Introduction
The Great Commission refers to instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples after he rose. He asked them to preach the gospel to people across the world. These instructions are found in many passages in the book of Mathew. In fulfilling this work commissioned by Jesus, the disciples were to preach the gospel and convert people to Christianity, baptize believers, perform miracles, and make disciples of those who accept Jesus. This assignment will examine how God’s people (Christians) communicate the gospel with people from different cultures focusing on Business as Missions (BAM) and how the local churches and missions work together to accomplish the will of God.
How Business as Mission Help to Spread the Gospel to People of Other Cultures
Business as Mission, known as Kingdom Business, Mission Enterprise, or Transformational Business, is an accurate and profitable business that teaches Christian values that lead to changing people and communities in spirit, economics, and social life to the greater honor of God.1 These business activities are achieved in a number of ways: firstly, business people can go on business-related trips to an overseas country. The country may have a different culture from the entrepreneurs. Through this trip, a businessperson can take their time to explain experiences and business ideas to the target group. In doing so, this person will seize the opportunity to interact closely with these people. As they spend time together, the above individuals will teach about ethics, honesty, and other virtues presented in the bible.
Secondly, Kingdom Businesses can organize business-oriented seminars. As people contact one another during these seminars, natural bonding will occur. It leads to building personal and interpersonal relationships. Through these associations, training can be done, and people can share biblical teachings. Consequently, microfinance development enhances spiritual growth, which can be achieved through starting small businesses that employ believers and non-believers. The work environment will provide a platform for these people to share Christian values and do good in the name of God. Non-believers will start to embrace Christianity and form small companionships within the community. Moreover, people in business can provide consulting expertise to companies owned by non-believers.2 As a result, these individuals can develop more creative ways of advancing the cause of Christianity.
Moreover, company executives could tackle issues such as addressing social challenges, organizing preaching programs, and convincing more people to join the church is an effective way of promoting Christianity. In addition, small to medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to spreading the word of God since they grow and employ people from the surrounding community.3 Some of the individuals to benefit may be people who have been for long facing economic challenges in their lives. Moreover, the above would positively affect society as most of the population is usually overlooked by the government and other authorities. Therefore, the immediate community would learn to embrace and help each other, promoting Christian values.
Thirdly, mission enterprises can fund overseas companies: the beneficiary firms could then sustain churches within the area or country where the corporation is established. The support may include social welfare such as sponsoring orphans for education, providing financial assistance to widows and widowers, and even undertaking some literacy activities within the community. Thus, the above would help foster the relationship between followers of the concerned religion and the organization. Hence, the church will be better equipped to spread Christianity to people who work in the above companies.
Local Churches and Mission Organizations Collaborating to Complete the Great Mission
Jesus wished that his disciples would be strengthened in their work even as they interacted with people who may be hostile to them (non-believers). For instance, in John 17, Christ prayed for those who would come to him in faith.4 “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17, NIV). There are various ways that local churches and mission establishments could come together to fulfill the Great Mission as Jesus wanted in John 17.5 The church plays a role of a foundation for both present and future missionaries. It gives opportunities to members and allows them to serve the immediate community and beyond.6 This enables followers to grow in the church and gain experience to aid them when they spread the gospel.
The local church offers financial support to missionaries as they preach the gospel of Christ. Funds are essential as they enable the evangelists to do their work without hindrances. In addition, it encourages church members to assist in spreading the word of God and, in doing so, start more churches. The disciples who will have accepted Jesus as their savior will be able to make other people believe and want to do the same.
Moreover, churches impart missionaries with knowledge on how to engage appropriately with different communities, learn foreign languages and, consequently, be able to interact with people of diverse cultures and beliefs: this eases their work as they continue preaching. The church has the role of safeguarding members’ welfare.7 The clergy should contact their followers to know how they are faring in their daily lives, the challenges they may be facing, and possibly give solutions where necessary.
Furthermore, the above leaders ought to train those who intend to be missionaries to read and understand the bible so that they can live according to the teachings, be obedient, and make worthy disciples. Local churches receive church ministers sent from other countries, and the local priests would assist and guide the guest evangelists on what is required of them. This includes teaching them the local culture, providing basic needs, orientation, and other activities. Churches pray for all their missionaries to do their work as required of them and be able to overcome any challenges along the way.
Conclusion
Businesses as Missions have had a way of introducing people to God. If done well, it glorifies God by creating dignified jobs. As earlier mentioned, the above organization promotes a lifestyle that works as a tool or channel for peacefully bringing social, economic, as well as a spiritual change to many regions of the world. The above formation performs the most challenging task of starting, establishing, and supporting churches in the most remote areas of the world where churches never existed. As much as they are profitable organizations, they are intentional in spreading the gospel to many nations around the globe. In addition, they are concerned about job creation, helping the poorest and less evangelized populations, and advancing the ultimate aim of Christianity to all the people regardless of their religion. The above efforts have continued to enable communities to do good for themselves and others.
It is clear that churches play a significant role in creating an enabling environment for missionaries working outside their countries. They prepare and mentor missionaries, look out for their welfare when they are overseas doing their jobs, pray for and encourage them in their work, provide financial assistance, train these men and women, and even receive other missionaries over in their churches. Churches create a comfortable environment for them by practicing Christian values. The church serves as an example to non-believers. They share meals, pray and worship together. In doing so, the Great Commission, as prayed for by Christ in John: 17, is fulfilled.
Bibliography
Joseph, Simon. “In the Days of His Flesh, He Offered Up Prayers”: Reimagining the Sacrifice(S) of Jesus in the Letter to the Hebrews”. Journal of Biblical Literature 140, no. 1 (2021): 207.
Kim, Hansung. “A Multiple Case Study on Small Scale Business as Mission in a Hindu Region”. Theology of Mission 57 (2020): 68-99.
Marshall, Carrie. Business Cases That Get Results. Swindon: BCS Learning & Development Limited, 2019.
Sanou, Boubakar. “The Prosperity Gospel and the Church in Africa: A Missiological Assessment in the Light 0f the Great Commission”. Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry 23 (2021): 18-46.
Ting-Toomey, Stella, and Leeva C. Chung, ed. “What Causes Us To Hold Biases Against Outgroups”. In Understanding Intercultural Communication, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Footnotes
- 1 Carrie Marshall, Business Cases That Get Results Swindon: BCS Learning & Development Limited, 2019.
- 2 Hansung, Kim. “A Multiple Case Study on Small Scale Business as Mission in a Hindu Region.” Theology of Mission 57 (2020)
- 3 Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, “What Causes Us To Hold Biases Against Outgroups,” in Understanding Intercultural Communication, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2015.
- 4 Boubakar, Sanou. “The Prosperity Gospel and the Church in Africa: A Missiological Assessment in the Light 0f the Great Commission”. Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry 23 (2021): 20
- 5 Simon, Joseph, “In the Days of His Flesh, He Offered up Prayers”: Reimagining the Sacrifice (S) of Jesus In The Letter To The Hebrews,” Journal Of Biblical Literature 140, no. 1 (2021): 207.
- 6 Boubakar, Sanou. “The Prosperity Gospel and the Church in Africa: A Missiological Assessment in the Light 0f the Great Commission”. Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry 23 (2021): 22
- 7 Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, “What Causes Us To Hold Biases Against Outgroups,” in Understanding Intercultural Communication, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2015