Business for Mission

You may have heard of Business AS Mission it’s when someone with knowledge and skills in business intentionally sets up a business and runs it in order to have an influence for Christ in a particular business sector or community.

 

Business FOR mission is lesser known but common and Jon is often finding himself supporting missionaries around the world who are managing one. The challenge is that these missionaries don’t often have skills or experience in business. They didn’t set out to do business as part of their ministry but while doing their main ministry there was an undeniable need or opportunity that compelled them to jump in. 

 

Artists in particular tend to have these types of endeavors fall into their laps. As artists create while doing ministry, a product is created too. If that product can be marketed, it can generate an income to help the ministry to be self-sustaining. But it is challenging to make it successful with little to no business experience or training and in a foreign country no less! 

 

Jon built a small business for mission in Italy, alongside an Italian believer, in response to the need we saw for survivors of trafficking to learn job skills and experience dignifying employment. Even with Jon’s business skills and experience it was incredibly challenging but it filled a critical gap we had in order to continue in ministry! 

 

Now Jon gets to support other missionaries around the world - from a community art center providing hope to men and women residing in the garbage dump of Guatemala City, to a sewing center providing dignifying employment to women in Nepal, to community art centers reaching families in Japan with the gospel, to the production of creative cards and gifts by missionaries in Thailand so that they can continue in full time ministry.  

 

It’s a privilege to empower the passionate people running these important businesses so they can meet compelling needs in the name of Christ.