We are powerful beyond measure

Quote from Nelson Mandala’s Inaugural Speech, 1994

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

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Business as Mission Overview

Business as Mission is one of many strategies in existence that mixes general business activities with evangelism and ministry efforts aimed at unreached people groups. Though similar in nature to strategies like tent-making, micro-enterprise, micro-development, and workplace ministry, there are important distinctions between each in terms of intentions, methods, means, and outcomes. Mixing of terminology and differing opinions about core elements can lead to confusion which ultimately distracts from progress toward developing and reaching your BAM objectives.

Business as Mission takes many forms, but shares some common features. Some of the common characteristics of Business as Mission efforts are:

• The business activities lay the foundation for ministry impact through:
  • development of relationships;
  • modeling of the power of relationship with Christ (presenting a compelling alternative within a society);
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What is Business as Mission?

Awhile ago I threw my hat in the “define Business as Mission” ring and wrote the following definition:

The strategic use of authentic business activities to create cross-cultural opportunities to minister and evangelize within the business’s spheres of influence with the aim of holistic transformation.

To me, the value in a definition is primarily that it points to the key ways in which Business as Mission is fleshed out in practice. I want to be careful (more…)...