Introduction
Business as Mission and RMIC are two distinct entities with one over-riding common goal, the glory of God and His Christ. In our modern culture of today, it is rarely considered that a serious for-profit business, such as Hatfield & Company, Inc. and a purely missions and ministry oriented entity such as Reformation Ministries International Corp, could share such a common goal! Which is precisely why, Hatfield & Company, Inc. is called a BAM business. A business that is serious about profits but whose over-riding motivation for existence goes beyond profits. Mats Tunehag, an international expert on the subject has this to say.
A Definition of Business as Mission
"Business as Mission is about real, viable, sustainable and profitable businesses; with a Kingdom of God purpose, perspective and impact; leading to transformation of people and societies spiritually, economically and socially - to the greater glory of God.
Business as Mission pursues...PROFIT
"Business must be financially sustainable, producing goods or services that people are willing to pay for. Sustainability implies that the activity is profitable. Profits are an essential element of all businesses, in all cultures. Without profit the business cannot survive and fulfill its purpose. Accordingly, Business as Mission - businesses; are real businesses that genuinely exist to generate wealth and profits. Business as mission does not view profits as inherently evil, bad or unbiblical. Quite the contrary, profits are good, desired and beneficial to God and His purposes, as long as they are not oppressive, or derived from gouging customers or selling products and service that do no honor Christ and His gospel." Mats Tunehag, Lausanne Senior Associate for Business as Mission.
Team RMIC Ministries
Team RMIC Ministries exists to bring into focus the realities of the whole gospel, to the whole man, in the whole world, which includes all of the promises of Christ relative to business and good stewardship. Through the process of embracing Christ's challenge, that business not only can be done for the glory and honor of God, but should be done only for that purpose; RMIC seeks to partner with business leaders of the same persuasion. Such claims on the outset might seem to lose sight, of the goals for wealth and profit just mentioned. Quite the contrary, for Christ's own definition of success for such a business is that it be profitable through good stewardship. Not being profitable, due to poor stewardship, was not acceptable in either of the two major examples that He gave: The parable of the talents, (gold that weighed a talent) and the Minas, roughly three months wages.
Whereas: Team RMIC Ministries is not suited to be directly involved in a business for profit. Nevertheless it can and does work harmoniously with Hatfield & Company, Inc., a business for profit, lending its unique opportunities and abilities for service to that entity. When considered carefully, one can see clearly that ministries that serve humankind in spiritual matters and companies that serve humankind in material matters; are both serving the same real live human beings. One of the dichotomies of our postmodern Christian culture is that "ministry" has taken on an aura of super-spirituality, where business has become relegated to a role of second class citizen of lesser importance. Of course, those Christians who work for business are expected to share some of their earnings with the "church" of their choice, but not out of a mutually shared understanding that we-Christian church leaders, business leaders and workers, are all members of the same Royal Priesthood. Therefore, our current American Christian culture and all of the foreign cultures we have attempted to serve through missionaries in the past, have-for the most part received only half of the gospel-the intangible spiritual part. The fruit of that spirit in the greater community of saints, in the transformation of people and societies spiritually, economically and socially-to the greater glory of God-are not forthcoming. Wherein there has been such noticeable transformation in different countries, it has been despite the prevailing dichotomy, leaving the overall world impression of the power of the gospel in deep disarray and confusion. Truly, God will not be mocked, and He will bless the redeemed, despite our many sins, but history has shown that He sends leanness into our hearts when we continually reject His leading to embrace His complete gospel. Hatfield & Company, Inc. a BAM company and RMIC, bring together diverse elements of focus and gifting to pursue their over-riding common goal for the glory of God and His Christ. Thus, we call this joining together; "BAM and Team RMIC Ministries."
Historical perspective - More from Mats Tunehag
"The BAM concept is holistic in nature, believing that God has the power to transform people and communities; spiritually, economically and socially. The dichotomy between sacred and secular is not Biblical, but this false dichotomy has deeply affected our views on work, business, church and missions. BAM is a part of a wider global movement, recognizing and responding to God's call to take the whole gospel to the whole man in the whole world.
"During its first 400 years of existence the Church grew to become a major influence in the world, thanks in part to people who lived their faith in the market-place. Lydia was a businesswoman who lived out her faith by sharing the Good News (Acts 16.15). It is highly likely that Christian business people in the early church travelled to new lands to ply their trades and introduced the Gospel to other people.
