Role of the Church in Wealth Creation full paper - BAM Globalbamglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Role-of-the... · 5 Foreword ‘Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who

ROLEOFTHECHURCHINWEALTHCREATION

ROLEOFTHECHURCHIN

WEALTHCREATION

Global Consultation on Wealth Creation for

Transformation

March 2017

lausanne.org•bamglobal.org

ROLEOFTHECHURCHINWEALTHCREATION

ApaperfromtheGlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforTransformation

organizedbytheLausanneMovementandBAMGlobalinChiangMai,Thailand,inMarch2017.

© LausanneMovement&BAMGlobal

Permissionisgrantedtodistributethispaperforpersonalandeducationaluse,freeofcharge.Commercialuseisprohibited.Pleaseincludethisacknowledgementwhensharingandquoting:2017GlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforTransformation;LausanneMovement&BAMGlobal.WeencouragethedisseminationofthispaperandalsothevarioustranslationsoftheWealthCreationManifesto.

GlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforTransformationSeries:• WealthCreationandthePoor• RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreation• WealthCreation:BiblicalViewsandPerspectives• WealthCreationandtheStewardshipofCreation• WealthCreationwithinGlobalCulturalPerspectives• WealthCreators'ContributiontoHolisticTransformation• WealthCreationandJustice

Formoreinformationcontact:[email protected]•[email protected]

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Foreword.....................................................................................................................................5

WealthCreationManifesto.........................................................................................................7

ExecutiveSummary:RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreationforTransformation......................9

RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreationforTransformation......................................................11

1.0Whatdowemeanby‘wealthcreationfortransformation’?.........................................11

2.0WhydomostChristiansseldom,ifever,receiveteachinginchurchaboutwork,wealthcreation,andbusiness?..................................................................................................13

3.0Whatcouldtheroleofthechurchbeinwealthcreation?.............................................17

4.0Whatlimitationsorcautionsshouldtherebeforthechurchinplayinganactiveroleinwealthcreation?.............................................................................................................27

5.0Whatresourcesareavailableforchurchestoenlighten,educate,equip,andempowerentrepreneursandbusinesspeopleforwealthcreationfortransformation?...............29

Appendix...................................................................................................................................34

Endnotes...................................................................................................................................38

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Foreword

‘RemembertheLORDyourGod,foritishewhogivesyoutheabilitytoproducewealth’(Deut8:18).TheBibletalksaboutwealthinthreeways;oneisbadandtwoaregood.Hoardingofwealthiscondemned.Sharingofwealthisencouraged.Creationofwealthisbothagodlygiftandacommand,andthereisnowealthtobesharedunlessithasfirstbeencreated.Butalltoooftentheissueofwealthcreationismisunderstood,neglected,orevenrejected.Thesamethingappliestowealthcreators.TheGlobalConsultationonTheRoleofWealthCreationforHolisticTransformationaimedataddressingthat.Wewereabout30peoplefrom20nations,primarilyfromthebusinessworld,andalsofromchurch,missionsandacademia.DuringtheConsultationprocess2016–2017wediscussedvariousaspectsofwealthcreation,includingjustice,poverty,biblicalfoundations,culture,wealthcreators,stewardshipofcreationandtheroleofthechurch.ThefindingshavebeensummarizedintheWealthCreationManifesto,andwillalsobepublishedinseveralreportsandabook,aswellasaneducationalvideo.Allthesecontainawealthofknowledgeandinsights,basedontheScriptures,rootedinhistoryandinformedbypresent-dayconversationsandexamples.Goldinthegroundhasnoparticularvalueuntilitisdiscovered,extracted,andtraded.Usingthemetaphorofminingletmementionthree‘goldmines’thatwehavesoughttodigintoduringourConsultationprocess.ThebiblicalgoldmineFromtheManifesto:‘WealthcreationisrootedinGodtheCreator,whocreatedaworldthatflourisheswithabundanceanddiversity.WearecreatedinGod’simage,toco-createwithhimandforhim,tocreateproductsandservicesforthecommongood.Wealthcreationisaholycalling,andaGod-givengift,whichiscommendedintheBible.’Thereisalotmoregoldtobefoundinthebiblicalgoldmine.ThehistoricalgoldmineWealthcreationleadingtotransformationisnotnew.FromtheManifesto:‘Wealthcreationthroughbusinesshasprovenpowertoliftpeopleandnationsoutofpoverty.’Therearemanystoriesofholistictransformationthroughwealthcreationthroughouthistory,andsomearestilluntold.Wealthcreationhasahistoryandweneedtoexploreitfurther.Throughourreportsyoucandigintohistoricalgoldmines.

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TheglobalgoldmineWealthcreationisnotaWesternorrich-worldphenomenon.Manymenandwomenaremakingadifferencethroughbusinessesonallcontinents.FromtheManifesto:‘WealthcreatorsshouldbeaffirmedbytheChurch,andequippedanddeployedtoserveinthemarketplaceamongallpeoplesandnations.’Weneedtolearnfromthemandothersandtoextracttheglobalgold,alsofoundinthesereports.DiscoverandextracttheintellectualwealthintheManifesto,thereportsandbooksaswellasthevideo,andletthemaddvaluetoyourlifeandwork.Sharewithothers.PleasestartbyreadingtheWealthCreationManifesto.Itwillgiveyouacontextandaframeworktobetterunderstandeachreport.MatsTunehagChairmanoftheConveningTeam

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WealthCreationManifesto

BackgroundTheLausanneMovementandBAMGlobalorganizedaGlobalConsultationonTheRoleofWealthCreationforHolisticTransformation,inChiangMai,Thailand,inMarch2017.About30peoplefrom20nationsparticipated,primarilyfromthebusinessworld,andalsofromchurch,missionsandacademia.Thefindingswillbepublishedinseveralpapersandabook,aswellasaneducationalvideo.ThisManifestoconveystheessentialsofourdeliberationsbeforeandduringtheConsultation.Affirmations

1. WealthcreationisrootedinGodtheCreator,whocreatedaworldthatflourisheswithabundanceanddiversity.

2. WearecreatedinGod’simage,toco-createwithhimandforhim,tocreateproductsandservicesforthecommongood.

3. Wealthcreationisaholycalling,andaGod-givengift,whichiscommendedintheBible.

4. WealthcreatorsshouldbeaffirmedbytheChurch,andequippedanddeployedtoserveinthemarketplaceamongallpeoplesandnations.

5. Wealthhoardingiswrong,andwealthsharingshouldbeencouraged,butthereisnowealthtobesharedunlessithasbeencreated.

6. Thereisauniversalcalltogenerosity,andcontentmentisavirtue,butmaterialsimplicityisapersonalchoice,andinvoluntarypovertyshouldbealleviated.

7. Thepurposeofwealthcreationthroughbusinessgoesbeyondgivinggenerously,althoughthatistobecommended;goodbusinesshasintrinsicvalueasameansofmaterialprovisionandcanbeanagentofpositivetransformationinsociety.

8. Businesshasaspecialcapacitytocreatefinancialwealth,butalsohasthepotentialtocreatedifferentkindsofwealthformanystakeholders,includingsocial,intellectual,physicalandspiritualwealth.

9. Wealthcreationthroughbusinesshasprovenpowertoliftpeopleandnationsoutofpoverty.

10. Wealthcreationmustalwaysbepursuedwithjusticeandaconcernforthepoor,andshouldbesensitivetoeachuniqueculturalcontext.

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11. Creationcareisnotoptional.Stewardshipofcreationandbusinesssolutionstoenvironmentalchallengesshouldbeanintegralpartofwealthcreationthroughbusiness.

AppealWepresenttheseaffirmationstotheChurchworldwide,andespeciallytoleadersinbusiness,church,government,andacademia.1

• Wecallthechurchtoembracewealthcreationascentraltoourmissionofholistic

transformationofpeoplesandsocieties.

• Wecallforfresh,ongoingeffortstoequipandlaunchwealthcreatorstothatveryend.

• Wecallwealthcreatorstoperseverance,diligentlyusingtheirGod-givengiftstoserveGodandpeople.

AdmaioremDeigloriam—ForthegreatergloryofGod

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ExecutiveSummary:RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreationforTransformation

[Quotesinitalicsareexcerptsfromthereport,unlessotherwisestated.]Ephesians4tellsusthatthechurchistoequipGod’speopleforservice.Thisreportexplores,

Whatistheroleofthechurchanditsleadersinenlightening,educating,equipping,andempoweringGod’speoplefortheserviceofwealthcreation?Howisthechurchtobeinvolvedininspiring,commissioning,andreleasingpeoplewholaunchbusinessesthatprovidejobsandthatbringredemptiveinfluenceforthebenefitofthewholecommunity,andevenforentiresectorsoftheeconomy?Whatistheroleofthechurchinwealthcreationforholistictransformation?

Weacknowledgethatwealthcreationisagodlygift.Variousmaterialblessingscanandshouldresultfromitsproperuseandbebeneficialtothegreatercommunity.

Webelievethatbusinessescancontributeto...positive,holistic,andredemptivepurposes.Weaffirmthatbusinessescanandshouldassesstheiractivitiesintermsofafourfoldbottomline—financial,social,spiritual,andenvironmental.

However,theissueofwealthcreationistoooftenneglectedormisunderstood.Onemajorstumblingblockisthesacred/seculardivide.Weneedtoseethat‘God’sconcernsareholistic,andsoisthemissionofthechurch.’Thelackofbusinessexperienceandexposuretobusinessamongpastors,andthelackofrelevantteachingonwealthcreationareamongthereasonsthat‘somanyChristianshearlittleteaching,preaching,ordiscussioninthechurchabouttheactivitiesthatengagethegreatestproportionoftheirtimeinbetweentimesofworship—thatis,theirdailywork.’Otherreasonsincludetheperceptionsofcorruptioninthebusinessworldandthelackofvisiblestructuresforcommissioningandsending.Weproposefourstepstoaddresstheseobstaclesandtoengagethechurchinequippingbusinesspeopletoserveinthemarketplace:

1. Enlighten:tocreateawarenessthroughconferencesandothermeans.2. Educate:toaccomplisha‘shiftinthemindsofpeoplefrominteresttocommitment’.3. Equip:toserveasa‘bootcampforaspiringBAMerstobecomemissional

entrepreneurs’.4. Empower:todesignaroadmapforaction;‘atthispointthechurchshouldproactively

seekhelpandcollaborationfromotherministriesorchurchesforthesakeoftheKingdomofGod.’

Thereportalsodealswiththeimportanceofthe‘creationmandate’,whichisabasisforourcallingandengagementinentrepreneurshipandcommerce.

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Thereportsuggeststhat‘thechurchcanandshouldbeapartofhelpingindividuals,communities,andeconomicandsocialstructuresworktoward...astateofcomprehensiveflourishing,withtheeliminationofbotheconomicandspiritualpoverty,tothegloryofGod.’Atthesametime,weareawareofpotentialpitfalls,andwelistsomelimitationsandexpresssomewordsofcautionasthechurchplaysanactiveroleinwealthcreation.ThereportincludeshistoricalcasestudiesonchurchandwealthcreationaswellascontemporaryonesfromChina,SouthKorea,CentralAsia,USA,andRwanda.Finally,weechotheappealintheWealthCreationManifesto:

• Wecallthechurchtoembracewealthcreationascentraltoourmissionofholistictransformationofpeoplesandsocieties.

• Wecallforfresh,ongoingeffortstoequipandlaunchwealthcreatorstothatveryend.• Wecallwealthcreatorstoperseverance,diligentlyusingtheirGod-givengiftstoserve

Godandpeople.

