Breaking Down Silos

Home sweet home!  Five weeks, five countries, twelve flights, forty hours by road, eleven cities, fifteen different beds, and eleven different workshops speaking to about 2000 people in total.  So thankful to God for what He is doing and how we get to join Him!  So thankful for the DML partner teams in each place who do amazing work at organizing, facilitating, and spreading this message!  And so thankful for each of you who has prayed, encouraged, and/or supported this work financially.  We can't do this without you!

Last week, in Cameroon, we saw the beginning of silos breaking down - silos that exist between church denominations, government, education, and business.  It was beautiful to watch the dialogue begin as people began to stop pointing fingers at the other for the cause of problems and begin to see opportunities for how to work together.  And the opportunities are many. The theme of the BAM Cameroon conference was "Synergy for Transformation" and we definitely saw synergy and discussed practical ways to move forward for transformation.

The government of Cameroon wants to equip 500,000 youth every year in doing business but does not have the capacity to mentor and teach them.  But churches have the natural environments to disciple and teach a healthy theology of work.  Faith and work NGOs present have the ability to mentor and provide guidance for new and emerging entrepreneurs.  Educators need to focus on character development, as well as creating not just job seekers but job makers.  

It was a refreshing, healthy dialogue with members of government, education, church, and business present.  There were two phrases that they caught and kept repeating:  "The purpose of Sunday is Monday" and "We don't have problems.  We have opportunities."  Those two phrases alone indicate the beginning of a paradigm shift.

It was time well spent.  Please continue to pray that the seeds planted, and the action steps that each group made, will result in growth for the flourishing of Cameroon, to the glory of God!

Nurturing Hope in Burundi

In my life, I have seen time and again that the rich have hope, the poor have faith, and together we can produce love.

This past week we were busy nurturing hope among 400 young adults (aged 18-35) in Burundi.  The hope planting began last year, when we started a five-year plan to develop entrepreneurship through young adults from twelve churches in four different cities in Burundi.  These young adults have been on a path for 15 months so far.  Last year, they learned about the God of business and about a healthy theology of work.  Then they went through DML's basic business training.  This year, they started with mentoring and working on their business plan.

And this past week, because of the generosity of many of you, we brought these young adults together, under one roof, for six days of singing, praying, laughing, playing, and learning.  It was an amazing time.  There was so much energy!  

Our goal was to provide inspiration for these young adults.  Inspiration to work as worship.  Inspiration to see themselves as co-creators with God.  Inspiration to be job makers, not just job seekers.  Inspiration to think outside the box.  Inspiration to create wealth in God's way and to manage wealth in God's way.  Inspiration to break strongholds that say "I can't" or "I have nothing" or even "I am nothing."  Inspiration to break the bondage of poverty and develop a vision future.

And from everything we heard from those gathered, that mission was accomplished.  

These were some of the testimonies from a few of these young adults:

• From a young man:  I had a farm where I was growing sweet potatoes. Thinking creatively about my work, I started making flour from the sweet potatoes.  Now I'm making donuts from that flour. It is seen as an innovative product and people love the taste, so many are coming to buy.  Demand is high!  
• 
  From a young woman:  I felt I had no future before going through DML. But after the training, I started to think about what I could do for myself. I started working as a home servant and began to save, as that is something we had been taught in DML.  I have been saving money to buy a sewing machine and will have enough money to do so in a few months. I have saved 500,000 Burundian francs (about $174). I want to be a job maker and not just a job seeker! I know have a vision for the future! This message was so important for me to hear, and it needs to go out to all youth! 
  
• From a young man, who is also a DML trainer:  I was trained by DML in 2021.  I thought that I was going to a conference to learn about evangelism, but rather found myself in a conference about development.  But I learned that evangelism and development can go hand in hand!  At the time I went through the training, I was working for the government.  I even had a car that I could use from that position.  But because of this training, I realized that I could go into business for myself and be a job maker.  I began to develop my vision.  I then left my government job and people thought I was crazy.  But I have been blessed to be able to buy many hectares of land for cultivation and the business has grown.  I currently employ 17 people and this September I will expand again and hope to have thirty employees.  I am so happy to get up and go to work every day, and I love doing discipleship with my employees!  I thank God for the chance to learn about work as worship - it has brought me much more joy every day!

