Business Plan Competition, Ukraine: Report from Ivan Papish, Director of RCE-Ukraine

Dear friends:

As you all know during the year 2008 we had 3 seminars of Biblical Entrepreneurship (Principles of BE, Practices of BE and Planning Biblical Based Business). After the end of the third seminar we asked people to write there own business plans; it could be eitherer for a new business or for the growth of an existing business. At the end of the year of work, our Center had a celebration and invited all of the people that worked with the Center in one way or another, whether through La Red training, Biblical Entrepreneurship training, or the business symposium last year. At the celebration we gave certificates to everyone who finished all 3 seminars.

We had 51 participants in each of the 3 Biblical Entrepreneurship courses this year (and two of the students came to Christ in BE 2). Thirty-one individuals made it all the way through the third level of BE (Business Plan Development), and we had 14 BE Students present Business Plans at the competition last week. The next day we held the business plan competition.

Friends from America came to be with us and served as judges for the competition. We also had judges from the local Ukrainian business community: Tkachuk Grigory (Director of Car Dealership), Dutka Igor (a successful businessmen in several businesses), and Cherniy Evgenia (restaurant business); and Kucher Galina participated as a representative from Operation Blessing, Kiyv. From the US were Jason Benedict (RCE Strategist), Tim Judy (IMB Kingdom Business Missionary), and Mark Boyce (Kingdom Business Investor), and Tom Stansbury (RCE Entrepreneur-In-Residence). They were able to see some of the business of the BE Students.

The Business Plan competition was held in the office of the Center

People were presenting their business plans from 9 am to 6 pm. Judges had opportunity to see business plans and give their feedback and advice (all of the business plans were translated into English). We had 14 business plans, such as: a print shop, celebration planning (2 people), a kindergarten for children with intellectual and physical developmental challenges, concrete fencing, plastic window development, a fitness club, curtain rod production, Ukrainian traditional shorts, building cottages, furniture production, a tourist company, and English training (study in America).

Seven participants received the highest scores form the judges! All of those seven received souvenirs from Regent University

Top Business Plans:

Atamanyuk Dmitriy and Yulia # 1 (concrete fence production--pictured at right)
Karpik Oleg # 2 (Celebration planning)
Mamus Yuriy # 3 (Furniture production)
Kharkovsky Volodumer # 4 (Fitness club)
Tsibulsky Olexander # 5 (Cottage building)

Drevnitsky Oleg # 6 (curtain rod production)
Gumenyuk Mukola # 7 (Plastic windows)

We would like to thank all of who prayed for us and supported us. We pray that God will provide for all of your needs and bless you many times more.

Sincerely,

Ivan Papish
Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship “Success”, Ternopol, Ukraine

Business Plan Competition, RCE Ukraine: from Tom Stansbury

Greetings my friends,

For the past 10 days, I have been back in Ukraine on a mission. As you know, this past year the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship - Dr. John Mulford and I - have forged the development of a business development center with my good friend, Ivan Papish – whom I met 12 years ago while here with YWAM. Jason Benedict and I arrived on Monday, December the 8th. You have probably realized how passionate I am about Kingdom Business. I believe with all my heart that the primary reason we are in business is to change lives.

~~ ~~ ~~

I first came to Ukraine back in 1996 - over 200 people made decisions to follow Christ with their lives but I realized that while many had come to know the Lord in a personal relationship – their lives were in dire need of help in generating incomes to support their families and creating businesses that could provide employment in this region of Ternopil.

Today, this is summarized in discussing the difference between the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is not enough to only encourage those God brings into our lives to come to Him – to be saved. I believe we are called to go beyond and serve in a more holistic way – to be salt and light in the marketplace and to replicate our entrepreneurial spirit in the lives of those we have made deposits into – teaching them how to fish, so to speak, so they can provide for their families and the families who will eventually work for the companies and businesses they will launch.

~~ ~~ ~~

This past week, this dream of ours at RCE to see Kingdom Business transforming lives and nations took one more step to fulfillment. On Thursday and Friday, December 11th and 12th, RCE held its first Business Plan Competition in Ternopil, Ukraine!

RCE and its 'Founders' have invested over $30K this year to bring Biblical Entrepreneurship – 3 entire courses that teach believers in a developing nation how to launch a Kingdom business – to Ukraine. The final component of the year program is a Business Plan Competition which we held in the 'Center for Entrepreneurial Success' which John Mulford and I helped my good friend Ivan Papish launch last year here in Ukraine.

The Christian Center for Entrepreneurial Success has served over 300 emerging business leaders here in the Ternopil region of western Ukraine. CBN Kiev helped produce a short video on what the Center has accomplished (which will be up on RCE's website shortly). We had 51 Ukrainians participate in each of the 3 Biblical Entrepreneurship courses this year (2 leaders came to Christ in BE 2). While 31 made it all the way through BE 3 (Business Plan Development) – we had 14 BE Students present B-Plans at the competition last week. Several have already launched their own small businesses (SME's) and many are in process. We had the pleasure of having Galina from Operation Blessing in Kiev serve as one of the judges in the competition – OB is looking to provide initial start-up funds for Ukrainians to launch their own small businesses.

We had 3 local Ukrainian businesspeople serve as judges in addition to Galina, along with Jason Benedict (RCE Strategist), Tim Judy (IMB Kingdom Business Missionary), and Mark Boyce (Kingdom Business Investor), and myself.

This Center in Ternopil has impacted so many lives and we have won the respect of the local community – a feat in and of itself because it takes a lot to earn trust in this society where Communism ruled for over 70 years.

~~ ~~ ~~

The first evening I arrived in Ukraine, I had the opportunity to visit a dear friend in Kiev that I had gotten to know this past summer while working with one of the largest banks here in Ukraine on a consulting project--I'll call him Victor.

Victor and I became friends while launching a national company here in Kiev with Tony & April Creed. He is a leader in the business community and has worked as the CFO of several national companies here in Ukraine – currently developing his own investment capital firm ARPA Investments. We spent many hours together last summer – even a few 'all-nighters' while preparing for several Board Meetings to present our business plan to the shareholders of Eurostandard. During that time, I was able to share my faith with Victor and we talked at length about the Kingdom of God and how Christ came to the Earth.

I am excited to say that Victor dedicated his life to Jesus Christ a week ago Monday, my first night back in Kiev! The seeds that were sown through this Kingdom business opportunity brought my good friend to Christ! He contemplated this decision for months and I know his seed of faith has been deposited on fertile soil.

~~ ~~ ~~

I wanted to share the news with all of you, and ask you to be praying for me. I return to the states Dec 22nd.

Hoping this holiday season brings you much joy and peace - even in the midst of trying times. Remember that our hope is in Him, not in the things of the world.

In Him,
Tom Stansbury

We Won!

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" Luke 24:17

To win means to obtain the advantage over the opposition. Another definition is to successfully achieve set goals and objectives. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was sent to earth by His Father, His assignment was to give up His life in exchange for the salvation of all those who would believe in Him. He came to establish a family of believers called the body of Christ who would continue to carry out His message.

To accomplish His mission, He recruited 12 disciples. He trained and equipped them to carry out His message throughout the earth after His return to His father. Although one of the disciples betrayed Him, which was a part of the plan, Jesus accomplished His objectives. After His death and resurrection, He found His disciples perplexed, sad, and confused because it was the third day, and they had not seen Him. They concluded that the goal He set forth was not accomplished. He did not rise as He said He would. The disciples must have thought, "Everything He taught us was not true. What are we to do now?"

