heading for Rwanda!

The last few weeks have been non-stop, as John and Jason have been preparing to leave for Rwanda and Hanisha and I doing our best to keep up! It's exciting to see how the Lord has opened the door for us to do entrepreneurship training there.

The first class is on August 23! Check out the new website for the Center in Rwanda: http://www.bdcrwanda.com/. What do you think?

Birthing an Ishmael

by Patrice Tsague

So Sarai said to Abram, "see now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her. And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai." Genesis 16:2


Patrice's last devotional was entitled "Hope Deferred" which many responded very well to. It seems many of us know what it feels like to have our hope deferred, but thank God for Jesus who is our hope. The hope He gives, the world cannot take away!

One of the consequences that occurs during the times when we feel as though our hope is deferred is that we commit adultery with the maid and birth Ishmaels. Ishmael represents the planned, but illegitimate, outcome of impatience.

In Genesis 12, God comes to a business man named Abraham and makes him a promise to take him to an unknown land, full of blessings, make him into a great nation, and bless many through him. Excited about the promise, Abraham obeys the Lord and leaves his country. He takes his wife, a young nephew, his servants and his possessions. Several years later, Abraham, who experienced enormous blessings from the Lord, realizes that should he die, one of his servants would have to take over the family business, since he did not have any children. He goes before the Lord and asks God to bless him with a child who would be heir of his enterprise. God not only promises him a child, but God also promises him a nation.

Unfortunately, God did not act fast enough for Abraham's wife Sarah who, due to a lack of patience, suggested that Abraham conceive a child with her maidservant Hagar, which Abraham did. The result was Ishmael; the planned illegitimate outcome of taking things into their own hands due to a lack of patience. How many of us have files in our offices full of Ishmaels? The problem with birthing Ishmaels is that you will have to live with them. You can make the choice but you cannot choose the consequences. One of my pastors used to say, "Choices are long lasting and life changing". Abraham and Sarah had to live with the consequences of Ishmael, which created family issues over inheritance, and favoritisms; issues that continue today in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel. If you are considering committing adultery with an alluring new idea that promises to take you to your hopes quickly and cause you to easily avoid the trials and tests that you are facing, stop and think about the long-term devastating effect of birthing Ishmael. It will not just affect you, but it will also affect those who will come after you for generations to come.

How do you avoid birthing an Ishmael?


1. Be willing to endure the suffering and humiliation of delayed hopes.


2. Count it all joy and rejoice in your challenges, knowing that this is the will of God concerning you.


3. Embrace the lessons that God wants to teach you during the times of waiting.


4. Do not allow others to lure you into new ideas, no matter how promising they may seem.


5. Count the cost.


6. Trust that God is faithful.


7. Keep your eyes on the prize - Jesus. He is your hope and will never defer His promises.

We relocated to Portland in December of 2009 and joined a local church that was not just committed to marketplace ministry, but demonstrated its commitment with the fact that services were held within a hotel that it owned and operated. The pastor/founder of the ministry, a great friend and author of a book called "Mission Based Entrepreneurship Revolution," had a vision to take this model across the nation and the world.

This past May, five months after we arrived in Oregon, a fire destroyed the sanctuary portion of the hotel where our church met for worship services. Within that same week, due to circumstances beyond the church's control, the hotel facility was sold to a non-Christian company. These circumstances caused many within the congregation to become perplexed. What happened to the dream we had and what would become of our vision?

What makes me proud to be a part of this congregation and the leadership team of this church is the heart of the people. My friend and Senior Pastor of the church boldly declared that we would not quit nor stop, neither would we birth an Ishmael during this difficult period. Instead, we would patiently seek the Lord, regroup, and more than ever, commit ourselves to building a model of a sustainable strategy that funds social justice and educates others around the nation and the world on how to do the same.

It is easy to quit when our hope is deferred. It is even easier to birth an Ishmael, because Ishmaels make us feel as though we have accomplished something. Ishmaels seem to temporarily remove humiliation and disappointment, but they always bring long-term devastating effects that are irreversible. Are you currently flirting with a project or idea that you know is not in line with God's original vision for you? Seek the Lord for the grace to say, "No Lord, not my will but Your will be done."

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Hope Deferred

by Patrice Tsague

Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when desires comes it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

The recent economic crisis of the last two years swept away the hopes of many individuals and kingdom business stewards. Some had plans to make a great impact in the kingdom; some believed God to retire from one career so they could be repurposed into another area of ministry; some planned to get out of debt, give more to the work of the kingdom, and expand their businesses or start new businesses. But the crisis depleted their savings, reduced their income and brought many to the point of bankruptcy. The Bible states that, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” The delay of hopes and dreams has caused many to lose their Godfidence and some have even quit.

