Our goal is to propel entrepreneurial teams as integrated and holistic lifelong laborers in business start-ups around the world. The Entrepreneur Readiness Workshop (ERW) is the first step to prepare for ministry as a Navigator missional entrepreneur. Missional enterprise is the Navigator’s Business as Mission (BAM) context to living out our calling.
ERW Details: September 30 – October 2, 2016 Navigator HQ in Colorado Springs, CO More info and Registration at www.gendesk.org/erw This workshop is for you if any of these apply to you...
FAQ:
Where are they now? ERW Alumni are currently starting new ventures around the world in places like Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the US.
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When Delivering Health Care Globally, Experience MattersBehind every Primary Mobile Med International, PMMI, supporter there is a unique story that exemplifies dedication to global health. In our last newsletter, we covered how two of our supporters, Drs. Edward Fynn and Lewis Roberts, helped Tom and Kevin present PMMI’s work at this year’s Safari Five Conference. Because both Drs. Fynn and Roberts have firsthand experience providing health care to underprivileged populations and have been advising PMMI for the past few years, we are very thankful they helped us tell our story to conference attendants. We are excited to present Dr. Fynn: Dr. Edward Fynn, currently living in Namibia, is a radiologist and senior lecturer at the Namibia School of Medicine. In addition to running a private radiology practice primarily dedicated to women's health, he also works with The Navigators to oversee humanitarian projects in Namibia and southern Angola. Dr. Fynn studied at the Ghana Medical School and completed postgraduate radiology training in South Africa. He has three children with his wife, Kate. Dr. Fynn took part in the following Q&A with PMMI: Q: Describe your reaction to seeing PMMI’s mobile medical clinic (MMC) in-person for the first time. A: When the container idea was pitched to me, I was very excited. But I was extremely excited when I got to walk into the container. I saw something that has been inspired and created by compassion, love, and need. It is amazing that the container and its equipment can meet 80% of the primary health care needs of any third-world country. The container is very relevant and will be very useful. Q: How can the container help you in your practice? A: Even though, in my practice, a lot of the radiology I do is with bigger machines, there are still many people I could help by providing outreach treatment with equipment that could fit in a shipping container, such as ultrasound and x-ray equipment. Providing access to an ultrasound would be especially helpful. Ultrasound diagnostics are critical for infant and maternal health. Q: Why are PMMI’s clinics an ideal solution for remote locations? A: The clinics will especially help practitioners who are in remote locations. The clinics help these practitioners get connected to central hubs and other medical professionals. This helps provide a more extensive diagnostic service to remote areas. Q: To what extent is Africa in need of primary health care? A: It is difficult to even estimate a level of need. It is even beyond the [African] government's ability to estimate. The government's lack the resources and funds needed to keep an accurate estimate. People are in great need. People have to walk miles to health care facilities. And sometimes when they get there, they might find there are no doctors, nurses, or medical supplies. Then they have to walk home untreated. For details about clinic sponsorship and employment opportunities for medical professionals please contact Eva Bammes, Director of Media and Marketing at ebamm@primarymobilemed.com. For more information about PMMI, visit: www.primarymobilemed.com or join the mailing list for monthly updates: www.primarymobilemed.com/newsletter.
On a busy corner in Guadalajara, Mexico, the scent of fresh bread beckons pedestrians into a rustic bakery. Once inside, however, the pleasing aroma of Christ draws customers to the bakery's mother and daughter owner-operators, Myriam and Adriana Sanchez.
Rogenbrott was founded in 2014 as a missional enterprise to share Christ among the lost. The Sanchez family had a dream of starting a business where they could use their God-given talents as bakers, provide for their economic needs, and share Christ with others. That is what is happening as God is fulfilling their daily prayer of “Lord, let us be a fragrant scent here; may You be who attends to the true needs of our clients and providers.” The bakery sells homemade artisan bread to the community, and its impact is felt daily. Clients come in to purchase bread, and are charmed by the family who naturally shares Christ with them. Clients have learned that they can find a listening ear and someone who will pray for them. One client loves coming into the shop because she admires their peace and joy. When asked how they could always be so joyous, mom and daughter responded that it is Christ in them. The bakery's providers are also being reached with the Gospel. Over the past year, the Sanchez family has developed a relationship with one supplier. Although he comes from a religious family, he didn´t understand the Gospel. The Sanchez family believes in making Jesus known through their daily lives, so it wasn´t long before their provider asked them to pray for his sick relative. They rejoiced together when the relative was restored to health. After, their new friend began to come to them for counsel, and they began studying God´s Word with him. The Sanchezes hope that this is just the first of many who will come to know Jesus as their Savior because of the bread store dedicated to the Lord. The Gospel is being lived out in this bakery, and the pleasing aroma of Christ is fragrant to all. Will you take a moment and pray for this missional business, for the Sanchez family, and for other businesses serving to make Christ known around the world? “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV) – GEN Desk Contributing Author “Tom, you’re no longer strange to me.”