As they were having their pity party, Jesus Himself drew near them and began to listen in. "Why are you so sad?" He asked. "Why are you talking so negatively?" They responded by reciting to Him what happened; how the Christ was supposed to rise after His death, but it had not happened. He responded by rebuking them and reminding them of the scriptures and then revealing Himself to them as the risen Christ. Here He was! Jesus' disciples had been walking around defeated, sad, talking negatively in unbelief, and thinking they had lost, when they had actually won!

Many of us may currently have the same attitude. Because of what we are seeing, hearing, and experiencing in the current economic crisis, we conclude our fight is lost. But I have news for you: We have won!

Yes, winning is an attitude, and the person who has a winning attitude will be the ultimate winner. Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." The Psalmist said in Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." No matter what you are going through right now, you must maintain the attitude of a winner. Remember, a high price was paid for your victory.

Maintaining a winning attitude is not easy, given the fact that although we are called in scripture to live by faith, many of us are continuously led by sight. We allow what we see, feel, and experience to influence our state of being, thus determining the outcome of our objectives. In order to maintain a winning attitude, you must practice the following mental disciplines:

1. Focus on your relationship with the Lord: The most precious and valued asset you have is your relationship with the Lord; do not allow anything to interfere with that.
2. Keep a consistent mental diet of the Word of God through personal study and hearing the word: Our attitude is shaped by the information we receive. Put the word of God in you through your personal devotions and listen to Bible-based teachings, because faith comes by hearing.
3. Maintain a steady prayer life: Pray without ceasing. Constant communication with your Father is essential to achieving a Kingdom assignment.
4. Keep your eyes on the prize: Your ultimate reward is not here but in eternity.
5. Stay on mission: Your mission is the unique calling that God has placed on your life. Your personal mission rarely changes although the strategies for achieving your mission certainly can change. Do not confuse your mission with your strategy.
6. Change strategies when necessary: Be flexible and adjust your plans based on new information and circumstances. When things are not working, seek the Lord for a new direction; one where you can experience His grace and blessing. Do not stay stubbornly committed to a strategy that may have been a good idea at one time, but the Lord is not blessing it now. This is not giving up; it is merely being flexible. Giving up is allowing life's challenges and circumstances to cause you to abandon the pursuit of God's plan for your life. Never give up on your mission.
7. Walk by faith and not by sight: Do not allow external circumstances to influence your feelings and emotions. Be directed by your internal belief and the Word of God.

These seven things will keep you on the winning side every time. Remember, in spite of how you feel and what you are going through, we have won. All you have to do now is execute. As you execute, stay away from losers and surround yourself with other winners. A loser is someone who allows circumstances to determine his outcome. A loser maintains a negative and defeated attitude that is contagious. A winner is someone who has an attitude of success. The winner knows that no matter what, he has the advantage-because he has already won!

Copyright © 2008 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

We're Moving!

The Center for Entrepreneurship, along with the School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship, is moving down the road to the "MetroPlex". Everything in the office has been boxed up and moved to our new location, and I just had a few things to clean out of my desk today.

Interesting what you find when you're cleaning up--and how much can be thrown away! I need to do this more often, that's for sure. I'm sure there's a spiritual lesson in this, but at the end of the afternoon, at the end of a long week, all I can say is, I'm glad to be starting out fresh next week!

Hope you're enjoying the holiday season. Next week, from the MetroPlex!

The Good Fight

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

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

In these volatile economic times, some individuals and businesses can be tempted to be distracted from their primary missions or to give up on their assignments altogether. They ask themselves, "Why continue when the forecast looks so bleak and the indicators such as rising unemployment, negative growth, foreclosures, decreased sale revenues, and much more are not very encouraging?" It is in these times that Kingdom businessmen and women need to remember that they started their businesses to meet market needs for profit while fulfilling the Great Commission in the marketplace.

If the focus of your business has become simply to make money, or if your business model is purely transactional, your business could falter during these tight financial times. Your business must promise the delivery of a product or service that meets clear needs in people's lives with a passion, or you will not survive these tough economic times. You may ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" or "Is there a higher purpose than just making money?" My question to you is, "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.

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 treasures of victory and the joy 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 than themselves, then no matter how difficult the war, they are prepared to die for what they are fighting for and that 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 dividends-physical and eternal.

In Everything Give Thanks

Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you"I Thessalonians 5:18

I do not know about you, but as the year draws to a close and I reflect on God's goodness - all He has done on my behalf, who He is, all that He means to me, and where He has brought me from - I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for life, His grace and mercy that kept me throughout the year and in spite of all that is going on in the world - economic crises, terrorist threats, sickness and even talks of global warming- He has protected me from premature death.

Moreover, I am thankful for my wife and children, the body of Christ, friends and finally, the fact that Jesus is Lord. We are always to be thankful to our Lord no matter what our circumstances, because He gave us the greatest gift, the gift of salvation; a gift that never wears out. We ought to be thankful every day, every hour, and every minute because without that gift we could not experience abundant life on earth and would be condemned to eternal punishment. Moreover, we ought to be thankful for our clients and employees; without whom we would not be in business; our family and friends, for the joy and support they bring into our lives; and angels; those we have no relationship with but God uses to be a special blessing to us.

What are you thankful for? You may be as thankful as I am, or you may not feel as thankful because of the way your business is going, the way this year has been for you, or the issues that you are currently facing. Remember the scriptures instruct us to be thankful in all things for such is the will of God concerning us. Thankfulness is a condition of the heart, which manifests itself in appreciation towards someone. We are usually thankful when someone does something kind to us but once that moment passes we forget his or her kindness. The reason we forget is because our thoughts of gratitude are conditional and our emotions fluctuate based on our circumstances. We recently received a generous contribution from one of our board members. This gift created a level of gratitude in my heart towards God for using them; as a result, I was moved to demonstrate my gratefulness in words and in deeds. The question is, how long will this feeling of gratitude last? In my pursuit to maintain a heart of gratitude my prayer is that the Holy Spirit continually brings them to my remembrance.

Many people have a hard time being thankful in times of need because they do not realize that in those times they should be most thankful. What need do you have? What circumstances are you facing in your business that you need God's supernatural intervention in? Just begin to thank Him for who He is, what He has done, His promises, and what He will do. As you thank Him, have total confidence that He knows your need, and at the appropriate time, He will bring it to pass if you do not give up.

Update from RCE - KENYA

-by Jeremiah Koshal

(Jeremiah is the former Research Fellow for RCE. He and his wife Ruth returned to Kenya in July 2008 after many years of study and work in the US. Jeremiah operates two kingdom businesses and Ruth is a Regional Director for World Vision Africa.)

Though we’ve been back in Kenya for almost four months now, we’re still in the adjusting mode. It is funny to talk of adjusting in your own country, but that’s a fact we cannot pretend to ignore.

When we arrived at the beginning of July, I was upbeat about implementing all the ideas and projects that I thought would help my community and country. First of all, I already had two kingdom businesses that were on-going with two different partners (Alpha International Consultancy and Go Africa Safaris). I was ambitious about starting a fertilizer import project with AgConcepts (a US-base company) that can help reduce the shortage of fertilizer in this country as well as make the fertilizer more affordable to small farmers. I was also to start the process of building an Ecotourism Community Lodge that will help create employment for hundreds of unemployed young people, and generate income for holistic programs (health care, education, environmental conservation, business development, etc.) in the community.

