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All Are Called – Business As a Mission In the Global Perspective

By Michael Cardy

Background
In the Old Testament, we hear of faithful men and women who lived for God in a lost world. They built
cities such as Enoch (Cain), Babylon and Nineveh (Nimrod), ran enterprises (Amos the herdsman and
prophet) and were servants in the courts of kings (Nehemiah the cupbearer).

The New Testament has several examples of businessmen and businesswomen such as Luke, Zacchaeus,
Priscilla & Aquila and Lydia. There was no dividing line between sacred and secular. They understood
that where their feet were planted, with the gifts and talents they had, they could make a difference for
Christ. Peter was himself in the fishing business, before Christ called him to be a fisher of men.

In his address to the All-Asia Mission Consultation in Seoul, Korea in August 1973, Ralph Winter (US
Center for World Missions) spoke of a time in the history of the church, when God saw fit to expand His
kingdom through monasteries, “The source and the real focal point of new energy and vitality which
flowed into Christian movement.” As economic development centers, these institutions were catalysts
for the impact of Christianity at a time when it was stalled by a cumbersome ecclesiastical structure.

Ralph concluded his address with the following question: “How long will it be before the younger
churches of the so-called mission territories of the non-Western world come to that epochal
conclusion…that there need to be [monastery, or its equivalent] structures…in order to reach out in vital
initiatives in mission, especially cross-cultural mission?”

Ralph’s question is answered today in the global Business As a Mission movement (BAM) – a movement
that recognizes an individual’s vocational calling (all are called in the marketplace) – to exercise the gifts
and talents we have received from our Father, so that He may be glorified among the nations. BAM has
fueled revivals and mission movements in the past, but never on the global scale seen today. God is
doing something new and He is inviting all to join in His work!

What is our vocational (BAM) calling? What should be our response?

Your Vocational Calling

The Task
The last command of Jesus, our first concern, was that His followers go and make disciples of all nations.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, „All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

He did not say, some go and some stay or only missionaries and full-time ministers. He commanded all
to “as you are going, make disciples.” Some are to do so in their own backyard (Jerusalem), some in their
city or region (Judea and Samaria), and some are called to go to other nations (end of the earth):

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“You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.” Acts 1:8
God’s redemptive plan is that all will be His witnesses, making disciples of all nations as you go on
your way.

The Person
The Apostle Peter wrote a letter to Christians dispersed throughout Asia Minor, who having fled the
persecutions of Nero discovered they had not escaped trials and tribulation where they settled. A
businessman by trade and the first disciple of Jesus, Peter was best suited to answer the question “How
do I live my faith in the marketplace?”

He wrote to the “servants” – the laborer and merchants in the marketplace, all who worked in that day
and time (i.e., CEO’s, managers, doctors, McDonald’s cashiers, janitors, taxi drivers, teachers…..all):
“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to
the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief,
suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it
patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before
God. For to this you were called.” 1 Peter 2:18-21
What did he have to say about living our faith day-to-day? Peter said that as Christians in the
marketplace, realize that because of our relationship with Christ, we are called to do good – regardless
of your working conditions. All those who are laboring to provide for their family: Do what is good and
when you suffer, bear it patiently. God takes note of such things.

This is not a surprise to God – He planned it: “When you do good and suffer for it.” You do what is right,
because you are sensitive towards God. The Holy Spirit within you brings conviction, insight and wisdom
as your counselor and teacher. The Apostle Paul affirms this in a different way:
“Obey…do it not only when their eye is on you and to win favor, but with sincerity of heart and
reverence for the LORD. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not men, since you know you will receive an inheritance. It is the Lord you are serving.”
Collossians 3:22-25

The Location
Just as important as the “what” and “who”, Peter used the Greek word “kaleo” for called – the “where”.
We find this word used elsewhere in scripture:
 The parable of the talents (Matthew 20:8 and 25:14) when the owner of the vineyard called or
summoned his servants to give them their wages. Here, “called” means something which you
have already earned.
 The Divine call to partake of the blessings of redemption (Romans 8:28-30 and Hebrews 9:15).
Here, “called” means something you have already attained.
 Holy and a Royal Priesthood (I Peter 1:15, 2:9). Here, “Called” means a position you already
hold.
“Called” is a position, a stand you make that is granted by who you are in Christ. You are not called to
come from, you are called to where you are! By using the word “kaleo”, Peter is saying “You are where
you are because God has placed you there.”