Today (Monday), I begin the trip from Burundi to Cameroon, where DML is engaged in the launching of BAM Cameroon.  We pray that seeds of networking and collaboration amongst key institutions may result in fruit that will be for the flourishing of this country and its people!  Please pray along with us!

The God of Justice

Greetings from Burundi, where we are having an entrepreneurship training with 400 youth this week. We'd appreciate your prayers!

In our trainings, we seek to help people understand how they reflect the characteristics of God through their work, as image bearers.  We consider six different attributes of God:  He is revelatory, creative, providential, just, compassionate, and redemptive.  Most of our work fits into one of these six characteristics.  Most of the time, people in the workshop recognize themselves in each of these categories, except one:  Justice.

I've wondered why that is - is it that the church doesn't attract people who are in the field of justice or people who choose the field of justice are not typically Christian?  Or is it just that those who are in justice aren't attracted to our workshop?  

Thankfully, this seems to be changing with several of our partners.  The DML team in Burundi has been invited to engage senators, justices, and the police department with topics relating to faithfulness in the workplace.  Our partner in Tanzania is seeing the prison ministry embracing DML and teaching the prison staff as well as the prisoners about work as worship.  

And on Friday night, while still in Togo, we had a visit from brother Charles (pictured on the right with Pastor Theo on the left) who went through the DML training in January and has turned himself into a trainer.  He is CEO of a Security Guard company, with about 40 guards.  Security guards are everywhere you go in Africa - it is one of the largest job opportunities across Africa.  Churches, businesses, homes  - all have 24/7 security guards.  Yet the people are often not paid well, and are expected to work seven 12-hour shifts per week, with no days off.  This can result in the guards stealing from those they are supposed to be protecting.

Charles felt convicted after the DML workshop as he realized that he was not contributing to the flourishing of his employees.  He began to change his perspective on his business, from viewing it as a means for profit, to viewing it as a means to bring flourishing to his employees and customers.  Since January, he has seen a tremendous change in his security guards and in his company.  He had brought this training to other security guard companies as well, and has been hired by one large company to do all the training of their employees.  He has started attending Bible school as he wants to learn more about discipleship in the workplace.  He says he now loves his work. We thank God for Charles and how he has embraced and applied this message!  

We also have an upcoming opportunity in Cameroon, where the government, educators, church, and businesspersons are coming together for a two day conference to discuss how these institutions can work together.  They will be launching the BAM Cameroon ministry at this event, and our prayer is that we may stop pointing fingers at each other and rather find a way to come together for the flourishing of the nation and all citizens.  

They do have needs to meet this budget and I would humbly request your prayerful consideration to support this effort.  DML has already contributed some funds toward this conference, but as more is needed, I would invite you read more about its purpose and needs by clicking here.  If you decide to partner with us in this effort, please click here if you are in the US or here if you are in Canada (find my name in the drop down for missionaries in Africa).  Please put "BAM Cameroon" in the comment section.

We thank you in advance for your consideration!  Please continue to pray with us as we continue to share the good news that work is a gift of God - something to be treasured and done with excellence - not part of the curse!

Exploring Benin: From Voodoo to Vibrant Markets

Greetings from Togo!  I left Benin yesterday, and as it was my first visit there, I wanted to share a bit with you about what I learned.  As you can see on the map, Benin is a country that borders Togo, Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso.  This country was colonized by France and French is the official language.  

Cotonou, the largest city, is right on the ocean and is a beautiful, clean city with very large beaches, covered with coconut trees!  And while flying in, I saw amazing fish industries, structured in ways that I've not seen before - apparently the government is pushing this, and it seems to be doing well!

Benin is a country of just under 13 million people, with about 51% Christian, 30% Muslim, and the rest mainly traditional.  Of the Christians, about half are Catholic.  Benin is considered the birthplace of voodoo. I was told that the word "voodoo" came from Catholics who declared the traditional religion and witchcraft to be like worshipping the golden calf by the Israelites.  The French for "golden calf" is "veau doré" - hence the word voodoo.  Unfortunately, many who belong to one religion or the other often continue to practice voodoo, to cover all their bases.  Interestingly, Fetish priests are given a Bible when they are about to die since they don't need voodoo in their next life - they are told to leave the voodoo behind and go and meet their Creator.