Current reality
"The church and its mission work still suffer from the self-imposed dichotomy between spiritual and secular, and the distinction made between clerical and lay ministries. God has called some people to start and run companies. Sometimes, Christians have denigrated them or held the view that their work is irredeemably secular or only vouchsafed them approval if they gave their money to spiritual works through the church or a mission agency. But in the same way that God calls and equips people to be bible translators or evangelists, he also calls and equips people to do business in order to serve him and other people. And the world needs these people ? in areas "where the name of Jesus is rarely heard" there is a desperate need of entrepreneurs.
"Unfortunately we often think and act as if there was a pyramid of Christ, instead of the Biblical concept Body of Christ. To be a pastor is often seen as a higher calling, a spiritual ministry, we even use the term "full time ministry". So if one really wants to serve God one should aim at climbing the pyramid, towards the "higher callings", to be involved in full time ministry. Thus business people are often viewed as not serving God, but rather dealing with Mammon. But absolution can be granted if money is given to the church and to missions.
Pyramid of Christ
"This is of course a non-biblical view, but nevertheless it is very common and permeates most churches on all continents. Business as Mission recognises the Body of Christ, that we all have different gifts and talents. We are to serve God and fellowmen in and through our work and through business.
"So Christians in business need to be affirmed and challenged: God has given them unique gifts, vocations and experiences to meet great needs and opportunities. Business as mission is a calling to be prized.
Jesus constantly met physical needs
We are to "mirror" Jesus' life and mission, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20.21). It is a mission in which evangelism and social responsibility go hand in hand. God is concerned about us as human beings within our social and environmental contexts. Jesus' ministry is clearly one of both preaching and demonstrating God's Kingdom (Isaiah 58.6-7; Luke 7.22).
"Most people who came to Jesus did so with emotional, physical and social needs, and Jesus constantly and consistently met such needs. Nicodemus, an intellectual who had "spiritual" questions, was the exception, not the rule. Importantly, Jesus never said to those who came to him with various needs, problems and questions: "You have the wrong need! Don't worry, after all it could be worse! Really, you should not bother about the blindness, hunger and injustice. Just pray!"
"Jesus even stated that healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for those with grief, etc, were a part of God's Kingdom being manifested. He even taught us to pray: May your Kingdom come. BAM is about being an answer to Christ's prayer - in and through business - that physical, social, emotional, economical and spiritual needs may be addressed and met." Mats Tunehag, Lausanne Senior Associate for Business as Mission.
What others are saying
"New leadership is needed in the 21st century, as we look at effective and holistic mission strategies. Business has historically been a key frontier in extending the Kingdom. The Lausanne think-tank has the potential of making a significant contribution to the churches rediscovery of empowering its business community to engage enthusiastically and proactively with its role in establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth!"
Stuart McGreevy, Chairman, Transformational Business Network, UK
"The use of business in global outreach is a strategy of choice for the context of the 21st century mission. People involved in entrepreneurial tentmaking, kingdom business, and transformational development through business, should partner with Mats Tunehag-a respected global mission leader-and his colleagues, as they are leading & organizing a Lausanne think tank on Business-as-Mission."
Ted Yamamori, Lausanne International Director and Senior Associate for Holistic Mission and Co-editor of On Kingdom Business: "Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies"
Become a BAM partner with Team RMIC Ministries
Section I - Riding the Crest of a New Paradigm Wave
Residual income from capital assets vs. our general lack of capital
If you have the option to invest in a large portfolio of stocks and bonds with enough money to create $10,000 dollars per month of residual income, you will need approximately $2,400,000 dollars in investments, which pay dividends or interest of approximately 5% annually. At an estimated 5% annual rate of return on that amount of investment would generate the $10,000 of residual income in this example. This and many other examples that we could mention, represent opportunities that exist for those few individuals who have the capital base sufficient to take advantage of them. I think you would agree with me, that what the greater majority of people need is an alternative to this method of creating residual income.
Those of us living now in the beginning of the 21st Century are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this great paradigm shift, in our economic future. Timing is everything, and for the next two to three years there will be more opportunity for a restructuring of wealth distribution through business, than there has ever been in the history of the world. This is not limited to the United States; this is a global paradigm shift!
Learning from those who have proven track records
I think you would agree with me that you would not want to take medical advice from your local mechanic, or take flight lessons from someone who had just taken their first lesson yesterday, right? Likewise, I'm also confident that when we want to know something about markets, money and opportunities that make sense, we should go to people who have proven by results that they know what they are talking about, correct?
