In their book Great Commission Companies, Steve Rundle and Tom Steffen do a good job in demonstrating that businessmen can be an effective catalyst for sharing Christ in Unreached People Groups. They also show the falsity of what they call the spiritual-vocational hierarchy where typically most Christians see foreign missionaries as the people with the most spiritual job and business men and others with the least spiritual jobs.
Globalization
The world is changing in big ways. For instance, businessmen no longer rely on local economies to the extent that they used to. Information, technology, transportation, and shipping have dramatically changed our markets from local to global. While this definitely could be a good thing some people don't like the way events have turned. Outsourcing is more and more common these days. This can be destructive if we don't become integrated into the global economy. In addition to the opportunities this has created for business, globalization has opened up new doors for bringing news about the gospel of Jesus to UPGs (Unreached People Groups). One of the most exciting aspects of globalization is that you don't have to be a professional missionary anymore to be involved in frontier missions. Now the average "Joe" can go anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. Ordinary people are going cross cultural at surprising levels. This has brought about a new phase in history where now business professionals can take a leading role in church planting movements. It is no longer the "elite" who are fulfilling the Great Commission.
Cover up Business?
Some traditional missionaries have caught on the Idea of using business and mission together but when used as merely an "access strategy" this can be not only deceptive but just plain less effective. It will become apparent to onlookers that real for profit business is not being done. People will start to wonder where you are getting money from and will be suspicious. This can completely undermine the work that is being accomplished. How much better to be up front with everyone and be pursuing legitimate business income. Furthermore, a legitimate business that is making a substantial amount of money is a significant asset to the community that a phony business cannot be.
No "Necessary Evil"
I am becoming more and more convinced that there is no reason that we have to see our job as a necessary evil. It should be and integral part of what we do not just a way to make money so that we can do what we really want. The time we spend during our work week is just as important as our off time if not more important. It is valuable time to build relationships. Even the fact that a job gives an opportunity to spend a lot of time with others on something together is very important.
Practical Business Helps
Sometimes when I am driving by a business I wonder how they started. Did they wake up one day and say to themselves "I want to start a restaurant"? What is it that makes for a good business plan? Chapter 5 (pp. 79) refers to what Harvard business professor Amar Bhide has found to be true. He says in his book ¹How Entrepreneurs Craft Strategies That Work that the most successful entrepreneurs are those who find solutions to problems they encountered in a previous job. This is one of many ways that this book Great Commission Companies has demystified my knowledge of how business works.
Conclusion
Great Commission Companies is a read that is well worth the time it takes. The Insights I gained by reading it are invaluable. Any follower of Jesus would do well to hear this information
¹Amar Bhide, "How Entrepreneurs Craft Strategies That Work" Harvard Business Review March/April 1994, pp. 150-61
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