If you were trying to convince "old-style" missions people of the value of business as missions, what would you say? I think I would start at the point where “old-style" missions people believe they are the strongest—going to the Word of God. I would first establish common ground that we are “on the same team”—that God loves people and that His word must be preached to the ends of the earth. I would then refer to missions history and show the various “vehicles” that missionaries have used, noting that support-based missions has been a relatively recent structure, but that business in missions far precedes it, going back to the time of the Apostle Paul. Finally, I would refer to the recent trend and explain to them in a logical manner why business as missions is a viable option and show them an exciting way they could get involved. The “logical” reason would include the following that Eldred stated so well on pages 49 to 52 of his book, "On Kingdom Business": 1. Kingdom business is a model for fully self-sustainable missions. 2. Kingdom business brings much-needed expertise, technology and capital. 3. Kingdom business creates jobs. 4. Kingdom business builds the local economy and blesses the nation. 5. Kingdom business provides access to many locations. 6. Kingdom business presents the gospel by word. 7. Kingdom business presents the gospel by deed. 8. Kingdom business enables the local funding of the church. 9. Kingdom business can be a valuable partner for other missions efforts. 10. Kingdom business taps into an underutilized yet highly capable resource in the church. I think it would be prudent to resist the urge to criticize the “traditional” missions method for three reasons: 1. Because many people have known only this method and it is a “sacred cow” to them (excuse the mixed metaphor). 2. Because it is a method God used for centuries for His glory 3. Because it may be the only viable method for some people, given their talents, or given the situation into which they are called to minister. Finally, I would prepare myself to answer objections to business as mission, especially those relating to profit and wealth (Eldred, pp.67, 68).
financial performance? This has to be done by looking at the overall picture and strategy of the company. Is profit the goal or the by-product of a greater vision? And, is there an acceptable level of profit that can be ascertained so that other goals can be reached? In my company, we have settled for making a lot less money so that our employees are free to minister outside of the business in their free hours. We did this because we realized that working in another culture takes a huge toll on the emotions and that employees who spend 45 hours/week away from home have little to give after work. This was a result of our philosophy that ministry did happen on the job, and the job itself is ministry, but the ministry work that is generated as a result of the job requires tremendous amounts of follow-up. In other words, when an employee interacts with a client in the course of the business day, a relationship is formed, and issues arise that can only be dealt with by spending considerable time with that client after regular business hours. Therefore, we reduced the average workweek to 35 hours for the sake of other ministry, but this also reduced our profits. What does Kingdom Business mean? How does Kingdom Business differ from "Business as Mission"?
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Solutions, Resources And Opportunities For Your Kingdom Business
... business as no ordinary mission
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