Analyzing a Christian Foundation for Work and Vocation in Business

This essay provides an overview of the concept of work and vocation within a Christian context, focusing on the 'Business as Mission' (BAM) foundation. It discusses the Christian perspective on vocation as a God-given talent and work as a reflection of God's creative image. The essay explores how ...Read More

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Christian Foundation 1
“Business as Mission”
The objective of this essay is to guide the reader with the knowledge of work and
vocation of a Christian organization in the business environment. The essay includes information
about the concept of Work and Vocation in relation to a Christian Foundation present in the
business environment. ‘Business as Mission’ (BAM) is a Christian foundation that is discussed
in the paper. It is important to note that the Christian foundation is a foundation that works on the
beliefs and ritual of Christianity in the society. Such organizations work to uplift the society
using their not for profit business activities in the external environment. Further, activities of the
company Business as Mission is discussed below to enlighten the reader about the business
functions of a Christian organization (Business as Mission, 2019). More details about the paper
are discussed below:
In Christianity, vocation is an occupation that a person is especially trained or suited in
the external environment. The term vocation originated from Christianity where people believe
that the god has made every person with some gift of talent that are oriented towards specific
purpose and way of life that they are going to conduct. Further, the view of Christian on work is
that every human being is formed in the image of god (Visión, 2013). They are formed in such a
way so as to make things work and create things in the environment. Thus, in this way, a person
will share an image same as his creator through his activities in the business environment, as god
has created him, in the same way he create things in the world. In the modern environment, the
term vocation has shifted towards the process of emphasising to the talent and development of an
individual’s abilities in choice of career (Business as Mission, 2019). An example of work and
vocation in the environment can be a person working for charity and in response accepting little
or no money. So, it can be said that Business as Mission (BAM) also comes under the work and
vocation segment as it works for the betterment of the society.
BAM is an organization that works for uplifting the interest of the society and eliminating
the environmental, economic and spiritual issues from the external environment. There is no
actual definition of Business as Mission; however, there are few common denominators in the
environment that explain the global BAM movement. Business as Mission is a profitable and
sustainable business that implements a holistic approach of transformation to underline various
environmental, economic and social issues and eliminate them from the globe (Johnson, 2011).

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This organization is concerned about the poorest and least evangelized people present in the
society. This organization represents the intentionality of the Church to integrate the business
objectives with the gospel and the complete world. Basically, the objective of BAM is to
integrate people in the society and help them to create and develop profit business activities for
them. BAM works with the intention of kingdom of God where people work together in the
community to give potential benefits to each other, societies and world. This organization
leverages the intrinsic power of the business to address spiritual needs along with economic,
environmental and social needs as well (Quatro, 2012).
Integration is the superior idea that creates such type of organization in the work and
vocation industry. The organization does not have any resource or product in the environment;
instead they work by forming collective relationship through its activities in the environment.
The organization has the opportunity to earn well using creativity and hard work of people. This
business also aims to create new employment opportunities for people by driving innovation and
providing resources in the society as well. The organization aims to distribute goods and services
in the environment in order to provide effectiveness in the activities of other people and establish
a solid relationship with them as well (Bosch, 2017). This business works on the guidelines of
God and works to tackle poverty, unemployment and increase quality of life of people by
eliminating economic, social environmental issues from the environment.
This organization exists in the environment because they believe that god has given them
power to uplift the interest of people in the society and provide them benefits as well. Just like
any other organization, this organization also has a mission that is to increase the quality of life
of people and create a kingdom of god on earth. This organization works in favour of the people
and aims to provide benefits to them so that they can grow further and provide benefits to other
people in the environment. This process is a continuous process of approach people and asking
them to train other people. Delivery of education from one person to another reduces the
economic problem to some extent by increasing the employment opportunities. This organization
serves to people for a good cause in the environment. The organization makes use of Biblical
model of Transformation through Business Practice Issue Group (BMIG) model in the business
environment. This model focuses on developing the Biblically sound and practical understanding
of the business (Business as Mission, 2019).