Not very long ago Donald Trump, the New York real estate magnate, was doing the late-night talk show circuit when he was asked by one of the hosts; what would he do if he lost all of his money? Donald paused for only a moment and then emphatically said: "If I lost all of my money I would join a good network marketing company, and earn enough new money to go back into real-estate."
At the mention of "network marketing" by Mr. Trump, the crowd let out a low rolling Boooooo. To which Mr. Trump responded, leaning forward in his chair and pointing his finger at the audience said: "That is why you are out there and I am up here!"
Regardless of your personal opinions of Mr. Trump-one thing is evident-he knows more about making money than do most people. He also knows that in today's world the best option available for most people who do not already have large cash or asset reserves, is the dynamic and readily available network marketing industry. Yet, what few people know, which was exemplified by the audiences' reaction to his statement, is the fact that not only is network marketing dynamic, it is also one of the leading players in the service and information revolution paradigm, which we are talking about today!
All business endeavors employ network marketing to some degree. Auto manufacturers have dealerships. Food and beverage companies have chains of stores and restaurants. The limiting factor for the average person is that all of these options require a considerable amount of capital. Notice that Mr. Trump made no hesitation in his response. Trump understands that to recapture enough money to fulfill his dreams of real-estate he would need to immediately join a good network marketing company and there-by regain his opportunity for his first love-real-estate. We must remember after you lose all of your money the banks do not want to loan you anymore!
If you should decide to research a good network marketing company as Mr. Trump says he would do, that's great! However we want everyone reading this to understand that we support you in whatever decision you make regarding your pledge to surrender to purpose with faith. America offers many options for creating residual income and certainly for establishing one's own private business enterprise, as we have done with Hatfield & Company, Inc. for many years. We do not pretend to know what economic vehicle would be personally best for you. Our greatest goal in this article is for you to embrace God's promises that will allow you to set your goals and dreams free to be fulfilled. No one opportunity is a perfect fit for everyone. In today's new digital paradigm it is even possible to participate in more than one of these opportunities. We are presently working in three of them:
- Shakley Products Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements
- Hatfield & Company, Inc. Accounting
- Hatfield & Company, Inc. Real Estate Development
The most important point in all of this is for each of us to be committed to take action. If you are not already involved in any personal business model then your first decision is to take action and get involved in at least one of them.
Section II
Team Commitment to the Success of Others
Graphic Layout of Team RMIC Ministries Illustrating the Flow between BUSINESS AS MISSION FOR PROFIT and MINISTRIES THAT ARE NON-PROFIT (Phase 1 and 2)
Welcome to Team RMIC Ministries
A team member is not limited to working within the missionary and ministry goals outlined above and as featured, in greater detail on the Reformation In Action web site. We know that God will lead you in ways that He has especially prepared for you. One of our broader goal's, is to work as closely as we can with those who chose other vehicles, for fulfilling their inner call to service in the Kingdom. Certainly, we aspire to capture as many as we can to work with us directly, in our business and ministry vision. Nothing pleases us more personally, than when others adopt our same focus and vision. Yet, our focus cannot be limited to just those things that we are personally related to. Our vision and our horizons can always benefit from the inspiration of others.
If you think you want to be a part, but you have not gotten the answer you need for some of your important questions. Please feel free to contact me personally by phone or email. My cell number is: 405-659-5144; please place your call between 8AM and 6PM EST. Or if you prefer, you may correspond with me personally via email, using the following: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Free Email Newsletter
To keep pace with the ongoing developments, field trip opportunities, short term mission trips and conference schedules within the BAM and Team RMIC Ministries, we encourage you to sign up for free email notices.
See; BAM and Team RMIC Ministries
Investing in Team RMIC Ministries
For those who are already moderately or financially or well established and they are looking for ways to invest some of their discretionary funds into a BAM structured company, we recommend that you read our Executive Summary and Business Plan for the main BAM entity presented in the graphic diagram above; Hatfield & Company, Inc. sponsor of "Heaven's Gate Airpark,"
See: www.heavensgateairpark.com and download the Business Plan and other Proprietary documents.
Section III
Team Commitment to the Success of Others
Over the last four years we have spent no small effort in time and money to research few options that are available, to establish a leveraged investment vehicle accessible to individuals with only moderate investment capital. Our most exciting and compelling discovery has been the Public Real Estate Investment Trust, Not Traded or Public REIT Not Traded and we have developed our Hatfield & Company, Inc. Real Estate Development business around this model. To learn more about the follow this link to: www.heavensgateairpark.com and research the current status of this one of a kind world class development project, sponsored by Hatfield & Company, Inc.
