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