BAM! An introduction to Business as Mission

Business as Mission (often referred to as BAM) companies are for-profit commercial enterprises that seek to do economic, social, and spiritual good in a community. BAM companies often operate cross-culturally, strategically placed to reach people in countries that are closed to the gospel.

“BAM is not solely oriented toward evangelism or discipleship; it is holistic – reaching the whole needs of the whole of humanity everywhere.”[1] The 2004 Lausanne Working Group 30 on Business as Mission was composed of sixty-eight BAM activists from twenty-eight countries. In the paper that was written, the result of a week of discussion, they say that BAM originates from the theological premise that Christians are called to love and serve God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, as well as to love and serve their neighbours.[2] “Business as Mission is based on the principle of holistic mission. BAM’s ultimate bottom line is ad majorem Dei gloriam – ‘for the greater glory of God.’”[3]

Business as Mission started when Christians saw that missionaries were getting evicted from closed countries, but business people were welcomed into those nations. Christian business people started to establish real, for-profit businesses in those countries, adding value to the society while building trust and credibility to share the gospel.[4]

"BAM is broadly defined as a for-profit commercial business venture Christ led, intentionally devoted to being used as an instrument of God’s mission (missio Dei) to the world, and is operated in a cross-cultural environment, either domestic or international."[5] While the growing corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement emphasizes a “triple bottom-line” impact of financial, social, and environmental outcomes, BAM affirms all this but includes a 4^th bottom line. This bottom line is a spiritual outcome, intentionally honouring Christ and seeing Him transform lives through business. “BAM is CSR+… where the + can be seen as a cross – putting everything under the Lordship of Christ.”[6]


Do you know any Business as Mission ventures?

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[1] Johnson, Neal, Business as Mission. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 22.

[2] Matt 22:34-40; Luke 10:27

[3] Adapted from “Business as Mission,” Lausanne Occasional Paper No.59, Sep29-Oct5, 2004, in The Lausanne Movement, <http://www.businessasmission.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/
Lausanne_Occasional_Paper_on_Business_as_Mission.pdf >.

[4] Johnson, Neal, 32.

[5] Ibid., 28.
[6] Tunehag, Mats. “The Mission of Business: CSR+.” Connections – The Journal of the WEA Mission Commission. Aug 2009 Vol 8. No 2. Web. 15 Sept 2011. <www.WEAConnections.com>

What if God wrote a mission statement for Business?

What if God wrote a mission statement for Business? That's the question that Jeff Van Duzer, dean of Seattle Pacific University (a Christian university started in 1891 by the Free Methodists), asks in his book Why Business Matters to God (And What Still Needs to be Fixed). The answer to his question is reflected in the "Business as Service" model. 

Businesses exist not to maximize profits, but to serve people. Traditional businesses serve customers and employees as a means to the ultimate ends of maximizing profits. The Business as Service company sees generating profits as a means to its ends, which is to serve its customers and its employees.

Jeff writes, “I would conclude that at this time in history, there are two legitimate, first-order, intrinsic purpose of business: as stewards of God’s creation, business leaders should manage their businesses (1) to provide the community with goods and services that will enable it to flourish, and (2) to provide opportunities for meaningful work that will allow employees to express their God-given creativity.” [1]

Besides pursuing the twin goals of serving customers and employees, the Business as Service companies should seek to do so within the limits of sustainability. The decisions should be limited to the need to operate in ways that “do no harm” to any of the business’s stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, the environment, and the community.[2]

The Business as Service model originates from the Creation Mandate given to Adam and Eve by God in Genesis 1 and 2. Jeff Van Duzer breaks down the Creation Mandate into several parts.[3]

1)   Human beings are called to steward God’s creation.

2)   Human beings are made in the image of God and thus created to be in relationship with God and with other people.

3)   Human beings are made in the image of God and thus created to work like God did. “Adam and Eve were called to creatively organize (name the animals) and manage these resources (take dominion), to enhance the productivity of the Garden (be fruitful and multiply) in a sustainable (guard creation) manner.”[4]

4)   Humans are made to live within limits. Though made in the image of God, men and women are inherently limited and created to live within boundaries.

5)   God delights in variety and created humans to complement one another, as Eve was created different from Adam, yet complementary.

