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

Fruitfulness in the Midst of the Storm

I'm the true vine, and My father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2).


Imagine planting a garden in your backyard with strawberries, tomatoes, blueberries and so on; all these great fruits and vegetables that your family enjoys. However, after spending months watering and caring for them a bad storm appears out of nowhere and destroys all of your hard work. Worst of all, imagine you were a farmer and you depended on these fruits and vegetables to provide for your family and now all of your hard work is destroyed. This makes you wonder whether God truly cares. Is He concerned about your daily needs? If He is, then why would He allow a storm to come and destroy all that you have worked so hard for?

This is how many kingdom business people around the world feel at this time. Many of them worked hard throughout the past several years to build a business that would honor God, meet market needs and expand the kingdom of God. However, the recent economic storm seems to have caused major damage to their business and for some it completely threatens to shut down their entire industry. They wonder whether God can cause them to be fruitful in the midst of the current economic reality. Of course He can. There is no greater time for God to demonstrate His power and sovereignty. Although the world's macro-economy is in jeopardy, this is nevertheless the best time for God's micro-economy to thrive and provide solutions. Unfortunately, because we are in the world we will suffer along with the world the consequences of sin and man's mismanagement of God's resources but it does not have to create permanent damage to us nor destroy us. We can be fruitful in the midst of economic storms.

A kingdom business is fruitful when its productivity results in an acceptable net profit margin while manifesting the fruit of the spirit. Financial gain without spiritual increase (evidenced by the presence of the fruit of the spirit) is a net loss in God's economy no matter how wide the margin of profitability. Though it is acceptable to experience temporary financial net losses as you seek to be fruitful you cannot afford to compromise the fruit of the spirit. That is the difference between a kingdom business and other businesses. Can we profitably steward resources in tough economies without becoming a victim of the works of the flesh? The fruit of the spirit is evidence that we are indeed operating by the spirit and not by the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26). I continue to be convinced that making a profit in business is not difficult - it all depends on how wide the gate is through which you are operating. It becomes difficult when you must operate within the boundaries of kingdom principles - this is the narrow way. As Jesus stated, it is difficult. With man it is impossible for it to be achieved but with God all things are possible (Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 19:23-26).

How do you ensure that you experience fruitfulness through your business during the tough uncertain times?

1. Abide in Christ - The bible clearly states that we must first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness if we want God to provide for us. Abiding in Christ is submitting your heart and mind to God's word and will so that His rule may govern your lives and everything you do. This also ensures that we manifest the fruit of the spirit.

2. Have a clear mission - revisit your mission statement and make sure it is clear and relevant.

3. Be a faithful steward - evaluate your current expenses and make the proper adjustments to demonstrate your contentment, determine your breakeven point and the acceptable margin of profit. It is not how much you make that makes you fruitful but rather how much you do not spend.

4. Be diligent - if you do a scriptural word study on the word diligent you will find that in most bible references the words riches, wealth and success is often preceded by diligence. Diligence is the consistent application of effort towards a single goal with determination.

In spite of the many horror stories about the number of kingdom businesses that have been devastated by the economy, there are equally (if not more) stories about those businesses that are experiencing fruitfulness during this time; some are even having the best year of their business journey. One of those is Bruce Woodard of BSI, a Certified Biblical Entrepreneur who was awarded our Rookie of the Year award in 2009. Bruce recently shared how his business is currently overflowing and he is abundantly blessed to be serving so many people. Another success story is Junior Anderson of Royalty Transportation. He is also a Certified Biblical Entrepreneur who was the winner of the Atlanta BE Business plan competition last year. Junior is experiencing such an increase in demand that he is reviewing his current operation to ensure that his capacity can meet the growing business opportunity without compromising quality.

Where is your business productivity? Can you believe God to make you fruitful? My prayer for you is that your business will become so fruitful that it will draw your unbelieving family, friends and associates to take notice and acknowledge that your God is God and submit their lives to Him.