AdmaioremDeigloriam-ForthegreatergloryofGod

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RoleoftheChurchinWealthCreationforTransformation

DavidBennett,RobertoCostadeOliveira,DanielGunaseelan,JeffreyLee,LaurentMbanda,Dong-HoSong,JosephVijayam

AccordingtoEphesians4,Christgaveapostles,prophets,evangelists,pastorsandteachers(orpastor-teachers)toequipGod’speopleforworksofservice,2sothatthechurchasChrist’sbodymaybebuilttowardunityandmaturity.Butwhataretheseworksofservice?Aretheydirectedonlyinternally,forChristianstoserveoneanother?Ordotheseworksofserviceincludeengagementwiththesurroundingcommunityandtheworld,throughparticipationincommerce,thearts,education,politicalprocessesandsocialservices?Inparticular,whatistheroleofthechurchanditsleadersinenlightening,educating,equipping,andempoweringGod’speoplefortheserviceofwealthcreation?Howisthechurchtobeinvolvedininspiring,commissioningandreleasingpeoplewholaunchbusinessesthatprovidejobsandthatbringredemptiveinfluenceforthebenefitofthewholecommunity,andevenforentiresectorsoftheeconomy?Whatistheroleofthechurchinwealthcreationforholistictransformation?1.0Whatdowemeanby‘wealthcreationfortransformation’?

Letusfirstconsiderwhatwemeanbywealthcreationfortransformation,beginningwithsomeobservationsonthemeaningandsourcesofwealth.

1.1Meaningandsourcesof‘wealth’

InDeuteronomy8,MosesenvisionsthedaywhenthenationofIsraelwilloccupythelandthatGodhaspromisedthem.Helooksforwardtoatimeofprosperity,whenthecropsareabundant,preciousmetalsarebeingmined,herdsarelarge,finehouseshavebeenbuilt,foodisnolongerscarce,andnothingislacking.Insuchconditionshewarnsthemnottosay,‘Mypowerandthestrengthofmyhandshaveproducedthiswealthforme’(Deut8:17).3Instead,theyareto‘RemembertheLORDyourGod,foritishewhogivesyoutheabilitytoproducewealth.’ItisinterestingtonotethatthepronounsintheseversesintheHebrewtextaresingular.‘You[asanindividual]’aretoremembertheLORD.TheLORDhasgiven‘you[asanindividual]’theabilitytoproducewealth.AlthoughinotherpartsofhisremarksinDeuteronomy,Mosesaddressesthecommunityasawhole(youplural),hereheisspeakingtoeachlistenerasanindividualactor,towhomGodhasgiventhecapacitytogeneratewealth.

Intheseverses,thefuturewealthenvisionedisexplicitlymaterial,includingbothnaturalresourcesandproductsofhumancultivationandlabor—abundantwater,wheat,barley,vines,figtrees,oliveoil,pomegranates,honey,bread,iron,copper,finehouses,herds,flocks,silver,andgold.

Inotherpassagesaswell,Godisdescribedastheultimatesourceofwealth,evenwhenthatwealthisproducedthroughtheeconomicactivitiesofindividuals(1Chron29:12;2Chron

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1:12;Prov10:22;Eccles5:19;6:2).ButjustasoftenGodisdescribedasonewhoexpresseshisjudgmentinstrippingwealthaway(Ps39:11;Jer15:13;17:3;20:5;Ezek26:12;Zeph1:13).Inhersongofpraise,HannahaffirmsthatGodistheauthorofbothwealthcreationandwealthdestruction:‘TheLORDmakespoorandmakesrich;hehumblesandheexalts’(1Sam2:7).

EventhoughGodisthegiverofwealth,humanagencyplaysapart—whethergood,bad,orneutralinamoralsense.‘Diligenthandsbringwealth’,saysProverbs10:4,whileitisalsotruethat‘housesandwealthareinheritedfromparents’(Prov19:14).ThewealthofthecityofTyrecamethrough‘wisdomandunderstanding’(Ezek28:4)and‘skillintrading’(Ezek28:5).Butsometimeswealthcanbeamassedthroughimmoralmeans:ruthlessbehavior(Prov11:16),oppressionofthepoor(Prov22:16),collectionofexorbitantinterest(Prov28:8),orinjustice(Jer17:11).

Thereareadditionalkindsofwealthaswellaspoverty,beyondthematerial.Forexample,inLuke16:33Jesusdistinguishedbetween‘unrighteous’(ESV)or‘worldly’(NIV,1984)wealthand‘true’wealth.ThechurchatSmyrnawasafflictedandfinanciallypoor,butChristdescribedthemasrich(Rev2:4).Incontrast,thechurchofLaodiceasawthemselvesasrich,havingacquiredwealth,andnotneedingathing(Rev3:17);inaneconomicsensethatmaywellhavebeenthecase,butChristviewedthemas‘wretched,pitiful,poor,blindandnaked’,lackinginspiritualwealth.

Butthegreatmajorityofthetimethattheword‘wealth’appearsinScriptureitisusedintheordinarysenseofphysicalandfinancialabundance—inreferencetoGod’sblessings,inexamplesofgenerosity,andinwarningsagainstgreedandagainstmisdirectionoftheheart.

1.2Whatdowemeanby‘holistictransformation’?

Sowhenwespeakinthispaperof‘wealthcreation’,ourprimaryreferenceistoeconomicactivitiesthatgenerateprofit,thatincreaseincome,thatcreatejobs,thatenhancematerialwell-being,sothatpeople(andthosewhoareemployedbythem)areliftedfrompoverty,andabletoflourish.ButwealsohaveinviewGod’sgoalsforholisticwell-being,summarizedintheHebrewwordshalom,whichgoesfarbeyond‘peace’inthesenseoftheabsenceofconflict,butwhichdescribesastateofcomprehensivewell-being—economic,psychological,ecological,relational,spiritual—inwhichcreationandhumancommunityhavebeenrestoredtotheorderandqualityoflifethatGodintended.

Andwhenweconsidertheroleofthelocalchurchinwealthcreationforholistictransformation,weareaskinghowthechurchcanandshouldbeapartofhelpingindividuals,communities,andeconomicandsocialstructuresworktowardsuchastateofcomprehensiveflourishing,withtheeliminationofbotheconomicandspiritualpoverty,tothegloryofGod.

Webelievethatbusinessescancontributetothesepositive,holistic,andredemptivepurposes.Weaffirmthatbusinessescanandshouldassesstheiractivitiesintermsofafourfoldbottomline—financial,social,spiritual,andenvironmental.

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1.3Whatdowemeanby‘church’?

Althoughthisisnottheplaceforacomprehensivetheologyofthechurch,forthesakeofthispaperwearereferringtoallformsofcommunitieswhogathertoacknowledgeandworshipJesusasLord,andwhoidentifyashisfollowers.WeincludehousechurcheswhereeventwoorthreegatherinChrist’sname.Weincludemega-churchesandmulti-sitechurches.Weincludeassociationsandnetworksofchurches.

Butwhatwedonotmeanby‘church’isabuildingwherepeoplegatheroneormoredaysaweek;norarewespeakingmerelyaboutanorganizationorinstitutionwithamembershiplist.Weareenvisioningthe‘church’aspeoplewhohaveplacedtheirfaithinJesusChristandhisredeemingworkonthecross,whohavepledgedtheirallegiancetohimasvictoriousLord,risenfromthedead.WhenwespeakofthechurchwearereferringnotonlytofollowersofJesusgatheredforworship,instruction,andfellowship,whetherinabuildingorinahome,butalsotofollowersofJesusscatteredaslightandsaltthroughouttheircommunities,theirvillages,andtheircitiesallweeklong.

Theserviceofwealthcreationinwhichthechurchplaysarolefocusesonthechurchscatteredmorethanthechurchgathered,andthechurchintheworldmorethanthechurchwithoneanother.

2.0WhydomostChristiansseldom,ifever,receiveteachinginchurchaboutwork,wealthcreation,andbusiness?2.1Prevalenceofthesacred-seculardichotomyItwasaNationalCongressofMission,andthemore-than-1,000peoplewereveryattentivetotheprogram.TheMasterofCeremoniesaskedforatimeofprayer,andinvited‘allmissionaries’tostandup.Therewasamomentofconfusion—afterall,whichindividualswerethe‘missionaries’forwhichprayerwasbeingcalled?Allintheauditoriumwereinvolvedinmissionsinonewayoranother—manywerepastors,manyworkedinmissionagencies,someotherswerecalledtobusinesses,etc.Thentheclarificationwasgiven—‘allmissionarieswhopreachtheWordandmakedisciplesoverseas’.Soanumberofpeoplestoodupwhileothersremainedsitting,andthose‘specialmissionaries’wereprayedfor.Thedichotomywasexposed.ThosewhodidnotpreachandteachtheWordofGodexclusivelywerenotconsideredinthesameneedforprayerasthosewhostoodup.WhydoesthechurchoftenconsidertheministryofGod’sWordasmorespiritualandmorepleasingtoGodthanvocationsperceivedasmoresecular,suchasinvolvementinpolitics,environmentalmanagement,ortechnologicaldevelopment?Somecallingsareregardedas‘spiritual’,asopposedtootherslessnoblethatareregardedas‘material’.Thedichotomyisstark.

Doyourememberwhichbeliefentirelyseparatedthespiritualfromthematerialinthetimesofthechurchfathers?Gnosticism.Itwaslargelybecauseoftheinfluenceofearlyformsof

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theseideasthatJohnwrotehisletters,andlaterRevelation,andPaulcomposedsomeofhisletters.GnosticismwasaGreekphilosophybasedongnosis(knowledge)thatcultivatedcertainsecretsthatservedtounifythesoulwithGod.AstheGnosticssawit,matterwasinherentlyevil,whilethespiritwasinherentlygood.Thereforesalvationwasunderstoodascultivatingspirituallifetosavethesoul,whichwasentirelyseparatedfromthebodyoranymaterialform.Whilesearchingforknowledgeforsalvationofthespirit,onecoulddoanythinginthematerialrealm,includingthebody.Thisledtoallkindsoflicentiousbehavior.SuchinstructioninfiltratingthechurchledsometobelievethatJesus,beingGod,hadnotcomeinflesh.Overthecenturies,suchideashavecontinuedtoinfluenceChristiantheologyandthelifeofthechurchwiththeirdichotomybetweenthespiritualandthematerial.ThesebeliefsbearlittleresemblancetothecleartruthexpressedinboththeOldandNewTestaments.IntheScriptures,thematerialworldwascreatedbyGod,andthereforeissacredanddesignedtoservehispurposes.Therearenoinherentlyevilpartsofcreation(1Tim4:4)—everythingcameintobeingbyGod’swordandaccordingtoGod’swill.Whensinenteredhumanhistory,thewholecreationfell,andsufferspaintothisday.Whensalvationcame,itincludedtheoverarchingpurposeto‘reconcileto[Christ]allthings,whetherthingsonearthorthingsinheaven,bymakingpeacethroughhisblood,shedonthecross’(Col1:20).Thatistosay,thewholeuniverse,whethervisibleorinvisible,willbereconciledtoGodbythebloodofJesusonthecross—notjustpeople,muchlesstheirsoulsalone.TheGodoftheScriptureisLordovereverythinginheavenandearth,visibleorinvisible,material,spiritualorotherwise.NothingescapeshisLordship.Ifthecreationisoriginallyholyand,despitethefall,willfinallybeentirelyreconciledtoGodbythecross,thereisnodichotomybetweenmatterandspirit,bodyandsoul.Weareoneinpersonhood,andassuchwearesaved.Thereisnodivisionbetween‘sacred’and‘secular’.God’sconcernsareholistic,andsoisthemissionofthechurch.ChristisLordofall,andthereforehiskingdomincludeseverysphereofhumanendeavor.Therefore,thereareverydifferentexpressionsofmission,inallareasofhumanlife,throughwhichGodsendsustoreconciletheworldtohimself.ProbablythesimplestanddeepestmissionstatementintheentireScriptureis,inJesus’words:‘Asyousentmeintotheworld,Ihavesentthemintotheworld’(John17:18).HowwasJesussentintotheworld?Hemodeledthewayinwhichwearealsosent.Hislife,deeds,attitudes,andteachingprovidetheutmostexample.

