Below you read an interview with a Christian supporting small businesses in Central Asia.
How do you practise business as mission?
We grant small loans to small businesses. In this way we support pastors, church leaders and other Christians. When they have a successful business, they can not only sustain themselves, but also show and share the good work they do. Some of the loans we give are showing quick results. You can see the immediate effect of the investment. Others ask for more patience and depend on the integrity of the entrepreneurs. For example, if you invest in a garden, it takes time to grow before you see a harvest.
It takes time to grow before you see a harvest.
Do you focus on money only?
We do a lot more! Besides investing funds, we invest a lot of knowledge and time. Not everybody has the same level of experience with numbers and doing business. We visit the businesses we support and give trainings. Also, we are very connected to the people we work with, and their personal situations. It not just business consultation, it is a family consultation. Sometimes the numbers can look good, but if you notice there are relationship problems, this will influence the company too. It is not just business, it is Christian business. Because it is connected to our faith, it is connected everything, because faith is integral. For example, talking about Christian entrepreneurship is talking about generosity, about how your business belongs to God, how you treat your coworkers and about what do you do with your income.
It is not just business, it is Christian business.
What motivates you to do BAM?
As a Christian, I think we have the task to be good stewards. Business is stewardship. Not everybody knows this. People see their work as very detached from their church. The church also doesn’t recognise it as a tool for building the Kingdom. We try to bridge this gap and show that Christianity, the Church and businesses together can make a big impact. I met a women with a very successful business. She made good profit. But she never looked at is as a tool to reach out to people and build Kingdom. She was amazed when she came to realize that her work and faith could be joined together in something beautiful. I always think that if there would be no business, there would be no mission. Like with Bible printing, you need printers. If business doesn’t support mission, it would not be done.
If there would be no business, there would be no mission.