Hope is an anticipation of a desired future. Hope keeps you going when nothing around you seems to work. Hope is the heartbeat of future dreams and goals. When you have no hope, no matter how realistic your goals or how rewarding the promise may be, you will not have the strength to continue to persevere. You will quit!

What causes our hopes to be deferred? Our hope is deferred when we put our hope in the wrong thing. Whenever our hope is bound by anything tangible, it is at risk of being deferred. We live in a sinful world and no matter how comprehensive our plans, how righteous our walk, or how worthy our goals, they may not always come together the way we envision them. Our hope must always be based on the unchanging nature and character of Jesus Christ.

In Luke chapter 24, Jesus had just been crucified and we find two of His disciples traveling to a village called Emmaus. As they travel, they begin to talk with sadness about what had just occurred in Jerusalem. As they talked, Jesus Himself draws near to them and asks them why they are so sad. They proceed to recap how their leader was condemned to death and crucified when their hope was that He would redeem Israel, but now that hope had been deferred. Jesus rebuked them for their faithlessness, reminded them of the Scriptures, and revealed Himself to them. They were hopeless because they had taken their eyes off Jesus, forgotten the scriptures and were solely focused on their short term loss and immediate desires. Whenever we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on our circumstances, our hope gets deferred.

If we do not properly manage our deferred hopes, we may allow our faith to be shipwrecked or we may begin to lean on our own understanding and “help God out” by creating our own path. That was the case with Abraham and Sarah as they were waiting for the child of promise. They became impatient and began to feel as though they were getting too old. So they made arrangements with their maid for her to carry a child for them. The result was Ishmael. That act has caused problems until this day.

How do you prevent your faith from shipwrecking or birthing an Ishmael when you faith is deferred?

Remember that deferred does not mean denied.


Make sure your hope is based on God’s will for you.


Distinguish between God’s will versus your personal dreams and desires.


Make sure your hope is anchored on your faith in Jesus Christ – Jesus must be your hope.


Know that God will work all things together for your good.


Keep in mind that your timing is not God’s timing.

Rejoice, for such is the will of God concerning you.

Like you, my wife and I have been on a long journey to realize a vision that we believe to be from God, but we did not realize would take this long. We constantly have had to renew our faith and keep our eyes on Jesus so we can persevere. What keeps us encouraged is the joy of seeing the many lives that have been transformed and the kingdom businesses that are creating jobs and resourcing the kingdom due to our obedience. There is also the joy of knowing that we are being used by the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. The struggles help to keep us on our knees, maintain a level of humility, and keep our eyes on Him.

Has your hope been deferred? Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, neither yield to the temptation of creating your own path, nor give up. Rather, endure the suffering that comes with the sense of loss and personal disappointment with joy, knowing that He who began a good work in you shall complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. He will work all things together for your good because you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

The Beloved Community

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. -Acts 4:32

How would you like to be a part of a community where in spite of external persecution, trials and tests, everyone is in one accord with complete integrity, trust and transparency? A community where out of the surplus of trade, the needs of the suffering and vulnerable are met so that essentially none suffers any lack of material provision? This type of community sounds unreal and even impossible to achieve - but not only is it real but very possible. This type of community did exist within the original Christian community; it was how the church began. It was a beloved community led by compassionate and just leadership. It was a community that adhered to the doctrines of scriptures. It was a community that grew in spite of persecution. It had a stable micro economy that self corrected when there was any internal economic issues because it had a clear mission and vision.

So what happened to that beloved community? How did we get so far from where we started? Unfortunately, today's Christians have a reputation for being the poor and needy in society. Even the word "Christian" doesn't equate with integrity anymore since Christian's cheat, lie and steal just like the rest of the world. Unity among us is a slogan, and prosperity is a catch phrase for church growth but has nothing to do with empowering individuals. Stewardship is a gimmick used to increase giving within a local assembly rather than a way to better care for all that God has entrusted us. Individuals give not with a pure heart but as a way to manipulate God into blessing them. As a result, the harsh reality we face is that Christians would rather not do business with other Christians because of perceived mediocre products and services. Also, Christian consumers conclude that being a Christian business means giving discounts and free services to all who call on the name of Jesus. This creates a spirit of entitlement that calls for everything Christian to be free or at a reduced cost.

If we, the disciples of Jesus, are to fulfill the mandate of the great commission, we must renew our commitment to restoring that beloved community. What is a beloved community? It is a redemptive network that unashamedly recognizes Jesus Christ as Lord; adheres to the bible as its governing principles and is committed to establishing the kingdom of God within a micro level that will be so powerful and be such a light that it will influence the macro economy towards a more righteous system of Government and commerce. It is a community that is in the world but not of it. It is a redemptive network that is self sufficient, sustainable, and profitable. A community that is uncompromising in its principles but compassionate in its approach, a community that is the envy of the world. How do we build this community?