6)   “God intended that men and would take the raw materials that had been provided and, in partnership with God, help to grow and construct the kingdom here on earth.”[5] Humans are called to co-create with God, to cause the Earth to flourish and be fruitful.

7)   Human beings are called to be fruitful and multiply, to enjoy sexual-relations and produce offspring.

Businesses should see themselves as not the only institution to attempt to fulfill God’s mandates given in Genesis 1 and 2, but a part of many institutions each playing a unique, yet complementary role. Van Duzer writes that certain institutions are better suited for certain tasks within the Cultural Mandate. For example, the family is a better institution for the bearing and raising of children (be fruitful and multiply). The church and neighbourhood might be the best settings to nurture community. The government may be in a better position to assume primary responsibility for guarding creation.[6]

As businesses pursue its purposes of enabling creative work (innovation) and producing community-flourishing products (productivity) in a sustainable manner, it should be mindful of the fact that it was designed to work in partnership with all other institutions in order that they might collectively advance God’s kingdom on earth. Whenever possible, business managers should operate their businesses that respect other institutional agendas and wherever possible, look for opportunities for collaboration to advance the common good.[7]

What do you think about the Business as Service model? Agree or disagree?

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[1] Van Duzer, Jeff, Why Business Matters to God. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 42.  [2] Ibid., 28.  [3] Ibid., 27-38.  [4] Ibid., 33.  [5] Ibid., 38.  [6] Ibid., 40-41.  [7] Ibid., 168

The Entrepreneurial Initiative in New York

This week I have been researching organizations around the world that offer discipleship to Christians in business. This has been an exciting process as I discover the work of many faithful people in educating and encouraging business people. I'm going to share about a few very interesting initiatives. Today I will write about the Entrepreneurial Initiative.

The Center for Faith & Work (CFW) was launched in January 2003 by Redeemer Church to mobilize Christians to make a difference for Christ in the marketplace. In April 2005, CFW launched the Entrepreneurship Initiative (Ei), which gathers investors and entrepreneurs interested in helping to start hundreds of gospel-centered organizations (arts, for-profit and non-profit ventures) in and around New York City that would bring the hope of the gospel to all sectors of society. The Ei includes four main aspects: the Ei Network, an Entrepreneurs Fellowship, an annual Forum, and a Business Plan Competition.

The Ei Network is a network of people with skills and experience to mentor, partner, and consult with entrepreneurs. This network is made up of entrepreneurs and experienced business professionals with expertise such as strategy development, business development, finance, marketing & advertising, technology, and law.

The Entrepreneurs Fellowship is a monthly gathering that connects new and experienced entrepreneurs to inspire and support each other. It seeks to help entrepreneurs develop a Christian worldview that guides the products, services, and values of their organizations, and address the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur committed to using their venture to transform their city.

The Ei Forum is an annual gathering of investors and entrepreneurs committed to building a movement of innovative, gospel-centered, culture-renewing institutions and ventures. It draws people from churches around the country.

The annual Business Plan Competition, started in 2007, hopes to identify the most promising entrepreneurs and ventures with a high potential for gospel-centered social impact, growth, and sustainability, and provide them with some of the visibility, connections, and resources for them to succeed. The Business Plan Competition seeks to 1) Encourage the development of gospel-centered businesses, social/public services and art ventures, 2) Deepen a Christian theology of entrepreneurship, and 3) Develop a movement of like-minded entrepreneurs and collaborative supporting networks.

Participants in the competition participate in workshops where staff and marketplace leaders work with them to improve their venture idea and their understanding of gospel entrepreneurship. They build relationships with other entrants, entrepreneurs, prospective coaches and advisors in the broader Christian community. The finalists have the opportunity to “pitch” their venture to a panel of judges and an audience of prospective supporters and investors. The winners are announced at the annual Ei Forum and are eligible for “incubation” with CFW staff and volunteers, year-long coaching relationships, free consulting sessions, financial planning advice, and a financial grant or investment of $5,000 to $25,000. The entire process lasts 8 months. In 2010-2011, there were 48 business plans submitted for the Business Plan Competition and 4 winners chosen.

The advantage of the Ei and CFW being connected to Redeemer Church is that the church can provide a solid Biblical foundation for the role of entrepreneurs in cultural renewal and God-glorifying approaches to leadership, serving customers, and benefiting society. Redeemer Church also provides a wide network amongst its 5,000 members in New York and its international reach to be involved in the Ei. For more information about CFW’s Entrepreneurial Initiative, see their video (http://vimeo.com/3765126) or visit www.faithandwork.org.