Peter exhorts us to choose to live our life as such because it is commendable before God – God sees it!
All are called to be Christ in the marketplace. In The Call, Os Guinness said:

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“A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all
others – the Audience of One.”
Where we are and who we are is the sovereign will of God. As Ambassadors for Christ, we lay claim to
the sovereign piece of land -the city, region and nations God has placed us. How we choose to fulfill His
call on our life is a choice we make daily. In word and deed, honor God in the marketplace!

As employees, we redeem our workplace of our company, customers and those who cross our path. As
employers, owners of kingdom companies, we redeem the land by building and launching enterprises
that lay a sovereign claim, this is God’s land. We seek to address the social issues (systemic poverty,
Aids/HIV, Human Trafficking, Hunger, etc.) and witness for Christ where we are planted.

Observations
The redemptive work of God through His saints is our Father’s passion. The calling, the discipling of
nations, the movement of God through commerce, was our Lord Jesus’ last command. We know the
work is not finished – God is still at work. Take a look at these trends (sources in Appendix A):

Missions – The Movement of God’s People to Reach The Lost

 The American mission workforce is shrinking, while the Latin American, Asian and African
mission workforce is growing.
 The Western world’s “Jerusalem” is now the non-Western world’s “ends of the earth”. Europe
and North America are realizing a significant increase in receiving versus sending missionaries.
 Self-sustaining missionaries are increasing as a U.S. mission strategy, while it is a key strategy for
non-Western agencies already.

Christianity – The Movement of God in His People

 91% of the daily global increase of Christians can be found in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
 60% of unreached people groups live in countries closed to missionaries from North America.
 There are as many followers for Christ in China as in North America.

Global Population Migration – The Movement of God’s Creation

 Half of the world’s population is urban today. By 2050, that number will be 70%.
 Megacities (with population greater than 1M) represent an opportunity for BAM. In 1900, there
were 20 megacities, 5 were non-Christian. In mid-2000 that number had grown to 402 and 226,
respectively. By 2025, it is projected that of the 650 megacities, 300 will be non-Christian.
 Countries with the largest international migrant population: US, Russia, Germany, France, Saudi
Arabia, Canada, India, UK, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Jordan and Iran.

Commerce – The Movement of God Through His People

 [In Medieval times] the specialized house called the monastery, or its equivalent, became ever
so much more important in the perpetuation of the Christian movement than was the organized
system of parishes, which we often called the church as if there were no other structure making
up the church.
 Small to Medium Enterprises [SME’s] constitute, on the average, 90% of businesses, and
generate some 50-60% of employment. The growth of SMEs exercises profound impact on
employment, technological and productivity improvement, and, in the final analysis, on the
alleviation of poverty.

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 The growing corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement emphasizes accountability to

society as a whole for the “triple bottom-line” impact of social and environmental outcomes as
well as financial results. BAM affirms all of these but also includes a 4th bottom-line,
intentionally revealing and honoring Christ and seeing Him transform lives through business.
BAM is CSR+, as it were. The + can also be seen as a cross-putting everything under the Lordship
of Christ.

Conclusion
What is a vocational calling? Know that “Your vocation is your location to bear Christ’s name”. The
call is the same for both Christian employee and employer. Over this past century the dividing line
between Western and non-Western, developed and emerging nations, has been erased. With massive
global migration, BAM and the emergence of non-Western mission agencies, God has leveled the field of
opportunity to disciple the nations. We are the Body of Christ, reaching out to a lost world. May we be
found faithful and obedient today!

Our Response
Individually, live today for Christ! Look at what God is doing in your backyard (your Jerusalem). Is He
bringing nations to your doorstep? Are your actions each day in the marketplace winsome for Him? Are
your actions commendable before God? Is repentance and change necessary? God is able!

Is it time for us to consider a new model for mission agencies? As the world economic system collapses
and more kingdom businesses arise, as the Body of Christ becomes increasingly knit together (internet,
travel, migration, international business), as our Jerusalem becomes the outermost reaches and vice
versa for our brothers and sisters in Christ abroad…should we not consider a global mission agency that
empowers and enables the Gospel to be preached by action and word, breathing life and fulfilling
purpose into each other’s calling, gifting and talents?