Further, I was planning to start a Regent MBA cluster as well as start teaching Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE), a biblically based business training for people who want to operate their businesses according to Godly principles. I have gone through the Regent MBA program myself and I’m also a certified BE instructor.

I had the enthusiasm, the passion and the drive to do all these things, but I soon realized that I was setting myself for failure, as there was no way I could undertake all of the above projects while trying to readjust to being here at the same time.

Speaking of adjusting, we’ve had to learn a lot since returning, even in our own country. For instance, ninety-percent of the people don’t keep time, and they are not apologetic about it. There are other issues such as scrambling for just about any service, people not being straightforward because they expect kickbacks, etc. But needless to say, there are also myriad great things here; connecting with family and friends is one of those, plus the feeling that God has us here to try and fix what we think is not working well. So we are honored to be back home, but at the same time we are also challenged to roll up our sleeves and do what we can.

I’m focusing on Go Africa Safaris right now, but I’m also strategizing on all the other projects that I’ve mentioned. With God’s help and with your prayers and support, all these projects and many more will come into fruition.

The Two Trees

by Jason Benedict ⋅ originally published in Momentum Magazine on October 23, 2008 ⋅

In my book Eden Inc. I make the case that the Eden narrative sets the precedent for a global enterprise mandate. That the mandate in Gen 1:26 is to extend the rule (or Kingdom) of God to the ends of the earth. I believe the means for the completion of this mandate is enterprise. Within this construct, the Garden of Eden is not some primordial jungle but rather a functioning agricultural enterprise that was given to Adam and Eve to accomplish a global mission.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26-28 NIV: emphasis mine)

Genesis is a rich book when it comes to developing a theology of enterprise. We find the mandate, means, mission construct mentioned above, but we also see the introduction of satanic influence into God’s system, the resulting fall, and the introduction of a diabolical alternative to God’s intention for enterprise.

As we have discussed, God’s original intention for enterprise (insert “business” if you like) was for it to be an engine for His global purposes. God was in a very real sense the ultimate entrepreneur, and he brings man in as a partner (a regent) in his operation. This partnership was a covenant relationship that involved Adam having a daily consultation with God. God would consult with man who would then implement God’s purposes in the Earth. Out of this relationship of love, trust, reliance, and obedience blessing flowed into Eden and was supposed to flow into the entire Earth. This relationship was shattered by the introduction of sin and a new order or world system. These two competing systems are paralleled in the two trees of the garden.

The Tree of Life is analogous of covenant relationship with God (more on this later), and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Tree of Knowledge for brevity sake) is about the attempted misappropriation of divine prerogatives. The eating of its fruit represents the inauguration of the kingdom of darkness.

[The serpent said] “…when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 NIV)

That tree was for God alone, and was off limits to man. It is the “me” tree, it is about controlling your own reality, destiny and outcomes. Conversely, The Tree of Life represents listening, trusting, and obeying. The Tree of Knowledge is about independence, being in charge or being _____ enough (Fill in the blank.).

Branches of the Tree of Knowledge are:

• Intellectualism: being smart enough to control destiny
• Perfectionism: being good enough, beautiful enough or perfect enough…
• Witchcraft: using secret knowledge to manipulate outcomes (I couldn’t think of a phrase with enough in it).
  
• Machiavellianism: Trying to be powerful enough to control destiny.
• Materialism: Being rich enough…
• Vain Religion: Being pious enough…

We are constantly confronted with temptations to live our lives out of the Tree of Knowledge. The world system pulls on us like gravity on a swimmer: To be passive is to be sucked under. Go through the list above and think about the pull that these things exert our lives. I know that they pull on me. Just think of the blizzard of advertising we are each exposed to: you note that these themes predominate.

When I reflect on the times in my life when I was trying to go it alone (or simply slipped into going it alone), I have flashbacks of the fear, anguish, worry and strife associated with those times. If I had to do word association I would come up with PRESSURE. When I think about the times in my life when I have been walking in reliance upon God, the word that comes to mind is PEACE.

An Understanding of the Two Trees Applied to Finances

One of the most common ways that this worldly system manifests itself is in the temptation of riches. This is even evident in the terminology we use. We say things like, “He is independently wealthy,” or “I want financial independence.” The sentiments represented by these statements stem from the world system based on the attempted misappropriation of divine prerogatives. The desire for riches is always condemned in scripture.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:9,10 NIV

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income…” Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

“You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV

While the scriptures summarily condemn a wealth motivation, those who desire blessing are commended. Examples are Jabez and Jacob.

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:9,10 NIV [emphasis mine].

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Gen 32:24-26 NIV.

To the casual onlooker, blessing and wealth may appear to be essentially the same thing but, there is a marked difference in the motivation behind the two. The concept of riches as we have seen is rooted in independence from God. The concept of blessing is rooted in covenant relationship. For much of my life I thought that if I could just get rich enough I would be able to rest: I could stop worrying and striving to get by, make ends meet, and support my family. I have discovered this kind of thinking is a vain delusion. God does desire for us to be able to rest, but that rest is the rest of relationship and not the rest of riches!

I have always been inspired by the stories of European Jewish families that escaped the Nazi holocaust with little more than their lives: The Third Reich froze their accounts, stole their art, and looted their businesses. Yet many of these families rebuilt their wealth in one generation. Part of the explanation for this is that these families were experts at building human capital, the other part is that though people can steal your goods they cannot steal your blessing. Riches are temporal, but blessing is eternal.

I wish that every Christian family had a strategy to see their passive income surpass their regular expenses. I am just saying that this strategy should be informed and motivated by a desire for covenant blessing and not financial independence.

The principles of covenant blessing are Sunday school simple, yet in their simplicity they somehow elude us:

The blood of Christ has established a new and living way into Relationship with God.
Agree with God and be blessed
Listen to God’s voice and obey.
We are blessed to make us a blessing
God is absolutely unique and everything is ultimately about God.

It is as simple as repent, agree, trust, worship, listen, and obey. It seems to me that many of the Old Testament laws are meant to encourage these basic things. This seems true of the laws governing Old Testament economics: the Sabbath, the Jubilee, tithes and offerings. These laws would seem to have the effect of putting Israel at severe economic disadvantage to their neighbors (competitors).

• You must work one fewer day than your competitors.
• You must tithe 10% of your income rather than reinvest it for growth.
• You cannot accumulate real property much beyond one generation.
• You cannot charge interest to your brethren.

These laws basically give Israel a handicap in all the areas that economists call the factors of production: Land, Labor and Capital. I believe that this is rooted in a supernatural paradigm of covenant blessing that essentially says, “yes these things are handicaps, and they do put us at a competitive disadvantage naturally speaking, but we trust in God and have a covenant with Him and this fact nets us an overwhelming competitive advantage.

Applying this Understanding to the Extension of the Kingdom

Much is being written about Kingdom Business and Business as Misisons these days, and I am excited about this. Nevertheless, we need to make sure that our businesses are realy of the right kingdom. I believe this two trees paradigm is essential to getting our motivations right. As I talk to people that are a part of the Kingdom business movement, I realize that we have some work to do in this area.

