Business as Mission.
This is a concept and a principle that we in Business as Mission (BAM) Philippines would like you to consider. If you are reading this blog, chances are you run your own company and are a follower of Jesus Christ.
Your visiting of our website might also suggest that you are on a spiritual journey. You have been serving the Lord in many ways, but it does not seem enough for you. You still want to do more for Him beyond Sunday activities. But this time, the Lord impressed upon your heart to do it with and through your company. But now the big question is, how?. These thoughts and questions—and if we may say, perhaps even an aching desire in your heart—have brought you to this moment.
Now we gently ask you, fellow Christian Business Owner, to consider:
Your Business is Your Mission. Think of your ministry or mission work, then think of your business, and now both combined.
Too often, we tend to separate our work and our faith. From our acts of evangelism to our dealings with our employees. From our company’s operations to our spiritual walk with Christ. In fact, business as mission is a principle that is deeply rooted in Scripture. It is also integral to the spread of the Gospel throughout our communities to the world.
Business as mission: no sacred-secular divide
One important lesson we have learned in our own journey is that there is no more sacred-secular divide. Again too often, and sometimes unintentionally, we tend to divide our activities between what we believe should be Christian or spiritual, and what is secular and belongs to the ‘world.’ We may unknowingly categorize the church, our efforts in evangelism, and our Bible studies as ‘sacred.’ On the other hand, we might regard our work, our place in our respective industries, and our companies as ‘secular.’
That sacred-secular mindset has prevented us from completely fulfilling the Great Commission right where we are: our companies and our industries. That mindset can pull us back from sharing the Gospel with the people who need it the most: our neighbors at work, our suppliers, our clients, and our employees. It can even lull us into going along with business practices that are not acceptable to God, just because it is the norm within our line of work.
In short, the sacred-secular divide can stop us from becoming true witnesses in the marketplace. More tragically, it can distract us from recognizing that our business is our mission. Business as mission is vital to the expansion of the Great Commission here on earth.
Let us remember that all of us Christians are called to be fishers of men — and yes, that includes us business owners. Before He ascended to His Father in heaven, Jesus said to His apostles, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NASB).
Matthew 14-16 (NASB) also exhorts us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
These passages remind us to be powerful witnesses of Christ’s love and life right where we are: the marketplace. For us, Christian Business Owners, our mission field starts with our companies.
Business as mission: building communities
This is the Biblical message that we in BAM Philippines are emphasizing to our brothers and sisters, our fellow Christian Business Owners, right here in this country .In our recent Face-to-Face fellowships with them—first in Davao, then in Cebu—we all realized that many of us do want to become God’s light in our world, but we are still finding our way. We are eager to know the first steps to implement His righteousness in our business dealings and employee operations. We discussed some of the challenges we faced together: some of us are challenged to confront the murkier business practices we routinely encounter with God’s powerful truth.
Business as Mission Philippines seeks to build a community of fellow Christian Business Owners who will embody and live out Biblical principles of righteousness in the marketplace. Our foundation comes from our recognition that God is the owner of our businesses, and that we are but His stewards. Stewardship means obeying Him in all things, when it comes to running and managing our companies. It means employing principles of righteousness in the way we do business. It means boldly sharing His word to partners, colleagues, and employees even in the toughest moments.
Business as Mission means surrendering our companies to God as Christian Business Owners. That is the beginning of how we can begin to serve Him even more effectively, and powerfully.
Business as Mission: Asia conference
That is what Business as Mission Philippines stands for. Many of us have embarked on our own spiritual journey, recognizing the lordship of Jesus, a long time ago. Some of us are just beginning. But all of us, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can learn from one another.
To this end, we invite you to attend Business as Mission Philippines’ First Asia Conference on October 20-21 at The Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. This Conference re-affirms the Biblical declarations that God creates and owns everything including our business. With such conviction, how then should we view business? First and foremost, how do we reflect being followers of Christ in the marketplace? Then, how do we pivot and align our business to our Father’s business of saving the lost and discipling the nations?
Join us to discover, embrace, and live out the Biblical truths in and through our God-given business together. Click here to know more.