Encouragement and Advice For BAM Startups
We hope that this has been helpful to you on your BAM journey. We’d love to hear how it has served you as well as any ideas, additions, or questions you may have. Please send comments to info@thirdpathinitiative.com.
In this last article, I’d like to do what we always do in our overseas BAM incubators—instead of a conclusion, we hold a final session with our graduates to discuss warnings, wisdom, encouragement, and advice. The road ahead will be exciting since you are moving in obedience to God; as C.S. Lewis described Asian in The Chronicles of Narnia, “He’s not a tame lion, you know.” There will also be times of confusion and frustration when things do not work as you’d hoped. The enemy will oppose you as you seek to expand the Kingdom of God through your business and that opposition will come in many forms. Sometimes businesses simply go through problems and difficulties. In this journey, look to God always. The author of Hebrews gives us this admonition:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…(Hebrews 12: 1-2)
Running with Endurance
You will be tempted to quit. There will be days when you are tired. Times when they way is blocked and seems impossible. Endurance is the ability and willingness to keep on, to press through, to take the next step.
To have endurance, you will need to:
- Develop the spiritual discipline of looking unto Jesus for strength and inspiration. He endured. He endured the cross…for us. He understands fully what you are going through as it happens. And, as the author Hebrews says elsewhere
…we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: 15-16)
- Pray without ceasing. Sometimes this is regular, set aside times of prayer. Sometimes it will seem rote and formal. Sometimes it will be the fierce urgency that comes with disaster. At other times, it will be the instant thought sent to God in the moment of need.
And, ask others to pray for you. I’m always fascinated that churches will pray for their “missionaries” but have no awareness of the need to intercede for their Kingdom Business People.
- Draw strength from the Word. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4: 4) Regular time of reading, meditating on, and praying through Scripture will provide a source of power and endurance.
- Live in fellowship. Again, we turn to Hebrews. “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds…” Hebrews 10:24 We need each other. Hopefully, your local church understands the place of business in the Kingdom and the high calling to be in business. If not, find brothers and sisters who do who can encourage you and stand with you.
Staying True to Your Purpose
Early on we discussed your Kingdom Purpose—the specific assignment that God has given you and how He plans to use your business for His glory. Remind yourself of this. You will need to…often. As one saying goes, “When you’re up to your neck in alligators, it’s easy to forget your job was to drain the swamp.” Don’t forget. Go back to the first things. As you’ve likely reminded yourself of when you came to know Jesus, you’ll also need to remind yourself of when and how He called you to business and what purpose He gave you at the first. As Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians, “…To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.” (Philippians 3: 1)
Don’t Be Alone
Having brothers and sisters who will walk with you, encourage you, and exhort you is vital. It’s also important to have mentors and coaches who have been down this path before. Their experiences—failures and successes—have given them a wisdom that is shared with you in joy. One such resource that specializes in BAM coaching is IBEC Ventures led by Robert Bush; for more information visit www.ibecventures.org.
Keep Learning
Reading, online courses, webinars, conferences, podcasts—there are many resources coming to the BAM community that help you on your journey. In the appendix, we will list a number of recommended books, etc. (not all Christian) that will feed your mind, encourage your heart, and guide your decisions.
Share with Others
It doesn’t stop with you. It continues to, in, and through you. Paul was very clear in his words to Timothy about the need to keep the message and the knowledge moving; he said, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
The best way to learn anything or to remember what you learned years ago is to teach others. You may be one of the early adopters of BAM in your city or even your country. Learn it well and spread it to your circle of influence.
And, if you don’t think you have much to share—think again. We are all learning this together. The modern BAM Movement is not new; the truth of the sacredness of business (and all of life) goes back to the Garden of Eden. But, having been lost for centuries like other great truths, its recent rediscovery means that no one has it figured out. God is teaching all of us and whatever He has given to you is now yours to give to others.
Keep the Gospel Central
It’s all about Jesus. Business is a good thing from God as is family, science, education, and even church. But none of those things are the point. Jesus is the point. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord of Lord and the King of Kings.
The world is lost and people are meant to be disciples of Jesus. His incarnation and perfect life, His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into Heaven have made the way for fallen people to come into right relationship with their Creator. Jesus still offers eternal life to all who call on Him. (Romans 1:16)
A wise person once said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” As we follow this BAM road and launch and grow BAM companies, let’s remember to keep Jesus Christ at the center of everything we do and everything we are.
Conclusion
And now, brothers and sisters, I commend you to the grace of God. May He who began a good work in you bring it to completion and accomplish in you all that He purposed for His namesake!
Sola Deo Gloria!