About 70% of the population relies on agriculture, producing yams, cassava, corn, and many other crops.  The majority of their exports go to Bangladesh.

In Benin, we shared the message with the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) Church, thanks to the work of Pastor Theo, who leads DML for the CMA in Burkina Faso and West Africa.  He has been working so hard and traveling so much!  He has introduced DML to Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, and soon will start in Guinea.  I am learning from him as he contextualizes the message for French-speaking Africa.  He is an amazing teacher!

He shared this message yesterday with the DML Global team on WhatsApp:

Hello Brethren, the DML movement continues across the nations. This week Benin received the message. You know, Benin is known to be the center of voodoo practices and we passed through (the city of) Ouidah where the Python temple stands. Let us pray that Benin will now be a center where Christ is glorified by marketplace leaders. Many African businesspeople travel to Benin to get satanic blessings from voodoo. May that change now, in the name of Jesus.

Today we begin training in Togo - we will do a two-day workshop with the Church of Pentecost, a two-day workshop with the Baptist Church, and every evening will be with the Christian Missionary Alliance, teaching our Basic Business Skills class.  It will be a busy four days!  I then fly to Burundi, where we will start a Work as Worship Entrepreneurship Training for 400 youth on Monday, July 1.  

I continue to thank God for traveling mercies!  I almost was not able to enter Togo (long story) and yet God, through His people, provided a way.

While I was waiting for my ride the other day, I noticed something crawling up my skirt.  I shook it off (admittedly with a jump and scream) and then took a picture of it with my foot, to show scale.  It was as wide as my foot!  No idea what it is - they have a local name for it here - but I was closely watching for bugs for the rest of the day as I felt them crawling all over!

May God bless you this week as you seek to serve Him and the people around you through your work!

"Business people are not Christians."

Greetings from Ghana, where I am ready to travel to the fourth city to present the message of "Work as Worship."  I started presentations last week in Kumasi (west), then to Tamale (north), then to Navrongo (far north, almost to Burkina Faso border), and now to Ho (east).  Lots of driving this past week!  Thankful to God for safety! On Thursday, I will leave for Benin.

The quote in the title, "Business people are not Christians," was spoken to me by a young pastor in Kumasi.  He continued by saying, "They are not Christians because Christians have given their whole selves to Jesus and business people clearly have not done that."

Thankfully, by the end of the workshop, he had changed his perspective.  

But how sad that it was even spoken.  And I know that if it was spoken by one pastor, it was likely in the minds of others. 

There is such a tension between business people and pastors in many churches.  Recently I attended a service that included three offerings and six announcements of fees that were due.  If my pocket was empty, I would be inclined to stay home from church.  The same service announced about eight different programs that were going on during the week, encouraging all members to come.  While these programs are designed to be helpful with discipleship, they put a lot of pressure on those who are doing business six days a week, often for 10 hours a day (especially in cities where traffic is terrible), not to mention other obligations.

We had important discussions about the challenge of church attendance becoming the "end" or the goal, rather than transformed lives through whole-life discipleship.  Members who do not attend Sundays and Wednesdays and many of the other meetings can be viewed as "back-sliders" by the pastors.  Those who attend regularly are assumed to be "right with God."

In the north, we had debates about whether pastors could be co-vocational - doing both business and pastoring a church.  Knowing the challenges of poverty faced by members in predominantly rural/agricultural settings, my tongue-in-cheek initial response was, "If your church isn't paying you enough to take care of yourself and your family, then you should do business.  Otherwise, you may be tempted to become creative with trying to get more from members, charging fees-for-service for prayers and blessings."  That got a good laugh (mostly because everyone knows that to be true) and then ensued a good discussion.

I spent an afternoon with the youth (ages 20-40!) to talk about entrepreneurship and had excellent discussions about the need for each person to release their potential in order that others may also release their potential.  For example, a farmer produces crops, which when are consumed releases potential in the person eating the food.  Those people then do their work, maybe as a mechanic, which releases the potential of someone to drive from point A to point B to do their work.  And on and on.  We emphasized that you can't do just one thing - everything is connected!