From a spiritual warfare perspective we need to make sure we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. Missiologists are concerned with animistic syncretism and witchcraft in African, Asian and Latin American Churches, and they should be. Yet, North Americans should be just as concerned about the rampant syncretism in our churches. We have mixed biblical truth with our own brand of materialism and this is just as idolatrous.

It is interesting that in animist, totemistic and polytheistic belief systems there are deities and powers associated with the branches of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In these religions you find false god’s of knowledge, pleasure, materialism, etc. I believe this stems from man’s fallen desire to place his trust in substitutes to a simple relationship with God.

Finally, I think getting this right is key to the Church being able to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Jason works as a strategist with the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship in Virginia Beach. He serves as a missionary with Calvary International and has written a book on business as mission titled Eden Inc. He is also a contributing editor with Momentum Magazine.

Is God in this Current Crisis?

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9a

Declining stock value, foreclosures, bankruptcies, rising unemployment, etc. The current global economic crisis makes you wonder where God is in all of this. Has God abandoned His creation? Is this the end time?

Whether or not these are the end times, the reality is that God is with us. He is looking for His ambassadors to represent him in these times (2 Chronicles 16:9a). He has entrusted the work of His hands to His people. Psalm 8:6 tells us that we have the legal right and authority to take dominion over His creation. In Genesis we learn about a time in biblical history when the world faced an economic crisis worse than this one, but God had prepared a man named Joseph to respond and take authority over the situation (Genesis 41:57).

Where are the Josephs of our times? Unfortunately, today many of God's people are afraid. They are just as anxious over the current crisis as the heathen. In some cases, the world cannot tell the difference between the children of God and non-believers. Many of God's children have bought into an economic worldview that is worldly and secular. They have blended in with the world; they have lost their savor (see Matthew 5:13).

Biblical history shows that God's people in the marketplace can retain a vital role in preserving the earth in times of crisis:

1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

2. God creates man in His image and His likeness. (Genesis. 1:26)

3. God gives man dominion over His creation. (Genesis 1:26b-28)

4. Man violates God's command. Sin enters God's creation. (Genesis 3:6)

5. God does not take away the gift of dominion from man. (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 11:29)

6. Two groups now seek to take dominion over the works of God's hand. (Genesis 4:1-5)

• Those who reject God and continue to walk in disobedience to God.
• Those who have repented of their sin and returned back to God.

7. Man develops an economic system to exercise the gift and responsibility of his dominion
mandate. (Psalm 8, Genesis 41:37 - 41)

• Those who reject God are the ones who
  control the macro economy (the overall
  economic system).
• Those who are obedient to God have the opportunity to develop micro economies (how
  we govern our lives, our homes, our businesses and the industries we are a part of) that model God's intent and influence the macro economy.

The current crisis is the result of the failure of believers to influence the macro economy. God is right here with us. His purposes will be done through us, His people, as we reject fear and know that we are here, even in turbulent times, to advance His kingdom.

Spend some time this week renewing your mind to the scriptures that promise God's establishment of your work and well-being, even during crises. Related Scriptures: Psalm 33: 18-19; II Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5.

Patrice Tsague is the founder of Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM)

Spiritual Convergence

Kingdom Business Blog – October 17th 2008

Update for The Africa Project: Regent Center for Entrepreneurship’s Tom Stansbury visited Opportunity International’s Board of Governors’ meeting in Chicago earlier this month. RCE has begun partnering with Os Hillman of MarketplaceLeaders.org, who sends 160,000 Marketplace Meditations each day to Christians in business worldwide. Dr. John Mulford and Tom Stansbury will be in Dallas October 18th to the 28th networking with Kingdom business leaders and holding an RCE Roundtable event on the 27th. If you are interested in attending, or feel called to give to the Africa Project, contact Skye at the RCE office (rce@regent.edu).

Spiritual Convergence

The Miriam-Webster definition of ‘Converge’ is:
1 : to tend or move toward one point or one another : come together : meet <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meet>
2 : to come together and unite in a common interest or focus

I am amazed at how God moves when what is often referred to as ‘convergence’ happens in a Kingdom leader’s life. When our calling in God; our gifts, abilities, and talents; our past experiences (good and bad); AND an outpouring of the Holy Spirit is released in and through us—when all this ‘comes together and unites’ all at the same time, it’s spiritual convergance. It often happens when we go through a season of difficulty or suffering, sometimes paying the consequences of our own mistakes. It can happen even when we are at the most difficult time it seems ever in our lives. As John Madden would say during a football game, ‘BOOM! – It happens!’ When it seems all is lost and we are just about ready to give up, something breaks in the Spirit, circumstances suddenly change, and victory is achieved!

Did you ever see Band of Brothers? It’s the HBO series based on a story of a group of soldiers in World War 2. There is a point in the war that their group is faced with the most difficult circumstances ever – cold snowy conditions, no food or blankets, the enemy is pounding them to a pulp. After a long series of battles already under their belt they are faced with the darkest and deepest depression probably they ever had faced in their lives – ‘It happens.’ There is a scene in the series when, at the darkest moment, a small victory becomes a ‘turning point’ and all of a sudden the enemy begins to flee. The sky clears. Within a few short hours the Band of Brothers are on their way through Berlin to the Eagles Nest where Hitler had a mountain top villa. They even find themselves drinking some of the finest wines in Europe with probably the deepest sense of fulfillment and wonder how events suddenly turned in their favor – just at the time when all seemed lost.

I am sure the Apostles felt the same way when in the beginning of the book of Acts Jesus tells them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit – that they would receive all power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. Here is a ‘Band of Brothers’ who have just been beaten down, their leader killed and all their hopes dashed. Fear had set in and many of them probably felt they had failed miserably. It was, perhaps, the darkest moment in their lives. “Boom – It happens,’ and God intervenes. Convergence happens.

These rag tag apparent ‘losers’ suddenly see thousands of Jews repent and give their lives to Christ after the Holy Spirit falls on them; Peter gets up and now has the courage to stand up and answer the call of God on his life, walking in a new dimension of faith, in a place of victory. It had been days and weeks since he had denied Christ three times and his ‘world’ had come crashing down – now he is boldly proclaiming the Gospel of how Jesus rose from the dead. As this Convergence unfolds, there are a series of divine appointments that ultimately lead to the Gospel going to the ends of the earth, and the future of the entire world is changed forever – by a group of 12 ordinary men who were willing to ‘lose their life in order to gain it.’

This season of uncertainty today in our country – for many of us - is ‘such a time as this,’ as the financial markets are in turmoil and many have lost much of their life savings – some even their livelihood. For many, fear has set in and the worldly system of relying on an ever-increasing debt load to sustain not only our individual lives, but even the entire US economy, appears to be unraveling, unsustainable. Yes, for many, this is a difficult season and a time of turmoil – but let me encourage you, it is not a time to allow fear to set in and go on the defensive. This is a time to go on the offensive and win that small battle in your life, find the ‘turning point’ that will lead to a ‘Boom - It happens’ experience. You begin to walk in a new dimension of faith with divine appointments occurring each day. You deeply know in your gut there is a ‘God in Heaven who sits on the throne and all is well.’

Over the course of the past few years, Spiritual Convergence has begun to happen for me in my own life and walk with the Lord. I overcame some dark moments, hit a ‘turning point’ and have been launched on a great adventure of faith that literally had changed me to the core of my being, knowing how intricately involved the Lord is in my life.