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

They shall become one flesh

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 1:24).
If you are married and were to die today, would your mate be able to continue the business? Would they know enough about your business affairs to provide leadership for the next steps?

Unfortunately, too many kingdom business stewards operate their businesses apart from their mates. They see the business as theirs alone and the only contribution that the business makes to their marriage is the financial provision it brings to the family. Business can be a great tool that brings couples together and unity in the marriage. It can also be the source of great stress to a marriage and a wedge that drives couples apart. All married kingdom business stewards operate a family business whether their mate is actively involved or not.

Men have historically committed grievous errors in not involving their mates in their business affairs, and many women entrepreneurs are modeling those same bad behaviors today. These errors cannot be blamed on the world. Rather, the responsibility rests with the church in the way it has traditionally taught about headship and dominion. The dominion mandate in Genesis was not given to males alone but given to both the male and the female. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the seas, over the birds of the air, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Gen 1:26-27

When the bible refers to the original man that was made in the image and likeness of God it is not referring to the gender male but rather to the species of man. The species man combines both the male and the female. This is the reason that when God wanted to provide man with a companion, He did not create another being - but rather He did surgery on the man to separate the female gender from the male gender. Notice that after the surgery, Adam rejoiced and affirmed his new companion and declared that together they shall become one flesh. This enabled them to operate in the original order, with two separate bodies but one in soul, mind and spirit. The question is then raised about headship - is the male still not the head? Headship has nothing to do with oneness. Headship has to do with order. Just because the male is the head does not mean he cannot operate as one with the female. As a matter of fact, headship within a marriage cannot be effective without oneness in the marriage. If there is headship without oneness then the marriage will be dysfunctional. Headship without oneness leads to stress and can also lead to eventual divorce.

How do you know if you are not operating as one flesh with your mate in business?

1. It is your business and not yours and your spouse's
2. You do not involve them in the major decisions of the business

3. You never have family business meetings

4. You do not see them as an asset in the business

5. You do not embrace their ideas

6. You intentionally keep them out of the loop

7. If you were to die they would not know how to continue or exit the business

How do you walk in oneness?

1. Declare the business as a family business

2. Establish a family advisory board or board of directors with regular meetings (monthly, quarterly, or biannually)

3. Make sure your mate understands the vision and general goals of the business and how it connects to God's plan for your family

4. Do not make any major decisions without involving your mate and make sure you both are in agreement.

5. Stop referring to it as your business but instead, as our business

6. Pray together about the business

7. Seek a business coach to guide you along if necessary

Marriage is one of the greatest institutions that God created; it can be a place of great fulfillment and reward. A dysfunctional marriage however can be worse than a prison. It is better not to marry than to marry and not be committed to enjoying the best that marriage has to offer. Your business can either be a tool that God uses to enhance fulfillment in your marriage or a weapon used by the enemy to further bring division. You must be committed not to give place to the enemy and seek God's wisdom and guidance as to how to walk in oneness with your mate in business. The rewards will not just be fulfillment in the marriage but can also lead to business growth and success.


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

Taking Dominion Through Business

by Patrice Tsague

Then God blessed them, and God said to them. Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Genesis 1:28)

It is clear by the reading of scripture that God gave man dominion over the works of His hands. This dominion is not just limited to Christians, but given to all men. Christians however have a unique opportunity based on the fact that they have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ to exercise that dominion as an act of obedience to God and in a manner that glorifies Him. What is dominion? Dominion is a divine legal right and power given to man over the works of God's hands (Psalm 8:6). There are three institutions that God has ordained through which man can exercise dominion in the earthly realm:

1. The Family

2. Business

3. Government

Business is a tool to exercise dominion in the marketplace. Unfortunately, many kingdom entrepreneurs struggle to exercise dominion in the market place - therefore they are not able to have the type of influence that God desires for them to have in society. As Christians, we are called to be salt and light but our influence is limited if we are not walking in dominion through our businesses. There are four stages of growth that is essential for us to have dominion through our businesses. However, these stages cannot be accomplished if we are not walking in divine blessings. This is the reason that BEFORE God instructed man to have dominion, He blessed man. Divine blessing is walking in the favor of God. It is a release of power, protection and grace from heaven to enable us to accomplish our earthly assignment. Without it, nothing you do will be successful, nor will it bring glory and honor to God.