First:
The company is totally dedicated to a standard of excellence and 100% integrity and honesty.
Second:
The company whole heartedly embraces all four items listed in our Personal Pledge for Surrendering to Purpose with Faith, especially the fourth item:
"the principle of love that will prepare me and guide me to help others
succeed without concern for how it blesses me in return."
Hatfield & Company, Inc and Hatfield REIT-I not only embraces this principle as a company but also implements this concept throughout all of their training and team building activities.
Third:
It is our opinion, along with that of many experts, that the Public REIT Not Traded or as it is most commonly called the "Private REIT" is one of the most ideal investment platforms available in our changing economic world of the 21st Century and presents one of the best opportunities available for average individuals to position themselves on the leading edge of this new paradigm wave.
Our personal commitment to you:
We personally, and with all of the gifts and opportunities that God has given us, are committed to serve and to work for the success of any of you who decide to partner with us. There are many ways that you can partner with us.
- Be a team member with us in BAM & RMIC Ministries.
- Be a team member in one of the Sub-Contract Management Businesses.
- Be a team member of our Men's Pro-Active Outreach Ministry.
- Be a short term missionary to Mexico and Central America.
- Be a team member of our Missionary Training Center.
- Be a team member and recipient of our residual income outreach counseling, for Shaklee Vitamins and Nutritional products.
- Be a team member and recipient of our standard business outreach counseling.
- Provide a link from your website to www.heavensgateairpark.com.
- Be a client for accounting and tax services with Hatfield & Company, Inc.
- Be an investor in "Hatfield & Company, Inc."
See: www.heavensgateairpark.com
Entrepreneurial risks are not to be avoided
Many of America's top entrepreneurial leaders are keenly aware of our nations' great need to cultivate a new fundamental economic understanding. We need to revitalize our minds and hearts with the necessity to engage risk as part of the entrepreneurial formula for success. They are not just talking about financial success, although that is the easiest to measure, they are also talking about the personal development and leadership experience that is uniquely created through this process.
Does that sound anything like the Parables of the Talents and the Parables of the Minas? You bet it does!!
Remember, capitalism without entrepreneurial risk is nothing more than Fascism-in other words-state supported, state controlled and doomed to failure! This traitorous path is unfortunately the current path, which our government has decided to travel.
New research and a strong statement by www.Townhall.com chairman:
Douglas Wilson is chairman of the Townhall.com Board of Directors and also is Chief Executive Officer of Next Solutions, Inc. which is an investor/partner in multiple home building companies around the United States. Doug also provides the strategic facilitation for The Heritage Foundation annual planning process. He has a book coming out in March, 2006 titled "Getting America Right, The True Conservative Values Our Nation Needs Today." His co-author is Edwin J. Feulner, President of the Heritage Foundation.
Here's what Doug has to say:
"Behind every great business coup is a huge risk boldly taken. When government makes such risk taking cost prohibitive, prosperity suffocates. Conversely, when an economy is powered by healthy risk taking, volatile yet productive, the resulting competition throws off myriad benefits, ranging from new technologies to higher living standards.
"In an increasingly globalized economy, it is imperative for American businesses and individuals to have the freedom to innovate and take risks. Otherwise, as the rest of the world speeds toward economic freedom, we will be drifting into the realm of lackluster, also-ran economies, and by extension, lackluster and also ran countries.
"I don't know about you, but that's not a position in the world that I'm willing to accept. In 'Getting America Right' I lay out a four-point plan to reduce unnecessary government burdens and free the American entrepreneurial spirit."
Wilson's four points
- Lighten the Tax Burden
- Deregulate
- Eliminate Trade Barriers
- Form a Global Free Trade Alliance
Let me address each one of these from the viewpoint of my own personal professional experience.
Lighten the Tax Burden
Having your own private business decreases your tax burden. Most of America's tax code is written to encourage entrepreneurial risk. Only private business owners can take advantage of the capitalistic slant of the IRS code. I am telling you this, both as a private business owner for over 30 years and also as the owner of an accounting company that has specialized in small business tax management, doing IRS tax remediation cases for the last 16 years.
Deregulate
Deregulation is what the new telecommunications and computer based digital information industry is all about. Your business will need these tools.
Eliminate Trade Barriers
Hatfield & Company, Inc and Hatfield REIT-I are an example, of how small investors and small to medium sized companies can gain access to the capital markets of the modern infrastructure without joining forces with the corrupt Wall Street public capital markets. These markets, in today's financial world are highly susceptible to fraud, greed and the criminal element. Hatfield & Company, Inc. and other business platforms that can benefit from this knowledge are able to circumvent this mine field and it's trade barriers.