Jesusworkedasacarpenter.Hefedthehungry,healedthesick,restoredthedisabled,anddeliveredthoseoppressedbydemons.WhenaparalyzedmanwasbroughttoJesusbyfourfriends,henotonlyenabledthemantowalk,butforgavehissins.Insimilarfashion,Paulmadetents,andcontinuedtodosoatvarioustimesduringhisministry,asthecircumstancesrequired.Hetooalongwithotherapostleshealedthesick,andevenraisedthedead.TheearlyChristiancommunityinJerusalemnotonlyproclaimedtheresurrectionofJesus,andstudiedtheScripturestogether,andprayed,buttheyalsoatetogether,openedtheirhomestooneanother,andsharedtheirmaterialpossessionswiththosewhohadneed.Evenwhentheydesignatedsometodevoterelativelymoretimetoprayerandtoteaching,whileothers

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werecommissionedtoattendprimarilytotheadministrationandoversightofthefooddistribution,bothactivitieswerecalled‘ministry’or‘service’.4Thestubbornpersistenceofthesacred-seculardichotomyisonereasonthatsomanyChristianshearlittleteaching,preaching,ordiscussioninthechurchabouttheactivitiesthatengagethegreatestproportionoftheirtimeinbetweentimesofworship—thatis,theirdailywork.

2.2Lackofbusinessexperienceorexposure

ButaslittleattentionasisgiveninthechurchtoChristianlifeintheworkplace,evenlessissaidspecificallyaboutthegenerationofwealthandtheestablishmentofbusinessesasaformofministry.Whyisthis?Onereasonmaybethelackofbusinessexperienceorexposureonthepartofmanyifnotmostteachingleadersinthechurch.Manypastorsandteachingleadersdonothavethesortoffamilybackgroundthatcarriestheadvantageofgenerationsofentrepreneurialandbusinessexperiencefound,forexample,amongtheSindhicommunities,oramongthePatelsandotherbusinesscastesofIndia,oramongmanyoftheChinesediasporainSoutheastAsia.

InWesterncountries,andthoseinfluencedbythem,promisingyoungChristianstudentsareoftenencouragedtogoimmediatelytoBibleschoolaftersecondaryeducation,ortoseminaryafteruniversity,andthenintofull-timechurchormissionsministry.Asaresult,theylacktheexperienceofordinaryworkplaceinvolvementbeforeoralongsidetheirchurchministry.Evenlesslikelyaretheytohavebeenabletoinvestthetimeneededtostartandgrowasuccessfulbusiness.Theirprimarilyacademicandchurch-basedexperiencebecomesalensthatfiltersoutbiblicalinsightsandapplicationsabouttheworkplaceandtheworldofbusinessthatwouldbemoreobvioustosomeonewithbusiness-orientedcareerexperience.Thosewhoenterchurchministrylaterinlife,orasbi-vocationalleaders,arefarlesslikelytoweartheseblinders.

2.3Lackofteachingaboutbusinessandwealthcreationinbothformalandnon-formaleducation

Furthermore,thosewhoenterBibleschoolsorseminaries,andeventhosewhoreceivenon-formalleadershiptraining,inordertoprepareforteachingrolesinthechurch,findlittleteachingaboutbusinessandwealthcreationinthecurriculum.Thereseemtobefewformalornon-formaltheologicaleducationorChristianleadershipdevelopmentprogramsthatincludesuchtopicsintheircorecourses.2.4Lackofrobust,broadlysharedevangelicaltheologyofwealthcreation

Relatedtothisomissionisthelackofarobust,broadlyshared,evangelicaltheologyofwealthcreation.InspiteofthefirstphraseofJohnWesley’sfamousdictum,‘Gain[earn]allyoucan,saveallyoucan,giveallyoucan’,5theemphasisofmostteachinginchurchesappearstobe

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onthethirdphrase:‘Giveallyoucan’,andoftenwiththefocusbeingongivingallyoucantothelocalministryofthatparticularchurch.Tobesure,therearebooks,sermons,videos,podcasts,smallgroupcurricula,andseminarsavailable,inatleastsomelanguagesandsomeregions,onstewardshipofmoney.Butthereseemstobefarmorebiblicalandtheologicalguidanceprovidedonsavingandgivingthanonearning,andevenlessonhowtoestablishbusinessesthatcancreatejobsandenablemanymoretogain/earnallthattheycan,sothatentirecommunitiescanprosperandbeliftedfrompoverty.2.5Perceptionsaboutcorruptionofbusinessenvironment

InsomecontextsthebusinessenvironmentisperceivedtobegenerallysocorruptthatChristianleadersarereluctanttoencourageanyfaithfulbelievertostartabusiness,oraresuspiciousofanybelieverswhoarealreadyengagedinbusiness.JustasthepeopleofJesus’timedespisedthetaxcollectors,assumingthattheirwealthgaveunmistakableproofoftheircorruptionandtheirexploitativepractices,sosomeChristianleadersdistrustanywhoareengagedinbusinessandespeciallythosewhohavedonewellfinancially.TheproofofZacchaeus’genuinerepentancewasthedivestitureofhalfhisassets,aswellashispromisetomakefourfoldrestitutiontoanyhehadcheated(Luke19:1-10).Likewise,theonlymessagethatmanybusinessownershearfromtheirChristianleadersisthecalltogivemoregenerouslyandsacrificiallyasanexampletoothersinthecongregation.Theyhearlittleencouragementabouttheredemptiveandmissionalpotentialoftheirinvolvementinbusiness,orasensethattheycanbeengagedinChrist’sworkofreconcilingallcreationthroughtheirworkofwealthcreation. 2.6Concernsaboutpossibilityofalienatingwealthydonors

Anotherreasonforsilenceonthepartofsomepastorsandteachersaboutthesetopicsistheirconcernaboutpossiblyalienatingwealthydonorswithteachingthatistoosharpandprophetic.Inacongregationwhererelativelyfewmembersareownersofbusinessesorcreatorsofwealth,teachingthatwarnstooexplicitlyaboutthedangersofcorruption,thepriorityofgoodstewardshipoftheenvironment,theneedforjusttreatmentofworkers,orteachingthatencouragesboldpublicstandsforrighteousness,canbeconsideredoffensiveandtakenpersonallybythosewhofeel‘targeted’bysuchteaching.Manypastorshaveexperiencedthediscomfortofbeingconfrontedbywealthychurchmemberswhohavethreatenedtowithholdtheirgivingunlessthepreachingissoftenedorredirected.2.7Desiretoavoidextremesofprosperitytheologyanddivestituretheology

Stillotherteachersinthechurcharesilentbecausetheywanttoavoidtheextremesofprosperitytheologyontheonehand,withitsemphasisonaccumulationofpersonalwealthasasignofGod’sblessing,and‘divestituretheology’ontheotherhand,withitsover-emphasisonsimplelivingandsacrificialgiving,tothepointofshaminganyonewhohasvisiblewealth.Asaresulttheysaynothing.Moneybecomestheforbiddentopic—includinghowtocreatewealth,andhowtosharewealth.

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2.8Lackofvisiblestructuresforcommissioningandsending

Stemmingfromacombinationofallthesefactors—persistenceofthesacred-seculardichotomy,lackofbusinessexperienceand/oreducationaboutbusinessonthepartofthechurch’steachers,scarcityofgoodandreadilyaccessibletheologicalguidance,concernsaboutcorruptioninthebusinesssphere,fearofalienatingwealthydonors,andeventhedesiretoavoidextremes—fewchurchessetinplaceanyvisiblestructuresforcommissioningChristianswhohavebusiness-orientingcallings,whetherlocallyorinternationally.

AsintheNationalCongressofMissionreferencedearlier,whereonlythosewhoseworkwasprimarilypreachinganddisciple-makingwereinvitedtostandforprayer,sothegreatmajorityofpeopleinthechurchesremainseatedandunrecognized,andhavenosenseofbeingsentintotheworldasChristwassentintotheworld.Theyarenevercommissionedtothemarketplace.Eveniftheirprofessionalskillsopendoorsforthemtoserveinarestrictedaccesscountry,perhapsintheemploymentofamultinationalcompany,ortolaunchanewbusinessventure,ortobepartofadiplomaticcorpsoraninternationalrelieforganization,theymaynotbecommissionedbytheirchurch,orsupportedbytheirhomechurchwithregularprayerandcommunication.Norarethosewhosebusinessesgivethemaccesstolessreachedpeoplegroupsintheirowncommunitiesorcitiesrecognizedasbeing‘frontline’workersinthemissionoutreachoftheirchurch.

Againandagainwehearstoriesofpeoplewhoexperiencefromtheirlocalchurchnospiritualsupport,noencouragementandnostimulationofmissionalvisionforengagementintheworkplaceingeneral,orforlaunchingofbusinessesorcreationofwealthinparticular.Iftheyreceiveanyguidanceorencouragementatall,morelikelyitcomesfromparachurchministries,whichsometimesfindthechurchtreatingthemnotaspartnersbutascompetitors.Butitdoesnotneedtobethisway.

3.0Whatcouldtheroleofthechurchbeinwealthcreation?Manypeopletalkaboutthelimitationsofwhatachurchcando;butinreality,eachchurchisblessedbyGodwithbelieverswhohavetalents,skills,andknowledgeinmanyareas.Moreover,churchesareinterconnectedwithotherchurchesandmanyresourceswithinthebodyofChrist,theuniversalchurch.Butinordertorealizefullythepotentialbenefitsofthesebroadconnections,theymustchoosetocultivateandmaintaintheirunityinChrist.

3.1Afour-stepprocessChurchesandotherministriescanhelpbelieverstoestablishbiblicalperspectivesonwealthcreation,andtoprovidepracticaltrainingonhowtoapplythesebiblicalperspectivesforthepurposeofwealthcreationforholistictransformation.Intheend,wewanttoseetransformationtakeplacenotonlyintheheartsandmindsofbelievers,butalsointheirday-to-daylivesintheworkplaceandinthebusinessestheylead.WewillexplainthesestepsofeducationandtrainingintermsoffourE’s.Eachstepisexpectedtoresultinashiftinthemindsofbelieversleadingeventuallytowardstransformation.

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(a)EnlightenThefirststep,‘Enlighten’,isapplicabletopeoplewhohaveheardaboutBAM(BusinessasMission),buthaveonlyavagueideaofwhatthatmeans.Theyarecurious,butarenotsureiftheyareeveninterested.

TheuseoftheInternet,especiallysocialnetworkingandsocialmediaforgettingthewordouttotheyoungergeneration,canbestrategic.Blogsandvlogsthathighlighttheneedforwealthcreation,andthepresentationofcasestudiesofChristian-ownedbusinessesandtheirimpactwithinthecommunity,willensurethatthenextgenerationbeginstoviewbusinessasacallingthatisnotjustendorsedbytheirlocalchurch,butisinfactencouraged.

