Business for Transformation: Getting Started

by Patrick Lai

Overview

Business for Transformation focuses on answering the question: “How do you start a business that transforms communities of unreached peoples?” Starting a business cross-culturally involves thousands of decisions. Until now, BAM and B4T practitioners have been lacking a tool that explains how to start a business that engages unreached people for Jesus’ sake. This book draws on years of experience from scores of OPEN workers who are BAM/B4T practitioners. BAM/B4T are among the faster growing segments of the worldwide mission movement. It is written for new workers and coaches who need practical guidance in setting up and doing business in hard, churchless areas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645080985
Publisher:	Carey, William Library Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	258
File size:	604 KB

About the Author

Patrick Lai first and foremost describes himself as a slave to Jesus Christ. During his thirty-one years in Asia, the Lord enabled his team to gather four groups of Muslim believers and start several small businesses. He authored Tentmaking: The Life and Work of Business as Missions, as well as numerous articles on BAM. He founded the OPEN Network, a network of over 700 B4Ters, and tentmakers. Currently, Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach B4T workers in unreached areas and teach extensively around the world on this new paradigm for doing mission in a changing world.

Patrick Lai first and foremost describes himself as a slave to Jesus Christ. During his thirty-one years in Asia, the Lord enabled his team to gather four groups of Muslim believers and start several small businesses. He authored Tentmaking: The Life and Work of Business as Missions, as well as numerous articles on BAM. He founded the OPEN Network, a network of over 700 B4Ters, and tentmakers. Currently, Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach B4T workers in unreached areas and teach extensively around the world on this new paradigm for doing mission in a changing world.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chapter 1 – WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF B4T!

Jesus and Jobs—Priority #1

Jesus’ Model

All Business Is Not the Same

About This Book

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 2 – UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS FOR TRANSFORMATION

First Things First

Transformation Begins with Us

Transformation via the Workplace

Business for Transformation.

Understanding B4T

Business as mission Terminology

Final Reminder

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 3 – STARTING THE BUSINESS—

CHOOSING THE CAMPSITE

Start with Ministry

Know Yourself

Job 1—Profitability and Impacting Lives in Jesus’ Name

Pros and Cons of Starting a Business

The Risks

Do You Really Want to Work?

Timing

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 4 – THE INTANGIBLES

Get Wisdom

Mentoring

Spouse

Generosity

Flexibility

Are You an Entrepreneur?

Building a Solid Foundation

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 5 – DESIGNING YOUR TENT

Think!—Be a Learner

Be Creative

Risk Equals Faith

Failure...

Bouncing Back

Trust God

Make the Journey Fun

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 6 – LAYING A GOO D FOUNDATION

Choosing a Campground (Look on the Fields)

Location, Location, Location

Rent or Buy?

Work for Others or Self?

Work for a Local Company or the West?

Sharing Your Tent

Owning Your Own Business

Franchises

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 7 – SELECTING A TENT

Factors to Focus On in Selecting a Tent

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 8 – SETTING UP YOUR TENT

Issues to Investigate in Setting Up Your Tent

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 9 – STAKING YOUR TENT

Pointers for Staking Your Tent

Starting a Business

Buying a Business

Service Industries Versus Manufacturing

Hiring

Negotiating

Selecting a Banker

Local Laws and Regulations

Location Issues

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 10 – THE BUSINESS PLAN

Why a Business Plan?

Key Reasons to Write a Business Plan

Involve Businesspeople at Home

Ministry Plan

Adapt

Business Plan Components

Additional Business Issues

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 11 – PAYING FOR YOUR TENT

Planning

Business Questions to Ask Yourself

Funding

Financing

Show Me the Money!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 12 – ENSURING YOUR TENT BECOMES A B4T BUSINESS

Four Steps

Eleven Building Blocks

Summary

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapter 13 – MOVING FORWARD

The Heart.

Capital and Churches

Jobs

Looking Ahead

Last Words

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

APPENDIX A – QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN NEGOTIATING AN

APPRENTICESHIP OR INTERNSHIP

APPENDIX B – TERMINOLOGY

APPENDIX C – AFTERTHOUGHTS—NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM

OPEN WORKERS

APPENDIX D – B4T/BAM SERVICES

Bibliography

INDEX

Editorial Reviews

BAM is about shaping business for God and the common good and bringing solutions to global issues like human trafficking, poverty, creation care, and unreached peoples. Patrick Lai's book is an important guide for those who are serious about transformational business, especially in areas where the name of Jesus is rarely heard. This book is very practical with tools, stories, and resources. Read it, use it! Mats Tunehagleader of the BAM Global Think Tank and senior associate of BAM for the Lausanne Movement

Patrick Lai is the most qualified person to tackle this most important topic in the world of Business as Mission. New workers need models, on-ramps and practical tools for getting started. Patrick has been on the ground in some of the hardest places in the world and has seen what works and what does not; and he knows the terrain ahead for new workers. This book will challenge, provide tools, and help future business owners who are responding to God's call to bring lasting change through business. Larry Sharp, VP emeritus, Crossworld founder and director of training, IBEC Ventures

From the Publisher