This partnership with RCE and ICCC in The Africa Project and the ICCC Global Trade Center, I believe, is part of a move of the Holy Spirit in the global marketplace central to the Kingdom Business Movement worldwide. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to be a ‘herald’ of this adventure in the marketplace.

As the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Regent’s Center for Entrepreneurship, I am asking each of you to join us on this great adventure of faith. We are on an adventure in God – and through this Kingdom Business Blog I hope to take you on this journey of faith together with us and the team – a ‘Band of Brothers (and sisters – no gender bias here!).’ My heart is that you will begin to see Spiritual Convergence happen in your life as it has happened in my life – and in the lives of those connected to this Kingdom Business Movement we are all called to participate in. I know in my deepest heart of hearts the course of history is being changed.

Strength and Honor,
Tom Stansbury

The Africa Project

Here at RCE we have embarked on a Great Adventure we are inviting all of our Founders, Friends, and Regent Alumni to join with us!

This Great Adventure is the heart of Kingdom Business – transforming lives and nations through business – beginning on the continent of Africa!

Dale Neill, President of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), has invited Dr. John Mulford and the RCE Team to partner in a Great Commission venture. We’ll be creating Business Development Centers in the nations of Burundi, Rwanda, Benin, and Liberia, in association with the ICCC Global Trade Center based in Jerusalem.

Dale and Dr. John Mulford, RCE Director and former Dean of Regent’s Graduate School of Business, traveled to Africa in August to lay the groundwork for what we are calling "The Africa Project”: establishing Business Development Centers that will create profitable and sustainable SME’s that we believe will create jobs and a groundswell of Kingdom impact, beginning in January with the nation of Burundi – one of the poorest nations on planet Earth.

The Presidents of these four nations are Christians who have asked ICCC and Regent University to partner together to train emerging entrepreneurs in each of their respective nations. The goal? To establish thousands of businesses that we believe will not only lead to the transformation of these nations through business, but which will provide access to the other 49 (or 50, depending on your source) nations on the continent of Africa.

We begin in January 2009 in the nation of Burundi, intent on training entrepreneurs to plan and launch 1,000 small to medium-sized businesses over the next 5 years. In April of 2009, we start a 15-week course that will take the first group of Burundi students through the process of identifying a business idea, learning the functional areas of starting a business, and then provide coaching through the start-up and launch phase.

As you know, Africa has been the recipient of foreign aid for decades – a continent rich in natural resources that has benefitted little from foreign aid. Our purpose is to use ‘trade,’ not ‘aid,’ to literally transform these nations as well as the entire continent – teaching people to fish, ‘to feed them for a lifetime,’ not just a day.

Regent’s theme is ‘Christian leadership to change the world’ and we believe The Africa Project is an amazing opportunity given us by God to make a difference by going in with resources and depositing an entrepreneurial spirit that will help lift these nations from poverty and civil war to be a blessing to other nations – even Israel (more on that aspect later). God has placed Christians in top leadership positions in these four nations – leading their countries at a time of literally rebuilding their nations from nothing – and we have this window of opportunity to actually transform lives and nations through business as never before.

In order to capture this opportunity we need your help!
Time, Treasure, and Talent – these are the resources God has given you, and it is our desire to channel your gifts and resources through The Africa Project.
RCE needs to raise $200,000 by December 31st, 2008 in order to get on the ground in January. We are asking everyone we know to participate in at least 1 of these areas. When was the last time you had a chance to partner in the transformation of 4 nations that has the prospect of transforming an entire continent?
I just returned from Ukraine where I served in a Kingdom Business venture. For the past 3 months I was a Strategic Business Consultant with one of the largest financial institutions in the nation, helping to create a nationally-branded company in the real estate sector. Over the course of the past year, RCE has launched a business development center in Ternopil, Ukraine – there we have taught Biblical Entrepreneurship and now have emerging entrepreneurs in the process of writing business plans; we will be holding a Business Plan Competition in November of this year.

This experience has given us ‘on the ground’ competencies in launching Business Development Centers we hope can be replicated around the world. ICCC is in over 100 nations, and we believe The Africa Project will not only impact the continent, but also provide a Kingdom business replication model that can be launched world-wide.
As we embark on this Great Adventure, the RCE Team is inviting each and every person who reads this to partner with us in this huge Kingdom Business effort – because if all of us join together with what God is doing on the earth today, we can impact an entire nation – even an entire continent, if we do it ‘AS ONE’ (remember Gladiator?).

I will be keeping you posted on developments each week as we take this step of faith. Be in prayer, as the week of September 29th I am in Atlanta to meet with Os Hillman from Marketplaceleaders.org, along with Dale Neill, regarding The Africa Project. Later in the week I will be attending the Board of Governor’s Meeting in Chicago for Opportunity International as well.

Next week, on October 8th, we will be holding an RCE Executive Roundtable at Regent University where Dr. Mulford and I will be laying out more details of this incredible opportunity – you are invited, so please join us!
For the King and His Kingdom,

Tom Stansbury, MBA
Entrepreneur-In-Residence

Read introduction letter from Dr. John Mulford, Director of the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship

The Heart of a Servant

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

But thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. I Samuel 13:14

In I Samuel chapter 13 we learn about God's rejection of King Saul, the first king of Israel. King Saul had only reigned for one year and in his second year he found himself in the midst of war against the Philistines. Because he was afraid of losing the battle, he became impatient and took it upon himself to make sacrifices to God instead of following the instructions of the Prophet Samuel, which would have required him to wait for Samuel to arrive.

Saul's actions demonstrated a lack of faith in God's sovereignty and he violated the division of labor. Although he was king, only the priests were permitted to conduct the sacrifices to God. As a result, king Saul's actions had great consequences:

1. His kingdom would not reign forever
2. His son could not inherit the kingdom
3. Jesus Christ would not come through his lineage

When God's servants act in disobedience the consequences are both temporal and eternal. The consequences of their disobedience not only affect them but generations after them. God is after our heart not our actions. He said to obey is better than to sacrifice. David, the second king of Israel, committed a more grievous sin; he committed adultery with a married woman and killed her husband to conceal his sin but his heart never turned against God. Once he was confronted by the prophet Nathan he quickly repented.

Where is your heart? Are you a man or woman after God's own heart? As Biblical Entrepreneurs we are called to have the heart of a servant. The heart is the inner self that thinks, feels and decides. It is the central part of a person. It is the part of our being that experiences emotions such as love and hate. Every victory and failure that we experience begins in our heart. That is why the Bible says as a man thinketh in his heart so is he and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Saul's problem was a heart problem; even when confronted by the prophet he did not repent but stubbornly continued on the path of disobedience and pride.

God wants us to be sensitive to His Spirit and His will at all times. We must resist pride and always be quick to repent when we find ourselves in violation of God's will. Developing the heart of a servant is the key to our success in the marketplace; it enables us to be led by God's Spirit and to put the needs of our customers and employees before our own. Like David, we will make mistakes but will we quickly repent once confronted by God or will we choose the ways of Saul?

God does not expect perfection but He does expect righteousness; a righteousness that is of God and not based on our own standards, a righteousness that relies solely on the shed blood of Jesus Christ. A righteousness that recognizes that though we are imperfect, through the shed blood of Christ we are made perfect before God and that the only way to maintain that perfection is to stay in Christ.

Supporting development in Mongolia

The work ADRA * is doing in Mongolia is exciting, including a business component, and I wanted to share it here. Not quite kingdom business, at least not explicitly, but certainly kingdom work. Enjoy!

