Business as Mission (BAM) is redefining how we witness the Kingdom of God come to life among unreached communities.
Imagine 3 people from 3 different countries: Pranav, Dewi, and Minh.
- Pranav guides sightseeing trips at a popular tourist destination
- Dewi manages a bakery and cafe adjacent to a university
- Minh manufactures bicycle parts in a local factory
Their jobs, like their cultural backgrounds, are as different as they can be. Yet, they all have 1 thing in common—they were all unreached people who were introduced to Jesus at work!
The tour company that employs Pranav, the bakery/cafe where Dewi works, and the factory that hired Minh are all for profit ventures using business as a mission in various countries in Asia.
Christian business people started these businesses to see kingdom impact and lives transformed for Jesus Christ.
This is the power of Business As Mission. Profitable business strengthens communities through job creation and economic investment. It is also a powerful platform to display the glory of God as business leaders share the Gospel with those who have never heard.
In this article, we’ll explore what Business As Mission is, its effectiveness as a ministry of entrepreneurship, and how business professionals can get involved in BAM–from an internship to long term opportunities.
What Is Business As Mission?
Business as Mission integrates business ventures with a Kingdom focused purpose.
The goal of any BAM could include:
- Helping create jobs
- Supporting local community development
- Addressing both spiritual and physical needs
- Sharing the Gospel through business contacts to frontier or Unreached People Groups
A BAM practitioner uses their gifting as an entrepreneur to operate a business that will benefit their community. What typically makes BAM missional is the business practitioner’s focus on evangelism and church planting.
The BAM model offers unique opportunities for cross cultural engagement on the mission field and provides a more sustainable form of mission work. Rather than relying solely on external funding, BAM leverages entrepreneurship to create lasting impact.
Business As Mission can also be viewed as a form of tentmaking. “Tentmaking” is a term that references the Apostle Paul’s trade as a tentmaker to support himself while he engaged in evangelism in Corinth (Acts 18).
Depending on the strategy, some BAM organizations will even employ folks from the Unreached People Group (UPG) they are trying to reach, even before they become Christians.
In some places around the world, Business As Mission is one of the few ways to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to an UPG because Christianity is illegal.
To be considered UPGs, there is no indigenous community of Jesus’ followers able to engage this people group with church planting. Technically speaking, less than 2 percent of the population actively follows Jesus.
Now that you know more about what Business as Missions is, let’s take a look at some examples of how people have used BAM in North America, as well as on the foreign mission field.
Business As Mission Example Ventures
In the beginning of this article, we introduced you to 3 Business As Mission platforms: A tour company, a bakery/cafe, and a factory.
Here are some other examples of BAMs:
Construction Company
A missional entrepreneur could start a construction company in a restricted country that a traditional missionary would likely not be able to get into without a platform of business.
A construction company is a practical way for a BAM practitioner to help build infrastructure in a developing community and create jobs that will raise up local business leaders.
The goal could be for these local business leaders to come to Christ and initiate church planting among their own people.
Agricultural Business
Christian business people might establish a farm or agricultural business that teaches local farmers modern, sustainable farming techniques and provides economic support through the sale of crops.
This Business As Mission opportunity promotes community development and can naturally lead to spiritual conversations through mentorship and teaching.
Remote Work Agency
A BAM practitioner could start a remote work agency that connects individuals in developing countries with global employment opportunities. It empowers locals from Unreached People Groups with stable income and professional growth by offering training in skills like:
- Graphic design
- Customer service
- Software development
As relationships develop through mentorship and team building activities, the business becomes a platform for sharing the Gospel and planting churches among remote workers and their families.
Business As Mission in New York City
Here at International Project, we are passionate and intentional about ministering to people from demographics who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.
New York City is home to dozens of Unreached People Groups who come from countries where a traditional missionary would not be welcomed.
Fortunately, these unreached people live here in a diverse NYC neighborhood, within reach of our Business As Mission ministry!
In North America, our thrift store is a Business As Mission that meets a practical need of providing low cost clothes and home goods to members of the local community.
In other instances, Christian business people operate the store (whether it be for profit or non profit) as stewardship of their business giftings, while actively seeking opportunities to share God’s love with community members.
Here’s how we have leveraged Business As Mission in our Thrift Store initiative.
Salaam Center
Our BAM is the Salaam Center, a combination thrift store and community center. More than a store, this BAM initiative creates opportunities for holistic transformation by engaging customers in friendly conversations that often lead to deeper, faith centered discussions.
We do this through offering free:
- English conversation groups
- Crafting classes like sewing and knitting
- Food distributions
Through these interactions, we invite individuals to join Discovery Bible Studies, where they can explore the Gospel in a welcoming environment.
This business as a mission provides a dynamic hub for advancing God’s mission in NYC!
Business As Mission Long Term Opportunities
If you are a missional entrepreneur with a heart for evangelism and church planting, God may be calling you to find an opportunity to work in Business As Mission as a long term career or volunteer role.
Business As Mission Full Time Opportunities
Our Salaam Center in New York City is currently seeking a Community Service Coordinator to lead our dynamic BAM initiative. As Community Service Coordinator, you’ll oversee day to day operations, develop impactful programs that engage the community, and share God’s love through intentional spiritual conversations.
This Business As Mission job is perfect for someone who loves engaging with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, has strong organizational skills, and is excited about using their skills in business as a way to share Jesus with others.
Learn more about our Community Service Coordinator role here.
Business As Mission Volunteer Opportunities
Can’t serve full time but want to help? The Salaam Center is seeking volunteers to help make a difference among diverse cultures in our neighborhood!
Volunteer Business As Mission opportunities include:
- Leading English conversation groups to help newcomers improve their language skills
- Teaching
- Life skills classes that empower individuals to thrive in a new environment
- Citizenship courses
- Resume and job skills workshops
- Sorting donations and checking out customers
- Facilitating craft groups that help foster relationships
If you have skills you are wanting to share, our team is open to hearing more about developing a program that could benefit our clients!
Business As Mission jobs are available and can lead to long term opportunities.
But it all starts with an introduction to BAM through first hand experience. A BAM internship may be the perfect next step!
Business As Mission Internships
Are you a young adult or student? If you’re interested in reaching the lost and discovering how faith can intersect with the power of business, our BAM Internships in NYC could be for you!
As a Business As Missions intern, you’ll gain hands on experience in:
- Managing projects and providing customer service at the Salaam Center thrift store
- Facilitating classes and organizing events at the community center
- Practicing evangelism and implementing church planting methods to minister to unreached people
This is an incredible opportunity to combine your business professional talents with Kingdom purpose. Join us in making the Salaam Center a place where we meet practical needs and share the Gospel.
How to Apply
Email Go@internationalproject.org, use the subject line “business as mission internship”, and please include your resume and a cover letter.
