B4T Blog
Greg M, Patrick Lai, and guest bloggers write about the joys, challenges, and rewards that come with taking the Gospel to the least reached through real business.
REPORTING VS. ACCOUNTABILITY
Many mission agencies place a big priority on reporting, however, I believe we should emphasize accountability instead. If you think accountability and reporting are the same thing – sorry it’s not. Most mission organizations use a monthly or bi-monthly report form...
TRANSPARENCY
Question: Why has Coca Cola gone to the ends of the earth in less than a hundred years but the gospel has not in two thousand years? I think the answer is this: the world welcomes economic wealth. People want jobs and when we provide jobs, they invite us. Jesus...
TIME TO RE-THINK MISSIONS
When most people think about missions, they think about overcoming barriers, overcoming walls, building bridges to get beyond where they are so that they can connect with locals. This is old school missiology. It’s a new day. Today the way to connect with people is...
TWO BOTTOM LINES
I am headed for the BAM Think Tank in Thailand next week and I note that in at least one paper there is reference to the four bottom lines of BAM; economic, environment, social and spiritual. These all can be good, godly and helpful. Each is to be encouraged. But...
MONEY & MISSIONS: KILLING WITH KINDNESS OR EMPOWERING LASTING TRANSFORMATION
Last month I was in Tijuana. The city seemed to be thriving, but my hosts clarified that the crime is real (all three of them had had their cars stolen and homes broken into). I wondered aloud what impact the church was having on all this that led into a good...
CHANGE AHEAD
For 5 years now we have been advocating that mission agencies need to adjust to the times or face going out of business. Solutions have been offered but received with silence. For 2 years now we’ve seen an increasing number of young people shun going overseas with a...
BREAKING BOXES
I recently met with three men at a nearby hotel whom I’ve never met before. The first thing we did was introduce ourselves. “I am John and I am the regional director for XYZ mission organization.” “I am Zul. I am the Indonesian national director for XYZ mission...
THE SECOND MILE
I received an email this week from a B4T worker who writes. I am a bit discouraged. My partner in the business (they are just getting started) quit today. He says doing business is just too hard. He prefers to use the traditional approach despite its drawbacks. ...
TRANSPARENCY: AVOID GETTING THE BOOT
Another North African country is cleaning house. Over 20 expats have been asked to leave since November last year. All were kicked out for doing the right things. But were they doing the right things, the right way? I thought so, until I met one of the workers who got...
JARS OF CLAY
This week I read in Romans 9 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? Near our old house, there’s a place which sells pottery. When I drove by recently, I admired the large clay...
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