*The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was initiated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The basis for its existence, its reason for being, is to follow Christ’s example by being a voice for, serving, and partnering with those in need.

ADRA seeks to identify and address social injustice and deprivation in developing countries. The agency’s work seeks to improve the quality of life of those in need. ADRA invests in the potential of these individuals through community development initiatives targeting Food Security, Economic Development, Primary Health and Basic Education. ADRA’s emergency management initiatives provide aid to disaster survivors.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada (ADRA Canada) is an independent humanitarian agency established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church whose mission is to empower the poor around the world and in Canada with the resources, skills and opportunities to live a better life with dignity and hope. Our vision is to achieve a world without poverty.

You are the light of the world..

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Imagine you wake up during the night and there is no light in your house because of a storm which knocked the electricity out. You open your curtains hoping that the light outside the window will light up the house but there is no light on the outside either. The entire neighborhood has no light. The storm was unexpected and no one was prepared. No candles, no lamps, no flash lights.

One by one, your neighbors begin to get up and notice the same thing, they begin to worry. It is dark, damp and no one has a light. The entire neighborhood is concerned and scared. Without light people cannot see where they are going, the elderly, the children and the handicapped are at risk of hurting themselves. Without light thieves can easily break into houses and stores because no one will notice them.

Imagine that this lasts for days, weeks, months and years. Of course overtime people will develop alternatives to illuminate the night until the real light comes back but no matter how great the alternative, it will only provide a temporary fix until the real light appears.

When Jesus appeared on the scene over 2000 years ago to begin His public ministry, He found Himself in the midst of darkness; the poor faced economic uncertainty, the church and state were corrupt and oppressive, and entrepreneurs were greedy and manipulative. There was complete darkness. Although temporary lights provided direction until His appearance, Jesus, the real Light, was now here.

As followers came to Him for answers concerning their conditions and how to address the problems of their day within the government, church and economy, His response was not an escape plan from the world nor ammunition to overthrow the government and church leaders; rather He reminded them that they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

Jesus recognized that the reason the world was in such darkness was because there was no light. He encouraged them to not run and hide from a world full of darkness but to make themselves visible to all by the works that they do.

Over 2000 years later, much has not changed; we still face economic uncertainty, corruption, oppression, and a marketplace full of greed and manipulation. The consequences are mortgage crises, bankruptcy and corporate bailout by the government. The marketplace is in darkness and in need of light.

Light is something that enlightens and illuminates, and provides direction and awareness. Biblical Entrepreneurs and kingdom businesses are the light of the marketplace. Our economy is facing tremendous turbulence - illustrated by the mortgage and financial crises - and the only hope seems to be government bailout.

We all know that the government cannot solve market problems; all it can do is bandage the problems or provide a short fix. Solutions to permanently address market problems must come from the market and not the government. The role of government is to provide sound economic policies that are market friendly.

Since the solution of the market crisis must come from the market and not the government, Biblical Entrepreneurs and kingdom businesses must provide leadership to solve the problems of the market.

We are the light of the world; the reason why there is darkness in the marketplace, causing uncertainty and financial crisis, is because we are not letting our light shine. Our light must not be kept under a bushel nor hidden. This is the moment to let our light so shine before men so they can see our good works and glorify our Lord who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Are you letting your light shine in your industry?

Don't Worry, Be Happy

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy

You may remember these lyrics from the popular Grammy winning song in 1988 by Bobby McFerrin titled "Don't worry be Happy." The song is kind of soft and funny but it illustrates a little of what Jesus was trying to bring across when He stated in Matthew 6:25 that you ought not to "worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on." For "life is more than food and the body is more than clothing." Jesus goes on to point out in Matthew 6:32 that He knows that we have need of things. He uses the example of the lilies and the birds in Matthew 6:28 which do not work, yet our heavenly Father provides for them. How much more will He provide for us, His own children, who are created in His image and in His likeness?

In a sense, Jesus was trying to get across to us that we ought not to worry because we are blessed. If you breakdown the word "bless" to a literal meaning today you will find that it also means happy. According to the Google online dictionary, happiness is marked by joy or pleasure or good fortune. It is an emotional state that is characterized by feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction based on the recognition of our good fortune. So I can rename this devotional this way; don't worry be blessed.

I know, you are currently facing many difficulties; gas prices are unreasonable, food prices and airline tickets are up, furthermore you have not received a raise and business may not be going as it should. Why should you not worry? And why should you be happy? Does worrying about the situation ever help?

When you worry about something you actually make it worse. Not only does worry not change the situation but it also disarms your ability to resolve it. Worrying puts you on the defensive and demonstrates a lack of faith in God. Even Jesus recognizes this when He states, "worrying does not add one cubic to your stature" (Matthew 6:27). Worrying gives the circumstance greater power than it deserves. Worrying demonstrates a lack of faith in God. Worrying is a violation of the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). When you worry, you are turning the object of your worry into a god.

Worrying is like a cancer that slowly destroys your immune system. So don't worry be happy! Yes in the midst of trials, tests, persecutions, difficulties, financial trouble; be happy. James, the brother of Jesus states it this way; "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2). That is right, look at the problem in the face and begin to smile and express your excitement, because whatever you are facing, God is working it together for your good.

"Why should I be happy when I should be crying?" you may ask. Because whatever you are facing right now is good for you. Here are the benefits of trouble and trials:

1. They shape your character
2. They cultivate your patience
3. They bring you closer to God
4. They enhance your prayer life
5. They strengthen your faith
6. They perfect you where you are weak
7. They cause you to be grateful

Without trouble, many of these benefits cannot be achieved and if it is up to you, you will never know that you have achieved them. So go ahead, be happy because whatever you are going through God is working together for your good. He is using your trials to cultivate in you great virtues that are essential for life and godliness. You can now understand why Bobby McFerrin's song is appropriate for us as believers; it reminds us that in the midst of difficult situations, we remain blessed. So whatever you are facing, don't worry be happy!

The Purpose of Kingdom Business

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner



"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Bill Gates are known to have made billions of dollars as captains of their industries and have given billions of dollars in philanthropic contributions to society through the creation of several foundations. Whatever their motivation was, they are known to have contributed significant amounts of wealth to society and are still contributing today. Very few individuals will ever contribute more money to society than these men. To my knowledge, none of them claim to be Christians except for John D. Rockefeller, a devout Baptist who tithed to his local church since his very first paycheck.



As great philanthropists as these men have been to society, their business practices are not to be envied; they built their wealth by employing shrewd, manipulative, morally questionable, and sometimes illegal, business tactics. Their goals were to build wealth by any means as long as they later gave back to society. If they stood before God's judgment and recited their good works before God as a basis for eternal rewards and favor, God's response would be He did not need their money but their lives; the money did not belong to them in the first place but to God; they were mere stewards of His money.

Our giving must be the substance of our lives rather than the substance of our earnings. God's question to them would be, "How did you treat your employees, your customers, your vendors? Were you a light for Me in the marketplace? Did you acknowledge my Son?"

When we consider the purpose of kingdom business, many people today make the mistake of approaching it the same way that these robber barons approached it: let's build great businesses that generate lots of profit so we can give back to society. This is a very self-centered, godless approach.