Would you like to see something like the Entrepreneurial Initiative start up in your city? If so, why?

My Ideal Workplace

Over the course of my 8 year career, I have sometimes thought about quitting my job in search for a better one (this usually happens when I'm super stressed or super bored). I found myself thinking about finding new work this past summer and asked myself, "What would be my ideal workplace to work in?"

A few weeks ago I had lunch with two of my engineer friends, and I asked them the same question. One friend was a realist, and it took some encouraging and prodding to get him to think about the possibility of an ideal workplace (which he thought to be unrealistic and an impossibility), but he finally gave in and started dreaming with us.

One of them talked about people being the most important part of a workplace. He wanted to work with people he respected and were friends with, which would add social value to his life. He continued by talking about opportunities to travel, to be involved in a variety of work, to learn, and to interact with all stakeholders. He would love to do work that directly improved the life of other people, work that helped others grow and learn. The other engineer talked about having interest in the work, and being able to provide for himself and his future family.

For myself, my ideal workplace would include 5 things.
1) I am able to do excellent work. I want to use my strengths in my work, to offer my skills and abilities to the organization that employs me. I want to do work that I am passionate about, which will motivate me to do my job better. I want to work with a team of people where my strengths complement them, and their strengths complement me. I want to work at my absolute best.

2) My work has a greater impact on the world. I want my work to make a meaningful and significant impact. I want to believe in the mission of my company, and know that it is making a difference in making the world a better place. I want to know that my company genuinely cares for its customers, suppliers, the environment, and the community it is a part of, and makes efforts in serving them.

3) My work provides for my family. It is important that my work provides me with enough to support my family. I don't need to be rich, but I also don't want to be stressed to make ends meet. This includes my income, but also my health plan, wellness or family days to allow me to take care of my family when they are sick, and vacation time that allows me to spend quality time creating memories with my family. I also hope my workplace will be an extended community for my family, where my wife and children can engage with my colleagues and benefit from that interaction. For example, if I had a daughter that was interested in learning about design work, that she could work with the marketing team of my company for a summer and learn things that I could not teach her.

4) There are meaningful relationships in my workplace. I want to build quality friendships in my workplace, people that I respect and trust. People that I can have fun with. I want my workplace to be a community that is supportive, a team that works well together. I want my company to have positive relationships with its customers and suppliers.

5) My work gives me opportunity to grow personally. I want my workplace to be a place I can grow in maturity. That it would be a community helps me discover my strengths and passions and gives me opportunities to develop them. I want to work with people that can mentor and coach me to grow, and I want the chance to mentor and coach others as well. My ideal workplace would provide me opportunities to take classes and education. And I want to be given work that is challenging and stretches me, leading to growth.

Am I asking for too much? Maybe. But no matter where I am working, I want to be a part of the solution, and help change the culture of the organization so that it becomes closer and closer to everyone's ideal workplace. Not only would it make the employees happier and more satisfied, but I believe that there would be greater staff engagement and improved work effectiveness and efficiency.

What would your ideal workplace look like?

Business must be profitable, fun, and further God's kingdom

Patrick is the president of Canaan Group (www.canaangroup.ca), a logistics company that his father started in 1981. When I asked Patrick how he honours God in his business, he replied with three points: 1) The business must be profitable, 2) The business must help to further God's kingdom, and 3) The business must be fun for everyone involved.

Speaking about profit, Patrick says, "I disagree that a business exists to maximize profit. God doesn't care about profits, He cares about stewardship. But you need profits to make the business work. God is interested more in the process of how business is done."

In terms of furthering God's kingdom, Canaan Group has been developing a partnership with Global Aid Network (www.globalaid.net) in providing warehousing and logistics support in transporting aid to places like Paraguay, North Korea, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

It was refreshing to hear that one of Patrick's goals for his business is for his staff to have fun while doing work. This reminds me of a book I read called Joy at Work by Dennis Bakke. Bakke argues that an organization's success should be based on the workplace being fun and fulfilling for its workers. In his book, he tells the story of AES Corporation, which he co-founded in 1981 and helped to grow to become an international energy company with 40,000 employees in 31 countries and revenues of $8.6 billion.

