissionStrategyforthe21stCenturyWorld(Watford:InstantApostle,2015).
19
‘Countrieswithveryhighgovernmentrestrictionsonreligion,’PewResearchCenter,
http://www.pewforum.org/2016/06/23/number-of-countries-with-very-high-restrictions-and-hostilities-went-
down-in-2014/countriedhighgri/.
20
LuceBoulnois,SilkRoad:Monks,Warriors&MerchantsontheSilkRoad,trans.HelenLoveday,(HongKong:
OdysseyBooks&Guides,2004),277.21
SamuelHughMoffett,AHistoryofChristianityinAsia,VolumeI:Beginningsto1500(NewYork:OrbisBooks,
1998),297.
22
Moffett,HistoryofChristianity,275.23
Moffett,HistoryofChristianity,246.24
PaulaHarris,NestorianCommunity,SpiritualityandMission,inGlobalMissiologyforthe21st
Century:The
IguassuDialogue,WilliamTaylor,ed.(GrandRapids,MI:BakerAcademic,2000),497-98,citedbyMunson.
25
GlenL.Thompson.ChristontheSilkRoad.Touchstone:AJournalofMereChristianity,Vol.20April2007,
3:31.
26
RobertH.Munson,TheRoleofTradeRoutesintheSpreadofChristianityinAsiaDuringtheFirstMillennium,
lastmodified2008,
42
https://www.academia.edu/12269947/THE_ROLE_OF_TRADE_ROUTES_IN_THE_SPREAD_OF_CHRISTIANITY_IN
_ASIA_DURING_THE_FIRST_MILLENNIUM.27
Munson,RoleofTradeRoutes.28
PatrickJohnstone,TheChurchisBiggerthanYouThink:TheUnfinishedWorkofWorldEvangelization
(Pasadena,CA:WilliamCarryLibrary,1998),73.
29
SeeS.FrederickStarr,LostEnlightenmentCentralAsia’sGoldenAgefromtheArabConquesttoTamerlane
(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,2015).
30
SeeJackWeatherford,TheSecretHistoryoftheMongolQueens:HowthedaughtersofGenghisKhan
RescuedHisEmpire(NewYork:RandomHouse,2010).31
MarcoPolo,TheTravelsofMarcoPolo,(TheEastonPress,Norwalk,Connecticut,1992),161.32
SeeDeborahCadbury,TheChocolateWars:The150-YearRivalryBetweentheWorldsGreatestChocolate
Makers(NewYork:PublicAffairs,2010).33
LawrenceE.Barker,‘ThePurposeofEvangelism,’QuakerReligiousThought53(1982):29-33
http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/qrt/vol53/iss1/4
34
DavidBurnsWindsor,TheQuakerEnterprise:FriendsinBusiness(London:FrederickMuller,Ltd.,1980),83.
35
DavidEung-YulRyoo,‘TheMoravianMissionsStrategy:Christ-Centered,Spirit-Driven,Mission-Minded,’
HaddingtonHouseJournal12(2010):35-49https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/haddington-house-
journal/12_035.pdf.
36
WilliamJ.Danker,ProfitfortheLord:EconomicActivitiesinMoravianMissionsandtheBaselMissionTrading
Company(EugeneOR:WipfandStock,2002),102.
37
Danker,Profit,129.38
Danker,Profit,55.39
Thisreportcanbedownloadedfromhttp://www.bamglobal.org/report-measuring/.
40
Seehttps://www.thegivingkeys.com/pages/about-us.41
Seehttp://5l2fministry.org.
42
FAOSTATdataonGhanaaccessedfrom:http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/81,accessedApril2017.