God does not need our money; He needs our lives, our ministries. These men's theology is a works-based theology rather than a faith-based theology. God cares not just about how much money you make but how you treat your employees, how you respond to the laws of the land, how you manage your businesses, and how you treat your customers. He cares about how you conduct the entire business. "The earth is the Lord's and everything therein"; therefore He can fund His work any way He wills. The purpose of kingdom business is not to fund the gospel or missions but rather kingdom business is the mission. It is an instrument by which we are to fulfill the Great Commission and not just support the Great Commission.

Kingdom businesses are a transformational tool for the marketplace. It is God's business; managed by God's stewards, for God's purposes. Yes, one of those purposes is making financial contributions to the advancement of His kingdom but it would be a mistake if we think that making financial contributions to the kingdom is the sole purpose of business. If that was the sole purpose, then the robber barons should be models and heroes of kingdom business since they have given to society more than any of us will probably ever give. However, with all their giving our society has become more sinful and secular. Their giving has not changed much about the eternal direction of our society.

God is not looking for philanthropists; He is looking for marketplace missionaries. He is looking for individuals who will accept the call to see and do business differently. God is looking for people who will see their businesses as pulpits and see themselves as shepherds in the marketplace. They are to see their businesses as instruments to fulfill the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Like one preacher once said, "we are to preach the gospel and if necessary, use words."

What is Kingdom Business?

by Patrice Tsague

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

We all know what business is; it is a commercial activity that is designed to generate a return for the owner(s) (at least that is how most people define it within a pure capitalist framework). Entrepreneurs start businesses so they can generate a profit and long-term wealth for themselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with this view, though it is a very limited view of business and has potential dangers to fuel our greedy nature. As born-again believers and servants of King Jesus, we do not just operate businesses but our businesses must be kingdom businesses. In other words, our businesses are not owned by us but by the King, so we call them kingdom businesses or the businesses of the King.

Well what is a Kingdom business?

First let's look at what it is not:

1. It is not a tool to generate money to support missions - Yes I know many of us see business as the ideal instrument to support missions but the problem is that all the resources in the kingdom are the King's and all these resources must be committed to realize His mission, not just to gain business profits. The business itself is a mission.

2. It is not a tool to make money using the Bible - the scriptures are very clear; godliness is not a means for gain. We do not start businesses owned by the King just to make money because the King already has money. Money is generated through obedience to the King and proper stewardship of the Kings' resources.

3. It is not a strategy to isolate ourselves from the world - Unfortunately despite King Jesus' instructions that we ought to be in the world though not of it; many believers continue to look for ways to isolate themselves from the world. This is unscriptural. Kingdom business should take us further in the world not take us out.

4. It is not a business operated by a Christian - just because you are a Christian in business it does not make your business a kingdom business. For your business to be a kingdom business, you must submit your life and business to the lordship of King Jesus. What then is a kingdom business? It is a profit making enterprise under the lordship of Jesus Christ, operated by born again believers. It honors the Lord Jesus Christ through its products and services, it is managed based on biblical principles, serves as a light in the marketplace, and its profit is used for the advancement of the kingdom of God in the earth.

Simply put, a Kingdom business is God's business, managed God's way, by God's steward, for God's purposes in the world. Only born again believers can operate kingdom businesses, and the business operations must be managed by the guidelines of the King which are found in the Bible. Moreover, the products and services must be approved by the King; thus there should be no sin products. The business must be a platform for ministry where we demonstrate our salt and light to a dark and dying world. And of course it must be profitable since the King is concerned about the proper stewardship of His resources. However, the profit is not for us; the operators of a kingdom business, but for the King; the owner of the business, so we must use the profits as He directs.

Are you operating a kingdom business? Evaluate the business you currently manage and make sure it is operated under the ownership, guidelines and purposes of King Jesus.

Dare to Dream

-Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner



"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

It was 1963, a young minister stood on the steps of the capital and shared with the nation a dream he had about the future of America. In spite of the realities of his time, he was able to project beyond his reality and see a hope and a future. He dared to dream. Here is some of what he said:


"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.


I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.


I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."


Today we are experiencing the reality of this dream. When most people think of a dream, they think of the thoughts, ideas and stories that wander in their minds while they sleep. The reality is that we seldom remember those dreams. When I speak of a dream, I speak of a vision, a preferred future, or a hope of a future that you desire and is in line with the purpose of God for your life. This dream is not developed in your sleep but while you are awake and alert. It does not catch you by surprise; rather it is intentional on your part.



What dreams do you have? What do you believe God for in your business or personal life? You may be saying to yourself, "I want something better but my current circumstance makes it impossible." I challenge you to dare to dream. Dare to imagine a better future. Dare to see your business achieving those revenue goals, dare to see yourself acquiring those new contracts, dare to imagine a state in your life where the things you are believing God for come to pass.



If Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream can come to pass, so can yours. As a matter of fact, yours may be even more possible than his was. For his to come to pass, a combination of political, social, economic and spiritual factors had to work together at the same time. No one could have imagined that. Yours may not even need all of those elements to become a reality.



The key to realizing your dream is to have dreams that are God-centered and others focused. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was not about his personal benefits but was for the benefit of others and was in line with God's will for the nation. What dreams do you have? Are they God-centered? Are they others focused? Remember to dare to dream because God's thoughts toward you are of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ramadan has begun

We received an email today from a friend who does business in a country where it is a given that everyone will fast during Ramadan. Even those who are excused from fasting due to one of the accepted excuses (ie pregnancy) are pressured to join the fast.

Please pray for our friend, that God would be her wise counselor and protector, giving her insight and discernment at how to conduct her life, business and sharing during this season of heightened spiritual seeking. Pray for those who have heard the good news, that it would be food for their souls and they would turn to you for more. Pray for those who might be considering who Jesus is. Pray for those whose families do not understand them, and that whole families would come to know and receive God's forgiveness and love.

Amen!

Connectivity for Africa?

by Jason Benedict ⋅ September 2, 2008

Finally, we are beginning to see a decrease in broadband prices for parts of Africa, and it looks like we can be hopeful about greater and cheaper connectivity in the future. Retail rates for 512kbps are now down in the $90 - $200 USD range[1] in certain countries, and while this is still outrageously expensive, it marks progress. Furthermore, there are currently at least 10 major fiber projects going on in Africa, and several of these are scheduled for completion in the next couple of years. What this means is that Africa will finally be connected to the rest of the world with affordable internet. In fact some are even projecting a glut of bandwidth[2].

The story of broadband in Africa is basically one of low connectivity, high prices and monopoly. Until now the only options for connectivity have been expensive satellite, and the SAT3/WASC/SAFE monopoly (SAT3/SAFE for short). Essentially, SAT3 connects Portugal to West Africa and on to South Africa where it connects to SAFE and then Asia. Some of the current reductions in price are due to a loosening of the SAT3 monopoly over the last year. SAT3 and SAFE have a capacity of 120Gbps and 130Gbps respectively. When other cables come online Africa’s connectivity will be measured not in gigabits but terabits.

Some Projects to Watch:

SEACOM – To link RSA, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, India and Europe. Expected to be online in 2009.
GLO 1 – To link Nigeria and other West African Investors to Portugal. Expected to be online the by the end of 2009.
EASSy – To link South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and the Sudan. Projected to be online in 2010.

The kind of connectivity we are describing here is essential to economic development on the continent. It appears that the Sub-Saharan regions with the most connectivity will be West Africa, South Africa and East Africa. This should open up a host of economic and educational opportunities. Sectors to watch will be ICT, Business Process Outsourcing, professional and technical services, medicine, finance, education and transportation.