Imagine if you would, a business that redeems the land and its people, making a profit and blessing the
land, with employees and management focused on high standards of ethics, finance, human resources
and community involvement. In the medieval times, when the world was in turmoil and there was little
security outside of their shadow, self-sustaining monasteries provided an oasis and carried the Gospel
into the world in practical (economic and religious) fashion. Is this not the time when small to medium
sized enterprises, properly managed and run, could have the same impact?

What are you doing to fulfill Christ’s last command? If not here, where? If not now, when?

About the author:

Michael Cardy was called to the marketplace in 1975. His international career (with both business and
non-profits) and travel has taken him to 40 countries, including a five year assignment in Eastern
Europe. His international consulting company Rev22 specializes in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(SME’s), providing strategic planning, business plan, market development and troubleshooting. He
welcomes comments and can be reached at: MJCardy@gmail.com and on Facebook at Rev22.

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Appendix A: The Trends

Missions
 The American career missionary workforce is rapidly shrinking. In 1986 there were 69,000 career
American missionaries, in 2006 that was down to 35,000; almost a 50% reduction in the last 20
years. 1
 From 2005 to 2008 the number of tentmakers deployed by U.S. agencies grew a dramatic 73.4%, an
annual growth rate of 20.1%. 2
 Highest percentage gains in sending versus receiving missionaries are Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Highest percentage gains in receiving versus sending missionaries are in Europe, North America and
Oceania. 3
 “Which country will be the leading missionary sending country in the twenty-first century?” The
majority (of Korean mission agency executives) responded: Korea 52%, China 37%, US 7.5% and UK
.9%. 4
 “This is a great opportunity for Singapore to truly realize her role as the Antioch of Asia as we
mobilize 350,000 plus Protestant Christians in Singapore from all ages and all walks of life to reach
out and impact at least one person from one other nation as we respond to the Lord’s call to arise to
the harvest!” 5
 Mostly younger, non-Westerners highlight initiatives that are aligned with a broader definition of
mission that includes justice and freedom for the poor and oppressed, food for the hungry, and
healing for the diseased…They see these responses as aligned with God’s purposes in the world and
as urgently required for the sake of the church’s credibility. 6
 “As globalization deepens and widens, the need increases for tentmaking, which can often deal with
the global realities more sensitively and more creatively than traditional full-time missionaries.”
One-third of all Korean missionaries are tentmakers….There have been concerns about the lack of
veteran missionaries who could provide oversight for young and inexperienced missionaries. 7

Christianity
 In 1910 over 80% of all Christians lived in Europe and Northern America. By 2010 this has fallen to
less than 40%, with the majority of Christians located in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 8
 The U.S. represents only 12% of global Christianity; the world’s 50 largest churches are all outside
the US. 9
 There are as many followers of Christ in China as in North America 10
 91% of the daily global increase of Christians can be found in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 11
 60% of unreached people groups live in countries closed to missionaries from North America. 12
 22 million internationals visit the US each year. 630,000 are university students from 220 countries,
25% which prohibit Christian Missionaries. 13

Global Population Migration

 Half (50.6%) of the world’s population is urban today. By 2050, that number will be 70%. 14
 Countries with the highest percentage of international migrants in total population: United Arab
Emirates, Kuwait, Singapore, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Kazakhstan… Countries with the
largest international migrant population: US, Russia, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Canada, India,
UK, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Jordan and Iran. 15
 “Every major US and Canadian urban area has a burgeoning immigrant urban population. In the past
ten years more than one million foreign-born people, speaking 239 different languages have settled

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in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. In 32% of the area’s residences, English is not the language in
the home.” 16
 International migration rates for 2000-2005: North America 4.2%, Oceania 3.2%, Europe 1.5%, Latin
America and the Caribbean (.3%) , Africa (.5%) and Asia (1.5%).17
 Megacities (Greater than 1M population): 1900 – 20, mid-2000 – 402, 2025 – 650
o Non-Christian megacities: 1900 – 5, mid-2000 – 226, 2025 – 300 18