Achurchcanholdaconference,andthroughaguestspeakerhelpenlightenthesepeoplebyintroducingthemtoBAM.Thisstepmakesbusinesspeople,traditionalmissionaries,missionagencies,andChristiansawareoftheneedsandtheopportunities,includingthepotentialredemptiveimpactsofbusiness,andpossibilitiestobeambassadorsofreconciliation.Thedesiredoutcomeofsuchconferenceswouldbeashiftinthemindsofparticipantsfromcuriositytointerest.

(b)EducateThesecondstep,‘Educate’,isapplicabletopeoplewhoarenowinterestedinBAM,itsdefinitionanditspotentialimpact.Thisstepinvolvesteachingbusinesspeople,traditionalmissionaries,missionagencies,orChristianswhoareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutwealthcreationforholistictransformationabouttheKingdomimpactofbusiness,andhowtorunmissionalbusinessesinawaypleasingtoGodandproducingholistictransformationalimpact.Thisstepisimplementedtypicallythroughseminars.Thedesiredoutcomefromtheseseminarsistheshiftinthemindsofpeoplefrominteresttocommitment.Nowtheyfeelconvincedthatgodly,missionalbusinesscanproduceholistictransformation.ContinuingeducationformissionalentrepreneursorBAMpractitionerswillbeneeded,asexplainedfurtherunder‘Empower’.(c)EquipEnlighten.Educate.Then‘Equip’.ThisthirdstepisapplicabletopeoplewhoarecommittedtoBAMandwillingtodedicatetheirtime,talentandtreasuretoit.Theynowneedpracticaltraining.Thisstepinvolvesprovidingpeoplewiththeessentialsofrunningamissionalbusinesseffectively.ItisabootcampforaspiringBAMerstobecomemissionalentrepreneurs.Equippingcouldtaketheformofclassroomsessions,includingcasestudies,andfieldvisitswithhands-ontraining.Thedesiredoutcomefromthe‘Equip’stepistheshiftinthemindsofpeoplefromcommitmenttoreadiness.Theyfeelprepared.

(d)EmpowerThefourthstep,‘Empower’,isapplicabletopeoplewhoarenowreadytotakeaction.Itinvolvesdesigningtheroadmapforsuccessinpursuingintegrityandexcellence,basedonjointstewardshipbetweentheintendedBAMerandthechurch.Thissteprequiresanin-depthassessmentofthemissionalentrepreneur’stalents,experiences,interests,and

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resources,aswellasevaluationoftheappropriatenessandurgencyofthestatedgoalsandobjectivesforthemissionalbusiness.

Forthisstep,aparticularchurchmaynotbefullyequippedwithsufficientresourcestoempowertheintendedBAMer.AtthispointthechurchshouldproactivelyseekhelpandcollaborationfromotherministriesorchurchesforthesakeoftheKingdomofGod.Typicallythisassistancemighttaketheformofindividualcoachingormentoring,combinedwithloansorequityinvestments,ifnecessary,withorwithoutthehelpofabusinessincubationcenter.Thedesiredoutcomeofthe‘Empower’stepistheshiftfromreadinesstoaction.

Withon-goingcoachingandappropriatesupport,financialandotherwise,themissionalentrepreneurscanprogressfromtransformationintheirownmindsfirst,totransformationinthelivesofthepeoplethattheirmissionalbusinessesserve.Whenproperlytrainedandguided,themissionalentrepreneurcanseeholistictransformationthroughthelaunchandnurtureofabusiness,andthroughthecreationofwealththroughthatbusiness.Eachofthesestepscanbeimplementedbyachurchincollaborationwithotherchurchesorlike-mindedministriesthatarealreadyinexistence,asthelistofresourcesindicates.Butabasicpre-conditionisthecommitmentofthechurchleadershiptorejecttheunbiblical,dualisticworldviewthatissoprevalentandcontagious,andtoembraceaperspectivethathonorsChristasLordofall,andthatseesthepotentialforChrist’sredemptiveandreconcilingworkinallspheres,includingtheworldofbusiness.Uponsuccessfulandeffectiveimplementationofthesesteps—Enlighten,Educate,Equip,Empower—churchesmaybeabletotransformcomfortableChristians,huddlingasa‘holyghetto’,intopassionateambassadorsofChrist,preparedwithcompetencyandresources,whocanplayapivotalroleinhelpingcreatewealthforChrist’sKingdomandalsodistributingwealthforgodlypurposesandforGod’sglory.

3.2Encourageyoungpeopletoconsideracalltobusiness

ItisnotunusualforchurchestoinspiretheirchildrenandyoungpeoplewithstoriesofpeoplewhorespondedtoGod’scalltobecomepastorsandmissionaries.Afterall,JesuscalledSimonPeterandAndrew,aswellasJamesandJohn,toleavetheirfishingbusinessesandtobecome‘fishersofmen’(Mark1:16-20).Similarly,Matthew,alsoknownasLevi,wassummonedtoabandonhisprofessionastaxcollectortofollowJesus(Mark2:14).ButdoesGodcalleveryfaithfulfollowerofJesustobecomeafull-timechurchworker,andtoliveoffthecontributionsofothers?Notatall.Isthecallingtobepastorormissionarynecessarilya‘highercalling’,expressingagreaterpassionfortheLordandahigherlevelofobedience?Emphaticallyno!TheBibleisfullofstoriesofpeoplewhofulfilledGod’spurposesinthecourseoftheirordinarydailywork—suchasAbraham,Joseph,Ruth,Davidasbothshepherdandking,Nehemiah,Esther,Lukethephysician,andLydia.SowhyshouldchurchesnotencouragebelieversofallagestoconsideracallingtoserveGodthroughbusiness?

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‘WhatisGod’scallforme?’isacommonexistentialquestionofadolescenceandearlyadulthood.Itrelatestoanevenmorefundamentalquestion:‘Whatisthemeaning,thepurposeofhumanlife?’

ThefirsttwochaptersofGenesisrevealonereasonforwhichhumanbeingswerecreated.Duringtheearlierstagesoftheprocessofcreation,‘therewasnomantoworktheground’(Gen2:5).SoGodformedamanfromthedustoftheground,andplacedhiminthegardeninEdenthatGodhadplanted,‘toworkitandcareforit’(Gen2:8-9).Godthenmadeawomantobeapartnerwiththeman(Gen2:15).Andtothemanandthewomen,bothcreatedinGod’simage(Gen1:27),Godsaid,‘Befruitfulandincreaseinnumber;filltheearthandsubdueit.Ruleoverthefishoftheseaandthebirdsoftheairandovereverylivingcreaturethatmovesontheground’(Gen1:28).ThemanandthewomanwerecreatedtobestewardstogetherofGod’screation,managingit,nurturingit,developingitasagentsofGod,expressingGod’swisdom,loveandcreativityintheiroversight.Thefirsthumanbeing’sfirstactofoversightwasnaming,andthusindicatingthecharacterof,eachoftheanimalsandbirds(Gen2:19-20).Identificationandclassificationwerethefirststepsindevelopingandcaringforallofcreation.

Thiscomprehensive‘creationmandate’—tofill,subdue,andruleovertheearth—providesthefoundationforthedevelopmentofallfieldsofknowledge,includingarts,science,technology,andthedevelopmentofvariousformsofappliedknowledgeandorganizedsocialengagement,includingmanufacturing,commerce,andgovernment,encompassingallgoodhumanendeavorsunderthesun.Godwantshumanbeingstobecreative,entrepreneurial,curious,andmastersinallfields.Suchbiblical,holisticperspectivesneedtobeintroducedbyChristianfamiliesandchurchestotheirchildrenfromtheearliestyears.Callingpeopletobusinessdoesnothavetowaituntiltheyreachadulthood.Theenlighteningandeducatingworkofthechurchrelatedtobusinessasmissioncanbeginwithchildrenandyouth.Churchleadershipmayholdaspecialbusinessawarenessday,andaskgodlybusinesspersonsoramemberofthechurchtotalktochildrenoryouthaboutGod’scallingtobusiness.AdultsaswellcanbeencouragedtobealertandresponsivetoGod’scallingtoentrepreneurialorbusinessendeavors,inthemselvesorothers.EarlyeducationcanplantseedsandcreatealastingimpactthatcanpreparethewayforGod’scallingintobusinesslateron.Andwhensomeone,whetheryoungerorolder,beginstosenseGod’scallingtopursueapathinbusiness,thewisechurchleaderwillcelebratewiththemthehonorandopportunityofthiscalling,willencouragethem,andwillstandwiththeminprayer.GodcallssometoleavetheirnetstofollowJesus.ButhecallsotherstofollowJesusbybuyingaboat,orenlargingtheirnets,expandingtheirfleets,orhiringmoretohelp,andbringingsaltandlightwithinthefishingindustry.Thechurchcancommissionthosewhostaywiththeirnetsaswellthosewholeavethem.63.3AnexamplefromAsia:trainingpastor-businesspersons7

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PastorKworksinacontextinAsiawheremostoftheChristianworkersarepoorandcompletelydependentonforeignsupport.Thechurchesaretoosmalltopaytheirbills.Thegovernmentlooksatpeoplereceivingsupportfromabroadwithmuchsuspicion.Christianpastorsaredespisedasbeggars,andtheirwitnessthereforehaslittlecredibility;eventheirownchildrendonotrespectthem.Whentheenemystealsthedignityofthemessengers,themessagelosesitsdignitytoo!

Thevisionforhelpingthelocalpastorsandchurchleaderstobecomeself-fundedwasbirthedinPastorK’sheartaboutsevenyearsago.Herunsaverylargeandsuccessfulbusinessthatoperatesin20countries,whilealsopastoringachurchof500,mostofwhomarelocalpeoplewhohavecometofaith.Thechurchisfundedcompletelybylocalmoney,andhasnottakenanydonationsfromoutsidethecountry.PastorKinsiststhatallofthemembersofhisownstaffteam,aswellasallthosewhoarecommissionedfromtheirfellowshiptoserveaspastors,supportthemselvesbystartingabusiness.Noneofthepastorsreceiveanysalaryfromthechurch.Thiscreatesacultureofhardwork,wheremanypeoplelookuptotheirleadersasexamplestoemulate.Thepastorsteachthebiblicalfoundationsforbusiness.Theypreachaboutthenewcovenantministry8whereJesushasremovedthesacred/seculardivision.Everyoneisaroyalpriest.9Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive.10TheNewTestamentencourageseverybelievernottobeabusybody,buttoworkwiththeirownhandssothattheirliveswillwintherespectofoutsiders.11

Thechurchempowerswealthcreatorsinministrybygivingthemchurchresponsibilities.Eachoftheministriesisheadedbytalentedpeoplewhoarerunningtheirownbusinessesorbyprofessionalsintheirrespectivefields.TheyseetheirtalentsbeingutilizedbythechurchonaregularbasisandseehowGodusesthemtobeablessingtoGod’skingdom.

PastorKoperatesabusinessincubationandtrainingcenter,inpartnershipwithotherchurchesintheregion.Theyhaveboughtafarmwheretheyaresettingupafewworkingbusinessesrunbynationalbelievers.Theyhaveanegg-layingchickenfarm,acowfarm,anintensiveappleorchard,sodandlandscaping,andafeedmill.TheyarealsointheprocessofsettingupacenterwherepastorsandChristianworkerscancomeandstayfortwoweekstolearnthetheoryandpracticalsideofstartingtheirownbusiness.