What in the world did Ivan, my close friend of two years, mean by that? My wife, our two middle-schoolers, and I had moved into a country that every national who had the chance was fleeing. Food was scarce. Utilities were sporadic. Unemployment was skyrocketing. Corruption was rampant. New criminal gangs were terrorizing the populace as they were fighting each other and carving out their territories. Our move from the suburbs of America to this collapsing country didn’t seem odd to me. It seemed more like an adventure to make a difference in the world by distributing humanitarian aid and leading bible studies with young adults who had never seen a Bible. I met Ivan and his wife on our first day in his country. They were both college graduates and were unemployed. I hired them as our language tutors, our interpreters, and our first employees. We shared life with them for hours on end for 5-6 days a week for two years. The bible studies seemed to be going well. Ivan was translating the materials from English into his native language. Using his artistic ability he also illustrated them with pen and ink drawings. Ivan was a new believer himself so our times in the Word were rich and special for him. I thought I was really connecting with Ivan, so what was that comment about me, “no longer being strange?” After our first 18 months in the country, I changed my focus from humanitarian aid to missional enterprise (BAM). As the enterprise grew we were able to employ more and more people. Job creation took the place of humanitarian handouts. Gainful employment restored dignity and removed the stigma of inferiority. The needs of our enterprise began to create auxiliary enterprises that provided employment for more people. This ripple effect of wealth creation made more sense to Ivan than our previous attempts of propping people up with bailouts. So why did Ivan think I was strange? When I asked him he gave me two reasons:
He also gave me two reasons why I was no longer strange to him:
It makes me wonder how many others have thought of me as strange when I thought I was just trying to help. - Missional Entrepreneur, GEN Desk Contributing Writer “One of the great challenges for everyone is finding a place in the world – seeing a lot, hearing a lot, reading a lot, and then deciding where we will be and what we will do. Knowing what we know, what will we do?” - Steven Garber, Visions of Vocation “Knowing what we know, what will you do?” Garber’s question parallels the parable of the Good Samaritan. When the man was left half dead between Jerusalem and Jericho, the priest, Levite, and Samaritan all saw the depleted man. Yet, the priest and Levite chose not to engage in the brokenness. Instead, they continued on their journeys. When the Samaritan saw the man, he knew the man was hurt and in desperate need of help. With this knowledge, he chose to help the man. He brought the man to the inn and took care of him. In Visions of Vocation, Steven Garber stresses the importance of engaging in the broken world around us, similar to how the Good Samaritan engaged with the hurt man. As Christians, he says “it is clear that the way we live shows what we believe.” Through missional enterprise, we have a chance to live in a way that will demonstrate what we believe. As we see problems around the world, we get to engage and create positive social impact, financial sustainability, and spiritual transformation through business. Jesus’ Kingdom advances. As Garber exemplifies in his book, whether you have the desire to start a clinic in an area with inadequate healthcare, an agriculture business that treats employees fairly and grows crops honestly, or a climbing gym to build trust in a society where it is lacking, you get to create positive change that brings glory to God. Just like the Good Samaritan, it is important to see the wounds of the world and to do something about it. Missional enterprise is one context that allows the Kingdom to salve the pain of the wounds. What are some specific ways your business could see the world as it is and step into the brokenness to make an impact? What are ways you could be the Good Samaritan to the hurting in your community or around the world? – GEN Desk Intern
Why does God’s presence in the workplace matter? The Great Commission challenges all of us, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV). The average adult is awake 16 hours a day: one hour to prepare for work, 30 minutes each driving to and from work, eight hours at work. That’s already 10 out of 16 hours. Let’s contrast that with the time we invest at church. For some people, it’s just an hour a week. The point? The majority of our life is invested in preparation for work and in doing it. That’s why God’s presence in the workplace matters. God knew the struggle we were going to face in the workplace, so throughout Scripture He gave us clear instruction, warning and encouragement about our work. Instruction: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV). Warning: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24, NIV). Encouragement: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25, NIV). The workplace offers great opportunities to encourage those who know Christ and to witness to those who don’t. I have heard many arguments about why God does not belong in the workplace. There is the legal argument. The “it might offend someone” argument. The “what gives you the right?” argument. I have even heard the “it might scare off customers or employees” argument. But Jesus said, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8-9, NIV). If I claim Christ, if I accept His offer of grace, I cannot leave Him in the car and spend the bulk of the day pretending I don’t know Him. Think of how Peter denied Jesus–is that any different from our daily failure to claim Him in the workplace? The marketplace matters because God offered us His Son, the greatest Gift in history. And our acceptance of that Gift came with instructions: Every one of us is called to participate in the Great Commission. Every day in the workplace we have the opportunity to share that Gift with others. Be bold. Live your Christian faith every day. If we do that, we will affect the lives of many in the great harvest field that exists in the workplace. God's Presence in the Workplace
Originally published by Pat Flood, September 24, 2004, at www.billygraham.org. Impacting communities by bringing jobs and dignity! What other businesses do you think could provide TBL transformation?