Commerce, Marketplace Ministry and BAM

 In the Middle Ages, monasteries were the hub of commerce & economic development.19
 [In Medieval times] the specialized house called the monastery, or its equivalent, became ever so
much more important in the perpetuation of the Christian movement than was the organized
system of parishes, which we often called the church as if there were no other structure making up
the church.20
 The monasteries were uniformly the source and the real focal point of new energy and vitality which
flowed into the diocesan side of the Christian movement.20
 Protestant missions, being modality minded, have tended to assume that merely modalities, e.g.,
churches, need to be established.20
 Foundational Principles: In business, practicing the values of the Kingdom of God should be
characterized by operational virtues, including: Passion- a zeal for mission that expresses other-
centered concern; Humility- a commitment to serve others with respect; Faith- a willingness to take
bold risks; Wisdom- the application of truth to complex circumstances; Integrity- the alignment
between our words, deeds and values; Hope- the joy of expectation, especially in the midst of
hardship, that comes from a conviction that God’s Kingdom is already present and will be fulfilled in
eternity.21
 Commitments – We commit to:
o The creation of a culture within the church to address the training of pastors, evangelists
and the priesthood of all believers, to affirm, equip, and support business people for faithful
discipleship in business.
o Collaborate and network with one another and with other networks to continue our process
of learning and discernment.
o Affirm and advocate for Kingdom-centered corporate governance and responsible
governmental action within our individual contexts.
o Strive to change our consumption patterns and personal lifestyles as Christ’s body,
responsibly stewarding creation for God’s glory and common good.
o Encourage one another and our faith communities to implement the principles and values
expressed above.21
 It is our deep conviction that businesses that function in alignment with the core values of the
Kingdom of God are playing and increasingly should play an important role in holistic transformation
of individuals, communities and societies.21
 The growing corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement emphasizes accountability to society as
a whole for the “triple bottom-line” impact of social and environmental outcomes as well as
financial results. BAM affirms all of these but also includes a 4th bottom-line, intentionally revealing
and honoring Christ and seeing Him transform lives through business. BAM is CSR+, as it were. The +
can also be seen as a cross-putting everything under the Lordship of Christ.22

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 [SME] enterprises constitute, on an average, 90% of businesses, and generate some 50-60% of
employment. The growth of SMEs exercises profound impact on employment, technological and
productivity improvement, and, in the final analysis, on the alleviation of poverty.23
 What was it about Europe and North America that transformed their entrepreneurship into massive
transnational economic entities, while other countries languished? 1.) Establishing transport links,
both internally where internal market exists, and externally where trading opportunities are
available. 2.) Production of domestic surplus without creating too great an import burden. 3.)
Stability (geographical and political) of dominant groups created an incentive to invest.24

Quote Sources:
1. Joshua Project
2. A Current Snapshot of North American Protestant Missions, A. Scott Moreau, International Bulletin
of Missionary Research, Vol.35 No.1
3. Christianity 2010: A View from the New Atlas of Global Christianity, IBMR, Vol.34, No.1
4. The Protestant Missionary Movement in Korea: Current Growth and Development, Steve Sang-Cheol
Moon, IBMR Vol.32 No.2
5. Iris Sin, GO4th 2011 Program Committee, Singapore Center for Global Missions
6. Report on Cape Town 2010, Stanley W. Green, IBMR Vol.35, No.1
7. The Protestant Missionary Movement in Korea: Current Growth and Development, Steve Sang-Cheol
Moon, IBMR Vol.32 No.2
8. Christianity 2010: A View from the New Atlas of Global Christianity, IBMR Vol.34 No.1
9. The New Role For Western Missionaries, Eric Swanson, Leadership Network
10. Joshua Project
11. Christianity 2010: A View from the New Atlas of Global Christianity, IBMR Vol.34 No.1
12. The Travelling Team
13. Ibid.
14. Urban Trends: Urbanization and Economic Growth, UN Habitat, State of the World’s Cities
2010/2011
15. International Migration 2006, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
16. The New Role For Western Missionaries, Eric Swanson, Leadership Network
17. International Migration 2006, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
18. Status of Global Mission 2011, in Context of 20th and 21rst Centuries, IBMR Vol.35, No.1
19. A History of the Expansion of Christianity vol.12 pp379-80 Latourette, Kenneth Scott
20. The Two Redemptive Structures of God’s Redemptive Mission, Ralph Winter
21. Wheaton Declaration on Business as Integral Calling (2009)
22. The Mission of Business: CSR+, Mats Tunehag Lausanne Senior Associate- Business as Mission 2009
23. Survey of Small and Medium Enterprises in The Global Compact, United Nationals Industrial
Development Organization
24. Entrepreneurship, Capital and Capitalism, Ranil Dissanayake: Making It #4, 2010 United Nationals
Industrial Development Organization

All Are Called – Business As a Mission In the Global Perspective