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Kevin Ring — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:47:40 +0000

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What is Business as Mission?

Kevin Ring — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:00:41 +0000

“What is Business as Mission?” is a difficult question to answer but a necessary starting point to understanding who EC Group International is and why we exist. The difficulty in answering stems from many factors including immature language, individual passions, and the mystery of God. We could (and most likely will) spend a lot of time defining and clarifying and redefining and defending our understanding of Business as Mission, but as Paul says in his letter to Timothy,

Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 2 Timothy 2:14

EC Institute has adopted a definition of ‘Business as Mission’ developed by Kevin Ring at Unconventional Method:

The strategic use of authentic business activities to create cross-cultural opportunities to minister and evangelize within the business’s spheres of influence with the aim of holistic transformation.

STRATEGIC USE – the intentional pursuit of both “good business” (profitable, ethical, high quality) and “good ministry” (Gospel-centered, culturally relevant, caring for the whole person). These two elements must be the combined focus of the enterprise and not simply a by-product or side benefit.

AUTHENTIC BUSINESS ACTIVITIES – the activities and functions performed in the operation of a business must be legitimate and contribute to the success of the business. The business does not exist simply to provide access to a region or to support extra-curricular ministry activities.

CROSS-CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES – the biblical mandate to serve the poor and oppressed (particularly in areas where the gospel has yet to be received) combined with the changes to the global economy resulting from globalization provides the means and motivation for the establishment of Business as Mission businesses in developing countries. It is within the context of the business interactions that solid relationships are formed between Christians and non-Christians.

MINISTER AND EVANGELIZE – the business is both the means and the message; it leverages every opportunity to serve spiritual, social, and economic needs, both demonstrating and sharing the power of the Gospel.

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE – opportunities to witness exist both with the internal and external groups that the business directly interacts with and influences (employees, clients, suppliers, governments) as well as the groups that are indirectly influenced by the business (families and friends of employees, local communities, other businesses within the market).

HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION – Business as Mission companies believe in the power of Holy Spirit to transform individuals and communities on all levels (physical, spiritual, emotional, behavioral) and thus seek to be instruments of that transformation by revealing Christ through the business.

The following principles were established at the 2004 Forum hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization to clarify the expression ‘business as mission’¹:

Business as Mission:

§ is based on the principle of…HOLISTIC MISSION

§ has a Kingdom of God perspective…KINGDOM BUSINESS

§ is different from but related to…WORKPLACE MINISTRIES

§ is different from but related to…TENTMAKING

§ is different from…BUSINESS FOR MISSIONS

§ does not condone…NON-BUSINESSES AND NON-MISSIONS

§ pursues…PROFIT

§ comes in all…SHAPES AND SIZES

§ is not just about…JOBS AND MONEY

¹“Business as Mission; Occasional Paper No. 59.” The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism – Lausanne Documents. 2005. 07 February 2008. <http://www.lausanne.org/documents/2004forum/LOP59_IG30.pdf>.