Bakke stressed the value of fun in his book. People experience fun in the workplace when they have "opportunity to make important decision, undertake actions important to the success of the organization, and assume responsibility for the results" (Bakke, Dennis W., Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job (Toronto: Viking Canada, 2005), 83). The important decisions normally made by leaders were pushed down and given to individuals and teams at the lowest practical level. Bakke wanted the maximum amount of people to use their talents to make decisions,  which would lead to more people having fun at work. The only restriction given was that the decision maker must seek advice from leaders and peers before making the decision.

How important is it for your work to be fun?

Business as Ministry

Tyron is the owner of a fitness company and sees his business' #1 priority to advance the kingdom of God. Paul (not real name) owns an accounting practice and his motto for his business is "Ministry first. Business second." Tyron and Paul represent many Christians that see their business as their ministry, a way to serve God's kingdom.

I arrived a few minutes early and watched as Tyron finished his lunch time boot camp. He was all smiles as he encouraged the participants. "I genuinely care for my clients. I show honest, legitimate concern and care for them as people and try to build a good relationship with them. And I'm definitely concerned for their salvation, so I am active in reaching out to them." For Tyron that means that he values his relationships with his clients over the money. If his clients are unhappy with his business, he takes initiative to make things right, even if it costs the business money.

Tyron prays for his clients regularly and takes time to connect with them. "The kingdom of God is about seeking and saving the lost. That means either I do it personally or I help others to do it," explained Tyron. That is why he is committed to excellence. He believes the better he is at his job, the better his business will be. The better business is, the more profits he makes and the more he can give to kingdom work.

A few days later I am in Paul's office talking to him about God and his business. When the business was first started 28 years ago, Paul dedicated it to the Lord. "It's the smartest thing I ever did," said the experienced accountant with a smile. For him, success was measured not by dollars and cents, but by achieving God's purposes. Ministry was always first, accounting second. For Paul that meant that he would encourage those who were Christians, and plant spiritual seeds in those that did not know Christ. His day-to-day work included over 450 tax returns/year but also hospital visitations, prayer for clients (with their permission), and providing pro bono work for Christian charities and non-profits.

"What about profits?" I asked. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt 6:33)," replied Paul. "This has been proven in our practise. We don't advertise and only take referrals, and God has always given us enough business."

Paul then told me a bit of his story. When he was younger, he worked very long hours. Then he and his wife had their first child, a girl. She was born 5 weeks premature but ended up being healthy. Having a child changed Paul's perspective on life - he viewed his daughter as a gift from God and wanted to spend more time with his family. So he prayed to God for less business. Even though this was over 20 years ago, Paul still spoke with amazement at what happened next. "God doesn't just hear our words, He looks at the heart. God introduced us to computer programs that made us more efficient. At the end of the day, we did more work and made more money with less time."

How can your work be a place for doing ministry?

Canadian Office Supplies: Helping Others

It was a hot, sunny Friday afternoon when I interviewed Jennivine Doo, partner and sales manager for Canadian Office Supplies (www.canadianofficesupplies.com). Her and her husband, Toma, started the company in 1989. Toma used to work for MDA (McDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) as an engineer. One morning at 5am, after working through the night, Toma looked up to see Mr. Dettwiler (the D in MDA) also working. That day, Toma decided that he didn't like where he was heading in his career. If he was working to be a partner in the business, and the partners work that hard and that long, then he didn't want to continue down that path. So Toma quit and started his own company.

Right from the start, Jennivine and Toma decided that God would be the owner of the company. And that they would run the business the same way God would run the business. To them that meant to do business with the utmost integrity, there would be prayers are all the meetings, and that they would give 40% of their net profits away to God-honouring charities. They believed God would not run a business to maximize profits, but would run a business that served people.

The mission of Canadian Office Supplies is "to provide customer service that is not just the best, but legendary". And they didn't just aim to serve customers, but their suppliers and their staff. The couple believed that it was their responsibility to motivate, equip, and train their staff to pursue excellence in their work. This meant daily training sessions, but also caring for their staff by doing things to help them, like helping them quit smoking.

"In good economic times it works well, but in hard times there are difficult decisions to be made." Jennivine tells of an instance of discovering an employee who was overcharging a customer, and another time when her top salesperson started his own business and took 30% of the customers with him. "What is kindness and mercy and what is the right thing to do?", she asks.

