bcmatson

The personal weblog of Bradley C. Matson.

Monday, March 24, 2008   Kingdom-building business


From YWAM Connect Business as Mission Resource center @ www.businessasmission.com

Using business as a vehicle for missions and ministry is not new. The apostle Paul, for example, was a full time leather worker during much of his missionary career. A study of his letters reveals that working was more than a way to support himself; it was a central part of his missionary strategy. Preaching the gospel for free added credibility to his message and served as a model for his converts to follow (see 1Cor. 9:12-18). Similarly, centuries ago, Christian monks integrated work and ministry by tilling fields, clearing forests and building roads, while also tending to the sick, the orphaned and the imprisoned, protecting the poor, and teaching the children. As villages and towns sprang up around the monasteries, the communities were transformed as they incorporated many of these same social concerns. And even as recently as the nineteenth century, many early Protestants integrated business and other secular occupations into their mission strategies.

That tradition continues today in myriad Christian owned and operated companies around the globe. These “Great Commission Companies,” as they have been called, are income-producing businesses created to have a second (but primary) bottom line: to glorify God by promoting the growth of local churches in the least evangelized, least developed areas of the world.
Based on our five year study of for-profit companies with this missional purpose – and conversations with literally hundreds of kingdom professionals working within this context – we discovered not only some fascinating case studies (chronicled in our book), but also some best practices that characterize those who have successfully pursued this dual bottom line. We suggest six steps for those who wish to start a Great Commission Company of their own:

1. Evaluate the business opportunity
2. Evaluate the missions opportunity
3. Assemble a management team
4. Build an advisory network
5. Develop a business plan
6. Develop a Great Commission plan

1. Evaluate the Business Opportunity
The most promising business ideas are those that address a relatively unmet need. The more urgent the need or the problem, the more valuable the solution will be. For a business to be successful, however, it must have more than just a good idea. It must have some kind of competitive advantage or “barrier to entry” that makes it difficult for others to copy the idea and compete away the profits. Without an obvious way to differentiate your product or service and keep competitors at bay, a business may never get off the ground because the likelihood of recovering its initial startup costs is low. Therefore before pursuing a business opportunity it is important to ask at least the following questions: (1) How large is the market? (2) What makes the business unique? and (3) Is the idea financially viable? continue

Sunday, March 23, 2008   UN Quote


http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

Wednesday, March 19, 2008   Business as Mission Lausanne

The Lausanne Document:
" We believe we are experiencing a move of God among His people. As we
have engaged in business as mission over the last ten years, we have increasingly
experienced God at work in a new way, all over the world, both in the market
place and in the Church. This dynamic movement within the Body of Christ is based
on God’s love for the world and His call to His Church. It is a new wave of activity
that is closely linked with the work of the Holy Spirit throughout history. It is a
relevant strategy for the 21st century. God is raising up a new work force of men and
women from around the world. These men and women are on a mission for God’s
glory in and through business. Christian leaders in business, church, missions and
beyond have all concurred that God is at work and business as mission is
dynamically meeting the various needs of a world in desperate need of the whole
Gospel!"

Saturday, March 15, 2008   International Aide Water Filter

HydrAid & You: A Solution to the World's Water Crisis

International Aid’s seven-pound, HydrAid™ filter dramatically reduces the leading causes of death and disease in the developing world, removing 100% of parasites up to 90% of bacteria and viruses from contaminated drinking water.

The lightweight plastic HydrAid™ filter is designed to be easily transported in rough and remote terrain without risk of breaking. It is a non-electric device with no moving or replacement parts and can provide clean, safe water at the rapid rate of 47 liters per hour – meeting all of a family’s water needs, including drinking, bathing and washing clothes.

International Aid’s HydrAid™ filter incorporates proven BioSand technology currently in use in more than 200,000 concrete filtration systems in more than 70 countries worldwide.

The benefits of a HydrAid™ BioSand Water Filter:

International Aid’s initial goal is to produce and distribute 300,000 of these life-saving HydrAid™ filters worldwide, dramatically impacting the health and lives of countless individuals.

Get involved today. You can help us meet this goal!

HydrAid™ Filter Facts:
Filter Rate:
Up to 47 liters per hour (75 gallons per day)
Individuals Served:
8-10 people daily
Weight: 7lbs empty; 122lbs filled
Assembly Time:
30 minutes (one person)
Filter Prep Time: Surface biological layer forms naturally in about two weeks
Life Span: 10+ years


There are a number of ways you can help:

Purchase a filter through our site (donate today)

Get your church, school or business involved – sign up for the 1 Filter, 1 Family campaign

Spread the word – share the news of this worldwide health crisis with others


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