InobediencetothecallingtorestorethedignityoftheChristianmessengers,PastorK’schurchstartedanannualbusinessconference.From2012until2015theytaughtthepastorsaboutthebiblicalfoundationforbusiness,aswellasbasicbusinessskillslikewritingaproperbusinessplan,companyregistration,marketsurveys,marketing,sales,profitandlossstatements,taxation,etc.Thiswasahugesuccess,andsomepastorsstartedtheirownbusinesses.Overthelastsevenyearstenpeoplehavestartedbusinessesaswellasplantingthrivingchurches.Andthosepastorshaveregainedtherespectoftheirchildren.PastorKsays,‘Itiseasytopreachasermon;itisdifficulttogenerateUSD500toUSD1,000amonththroughabusiness.’12Hepointstohisownexample,andchallengespastorswhosaythattheydonothavetimetostartabusinessthattheyarenotworkinghardenough,andarenotreally‘busy’but‘busybodies’.

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In2016,thechurchaddedacompetitiontofundstartupbusinessesamongpastors.Outofthemanybusinessproposals,thechurchshortlistedtenofthemtotakepartinthecompetition,andultimatelyfundedfivewinners.

OneofthewinnerswasPastorT,whocomesfromoneofthemostclosedcountriesintheregion.Heisastrongyoungmaninhis30swithajoyfulspirit.Buthehadabadencounterinhislifewheresomeonethrewacidonhisface,resultingintotalblindnessinbotheyesanddisfigurementofhisface.Butnoneofthiscouldkillhisentrepreneurialspirit.Heputforwardabusinessproposaltostartamassagebusiness.Buttobeamasseurinhishomecountry,heneededtogothroughapropercourseandgetcertified.Hefoundacollegethattrainedblindpeopleformassage.Hepreparedaconvincingbusinessproposal,withafundingrequirementofUSD5,500.Ayoungbusinessmanfromhiscountryvolunteeredtofundhimandtobecomethementorforthisproject.Aftercompletinghistraining,PastorTwenttoafive-starhotelwherethespawasempty.Hetoldtheheadofthehotelthathewasaqualifiedmasseurandwouldliketostartamassagebusinessinhishotel.Butthemanmadefunoftheblindpastorandrefusedtoentertainhisidea.HoweverPastorTpersistedandaskedthehotelheadtogiveitatryhimself.WhenPastorTstartedthemassage,henoticedthreelumpsintheman’sback.Thehotelheadtoldhimthatthedoctorssuspectedthelumpscouldbecancerous,andthathewastogoformedicalcheckupsandapossiblebiopsythenextweek.GodinspiredPastorTtoprayforthehealingofthehotelheadandalsotochallengehimthatifhewentthroughthemassageseverydayduringaweek,thelumpswoulddisappear.Andthatisexactlywhathappened!OurfaithfulGodhealedthehotelheadbythethirdmassage!TodayPastorTisasuccessfulbusinessmaninhiscity,completelyself-supported,andratedasthebestmasseur.Hiswifeandchildrenarehappyandsupportiveofhisministry.Throughthecontactsdevelopedthroughhisbusinesshehasreachedintothehighestlevelsofgovernment,andhasplantedathrivingchurch.PastorTsays,

Iusedtobeapoorblindpastorwhowaslivingonsupportandcouldnoteventakecareofmyfamily.Theonlyreasonpeopleeverbotheredtolistentomymessagewasoutofpity.Today,Iamasuccessfulbusinesspersonandpeoplepaymemoneytocomeandlistentomymessage.Theypayandgivemetheirundividedattentionforanhour!Thishasalsoblessedmyfamilysomuchandbroughtdignitytome.13

3.4AnotherexamplefromAsia:ShanghaiKoreanCommunityChurchandtheKoreanBAMmovement

Rev.K.Y.Um,aGlobalMissionPioneer(GMP)missionarywhoministeredinJapanfor10years,hasbeenservingforthelast15yearsasapastoratShanghaiKoreanCommunityChurch.Thechurchhasseveralschools,includingaBasicSchoolofWorkplace,SchoolforKingdomofGod,SchoolforBAMers,andMissionPerspectives(PSP)forchurchmemberswho

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arebusinesspersons.Thepastorspreachandteachabouttheroleofwealthcreatorsandmissionallife.ManystartupshavebeeninitiatedbyBAMers.

Inspiredbythe2004LausanneBAMreport,in2007thechurchhostedtheShanghaiKoreanBusinessForum(SKBF),whichchangeditsnametoInternationalBAMAlliance(IBA)in2011.Theforum,consistingofaleaders’consultationandapublicconference,hasbeenheldinJuneeveryyearsincethen,toestablishthefoundationsoftheKoreanBAMmovement.TheIBAhasbecomeanallianceof50churches,businesses,andmissionagencies.Manybusinesses,schools,networks,andfundinginitiativeshavematerializedoutofthesemeetingsandcontributetobuildhealthyecosystemsfortheBAMmovement.WhereastheinitialBAMmovementfromthefirstBAMGlobalBAMThinkTankwasmorefocusedoncreatingandoperatingtransformativebusinessentitiesincreative-accessregions,theKoreanBAMmovementalongwithIBAhasevolvedintoamissionalmovementtomotivateandequipChristiansandchurchestostandasawitnesstothegospelwithanintegratedlifeinthebusinessworld.14

ThefirstgoalofIBAistoencourageandhelpBAMentrepreneurscreatebusinessesinplaces(definedbothculturallyandgeographically)wheretheinfluenceofGod’skingdomisrelativelyweak.Itconnectsthesecompanieswithfourkindsofcapital:intellectualcapital(suchasbusinesseducation,mentoring,coaching,sharingofbusinessmodelsandcorecompetencies),financialcapital(equitysharing,short-andlong-termloans,andinitialgrantsofseedmoney),processcapital(sharingpartofaverticalorhorizontalbusinessprocesssuchasadistributionchannelforaproductorprocurementandsupplychannel,oropportunitytoparticipateinacollectivepurchaseordistribution),andhumancapital(managers,employees,short-orlong-termvolunteers,internstohelpBAMinitiatives).

Inadditiontourbanization,oneofthedrasticchangesinhumancultureoverthelastseveraldecadesistheprevalenceofcorporatecapitalismthroughouttheworld,andtheconsequentinfluence,evenintrusion,ofbusiness-basedculturesonpeople’slives.Despitetheirdifferencesinethnicity,profession,religion,age,andgender,peopleconverseinbusinessterms,makecollectivesensebasedonbusinesslogic,andshareasenseoffairnessandcommunitybasedonbusinessrelations.Businessisnotmerelyatransactioninthemarketnoraprofit-makingentity;itistheglobalmegaculturethatintegratesallthedifferencesofvariousculturalgroupsassubcultureswithinit.ThisbusinessculturedoesnotjustcoverentrepreneursorCEOs.Itimpactstherelationsofemployees,housewives,andstudents.Italsoinfiltratesvariousprofessionalfieldssuchaseducation,government,healthandmedicine,entertainment,arts,music,andevenreligion!

Inthislight,thesecondgoaloftheIBAandtheKoreanBAMMovementistoraiseanewgenerationofmissionalChristianswhocommittolivewithaKingdomperspective,especiallyinthemidstofthenewurbanenvironments.

ThethirdgoalistoawakenchurcheswithamissionalperspectiveoftheBAMmovement.ThedominantparadigmofKoreanchurchesduringthelastfewdecadeshasbeenthechurchgrowthmovement.Thechurchisseenastheplaceofsalvation,andissupposedtogrowby

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addingnewconverts;thegrowthofthechurchisconsideredtobethegrowthoftheKingdom.AllmatureChristiansmustcommitthemselvestochurchactivitieswiththeirtimeandmoney,becausemissionbelongstothechurch.

ThemissionalperspectiveofBAMsetsadifferenttoneinunderstandingmission.Godownsmission,andhiswayofmissionstartswithincarnationintheworldandhumancultures,notexclusivelywithinthereligiousarea.ThechurchfindsherplaceinGod’smissionbyfollowingJesus’footstepsinbeingsentbyGodintotheworldandbeingsacrificedtoservetheworld.

Theincarnationalandcontext-focusedperspectivesoftheBAMmovementarestillnewtomanychurchesaswellasmissionagencies.Thedualismbetweenreligionandthesecularworld,andbetweenclergyandlaity,hasbeenbuiltsostaunchlythatitevencollideswiththeBAMmovementwhenthefaithofanindividualisexpressedinactualpracticesinbusinessworld.IBA,whichtracesitsrootstoShanghaiKoreanCommunityChurch,iscommittedtoawakenthechurcheswiththemissionalperspectivesofBAM.

Inadditiontoitsannualleaders’consultationandpublicconference,IBAcollectscasestudiesofBAMandreflectiveideasonBAM,publishingtheminvariousforms.Itplanstobuildanonlineforumwheredifferentviewscanbeexchangedandknowledgecanbebuiltinteractively.EventuallyIBAplanstodevelopevaluationandcertificationsystemsforBAMcompanies,toencouragetransparentaccountabilityfortheiroperations,andtocommunicatetheircredibilitytovariousstakeholders.3.5AnexamplefromAfrica:relatingtootherstructuresforbroaderimpact

Achurchcanfunctionproperlyonitsowninmanyareas,butcangenerateevenbroaderimpactinadvancingGod’skingdombycollaboratingwithotherstructures,suchasthegovernment,theChamberofCommerce,schools,orevenbusinesses.RwandaisuniqueinthatchurchescollaboratewiththegovernmentandbusinessesunderSaddlebackChurch’sPEACEplan.

ThePEACEPlanisthestrategyformissionsatSaddlebackChurchinLakeForest,California.PEACEisanacronymforPromotereconciliation,Equipservantleaders,Assistthepoor,Careforthesick,andEducatethenextgeneration.Thesefivepillarsareplanstotacklefivegoliathsofproblemsthatwefaceintheworld.ManypeoplearefamiliarwiththePEACEPlan,butnottoomanypeopleknowwhathaspropelledthisPlantoexpandtoreach34nationsinAfricaaloneatpresent.

In2005,PaulKagame,thepresidentofRwanda,approachedPastorRickWarrenofSaddlebackChurchwiththedesiretobeapurpose-drivennationbasedonPastorWarren’sbookThePurpose-DrivenLife.PastorWarrenrespondedbymobilizing2,000membersofSaddlebackChurchtovisitRwandaandcomeupwithideastoempowerRwandatobecomeapurpose-drivennation.

Rwandaadoptedathree-leggedstoolapproach,withcollaborationamongthepublicsector

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ofeffectivegovernments,theprivatesectorofeffectivebusinessesandthesocialsectorofeffectivechurches.Thiseffortbeganinitiallywith30pastorswhowereinvitedtoSaddlebackforconsultation,butnowalmost95percentofallchurchesinRwandahavebeenparticipatinginthePEACEPlanthroughfourmajorumbrellasofChristianfaith.ThisPEACEPlanhelpschurchesmobilize,disciple,andcommissionChristiansinallareasoflife,includingbusinesspeople.

Thethree-leggedstoolapproachusedinRwandahasbeenadoptedintothePEACEPlanoverallwithaslightmodification,sothatthesocialsectorisdefinedascommunityorganizationsincludingfaith-basedorganizations.InRwanda,Christianchurchesplayapivotalroleinrebuildingthenation.

Evenasinglecongregationthatismobilizingandempoweringitsmembersinallareasofdailyworkandcallingcanmakeasignificantdifferenceinmanynations.SaddlebackChurchisanexample.Whenchurchesworkwiththepublicsectorandtheprivatesector,synergydevelopstohelpadvancetheKingdomofGod,asinPEACEPlan’scatchphrase:‘OrdinarypeopleempoweredbyGodmakingadifferencetogetherwherevertheyare.’