Form a Global Free Trade Alliance
By being a part of Hatfield & Company, Inc. and other such Kingdom oriented companies you will participate in a global marketing system. We have the opportunity to establish a firm financial and missionary base of partners, in countries all over the world. We are now able to duplicate our "BAM and Team RMIC" Ministries concept worldwide. Talk about eliminating barriers and establishing global free trade alliances! This is an opportunity that if Paul the Apostle were alive today he would jump for joy to be fellowship with us and others of like design and purpose. All who will take this opportunity seriously, and partner with us, will in effect be emulating Paul's approach in taking THE WHOLE GOSPEL, TO THE WHOLE MAN, IN THE WHOLE WORLD, for the greater glory of God and His Christ! The purely secular mind believes in an alternative-Socialism.
Listen to what Dennis Prager, conservative radio talk show host and syndicated columnist has to say, about the history of socialism and its contribution to the erosion of moral character.
Socialism makes people worse
Mar 21, 2006
by Dennis Prager
"Throughout much of last week, hundreds of thousands of students in France were angrily protesting.
"They have been joined by the major French labor unions, which are threatening a general strike.
"And what is this all about?
"It is all about a new law in France that allows a company to fire a person under the age of 26, without cause, within two years of being hired.
"Wow. Imagine that. You might get fired from your first job.
"As it happens, the whole point of the law was to encourage companies to hire young people. The unemployment rate among young people in France is 23 percent. And in many suburbs, it is double that. Meanwhile, French companies are understandably loath to hire 22-year-olds when they cannot fire them except "for cause," which under union rules means something like committing mass murder in the workplace.
"What these massive demonstrations reveal is the narcissism, laziness and irresponsibility inculcated by socialist societies.
"Enough generations of socialist policies have now passed for us to judge their effects. They are bleak. Socialism undermines the character of a nation and of its citizens. In simpler words, socialism makes people worse. …"
"Socialism teaches its citizens to expect everything, even if they contribute nothing.
"Socialism teaches its citizens that they have a plethora of rights and few corresponding obligations-except to be taxed.
"And that is why the citizens of less socialist-and more religious-America give more charity per capita and per income than do citizens of socialist countries. That is why Americans volunteer time for the needy so much more than citizens of socialist countries do. That is why citizens of conservative states in America give more charity than citizens of liberal states do. The more Left one identifies oneself on the political spectrum, the more that person is likely to believe that the state-not fellow citizens-should take care of the poor and the needy.
"Under socialism, one is not only liberated from having to take care of oneself; one is also liberated from having to take care of others. The state will take care of me and of everybody else.
"The same holds true for foreign affairs. Why did the conservative government of Spain support the American war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq and send troops there, while the Spanish socialists withdrew Spanish troops as soon as they were voted into office? Because the idea of risking one's life to bring freedom to others -- or to risk one's life for another nation for just about any reason -- is alien to the socialist mindset."
Section IV
The practical dynamics of partnering together
Becoming a partner with Team RMIC Ministries
Now that you have at least some of your questions answered and have a much better idea of your options and especially of what BAM & TEAM RMIC are doing, allow me to bring some focus to the practicality of our partnering together.
The postmodern church of today has, for the most part, embraced the world's secular approach to finances, with heavy debt and government ownership and meddling in private enterprise. Unfortunately, this characterizes our current USA government on all levels, cities, states and federal and many major corporations are falling into line, like puppets on a string.
As members of Christ's church world-wide and citizens of His Kingdom we are challenged by God and our Lord, Jesus Christ to walk in the call of Faith in Christ and Agape love and not to be entangled in the networks of the world. The secular world has certainly made many important discoveries and has established some extremely powerful infrastructures, none of which we should ignore or denigrate. These advances were made because of the grace of God and His purposes for His Kingdom and not to simply enrich the unbelievers for their lustful consumption and abuse. These infrastructures are used by God to bless both believers and unbelievers with the dynamics of the division of labor and His grace so that all may live side by side. However, we are challenged to walk higher than the unbeliever and to work together in the Kingdom and to not depend upon their networks of greed and unfaithfulness.
We challenge each of you who have taken the time to read this article, to reevaluate your current position in life. Are you more dependent on the network of secularism without God's principles and values or are you structuring your life and economics to walk in the way of the Kingdom and its network of saints? Whatever your response, do not despair, God knows of your heart and of your challenges. Seek the truth and if we can be of service we are here to do just that.
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