How to take dominion through your business?

1. Be fruitful - dominion begins with fruitfulness, which is the ability for the business to be profitable. You will never take dominion through business if your business is not profitable since profitability enables you to not only remain in business but to generate the necessary resources to expand the business.

2. Multiply - to multiply means to expand. Once you are profitable then you must find ways to expand the business to serve more people. Serving more people provides you with the opportunity to increase your profitability which enables you to generate more resources for greater impact and influence.

3. Fill the earth - to fill the earth means to have a global vision. Do not limit yourself only to the community where you started your business but consider other cities, states and even countries. Remember that as Great Commission companies you are called to "go into all the earth."

4. Subdue - this is final stage of dominion which means to conquer. Establish your business as a clear leader in your industry or in the places where you are doing business. Without this last phase your influence will be short lived and have limited impact.

There are many examples of kingdom companies that have clearly taken dominion in the marketplace - though we do not have nearly enough. Many are striving such as Chick Fil-A, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Cyrus Hall McCormick Sr., Timothy Plan, CMC Group, GA Repple and Company and others. You could be the next one.

How is your business? What phase are you in as you seek to exercise dominion in the marketplace? Remember, you have power, protection and grace from heaven to accomplish your earthly assignment.

Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

And the second is like it: 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself'.

-Matthew 22:39

I know what you are thinking, a business devotional on loving self? Is not that part of the problem? Don't we love ourselves enough? Should we not be focusing on loving others?

To love yourself is not a self centered admiration and focus on oneself at the expense of others. Rather, it is an appreciation for who God created you to be, with desire to express that same appreciation to others. It is a love born out of your love for the Lord. It is an appreciation for who you are in Christ.

The scripture did not say love your neighbor as you love God, but rather after instructing us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all of our soul and with all our mind it then tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Why is it necessary to love our neighbor as we love ourselves? The assumption made here is that we naturally love ourselves; it is easy to measure our love for ourselves and then extend that to others. What if we do not love ourselves, what are the consequences? If we do not love ourselves then we cannot love others, since the same love we have for ourselves is the love we extend to others.

How do you know if you do not love yourself?


1. You exemplify false humility


2. You constantly use self-deprecating comments about yourself


3. You allow yourself to be abused by others


4. You don't see yourself deserving of anything good


5. You are quick to condemn yourself


6. You reject what God says about you


7. You do not love others

If this is the case then we can logically conclude that if we love God but struggle to love others it means that we do not love ourselves, because we cannot give to others what we ourselves have not yet received. You cannot give what you do not have. Giving what you do not have leads to eventual self-destruction.

If you have ever been on an airplane and listened to the instructions before takeoff, you are always instructed that in case of emergency you must first secure yourself before securing anyone else, including children. This is so that you are able to live long enough to help others - if you are severely hurt or dead you are no good to anyone. The trials of life are like airline crashes - unless you are secure in your own journey you are in no position to be of service to others.

Why then is it that many God-loving Christians do the exact opposite and crash? They confuse loving yourself with serving yourself. Just because I love myself first does not mean I serve myself first nor does it mean I put my interest before others. Rather it means I do not serve you or put your interest first (at my detriment) because that would not be love. Loving myself allows me to continuously love others unconditionally, without requiring anything in return for that love, since the love I give you is out of the abundance of the love I have. If, then, the love I give you is out of the abundance of the love I have for myself, it does not take anything away from me but rather it gives me great fulfillment.

How do I love myself?


1. Love God


2. Accept the way God created me unconditionally


3. Forgive my shortcomings


4. Take responsibility for myself and the things God has given me stewardship over

Do you see yourself in the image and likeness of God? Commit to loving your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.


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