3.6AnotherexamplefromAfrica:financialrevitalizationofadiocesethroughbusinessdevelopment

WhenLaurentMbandawasappointedBishopfortheShyiraDioceseoftheAnglicanChurchofRwanda,heinheritedenormousfinancialchallenges,resultinginpartfromthedryingupoffinancialcontributionsfrommoreliberalwesternAnglicandenominationsthatdifferedtheologicallyfromthemoreconservativeRwandanchurches.BishopMbandadeterminedtobuildaself-reliantdiocesewithsustainablefinancialmodels.Thestrategywasbuiltonathree-prongedapproach,involvingeducation,commercialbusinessandfinancialsavings.WiththeassistanceofconsultationandloansfromsomeNorthAmericanChristianbusinessmen,BishopMbandawasabletoreconfigureandexpandanumberofprojects.

Afterfiveyearsofpartnership,remarkableprogresshadbeenachieved.Tothe53elementaryandsecondaryschoolsalreadyoperatingonchurchproperty,217EarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCenterswereadded,serving21,000childrenbetweentheagesofthreeandsix.TheSonriseChristianSchoolfor850orphansofthegenocidewassinkingunderan18percentloan;theloanwasrefinancedat6percent,makingitpossibletobreakevenaswellasimproveitsservices.Afor-profitcollegewith900studentswasestablished;MolyburaTechnicalCollege,ownedbythediocese,includesbusinessincubatorsandeducationinareassuchascarpentry,restaurant(whichservesadualpurposeoftrainingandservingfood),hydrobrick,civilengineering,hospitalityandtourism,electrical,andelectronicengineering,computerengineering,andbusinessstudies.Othercommercialventureshavebeenlaunchedtoprovidejobs,tosupplementfundsforthediocese,andtodemonstratehowtostartandtooperateabusiness;theseincludebrickmaking,lowcosthomeconstruction,ahotel,andacommercialbuilding.Inadditionto650savingsandloangroups(eachwithabout20members),aChurchDevelopmentFundwasstartedtomakepossiblelargerbusinessloans,atarateoftenpercent.

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Financiallythedioceseishealthierthanithaseverbeen;parishcontributionsareup,insomecases300percent;thirty-fivenewchurcheshavebeenplanted;and650jobshavebeenadded.

3.7AnexamplefromNorthAmerica:commercialuseofchurchbuildings

ChurchesarenotonlyblessedbyGodwithpeople;manychurcheshaveotherassets,includingphysicalfacilities.Butchurchbuildingsaregenerallyunderutilized.TheyareactivelyengagedduringSundaysandprobablyacoupleofotherdaysduringtheweekforotherministryactivities,butingeneral,theyremainvacantandidle.Somemayarguethatthechurchbuildingisaholyplace,andthatitsuseshouldbekeptonlyforworshiporrelatedpurposes.However,suchaviewofphysicalbuildingsisdifficulttojustifyfromNewTestamentteachings,whichdescribethetruedwellingplaceofGodastheChristianbeliever,throughtheindwellingoftheHolySpirit(1Cor3:16;6:19).Forthefirstthreecenturiesofitsexistence,churcheshadnoregularbuildingsatall.Thechurchbuildingisonlyagatheringplace,notinitselfaholyplaceoratemple.ThephysicalfacilityispartofGod’sresourcesentrustedtothebodyofChrist,tobeusedformanybeneficialpurposes,whichcanincludegeneratingrevenuesforthechurch.

SouthFellowshipChurchislocatedinLittleton,Colorado,USA.PastorBradStrait(nowseniorpastorforCherryCreekPresbyterianChurchinGreenwichVillage,Colorado)servedasseniorpastorofSouthFellowshipChurchfrom1993through2007.Twoyearsbeforeheagreedtoshepherdthiscongregation,SouthFellowshipChurchbegantolookforaretailstripcenterforitsworshipservice.ThechurchwasworshipingatahighschoolauditoriumwithabeliefthatthechurchisagatheringofChristians,notabuilding.Whatwastheirmotivationtosearchforalocationinacommercialcenter?Theirdesireforcommunityoutreach,aswellasgeneratingadditionalrevenuesforthechurch.

Oneday,whilePastorStraitwastheseniorpastor,theownerofKiddyAcademy,achildcarecenterthatwasoneofthetenantsattheretailstripcenter,cametothechurchofficeandgavenoticethathewasvacatingthatspace.PastorStraitthoughtitcouldbeanopportunityforthechurchtogenerateadditionalrevenuewhileservingthecommunity.ThechurchtookoverthechildcarecenterandbegantooperateitasSouthFellowshipLearningCenter.Itprosperedandhasgainedafavorablereputationandappreciationfromthecommunityforitscaringservice.

Onanotheroccasion,oneofthechurchmembersgaveUSD1millionasananonymousgifttothechurch.Theelderboarddecidedtopayoffsomedebtsandtotakeoveravacantspaceattheretailstripcenterinordertosetupacoffeeshop,calledSolidGrounds.ItcostthechurchapproximatelyUSD500,000andfiveyearsorsotoreachthebreak-evenpoint,butithasprovidedthechurchmembersanexcellentopportunitytominglewithnon-Christiansinanon-invasivewayandtobringmanytofaithinChrist.

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SouthFellowshipChurchisanexampleofaprogressivechurchthatusesitsbuildingbeyondtheSundayworshipservicetogenerateadditionalrevenuesandtoconnectthechurchtothecommunitybyinnovativebuildingofrelationships.Peopleappreciatethechurchprovidingexcellentcarefortheirchildrenaswellasqualitycoffeeinafriendlygatheringplace.Ofcourse,thechurchfacedsomeresistance,buttheelderboardandPastorStraitwereabletoovercomesuchresistancewithpersuasionandeducation.‘ThechurchbuildingshouldbeusedformorethanSundayworshipservicetoberelevanttothecommunityitserves.Oneofthewaysistoprovideacommerciallyvaluableservicetothecommunityforareasonablefee,thuscreatingfinancialwealthforthechurchaswellassocialwealthforthecommunity’,saidPastorStrait.15

4.0Whatlimitationsorcautionsshouldtherebeforthechurchinplayinganactiveroleinwealthcreation?HowshouldweviewexamplesliketheShyiraDioceseandSouthFellowshipChurch,wherechurchesgobeyondtrainingtheirmembersforwealthcreation,andbecomeinvolveddirectlyincommercialendeavors?Arethereanylimitationsorcautionsthatshouldbeinplaceforthechurchinplayinganactiveroleinwealthcreation?

4.1ChurchesasbusinessesWiththeriseofthemegachurchalongwiththemultiplicationoftelevisionandInternetbroadcastingofsermons,thereisaproliferationofbooks,videosandotherreligiousitemsthataresoldbychurchesascommercialmerchandise,inadditiontoincomefromleasingofchurch-ownedrealestate.CNNdidanewsreportinJanuary2010inwhichScottThumma,aprofessoratHartfordSeminarysaidthat‘themegachurchonaveragehasaboutUSD6.5millioninincomeayear.IfyouputtogetherallthemegachurchesintheUS,that’seasilyseveralbilliondollars.’16ThesamereportclaimedthatmegachurchesarenotjustanAmericanphenomenon,butthatchurchesthatattractupwardsof15,000peopleonaSundayexistinGuatemalaandotherpartsoftheworld.17

Othernewsoutlets,bothChristianandsecular,havepublishedarticlesandnewsclipsaboutchurchesbeingrunasbusinessesinordertogeneratefundsformeetingoperationalcosts,andpayinghighwagesfortheirleadershipalongthelinesoflargecorporations.Thishasledtoapublicdebateabouttheseparationofchurchandbusiness.Incountrieswherechurchesaretax-exempt,thisissuehaslegalimplications.FromgovernmentsthatarehostiletoChristianityoranyformofreligion,aswellassecularistorganizations,publicinterestgroups,andmediapersonalities,thereisagrowingdemandforchurchestobetreatedasbusinesseswhenitcomestotaxlaws.

4.2ArgumentsforandagainstchurchesrunasbusinessesManychurchleadershavearguedfororagainstchurchesbeingrunasbusinesses.Thosewhoareinfavordosobypointingtothepositiveaspectsofawell-runbusiness,suchasholdingthestaffaccountable,focusingonreachingnewmarkets,andmakingstrategicplansfor

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increasingeffectiveness.Onthecontrary,thosewhoargueagainstchurchesadoptingabusinessmodelhighlighttheimportanceofthechurchbodybeingafamilyinwhichloveofpeopleandobediencetoGodoverrulesefficiencyandstrategicplanning.

4.3Church-subsidizedbusinessescankillfor-profitbusinessesAnunintendedconsequenceofchurchesowningandrunningbusinessescanbethefinancialinsolvencyofotherfor-profitbusinesses.Itisnolongeruncommontofindchurchesrunningdaycarecenters,bookstores,culinaryschools,financialservices,conventionhalls,conveniencestores,coffeeshops,restaurantsandthelike.Inordertomeetrisingcostsofchurchfacilitiesandstaffsalaries,churchesstartventuringintobusinessoperationstoexpandtheirincomestreams.However,thechurchasanon-profithasanunfairadvantage,withreducedtaxesandcapitaldrawnfromfree-willofferings,overtheirfor-profitcompetitorswhohavetoinvestorborrowcapitalatmarketratesandpaytaxesontheirincome.InIndia,manyChristianbookstoreswentoutofbusinesswhenfacedwithcompetitionfromalargeChristiannon-profitorganizationthatstartedsellingbooksbelowmarketpricebecausetheirinventorywaseitherdonatedorhighlysubsidizedbytheirdonors.Ifourgoalistoencouragewealthcreation,weneedtobesupportiveofwealthcreatorsbyenablingthemtofulfilltheircallingtobebusinesspersons,andtobewareofcreatingstructuresthathavetheoppositeeffect.

4.4Risksofmissiondrift

OneofthedangersofthechurchadoptingabusinessmodelisthatitcandiluteitsmissionbyfallingpreytothedesireforincreasingthereturnoninvestmentofmoneyratherthancarryingoutitspurposeasgiveninActs2:42.18WeneedtorememberthatitisGodwhoisbuildinghischurch,nothumanbeings.Thechurchisunique,unlikeanyhumanorganization.Anyeffortstoadoptbusinesspractices,otherthaninfunctionalareassuchasadministration,accounting,technology,etc.,maycausemissiondrift.Inrecenttimes,wehavewitnessedmanysadexamplesofpastorsstartingtheirministryworkwithgoodintentionsandgoals,butastheyexperiencedmoderatesuccessintheirministries,theybegantodependontheirownplansandschemesratherthanleaningonGod’sguidance.Beforetheyknewit,theirplansinvolvedfinancialgainsinsteadofKingdomgrowth.

4.5Dangersofpastorsexercisinginappropriatecontrol

Onoccasion,pastorsgooutsidetheircallingasspiritualshepherdstotheirflock.Theybegintotakecontroloverthebusinessorfinancialinterestsoftheirchurchmembers.Whatbeginswithprayerandcounselfortheirmembersandtheirbusinesses,sometimesendsinfirminstructionsonhowtorunthebusiness.ThisisaccompaniedbydemandsforpaymentofaportionofprofitsbacktothechurchortothepastorhimselfinexchangeforreleasingGod’sblessingsonthebusiness.Thevictimsofsuchexploitativepracticesarenotjustthepoorortheilliterate,butmoreoftentheyarefoundamongthewealthyeliteinurbancentersacrosstheworld.Itisoftenthecasethatsuchexploitativemethodsgohand-in-handwiththelackofteachingaboutthepriesthoodofallbelieversasexplainedin1Peter2:4-10.