Sometimes, trying to help others does not end up well. In these situations, our motivation is tested. Do we help others because it is the most successful thing to do? Or do we help others because it is the right thing to do?

Jennivine shares her desire to connect with other Christian business owners. The challenges she faces at work are very different from the majority of people in her church. She is part of a women presidents group that allows her to interact with others going through similar business challenges, but most of them do not come from a Christian perspective so it is different.

Who do you turn to when you face challenges in your business and work?

Are we Colleagues first, Friends second?

My family went paddle-boarding in Deep Cove this weekend. My brother brought someone from work which he jokingly introduced as "my colleague, not friend". His slightly offended colleague (who had given my brother a ride that day) replied, "Dan, who's driving you home again?"

Do you have colleagues that are also friends? Are they colleagues first, friends second? Or friends first, colleagues second? If you have worked in business long enough, you'll know that many relationships are ruined over business. Friendships can be destroyed and even families ripped apart. It can get dangerous. That's why many people say "never do business with friends".

When I spoke to Gordon (not his real name), he stressed the importance of a "friends first, colleagues second" mentality in his start-up company. Gordon started a tech business with two friends last year. Before they started, the three friends wrote out a covenant with each other - an agreement for how they would treat each other while doing business together. To them, honouring God in their business meant honouring one another.

With their permission, I'm able to share with you some of the main points in their covenant.
1. Respect each other, regardless if you disagree with them.
2. Our friendship is above the venture itself.
3. Act transparently and take ownership.
4. Forgive each other.
5. Honesty and integrity in every aspect of the business.
6. Understand and appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses.
7. Daily decisions are based on God's Word.
8. Tithe 10% of the company's net income.
9. Meet scheduled goals or targets.
10. Review and recommit this covenant annually (add but not remove).

So far, it's worked for them. They are still worked well together, and the business is growing. But in the back of my mind I wonder how practical it is to put friendship above the business. What happens when their company expands? Do they value all relationships within the company over the business, or just the business partners? What happens when there is an unsolvable disagreement? Will the partners sacrifice the business to save the friendship? Tough questions.

Do you value your work friendships over the business, or the business over your work friendships?

Serving Employees First

Ron and Margareth Carrothers were entrepreneurs and driven by profit. Then they discovered the relevance of faith in Jesus Christ both in their personal and professional lives, and that impacted how they operated their business. I am privileged to work with Ron and Margareth (pictured in the photo on the right in Medellin, Columbia) at LeaderImpact Group. We were in Mississauga last week and I interviewed them during the lunch break of our staff training days.

The couple, now married for over 35 years, operated two chains of hair and skin care salons in Ontario for 25 years. When they sold their business in 2000, they had over 120 employees. The first 10 years of running their business, they were driven to make profits. After becoming Christians, their focus changed. Their driving force became serving their staff. Their decisions were based on their people rather than profits.

"Our staff became our highest priority. What impacted our people became our driving force. If our staff were happy, our customers would be happy, and the profits would come. We saw our staff as our #1 customer, and our customers as our #2 customer. We believe staff treat the customers as well as the owners treat the staff."

Ron and Margareth's business philosophy made a difference. When they purchased the business, their staff turnover was 100% per year. When they left, it was down to 15% (The industry average was 30+%). Margareth glowed as she talked about how they still have good relationships with past employees. Their past staff say that working for the Carrothers was the best job they've ever had. If given an opportunity, they would work again for Ron and Margareth in a heartbeat. And it's been 12 years since the business was sold.

Today, Ron and Margareth continue to work together to serve God. They are LeaderImpact Group's International Directors and lead the efforts of the ministry to reach marketplace leaders for Christ in places like Panama, Mexico, and Columbia. Their years in business not only allowed them to serve God through serving their staff, it has also prepared them for their current task.

Ron and Margareth Carrothers, entrepreneurs at heart with 25 years of business experience operated two chains of hair and skin care salons in South Western Ontario before selling their company in 2000. They attended their first LeaderImpact Group International Project in 2007 and one year later agreed to join staff, this time by leading the efforts of LIG international with the focus of “Reaching Marketplace Leaders” for Christ. The Carrothers share a love and passion for God, life and adventure. When not traveling with LIG they split their time between cottage country in southern Ontario and snowboard country in Fernie, British Columbia. To read more about their work, visit http://international.leaderimpactgroup.com.