There are seven key guiding principles and concepts that are essential to establishing a beloved community:

1. There is one Lord, one Savior, one King, Jesus Christ - Acts 2:36

2. The bible is the basis for all activities with clear rules of engagement  - Acts 2:42, Acts 5:1-11

3. Leadership is called and is held accountable - Acts 1:15-26

4. The Holy Spirit is active and alive - Acts 2:1-4

5. We are all stewards - Acts 4:32

6. Individuals and industries are profitable - Acts 4:34-37

7. We have compassion for the needy and the lost - Acts 3

Are you a part of a beloved community? Let us each commit to joining with others to build these communities throughout the world, beginning with our homes and our churches. Imagine a network of beloved communities throughout the world that is lighting up the world and restoring flavor in a rotten world to ensure that God's redemptive purpose for the world is accomplished.

Through Biblical Entrepreneurship we are committed not just to build kingdom businesses, but to create a community of kingdom business stewards who provide God-honoring services and products in a God-honoring way and are contributing to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This is our contribution towards the building of the beloved community. We can build kingdom businesses - but unless they become a part of a community whose purpose is to fulfill the mandate of Christ, we have failed in our mission. Join us as we attempt to build that which is impossible without Christ - let us build the beloved community as we wait for Jesus to come. Come soon, Lord Jesus, come.

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

The Good Fight

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I Timothy 6:12

Temptation can be great in volatile economic times for individuals and businesses to be distracted from their primary mission or to give up on their assignments altogether. When the forecasts look bleak and there are indicators such as rising unemployment, foreclosures, decreased revenues and net loses - the burning question in many business people's minds is, "Why continue?" Yet it is in times like these that Kingdom businessmen and women must remember that they started their businesses to meet a marketplace need, create a profit and fulfill the Great Commission in the marketplace.

Do you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" or "Is there a higher purpose than just making money?" If the focus of your business has become simply to make money, or if your business model is purely transactional, your business could falter. My question to you is this, "Are you involved in the good fight?"

Life is a fight and no matter what you are doing you are fighting - either for something or against something. You have to make sure that you are fighting for the right reasons and against the right enemy. The good fight is a battle against the works of darkness for the soul and destiny of humanity. In the marketplace, this battle is waged through the venue of commerce. Your business must deliver (with passion!) a product or service that meets clear needs in people's lives, or you will not survive tough economic times.

Great battles are won or lost not based on the might of an army, but based on the magnitude of the mission and the selflessness of the army's purpose. If an army goes to war just for the spoils of victory and the satisfaction of destroying an enemy, the soldiers will not remain inspired during the difficult times of the war. If, however, their mission is significant and their cause is greater then themselves, then no matter how difficult the war, they are prepared to die for what they are fighting for and that which gives them a great advantage.

This is a time to reflect on the reasons you entered into business in the first place. Review your purpose and mission and ensure that it is for a cause bigger than yourself, then realign your activities with your purpose and mission.

Those who are engaged in the good fight cannot lose. The fight was already won at Calvary by our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ. The battle is not ours. It is the Lord's. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

What are you fighting for?

Make sure you are fighting the good fight, then you will have the stamina to make wise business decisions in tough times that will produce profitable physical and eternal dividends.

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Entrepreneurship for Artists

Artist Scholarships to Ei Forum
http://www.faithandwork.org/artsei

This April, the Arts Ministry of Redeemer Church, NYC, is highlighting entrepreneurship for artists in collaboration with Redeemer's Entrepreneurship Initiative (Ei), which culminates with the annual Ei Forum, April 16-17. The Arts Ministry is offering several full scholarships to the Ei Forum for artists who are serious about being entrepreneurial about their careers.

Whether pursuing free-lance careers or starting business ventures that support their creative work, all artists are entrepreneurs. The Ei Forum welcomes artists, and in fact has speakers and a special breakout session for artists and arts ventures.

Catch a vision for how gospel-centered entrepreneurial thinking might impact your kingdom creative work by attending the Ei Forum!

To apply for a scholarship, answer the following questions (2-5 sentences for each section, with as much detail as necessary) and email to Luann Jennings, luann@redeemer.com, by April 9. Recipients of scholarships will be notified by April 13. Priority will be given to those who have not been given financial support in the past to attend the Ei Forum. Applicants need not be Redeemer attenders.

What kind of creative work do you do and how is your career going?


What is your training and professional background?


How do are you approaching your work entrepreneurially?


What innovative methods are you using or ideas are you pursuing in your arts career or business?


How can attending the Ei Forum help you implement those methods or ideas?


How does your faith in Christ impact how you are thinking about and pursuing your creative work?

Also please include the following (briefly):

Name, email address, telephone, mailing address
Church affiliation Involvement in church (small group attendance, service, etc.)