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5.0Whatresourcesareavailableforchurchesthatwanttoenlighten,educate,equip,andempowerentrepreneursandbusinesspeopleforwealthcreationfortransformation?5.1Examplesandcasestudies

(a)ExamplesfromtheNewTestamentchurchTheNewTestamentcitesmanyexamplesofpeopleintheearlychurchwhobuiltbusinesses,sometimesbeforeenteringintoexclusivefocusonChristianministry,andsometimescontinuingtheirworkalongsidetheirministry.Jesushimselfgrewupinthehomeofacarpenter(Matt13:55)andwascalled‘thecarpenter’bypeopleinhishometown(Mark6:3).Presumablyheworkedinthatprofessionfulltimeuntilhebeganhispublicministryataboutagethirty(Luke3:23),afterwhichhewassupportedbycontributions(egLuke8:1-3;John12:5-6).AmongthedisciplesJesuscalledwereseveralfishermen,includingJamesandJohn,whosebusinesswiththeirfatherincludedhiredmen(Mark1:19-20).Althoughsomeofthedisciplesbrieflyreturnedtofishingaftertheresurrection,thereisnoevidencethatanyofthesecontinuedtodosoafterJesuscommissionedthemathisascension.In1Corinthians9:4-6,PaulimpliesthatPeterandtheotherapostlesreceivedsupportfromthechurches,anddidnothavetocontinuetoearntheirincomefromabusiness.

YetPaul,becauseoftheattitudesheencounteredinsomeofthecitieswhereheplantedchurches,andbecauseofhisdesiretosetapersonalexampleofhardworkaswellasgenerosity,customarilysupportedhimselfandothermembersofhisteamthroughhisskillsintent-making,sometimesinpartnershipwithotherslikePriscillaandAquila.19YetevenPaulwelcomedsupportfromchurchesthatsometimesfreedhimtodevotehimselffulltimetotheworkofpreachingandteaching.20

OnefactorpresumablythatenabledPriscillaandAquilatoliveandworkinanumberofcities21wastheirabilitytosupportthemselvesthroughtheirtent-makingwork.Lydia,ontheotherhand,wasanexampleofsomeonewhoownedabusiness,whichsheseemedtobedevelopinginoneplaceoveraperiodoftime,andwhousedherhomeasagatheringplaceforthechurchinPhilippi.22(b)ExamplesfromchurchhistoryExamplesthatdeservefurtherstudyarethebusinessesfoundedintheUKbyQuakersandinspiredbyQuakerteaching,includingcompanieslikeBarclay’sBankandCadbury’schocolates.23AnotherareaforexplorationisthehistoryofMutualSocietiesintheUK—egHalifaxBuildingSociety—whichwerestartedbychurches,wherememberswouldpooltheirfunds,helpthosewhodidnothavejobs,andnegotiatediscounts.Thechurchprovidedaplatformoftruthandtrust,acontextinwhichbusinesscouldflourish.24AdditionalexamplesincludetheChristianswhospreadthegospelalongtheSilkRoad,theMoravians,theworkofHansNielsenHaugeinNorway,25andtheworkofWilliamCareyinIndia.

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(c)AdditionalcontemporaryexamplesManyotherexamplesofbusinessdevelopmentinconnectionwithlocalchurchesandchurchnetworkscouldbecited,inadditiontothecasestudiesalreadypresented,butwhichcouldnotbedetailedwithinthelimitsofthispaper.AhealthcareexecutiveinEthiopiareportsthatnewchurchesthataffirmbusinessarebeingestablishedinEthiopiabyEthiopianswhohavereturnedfromothercountries.AnIndianbusinessentrepreneurobservesthatmorechurchesinIndiaareencouragingtheirmemberstopursuebusiness.MajorchurchgroupsthathaveadoptedBAMincludetheAssembliesofGod(USAaswellasRussia)andFoursquareMissionsInternational.ACTSAcademyofHigherEducation(Bangalore,India)haspartneredwiththeChurchofGodofProphecytotrainpastorsfromAfrica,Asia,andtheCaribbean,withafocusonentrepreneurship,integratedintobachelor’sandmaster’slevelcourses.TheKingdomBusinessCommunityinIndonesia,26withapproximately7,000BAMbusinesses,grewoutofAbbaLoveChurchinJakarta.

5.2Formaltraining

• BakkeGraduateUniversityoffersanonlinecourseintheTheologyofWork[TOW701]

(http://www.bgu.edu/theology-work-8).• BiolaUniversity’sCrowellSchoolofBusinessinLaMirada,California,USA,offersboth

bachelor’sdegreesandmaster’sdegreeswithanemphasison‘businessasministry’(https://www.biola.edu/crowell).

• ChristianHeritageCollegeinQueensland,Australiaoffersavarietyofundergraduateandpostgraduatebusinesscourses(http://www.chc.edu.au).

• LifePacificCollegeinSanDimas,California,USAoffersaBachelorofArtsinBusinessAdministration(http://lifepacific.edu).

• OikonomiaNetworkconsistsof20partnerseminariesinNorthAmericawithprogramshelpingpastorsequippeopleforwhole-lifediscipleship,includingtheworkplace(http://oikonomianetwork.org).

• WesternSeminaryCenterforLeadershipDevelopmentoffersvideocoursestowardacertificate(https://www.westernseminary.edu/ministry/center-for-leadership-development).

5.3Non-formaltraining

• AsianAccesshasrecentlylaunchedcohortsforbusinessleadersinKoreaandIndia

(http://www.asianaccess.org,http://asianaccess.biz).• BusinessasMissionTrainingoffersathree-weekcourseaswellasaneight-week

summerinternship(http://bamtraining.org).• C12GroupisthelargestNorthAmericannetworkforCEO’s,businessownersand

executives(www.C12Group.com).• CenterforFaithandWorkatLeTourneauUniversitylistsideasforhowchurchescan

impacttheworkplace(http://centerforfaithandwork.com/article/15-steps-churches-can-take-impact-workplace).

• CenterforFaithandWorkatRedeemerChurch,NewYorkCitysponsorstheGothamFellowship—anine-monthcohort-basedtrainingforintegrationoffaithandwork—

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andtheTheologyofWorkProjectwithresourcesforpastorsandsmallgroups(https://www.faithandwork.com,http://www.faithandwork.com/programs/1-gotham-fellowship).

• Convenehelpssuccessfulbusinessleaderstobuildtheirbusinesswhileintegratingtheirfaith(http://www.convenenow.com).

• FellowshipofCompaniesforChristInternational(https://www.fcci.org).• HalftimeInstitutefoundedbyBobBuford(http://halftimeinstitute.org).• LondonInstituteofContemporaryChristianityWorkForumhastrainingcourses,small

groupresources,bookrecommendations,andideasforchurches(http://www.licc.org.uk/work-forum/).

• MadetoFlourishhasresourcesandtrainingforanetworkofpastorsseekingtoconnectSundayfaithtoMondayworkfortheirchurches(https://www.madetoflourish.org).

• MaxDePreeCenterforLeadershipatFullerTheologicalSeminary(https://depree.org).• MocklerCenterforFaithandEthicsintheWorkplaceatGordon-ConwellTheological

Seminary(http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/The-Mockler-Center.cfm).• NehemiahProjecttrainsandsupportskingdomcompaniesin22countriesthrough

BiblicalEntrepreneurshiptraining,coachingandaccesstocapital(https://nehemiahproject.org/).

• PartnersWorldwidehasBusinessCurriculumforSmallandMediumEnterprisesusedin27countries(http://www.partnersworldwide.org).

• RepurposingBusinesshelpsleadersandcorporationstodiscoverandimplementpersonalandcorporatecallings,therebytransformingcommunitiesandnations(http://www.repurposing.biz).

• SfKMissionalBusinessAcademy—partofSfK(SynergyfortheKingdom)Ministries(www.sfkministries.org).

• WesternSeminaryCenterforLeadershipDevelopment(https://www.westernseminary.edu/ministry/center-for-leadership-development).

5.4Books

• Brouwer,DouglasJ.WhatAmISupposedToDowithMyLife?AskingtheRight

Questions.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2006.• Comer,JohnMark.GardenCity:Work,Rest,andtheArtofBeingHuman.Grand

Rapids:Zondervan,2015.• Cosden,DarrellT.TheHeavenlyGoodofEarthlyWork.Ada:BakerAcademic,2006.• Greene,Mark.ThankGodIt’sMonday.3rded.MiltonKeynes:ScriptureUnion,2011.• Keller,Timothy.EveryGoodEndeavor:ConnectingYourWorktoGod’sPlanforthe

World.NewYork:Penguin,2012.• Knapp,JohnC.HowtheChurchFailsBusinesspeople(AndWhatCanBeDoneaboutIt).

GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2011.• Mbanda,Laurent.FromBarefoottoBishop:ARwandanRefugee’sJourney.Cleveland:

ChangingLivesPress,2017.• Miller,DarrowLifeWork:ABiblicalTheologyforWhatYouDoEveryDay.Seattle:

YWAMPublishing,2012.

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• Miller,DavidW.GodatWork:TheHistoryandPromiseoftheFaithatWorkMovement.Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,2006.

• Nelson,Tom.WorkMatters:ConnectingSundayWorshiptoMondayWork.Wheaton:Crossway,2011.

• Pollard,C.William.TheTidesofLife:LearningToLeadandServeasYouNavigatetheCurrentsofLife.Wheaton:Crossway,2014.

• Pratt,Tom,Jr.,andChadBrand.SeekingtheCity:Wealth,Poverty,andPoliticalEconomyinChristianPerspective.GrandRapids:KregelAcademic,2013.

• Seebeck,DougandTimothyStoner.MyBusiness,MyMission:FightingGlobalPovertythroughPartnerships.GrandRapids:FaithAliveChristianResourcesandPartnersWorldwide,2009.

• Sherman,DougandWilliamHendricks.YourWorkMatterstoGod.ColoradoSprings:NavPress,1990.

• Stevens,R.Paul.DoingGod’sBusiness:MeaningandMotivationfortheMarketplace.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2006.

• _____.WorkMatters:LessonsfromScripture.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2012.• Stevens,R.PaulandAlvinUng.TakingYourSoultoWork:OvercomingtheNineDeadly

SinsoftheWorkplace.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2010.• Winter,BruceW.SeektheWelfareoftheCity:ChristiansasBenefactorsandCitizens

(First-CenturyChristiansintheGraeco-RomanWorld).GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1994.• Witherington,Ben,III.Work:AKingdomPerspectiveonLabor.GrandRapids:

Eerdmans,2011.• Wittmer,MichaelE.HeavenisaPlaceonEarth:WhyEverythingYouDoMattersto

God.GrandRapids:Zondervan,2009.• Wong,KenmanL.andScottB.Rae.BusinessfortheCommonGood.DownersGrove:

InterVarsity,2011.

5.5Websitesandblogs

• BusinessasMission(http://businessasmission.com).• Business4BlessingAlliance(https://b4blessing.com).• GospelCoalitionchannelonFaithandWork

(https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/channel/faith-and-work).• GregForsterblogonGospelCoalitionsiteon‘FaithandWork:WhatNeedstobeRead

andWhatNeedstobeWritten’(https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/faith-and-work-what-needs-to-be-read-and-what-needs-to-be-written).

• MatsTunehag’swebsiteoffersBAMmaterialin18languages(http://matstunehag.com/bam-material-in-18-languages/).

5.6Audioandvideomaterials

• MatsTunehag’swebsitehaslinksto14BAMvideos(http://matstunehag.com/videos/).

• PeterOchs,winnerofUSAnationalawardsasresidentialhomebuilder,tellinghisstoryasawealthcreator,illustratingthetransformativeimpactofavalues-basedcompany,

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fortheLausanneGlobalConsultationonWealthCreationforHolisticTransformation[Note:thisisalargefilewhichtakessometimetodownload](https://www.dropbox.com/s/zzszrp83rtq19df/IMG_4499.MOV?dl=0).

