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November 2006 / Vol. 1, Issue 6

BUSINESS AS MISSIONEngaging Marketplace Potential for Global Impact

An Interview with Doug HunterDirector of Business Partners International, Perimeter Church

Interchange Posting s:Everyone is suddenly talking aboutbusiness as mission. How do you define what BAM is allabout?

Doug Hunter: There are a lot of different approaches, butMats Tunehag, Lausanne Senior Associate for BAM, hasdeveloped a helpful definition: Business as mission is aboutreal, viable, sustainable and profitable businesses with akingdom of God purpose, perspective and impact leading totransformation of people and societies spiritually,economically and socially to the greater glory of God.

BAM is not just the creation of businesses but embracing abiblical perspective on businessand on work in general.Evangelism in the marketplace,discipleship of people whowork, and starting new

businesses and buildingexisting ones with intentionalkingdom impact are all includedin the concept.

IP: So it is business asmission not business asmissions?

Hunter: Business as missiongoes far beyond business asmissions with an s. EveryChristian in the marketplace should be doing business asmission. Every professional, every person who is employed

needs to recognize that God has kingdom purposes for thework He gives us and the opportunities that result. Yet BAMdoes provide a tremendous platform in the cross-culturalcontext because it offers credibility, access, economicbenefits, and relational opportunities, especially whereministry is restricted or where upper levels of society havebeen difficult to penetrate.

IP: Can you illustrate for us how BAM serves missions?

Hunter: Let me share four situations to introduce some of thevaried components in the global context.

First, BAM emphasizes a bibl ical perspective of business.In most of the world, the prevailing view of business isskewedoften totally focused on making money at theexpense of other values, or so riddled with corruption that

businesspeople are not welcome in churches, or viewedthrough a compartmentalized lens so that business isdismissed as without value for the kingdom.

But God can use BAM to transform a city. Leaders in a keychurch in the Arab world began to realize that BAM could bean effective outreach tool, so they challenged their business-people to become intentional about using their companies toimpact their city. As a result, a number of entrepreneurs

developed and implementedkingdom impact plans and theircredibility grew.

For example, one company

determined to change theirperspective from seeing theiremployees as just commodities toappreciating them as people.They developed programs suchas family support groups, Englishclasses, etc. Suddenly theiremployee turnover rate droppedto almost zero and jobapplications skyrocketed.

Leaders of another businessadmitted they were caught up in the culturally acceptable habiof dodging tax payments. They met with the tax department

and arranged for appropriate assessment. You can imaginewhat an impact that made on those running the governmenttax office! In this case, God honored their obedience and theiincome level increased to cover the additional taxes.

Second, BAM is an excit ing evangel ist ic tool. Perimeterspartner church in Guatemala wanted to reach the influencersof their society where there had been little Christian impact.We helped one of their pastors develop an understanding ofthe issues faced by those in the business and governmentarenas. As he overcame his initial intimidation, God used him

BAMBAM provides a tremendous

platform in the cross-culturalcontext because it offers

credibility, access, economicbenefits, and relational

opportunities

BAM

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to launch a new church attractive to non-believingbusinesspeople. Perimeter annually sent four teams to offera business training program. Now four years later, thatchurch has 1,400 people, including some key leaders.

Third is marketplace discip leship. Perimeter Church hascome alongside a large partner church in Mumbai, India, tohelp them add a component to their cell-group trainingmaterials emphasizing that work matters to God. Theresources give these Christians the tools to be intentional inusing opportunities He provides them in the marketplace. Ifind this to be the toughest aspect ofBAM because the concepts must betranslated into the local business andcultural setting. It has to be a jointeffortwe Americans bring a toolbox ofaids, but the national church has tofigure out how to help people live theirlives holistically within their own culture.

The last aspect Ill touch on is businessbui ld ing and star t up. If you can helpthose with established businessplatforms to be more intentional andexcellent in doing business, youincrease their credibility and theirresources to accomplish kingdom goals.

We do a lot of mentoring. For instance, in Poland we camealongside the managers of a pharmaceutical company andhelped them with sales approaches, distribution processes,and efficiency. As business practices improved, the owneralso became more intentional about using his relationship to

suppliers, customers, and employees and their families forministry purposes.

In India, we helped launch about 30 micro-businessesandstayed beside them through the process of training,developing a plan, finding funding, etc. Integrated throughoutwas the concept that God calls companies into existence forthe purpose of making a difference for the kingdom of God.

IP: How does BAM integrate with other types of missionsefforts?

Hunter: A significant number of missionaries have come outof a business background. BAM is a way to take advantage of

that expertise. Business is a great tool to provide people withcredibility and practical connections into the culture.Businesspeople are welcome in many countries wheresomeone with the moniker of missionary is forbidden. Wehave found that American business expertise is a valuablecommodity anywhere in the world, and we can draw a crowdwherever we go. The key is to know what to do with thatcrowd once theyve gathered!