Sadly, starting a business is often viewed as a sign of failure for those who get a college education. So we talked about the value of being job makers and not just job seekers.  What a privilege to be able to provide a job for someone, where they can flourish and their family can flourish!

Lots of good and important discussion.  Discipling Marketplace Leaders stands on such a solid Biblical foundation that the debates that ensue can almost always be resolved by going to Scripture.  

But soooooo much work to do to help churches get a healthy theology of work and begin to understand the importance of teaching wealth creation and wealth management from God's perspective.  

It looks like another denomination might formally join with DML and set up a workplace department, which will bring our partners in Ghana to four.  We thank God for what He is continuing to do and that we get to join Him! Please continue to pray for the seeds planted!

Leaders for Assemblies of God in Northern Ghana

Faithfulness in the Workplace

Greetings from Ghana!  So thankful for traveling mercies!  

I was recently asked to give a speech for a large international company on “Faithfulness in the Workplace.”  The company executives were looking to encourage their employees to be more faithful in achieving the company goals, but of course, the responsibility for employee faithfulness is not a one-way street.

As I considered the topic, I realized that we don’t hear the word “faithfulness” in the workplace very often anymore – we hear more about loyalty.  Loyalty is defined as a "strong feeling of support or allegiance," but the word "faithfulness" is richer - it goes deeper than loyalty. 

There are two main components to faithfulness:  1. It is the willingness and 2. the ability to complete a job. 

And in this definition, the two-way street in terms of the relationship between employee and employer becomes very obvious. 

Let’s look at the employee first. 

A faithful worker is one who is WILLING to complete a job regardless of their personal feelings.  They don’t only do the jobs they like but they consider all the tasks that need to be done for the flourishing of the customer, the work environment, and the company.  Being willing is about our attitude and it is about the only thing in life that we can control.

It reminds me of the Circles of Control, Influence, and Concern by Stephen Covey (author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), which describes the largest circle in the picture as the circle of concern.  Unfortunately, this is where we spend most of our time but where we have the least amount of influence or impact.  The middle circle is the circle of influence.  That is where we spend some of our time, seeking to influence those in our inner circles.  The smallest circle at the center is the circle of control. This is where we often spend the least amount of time and when explored, we find that the only thing we really can control is our attitude and how we respond to things that concern us or deal with the areas of potential influence.  This is where willingness and understanding can be developed. 

But a faithful worker is also ABLE to complete the job.  They have the skills and resources to be successful in terms of their goals and the company’s goals.  Ability includes physical, mental, legal, moral, financial, and spiritual capacity.  It comes from education, training, mentoring, resources, networks, and access.  In our Christian life, it is called discipleship.  And in our workplace, we also need the tools and resources to help us have the ability to do the job.  For Christians, understanding that work is to be done as an act of worship increases our spiritual ability to integrate faith into all aspects of life.  It then motivates us to be successful in all other abilities, as we recognize ourselves as co-laborers, co-creators, with the most high God.  

Companies need to help create an environment that allows their employees to flourish.  Employees need to challenge their personal circle of control, to strive for the customer to flourish.  The reality is that when the primary goal in a business is the flourishing of all, the company will do better.  Goals will be achieved.  Turnover will reduce.  

And so, on this Monday morning, we can ask ourselves, 

1. 
   How willing am I to do all the tasks on my list for this day and this week?  How willing am I, even if I don't like my boss, colleagues, or the work itself?  Who am I working for today?  God or man?
2. How able am I to do the work that has been given to me to do?  Am I seeking to improve, to do it with even greater excellence?  If so, where can I get the help to grow in my ability?
   

Usually, if we are struggling in our work, there is a challenge in one of these two areas.  Remember that we can't control our boss or our workplace, but we can control our attitude.  And when we turn our work over to God and do it for Him and the flourishing of this world, it can get easier!  If you need a Biblical example of this, read about Joseph and Daniel - two men who worked as slaves and captives, yet worked with excellence and not only flourished for themselves but brought about flourishing for many others.

May God bless you in this work week, whether you work in the home or outside the home!