5.7Smallgroupcurriculum

• MakeMondaysMeaningful(freesix-weekcurriculum)(http://centerforfaithandwork.com/article/make-mondays-meaningful-free-curriculum).

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Appendix

ConsultationonWealthCreation(CWC):BackgroundandContextTheCWCwasnotjustanevent.TheConsultationheldinThailand,inMarch2017,wasapartofaconsultativeprocess,whichinturnispartofbroader,longer,andon-goingconversationsrelatedtoissueslikethechurch,business,poverty,wealthcreation,andmissions.Therefore,itisimportanttounderstandthebackgroundandcontextofeachCWCreport.Theyareimportantpiecesofabiggerpuzzle.Tounderstandthepicturethatisemerging,asweputthepiecestogether,oneneedstoseesomeoftheotherkeypieces.TheCWCisyetanotheroutcomeofthehistoriccommitmentsadoptedintheLausanneCovenantof1974.Here,whilecommittingthemselvestotheimportanceofevangelism,evangelicalsalsoexpressedrepentancefor‘havingsometimesregardedevangelismandsocialconcernasmutuallyexclusive’.Wealthcreationfortheeconomicbettermentofourworldisoneofthoseneglectedsocialconcerns;anditisthisthattheCWCaddresses.AllCWCparticipantswerepresentedwithalistofrequiredreading.ThesereadingsallrelatedtotheCWCassignmentofexploringtheRoleofWealthCreationinHolisticTransformationofPeopleandSocieties.TheCWCwaspartlyafollowupoftheLausanneGlobalConsultationonProsperityTheology,PovertyandtheGospelheldinApril2014.Thus,allneededtobefamiliarwiththeAtibaiaStatement:https://www.lausanne.org/content/statement/atibaia-statement(moreinformationbelow).TheLausanneGlobalConsultationonWealthCreationwasincollaborationwithBAMGlobal,andthussomeofitsworkandreportswereincludedintherequiredreading.‘WhyBotherwithBusinessasMission’,byMatsTunehaghttp://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Why-Bother-with-Business-as-Mission-v-18-April-2017.pdfTheexecutivesummariesofthreeBAMThinkTankReports

• BiblicalFoundationsforBusinessasMissionhttp://bamglobal.org/report-biblical/

• BusinessasMissionandtheendofPovertyhttp://bamglobal.org/report-bop/

• BusinessasMissioninHaitihttp://bamglobal.org/report-haiti/

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CWCislinkedwiththreeotherglobalconsultationsthatdealtwithsimilarissues,held2004,2009,and2014.TheLausanneBAMIssueGroupThefirstBAMGlobalThinkTankwasheldundertheauspicesofLausanne.TheBusinessasMissionIssueGroupworkedforayear,addressingissuesrelatingtoGod’spurposesforworkandbusiness,theroleofbusinesspeopleinchurchandmissions,theneedsoftheworldandthepotentialresponseofbusiness.ItsummarizeditsfindingsintheBAMManifesto(2004).Hereareafewexcerpts,toillustrateagrowingconsensusamongleadersthatwealthcreatorsarecalledbyGodtoserveinbusiness.

• WebelievethatGodhascreatedallmen&womeninHisimagewiththeabilitytobecreative,creatinggoodthingsforthemselvesandforothers—thisincludesbusiness.

• WebelieveinfollowinginthefootstepsofJesus,whoconstantlyandconsistentlymettheneedsofthepeopleheencountered,thusdemonstratingtheloveofGodandtheruleofHiskingdom.

• WebelievethattheHolySpiritempowersallmembersoftheBodyofChristtoserve,tomeettherealspiritualandphysicalneedsofothers,demonstratingthekingdomofGod.

• WebelievethatGodhascalledandequippedbusinesspeopletomakeaKingdomdifferenceinandthroughtheirbusinesses.

• WebelievethattheGospelhasthepowertotransformindividuals,communitiesandsocieties.Christiansinbusinessshouldthereforebeapartofthisholistictransformationthroughbusiness.

• WerecognisethefactthatpovertyandunemploymentareoftenrampantinareaswherethenameofJesusisrarelyheardandunderstood.

• Werecognisethatthereisaneedforjobcreationandformultiplicationofbusinessesallovertheworld,aimingatthequadruplebottomline:spiritual,economical,socialandenvironmentaltransformation.

• WerecognisethefactthatthechurchhasahugeandlargelyuntappedresourceintheChristianbusinesscommunitytomeetneedsoftheworld—inandthroughbusiness—andbringglorytoGodinthemarketplaceandbeyond.

• SeealsoBAMManifesto:http://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BAM-MANIFESTO-2.pdf

WheatonConsultationAglobalconsultationonBusinessasIntegralCallingwasheldinWheaton,IllinoisinOctober2009.Itbroughttogetherleadersfromtherealmsofbusiness,non-profitorganizations,andChristianministrywiththeologiansandacademicleadersinbusiness,economics,andmissions.ExcerptsfromtheDeclaration:

• Lamentations

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• WelamentthatthechurchandbusinessitselfhaveundervaluedbusinessasavehicleforlivingoutChrist’scalling,andhavereliedexcessivelyonnon-profitapproachesthathaveresultedindependence,waste,andanunnecessarylossofhumandignity.

• CelebrationofFaithandHope

• WecelebratethegrowingmovementofpeopleseekingtobeusedbyGodandtodeploybusinesseconomicactivityforGod’sKingdom.

• Businesscancreatevalue,providethedignityofwork,andtransformcommunitiesbyimprovinglivelihoods.

• BusinesscanbeanintegralcallingtoproclaimanddemonstratetheKingdomofGodbyhonoringGod,lovingpeople,andservingtheworld.

• BusinesscanalsoprovideapowerfulopportunityforthetransformationofindividualstoachievetheirfullpotentialforcreativityandproductivityandtoflourishandexperiencealifeofabundanceasenvisionedbytheKingdomofGod.

• BusinesscanbeusedtohelprestoreGod’screationfromitsdegradedstate.• Itisourdeepconvictionthatbusinessesthatfunctioninalignmentwiththecore

valuesoftheKingdomofGodareplayingandincreasinglyshouldplayanimportantroleinholistictransformationofindividuals,communitiesandsocieties.

• SeealsoWheatonDeclaration:http://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Wheaton-Declaration.pdf

AtibaiaConsultationWealthcreationanddistributionwerediscussedaspartoftheLausanneGlobalConsultationonProsperityTheology,PovertyandtheGospelheldinAtibaia,Brazilin2014.Theconsultationaffirmedthatsharingwealthisgoodandbiblical,butwealthdistributionistoooftenourmainresponsetomeetingpeoples’needs.Itidentifiedtheneedtoseekincreasinglytounderstandhowbusinessescanbringsolutionstoglobalissues,includingpovertyandhumantrafficking.Thenotionofsimplicityasauniversalvaluewasalsochallenged,andneededtobeaddressedfurther.TheAtibaiaStatementisquitelong,buthereareafewexcerptsrelatedtowealthcreation,businessandthepoor.

• Christiansarecallednotonlytogiveandsharegenerously,buttoworkforthealleviationofpoverty.Thisshouldincludeofferingalternative,ethicalways,forthecreationofwealthandthemaintenanceofsocially-responsiblebusinessesthatempowerthepoorandprovidematerialbenefit,andindividualandcommunaldignity.ThismustalwaysbedonewiththeunderstandingthatallwealthandallcreationbelongfirstandforemosttoGod.

• Weacknowledgethat,intheglobalmarketeconomy,oneofthemosteffectivetoolsfortheeliminationofpovertyiseconomicdevelopment,andyetevangelicalshaveoftenfailedtopromotevalue-drivenbusinesssolutionstopoverty.

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• Howcanwemoreeffectivelyworkfortheestablishmentofcreative,ethical,andsustainablebusinessendeavorsinthefightagainstpoverty?

• SeealsoAtibaiaStatement:https://www.lausanne.org/content/statement/atibaia-statement

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Endnotes1Editor’sNote:IntheManifesto,‘Church’(withuppercase)and‘church’(withlowercase)areusedintentionally,theformerdenotingtheglobalChurchandthelatterthelocalchurch.2Greekdiakonia,alsotranslated‘ministry’.3AllquotationsarefromtheNewInternationalVersion(1984)unlessstatedotherwise.4Acts6:2-4.5BasedonWesley’ssermononLuke16:9entitled‘TheUseofMoney’;seehttp://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/John-Wesley-Sermons/Sermon-50-The-Use-of-Money6NotethechallengeintheBAMManifesto,includedinLausanneOccasionalPaper#59(2004)entitledBusinessasMission:‘WecallupontheChurchworldwidetoidentify,affirm,prayfor,commissionandreleasebusinesspeopleandentrepreneurstoexercisetheirgiftsandcallingasbusinesspeopleintheworld—amongallpeoplesandtotheendsoftheearth.Wecalluponbusinesspeoplegloballytoreceivethisaffirmationandtoconsiderhowtheirgiftsandexperiencemightbeusedtohelpmeettheworld’smostpressingspiritualandphysicalneedsthroughBusinessasMission.’Seehttps://www.lausanne.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/LOP59_IG30.pdf.7Namesanddetailshavebeendisguisedtoprotecttheministries.82Cor3:6;Heb8:8-1391Pet2:5;Rev1:610Acts20:35111Thess4:11-12;2Thess3:6-1512StatementmadebyPastorKduringinterviewwithDavidBennettonJanuary10,2017.13QuotationprovidedinpersonalcorrespondencefromPastorKtoDavidBennettonApril11,2017,basedonvideotestimonyPastorTsenttoPastorKinJuly2016.14SeealsothepaperwrittenbyMatsTunehag,commissionedforthetenthanniversaryoftheIVS:http://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BAM-IBA-Movements-with-a-rich-history-and-a-bright-future-v-15-May.pdf.15FrompersonaltelephoneconversationwithJeffreyLeeonApril6,2017.16Seehttp://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/21/religion.mega.church.christian/.17WarrenBirdofLeadershipNetworkhaspostedalistingofthemegachurchesinvariousregionsoftheworldoutsideNorthAmerica(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YIKShcapvO6LatV5WG7P4XXczuoaw9EAfKv3IMJwXnQ/edit?hl=en_US#gid=0),whichincludes39churchesinAsia,22churchesinAfrica,16churchesinLatinAmericaandonechurchinOceania,allwithattendanceof15,000ormore.TheHartfordInstituteofReligionResearchhasawebsitelistingmegachurchesintheUnitedStateswithattendanceof1300ormore,including28withattendanceof15,000ormore.Seehttp://www.hartfordinstitute.org/megachurch/database.html.18‘Theydevotedthemselvestotheapostles’teachingandtothefellowship,tothebreakingofbreadandtoprayer.’19Acts18:1-3;Acts20:34-36;1Cor9:3-23(especiallyverses6,12,15).20Acts18:5;Phil4:10-19.21IncludingRome,Corinth,andEphesus;seeActs18:2,18-19;Rom16:3;1Cor16:19;2Tim4:19.22Acts16:14-15,40.23SeesummaryintheblogbyBridgetAdamsandManojRaithataontheBAMGlobalwebsite—http://businessasmission.com/building-kingdom-business/—excerptedfromthebookBuildingtheKingdomthroughBusinessbythesameauthors.24ExamplecitedbyRamGidoomal,ChairmanofTraidcraftandCottonConnect,andChairmanoftheBoardoftheLausanneMovement(2011–2017),inconversation11January2017,whodiscoveredsomeofthishistorywhenrunningformayorofLondonin2000and2004.25Seehttp://matstunehag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Hauge-.pdf.26Seehttp://kingdombusiness.community.

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