Recent notes from Jerry White's presentation on, "A Minimalists Guide to Life at Work."
The bottom line for those who like to know the conclusion first! Our work needs: Calling, Excellence, Competence, Faithfulness (work hard), and Attitude. The Theology of Work: From the beginning: "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15 (NIV) Commands and Limits: "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest, you must rest.” Exodus 34:21 (NIV) New Testament View: "Make it your ambition to lead a quite life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV) No work is secular: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Some specifics: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked day and night, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy, they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 (NIV) Key Concepts:
Pinpricks for Our Thinking:
Dig in for yourself! What does God reveal to you about himself, you, and work? – Gen Desk Director Adam, University of Wyoming Navigator Campus Director, wanted to help his students get rid of the “cookie-cutter” thinking of what it takes to reach the nations. “Students want an adventure and we all want our lives to matter.” Adam’s thinking on why he wanted the University of Wyoming to host the missional enterprise Entrepreneurial Readiness Workshop: We believed it would bolster the idea among our students that they are uniquely gifted to reach any context where God places them. We hope our students leave campus feeling confident they can see God use their lives in the workplace and neighborhood just as much as He did on campus. NavMissions designed the ERW around the integrated life—where God’s design and calling for each of us meets. We believe there needs to be a destruction of the sacred-secular divide and fresh building of the integrated laborer, especially in the unreached "9-5 Window" (the workplace). The ERW promotes a vision for new mission frontiers for those who don't feel led into a pure gift-income role. One goal of the ERW is to see if anyone fits the mold of an international cross-cultural laborer. But the vision is much broader than international service and we hope to see many people starting or influencing businesses here in our NavCities with a focus beyond a financial bottom line. Kingdom values expressed through the triple bottom line will create a missional enterprise context for our calling in the U.S. and around the world. My hope is that any campus that is seeing a noticeable growth in God's heart for the nations would consider hosting an ERW. I believe it is my job as a Campus Director to introduce our graduating students to more networks and passionate people then myself. If all they know after four years is what "Adam" thinks about ministry, missions and the Lord, then I have failed. The ERW is adaptable for campuses, military bases, churches, mission organizations, and NavCities. If you would like to partner in hosting an ERW, please email NavMissions at gen@navigators.org.
The next ERW is September 30, 2016 in Colorado Springs. Get info and register at gendesk.org/erw. – GEN Desk Director Missional Enterprise: a Vehicle for Reconciliation “Throughout history, business has brought people together and pulled them apart. It has helped humankind progress while also revealing our darkest impulses.” It’s no secret that we live in a broken world … poverty, injustice, oppression, violence and corruption are all realities of the day and age we live in. Many businesses have been used as instruments of evil and exploitation, contributing to much of the brokenness in the world. However, “business can be an instrument in providing for humanity, an avenue to serve others, a place to exercise one’s gifts and skills, and a vehicle of reconciliation.” Which is why we need to understand God’s purpose for business and not let it remain in it’s broken state. In The Missional Entrepreneur, Russell presents four spheres of life that are broken and that God is on mission to reconcile:
Missional enterprise is an incredible opportunity to partner with God in bringing healing and renewal to each of these areas of brokenness. We easily understand how business can effect the economy in great ways and in more recent years, people are realizing the positive impact that businesses can have socially and environmentally; but the spiritual aspect of business bringing healing seems to be more allusive, yet crucial. The uniqueness of business is that it is an open door to everywhere and not just into physical places but also into the hearts of people. Everyday around the world people engage in business in a plethora of ways from the rich to the poor from the consumer to employee to owner. “Being missional is about living in a state of being that is at the center of God’s mission wherever you are … and the spiritual mission of business is not to establish a kingdom of wealth and power but to bring the Kingdom of God to tangible reality.” As businesses help build communities, provide for humanity, serve people according to their needs, and more; they become a physical expression of spiritual realities. This is what we strive for within the Global Enterprise Network; using the Triple Bottom Line to see Kingdom Values permeate all dimensions of enterprise unleashing the gospel. We do realize that God doesn’t need business and doesn’t need us to bring healing and reconciliation to the world but what a privilege that He invites us to join with Him to carry out His mission. What are some specific, small ways businesses can bring renewal and restoration to your corner of the world? And where do you see yourself called to join God in His mission of renewing the world? – GEN Desk Coordinator
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