China and Back 1

I have just returned from China where I spent two weeks visiting our brothers and sisters who serve in different regions of China. The team and I visited three different areas where we learned three things that we have carried home to share with all who care to listen.

At our first stop we met the man who would be our guide for the next three days. That first evening we learned about an idea that is flourishing in China. B.A.M or Business As Missions is a concept where business has become a tool of evangelism and discipleship in countries that are closed to traditional missionaries. We learned of restaurants being run by Christians who hire local unbelievers to work for them. In many cases these non Christians receive the gospel when they least expected to. For most evening our guide explained the workings of his and other businesses showing us how business has enabled Christians to serve in his or her calling in China.

For me this idea was a huge eye opener.  That business and missions could partner in one person to achieve one call or purpose in a life blew me away. I think I believed in an idea that was false: missions against business. That living by faith as a missionary meant that one should not do business and incur a profit. I am still blown away by this revelation. What about you. Are you in business? Is your business your mission field? It could be, why not? What if you did not have to quite your job to be a missionary?  More to come.