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The organizational structure of the business is simple and straight line. The organization
makes use of available resources and knowledge present within people to grow and succeed in
their mission. The organization aims and targets the Christian business men and women in order
to understand God’s redemptive work through business in the world. The organization wants to
use the resources of knowledge present with Christian business people and motivate them to
provide such teachings to other people present in the world. The organization wants the Christian
business people to lead the world and tackle several environmental issues present with the
society. The business as a mission website is all about connecting diversified people having
various resources in the business and asking them to favour the other people of the society. The
organization exists to champion the role of business in God’s plan for the world (Lee, 2017).
They create a missional role for the business people globally. Further, the organization
partner and collaborate with people and organizations around the world that can help them to
spread a word about Christianity in the environment. The organization also gathers resources
from the business and provide online and offline venues and events to people so as to connect
them and provide them services as well. The organization is a network of global partners who are
seeking to collaborate and share the resources with other people in the business environment
(Business as Mission, 2019).
Further, it should be noted that Business as Mission work together to increase satisfaction
level of people in the environment and eliminate various environmental issues as well. Just like
any other business process present in the world, the organization has its own mission and vision
statement on the basis of which the work and grow in the environment. Profitability is the output
of the activities of any business in the environment while increasing attention towards
Christianity and depleting environmental problems is an output of the Business as Mission
organization. Just like a normal for profit business, the company also connects and makes use of
resources present in the environment to grow and succeed. The company also initiates its
activities in both online as well as offline platform to attract people (Bates, 2015). The
organization analyse the need of for profit and Christian organizations to tap on the strategic
issues of poverty, globalization etc. The organization makes use of the efficiency of individual
business professionals to increase the quality and number of BAM companies in the world. BAM
also develops several movements in the business environment to grow and increase awareness

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regarding Christianity. The organization indulges the leaders in church, academic and business
so as to influence the attitude of business and develop them as god given calling (St Hill, 2018).
Further, it should be noted that basic activities of BAM is similar to that of a normal
business but the business objectives of the company and mission is far more diverse than a
business. The organization aims to spread a word for Christianity in the environment and deplete
the environmental issues whereas a business process works to increase its profitability in the
environment. Thus, it should be noted that just like a normal business process, the Business as
Mission also collaborate, communicate, recruit and arrange resources and people to grow and
increase its profitability but the motive behind such actions is different (Oberholster, & Doss,
2017). This organization conducts online as well as offline events to help people learn and spread
awareness for Christianity in the society. Thus, the fact should be noted that the activities of
Business as Mission is same but they are more diversified and complex as well. The organization
connects with different knowledgeable people to grow and succeed in the environment. A
business refers to a commercial activity implemented in the external environment that provides
profitability and growth to the company (Ma, & Ross, 2015).
On the other hand, Business as Mission is an organization that helps other organizations
to grow and succeed. This organization also works with a motive to earn profit in the
environment but the profit is induced in the company for its growth and survival. The profit is
not utilized by the partners for their personal use. Instead it is used for a good cause in the
business environment. Further, it should also be noted that Business as Mission can be regarded
as a for profit business, but the reason to generate profit is to reach people that are most
vulnerable and disadvantageous gospel present in the neighbourhood and all around the world
(Mitchell, 2016).
Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events, it is reported in the essay that Business
as Mission is a for profit organization that works to favour Christianity in the society. The
organization works by connecting various other organizations and people and help them in
developing, growing and becoming profitable in the external environment. The activities of the
organization BAM is similar to the activities of a business process, the only difference is in the
objectives of the businesses. BAM works with a differential objective in the external
environment. The organization wants to grow so as to spread a kingdom of god in the world. The

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above mentioned essay highlighted information about the work and vocation industry and the
features and structure of Business as Mission organization. It also elaborates how the activities of
BAM relate to the Business.

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References
Bates, M. J. (2015). Why Business as Mission Entrepreneurs Decided to Go into
Business. Business Journal for Entrepreneurs, 2015(1).
Bosch, D. A. (2017). The Gap Between Best Practices and Actual Practices: A BAM Field
Study. Christian Business Academy Review, 12.
Business as Mission, (2019). About BAM Global. Retrieved from <
http://businessasmission.com/about/bamglobal/>
Business as Mission, (2019). BAM Review. Retrieved from < http://businessasmission.com/what-
is-success-advancing-spiritual-impact-in-bam/>
Business as Mission, (2019). Start Here. Retrieved from < http://businessasmission.com/get-
started/#tab-id-5>
Business as Mission, (2019). What is Business as Mission. Retrieved from <
http://businessasmission.com/#av_section_2 >
Johnson, C. N. (2011). Business as mission: A comprehensive guide to theory and practice.
InterVarsity Press.
Lee, S. (2017). An Eschatological Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Business as
Mission Companies. The Asbury Journal, 72(1), 8.
Ma, W., & Ross, K. R. (Eds.). (2015). Mission spirituality and authentic discipleship (Vol. 14).
Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Mitchell, H. M. (2016). The Importance of Starting a For-Profit Business as Mission to Advance
God’s Kingdom.
Oberholster, B., & Doss, C. (2017). Missionary (religious) expatriates. In Research Handbook of
Expatriates. Edward Elgar Publishing.

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Quatro, S. A. (2012). Is business as mission (BAM) a flawed concept? A Reformed Christian
response to the BAM movement. Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 15(1), 80-
87.
St Hill, R. (2018). The 5P model of missional business: Background and description.
In Reimagining Christian Education (pp. 295-326). Springer, Singapore.
Visión, L. (2013). Mission. Change, 3(2013).