The Kingdom impact of greater connectivity for Africa is largely dependent on our vision and the initiative that we take now. The benefits of economic development seem obvious. It seems like there will be BAM opportunities in the sectors mentioned. Additionally, this kind of progress will move people around, and these people movements will create opportunities for the Gospel. There could be dramatic shifts in personnel location and training dynamics with all kinds of strategy implications for each.

Jason is a strategist with the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship. He is also a contributing editor with Momentum Magazine (where this is also published) and serves as a missionary with Calvary International. He has written a book on business as mission titled Eden Inc.


[1] Africa Broadband Price Cuts - Retrieved: 09/02/08

[2] Six Submarine Cable Projects Not Watertight – Retrieved: 09/02/08

Ramadan is almost here...

...and Coke is celebrating with special designs on their cans sold in some Muslim nations. (Wish I could get one of 'em!)

(from this article)

In 2006, Coca-Cola released a statement about its recognition of Ramadan.

"In a globalizing world, Ramadan presents an opportunity to showcase the true values of Islam and what it stands for," it said. "Because no other brand is as inclusive as and no other company is as diverse as Coca-Cola, we have a unique opportunity to play a valued role as an international bridge-builder and facilitator of dialogue during Ramadan."

This year Ramadan begins sometime between August 29 and September 2. (It depends on where you are geographically and a couple sites had different days listed.)

For more info and to pray, see http://www.30-days.net/reveal/ramadan/

Ramadan recipes: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Ramadan/Detail.aspx

:)

Counting the Cost

-Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner



"For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it." Luke 14:28

Have you ever gone to the grocery store, filled your cart with groceries, got to the counter and after the cashier checked in all of your goods, you realized that you took more products than you had money for? Or while driving somewhere along the road you ran out of gas on the highway? Maybe you started a project but midway got distracted by something else or ran out of money and had to leave the project incomplete? The usual feeling when any of these things happen is embarrassment. And then we reflect on what we could have done to prevent them from happening. The cause of each of these problems is simple; they are caused by a lack of planning or not properly counting the cost.


Counting the cost is taking the time to properly estimate the required sacrifice and resources needed to accomplish the task before embarking upon it. Simply put, counting the cost is planning your work or project before starting it. In Luke 14:26-33 great multitudes began to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ but He recognized that most of those among the multitudes were following Him purely for the benefits that He may provide, without considering the sacrifice required to be His disciples, so He stopped to challenge them to count the cost.



The cost for being a disciple of Jesus includes forsaking your father, mother, children, brothers, sisters, your life, and bearing your own cross. This means that if you desire to be a true follower of Christ, you must value Him more than your family and yourself. You must be willing to reject your family if following it means compromising His teachings. You must put aside your personal ambitions and desires if they do not line up with His will for your life.



Jesus did not want a crowd, He wanted disciples. He was smart enough to realize that in times of trouble the crowd would scatter but the disciples would suffer through. In times of challenges the crowd would turn against Him but the disciples would stick with Him. In times of persecution the crowd would try to save their lives but the disciples would be willing to lose theirs.



As a Biblical Entrepreneur, you must not only count the cost of following Jesus in the marketplace but you must also count the cost of starting and growing the businesses He has entrusted to you. The cost of becoming a Biblical Entrepreneur not only involves giving up the opportunity to receive regular paychecks and health benefits from a 9 to 5 job, but also the financial expenses of starting or expanding the business. The human sacrifices include pleasurable things the Biblical Entrepreneur has to sacrifice in the early phases of the business (e.g. vacation and leisure time).

How do you count the cost?

1. Sit down, slow the business down if you have started already, and develop a plan

2. Evaluate how much human and financial resources you will need to start or expand the business. The various costs to consider are:


a. Opportunity cost - the value of what you must give up to start a new business or expand the business

b. Start up cost - the expenses required to launch a new business or project

c. Cost of goods or services sold - the expenses incurred for each unit of product or service you sell to the customer

d. Operation cost - the expenses you must incur on a monthly basis to cover the overhead of the business i.e. utilities, salaries, insurance, adverting, transportation, supplies, etc. These expenses are required whether you sell one unit or not.


3. Evaluate your commitment to representing Christ in the marketplace; will you stand for Him even if it means losing the business or your life?



Counting the cost has great benefits. By counting your costs, you ensure that you are able to finish - which in turn takes your business to a state of stability and sustainability. It also prevents you from embarrassing yourself and your God. While counting the cost, if you realize that you do not have enough resources to be successful, you still have the time to change your course or not proceed with the business.



Jesus never took up a fight He could not win or start an assignment He could not finish, and He expects the same from His disciples. Go ahead, pay the price now and count the cost; you will not regret it and you will protect yourself from embarrassment.

Be Prepared

I just finished reading a newsletter from a family that is called overseas to missions. (Business as Missions, I think...)

They've been planning to leave very soon but the newsletter was sent out to let people know their departure date has been pushed back, and they may not go until next summer.

Since they're open to staying in their new home in Asia, possibly for the long-term, they received counsel that it would be beneficial (and wise) to take some time now, before going, to PREPARE.

Now, of course they have been preparing all along, you see. They are prepared in many ways: they have contacts in the country, they've been raising support, husband and wife both feel called to this area... but there are also some red, or at least, yellow flags, that some friends and mentors have alerted them to. So, after much prayer and counsel, they have decided to postpone their departure.

Sometimes people can think up a billion reasons why they should stay 'home'--wherever that is--and let someone else go cross-cultural. But these folks are just dying to get over there and get to work--so why not let them? Well, sometimes 'saving' time in the beginning can really end up saving nothing at all.

Culture shock is real, but in my experience it's not really the hardest thing. (Except maybe when I came back to the States--that was a shocker in many ways!) ;) No, it's something called 'culture stress': a cycle of seeing a new culture, perhaps falling in love with it, but then over time slowly becoming tired out by wave after wave of new ways of doing things, new forms of politeness, new terminology (and a new language to learn!), different understandings of personal space, privacy, individualism... all of these things can take their toll on a resident alien, and it's good to (1) know what to expect, (2) have a strategy for how to deal with the stress, and (3) be in a healthy state emotionally and spiritually as well as physically, in order to manage the challenges with as much resilience and energy as possible.

I spoke to another acquaintance a couple of months ago about his experience working and living in another culture. He preferred to avoid what I imagine he might think of as 'psycho-babble' and just get the show on the road, diving right in to life in a second culture and learning as he goes. That's all well and good, but... it's easy enough to hurt and be hurt, give offense and be offended, even when one has learned all one can about the culture hosting you... I can't imagine trying it without much preparation. You can never learn all you need to know ahead of time, but it sure can help you make some sense out of what you didn't find in the Lonely Planet guide...

BAM folks are no exception to this rule. Whether we go as students, professionals or professional 'missionaries', it's helpful to head out with hearts and heads open to learn, but with some kind of framework on which to 'hang' all the new knowledge and experience we'll be learning as we go. I continue to wonder if BAMers will learn good lessons from the not-always-stellar history of missions, or if many are like the person who doesn't want to 'waste' time for 'unnecessary' preparation.

Anyhow, three cheers for the family who has humbly decided they need to learn more and be filled up before they are ready overflow and pour out in a new culture. And may I learn this too, and be preparing even now for our own return to Asia!