IP: Does a tentmaker fit under the BAM umbrella?

Hunter: It depends. We discourage using business as just ameans of getting a visa. If you enter a country pretending tobe something you arent, people quickly become suspiciousand you can do more damage than good. But missionarieswho pursue two vocationssay church planting and

engineeringcan demonstrate that both can have greatimpact for the kingdom if approached with a missionalmindset.

IP: How do mission agencies decide if BAM is for them?

Hunter: Give yourself a BAM Exambefore launching into business-focusedministry. How does ministry in themarketplace fit into your calling? Are yourleaders entrepreneurial? There may becertain fields where BAM fits and otherplaces it doesnt. Dont push it if it isnt inyour DNA. On the other hand, dont

overlook BAM just because it is new oruntried. Yes, BAM is messy, but it hastremendous potential!

One of the interesting aspects of BAM isthat it can benefit every level of society.For instance, conferences on bestbusiness practices can build bridges toCEOs in the often insulated upper class,

while micro-business development can help the poorest of thepoor. And it contributes to every aspect of church plantingcontact development, evangelism, discipleship, leadershiptraining and financing, and societal transformation from thehighest boardrooms to the most poverty stricken ghettos.

IP: If an agency discovers it has BAM genes, how should itgo about involving churches?

Hunter: Challenge potential partnersand that includeschurches in the sending country but also potential partners incountries where you are workingto give themselves a BAMExam and assess their business strength. Help them identifytypes of business acumen and passion. Many times God callspeople into missions from other life situations, and often theseare corporate.

Businesspeople/Professionals enjoy the marketplace or their

practice and are good at what they do. Yet God may betugging at their heart to make a difference in the world. Wehave the privilege of showing Christians how to blend thesepassions. There is amazing response from businesspeoplewhen you tell them that business and business tools can havea role in missions.

IP: Can short-termers use BAM as an effective platform?

Hunter: Absolutely. Perimeter Church has sent business-people on many different types of BAM ministry trips.

BAMChallenge potential

partners to give

themselves a BAMExamand assess

their businessstrength.

BAM

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Sometimes they do church leader traininghelping pastorsand other leaders to understand the impact theircongregations can have in the marketplace and how to goabout it. In some situations we have helped them developdiscipleship tools for applying biblical principles to their

workplace.

We have also held BAM conferences for lay Christians invarious parts of the world. In other locations, we have helpedto develop indigenous teams of businesspeople who want toinitiate city-wide or regional marketplace efforts.

Our professionals and businesspeople offer seminars in bestbusiness practices using tools available from several BAMministries. In most cases, these workshops benefit bothbelievers and non-believers, and often serve as an outreachevent. Not only are principles shared, but relationships aredeveloped and our business-people share their faith. Afterthey return home, many of our short-termers continue to

mentor and encourage their peers overseas via email andphone calls.

Other trips are geared to provide micro-finance training. Orwe help sponsor a CEO conference or initiate affinity groupsbuild around a particular profession. The options are almostendless once the church and/or agency have caught thevision. And you will find that businesspeople are creative inunpacking opportunities.

IP: Are there dangers?

Hunter: Of course. You can assume that some people willwant to partner simply to get money or opportunities. We

have to be as careful as possible but then realize that therewill be those who say and do the right things to get the loan,and then disappear. As long as we have done our best tosteward the process well, we just move on.

We also have to let God define BAM success. Even if thebusiness is not ultimately successful, the higher goals mayhave been reached.

IP: There is a flood of books about BAM. Where is a goodplace to begin?

Hunter: I recommend reading God Is at Workby Eldred,Great Commission Companiesby Rundle and Steffen, or

On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions throughEntrepreneurial Strategiesby Yamamori and Eldred. Thewebsite of the International Coalition of Workplace Ministries,www.icwm.net, lists BAM activities around the globe andorganizations in the BAM ministry arena.

As the CEO of a successful elevatorcompany, Doug Hunter endured lots ofupsand downs jokes before joining the staff ofPerimeter Church in suburban Atlanta, GA.He directs their BAM ministry, BusinessPartners International.

What are your thoughts about business as mission,particularly in the global context? Do you have first-handexperience you would like to share with others? Would youlike to pose some questions for Doug? The Catalyst websiteincludes an Interchange Posting sForum for your reactionsatwww.catalystservices.org/forum/. We look forward to astimulating interchange of ideas there!

BAM will be featured in another upcoming issue ofPostings.

If you have a case study or experience to share, please notifyEllen Livingood atellen@catalystservices.org.

To subscribe to future issues ofInterchange Posting s, go towww.catalystservices.org/resources/index.shtml. Past issuesare also available from this webpage.

2006 Catalyst Service, Inc.

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