Questions? Contact Luann Jennings, luann@redeemer.com or (212) 808-4460 x1343.

Abide in Christ

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

In an earlier devotional we discussed how to be fruitful in the midst of the storm; we stated that being fruitful for a kingdom business means productivity that results in an acceptable net profit margin while manifesting the fruit of the spirit. We also stated that in order to achieve that fruitfulness the first thing that we must do is abide in Christ.

I realize that this is not taught in business school, and it is difficult for some to understand how abiding in Christ can lead to productivity that results in an acceptable net profit margin. Why are unbelievers able to achieve those margins without Christ? A personal relationship with Christ is not necessary to achieve financial gains, but a personal relationship with Christ IS necessary to cultivate and maintain the fruit of the spirit. Those who do not believe in Christ are able to achieve financial gains through proper diligence, good stewardship and sometimes a little cheating. Though this enables them to realize financial gain, they have money without its full benefits. That is a net loss in God's economy.

A relationship with Christ provides the entrepreneur wisdom from above that enables him to create wealth without suffering the side effects that wealth brings. They also have an assurance of eternity and the expectation of the great heavenly rewards given to those who are used by the King to advance His kingdom in the earth. You truly cannot do business God's way if you are not abiding in Jesus. To abide in Christ means to submit your heart and mind to God's word and God's will so that His rule may govern your life in everything you do. To abide in Christ is to wait and rest in Him, to completely turn over your agenda to Jesus, so that He may have complete control over your life and business affairs. How do you abide in Him?

1. Know His Word and will for your life - study the scriptures to know His Word and will for your life; and no matter what circumstances you go through, stand on that Word, confess that word, and do not move from that word.

2. Trust His Word and will for your life - things happen and there are times when cash is tight, expenses are growing, and it is uncertain how you will make it through. In these times, we are tempted to go another way, develop alternatives that may not be in line with what we know to be God's will for us. This is a lack of trust in His Word and will for your life. Stay the course, make adjustments if necessary, but make sure they are in line with His word and will. Trusting the Word is to believe and act based on the Word.

3. Wait on Him - the toughest thing for us as entrepreneurs is to be patient, especially when things are difficult. Patience is needed when things are difficult - not when things are easy. You will be pressured - but do not yield to measures born of impatience because you think it will get you there faster. Simply wait. Completely surrender to God's will, refuse to achieve success or accomplish your objectives at 'whatever the cost' but rather depend solely on God for everything. Do not force your way through, but pray your way through.

4. Rest in Him - completely cast your cares upon Him. Enjoy yourself on the lap of your Father. Become like that little child that is totally comfortable in the hands of her daddy because she is completely assured that her daddy will protect her no matter what - even if it means putting his own life in danger.

Abiding in Christ is not easy. Temptations, trials and tests come in midst of our business journey to cause us to leave that place of submission and rest. You may feel there is no other alternative - but this is the devil's trick to move you into harm's way and make you unprofitable. He does not want you to experience the benefits of Abiding in Christ. These benefits include:


1. Manifesting the fruit of the spirit


2. Provision


3. Peace that passes all understanding


4. Blessings without sorrow

Are you abiding in Him? Remember no matter how great your motives or noble the business, if you do not abide in Him severe consequences will ensue. If you are not abiding in Him, not only will you be robbed of the benefits, but all of your financial gains and all your accomplishments will be empty and meaningless. No matter how much money you make or what you accomplish, you will be cast into the fire and burned because you are a fruitless branch. Know His will and Word for your life - TRUST His will and Word for your life, wait on Him, rest in Him. Be patient - Abide in Him.

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Update: The Center for Entrepreneurship Success, Ternopil Ukraine

Our recent trip to Ukraine (March 17-22) went extremely well!! Upon arrival in Kiev, we had the awesome privilege of meeting with Steve Weber the Regional Director of CBN Outreach, responsible for CBN Western Europe. As a result of our meeting, Mr. Weber agreed to host a BE I class in his Kiev studio on June 7th and 8th, which will be taped and offered online through their online video portal throughout Eastern Europe Ukraine. Following this meeting, we traveled to Ternopil to conduct a BE III class (Planning a Kingdom Business) with 52 registered students - our largest BE III class in the history of this program. Students will continue to meet weekly to work on their business plans - the types of businesses include: Accounting, Bakery, Car Repair, Cosmetics, Christian Cafe, Construction, Dental Office, Educational Web Portal, Photo Services, Real Estate, Pizzeria, and WebDesign.

We will return to the Ukraine in June for the Business Plan Competition and to teach BE I at the Embassy of God, Pastor Sunday Adelaja. My trip concluded in Kiev at the Embassy of God where I preached on the topic of "Unity." Here are some pictures from our trip!

--Patrice Tsague, NPIM; RCE Partner