Like yeast in a batch of dough, the Business as Mission movement is growing and spreading throughout the world, bridging faith, service and work, and extending the kingdom of God. Through selling bread in Ghana, making piñatas in Nicaragua, providing funeral services for grieving families and many other ventures, Christians in business are providing jobs for the needy, influencing their communities in positive ways and bringing people to Christ. As social entrepreneurship and microenterprise are not brand new ideas, in this edition of Global News we have stories of companies that have been successfully growing for almost two decades, along with newer ones.

In September, watch for the next edition of Kingdom Entrepreneur, which will focus on what the Center has been up to and where we are headed in coming months. As always, may the stories here prompt you to praise and pray, as God builds His kingdom in the nations.

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Bakery Flourishes in Ghana

The fragrance of bread, cakes and meat pies wafts through the air outside Asomdwee ("Peace") Bakery. Through Opportunity International, Nelizer Darko is achieving her dreams. Serving 30-40 customers per day, profits from her business have not only supported her family, but Asomdwee Bakery now supports 18 employees and their families as well.

Darko is part of Theresa Trust Group, a group of business owners who meet regularly for training and personal development – skills she eagerly shares with others in her village. Nelizer exclaims, "I have learned to put the loan money into my business and with the profits, I pay my workers!"
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Pastors and Business People Impact Russia for the Kingdom

Sergey Lyamshin has successfully owned and operated two food and clothing stores in the Orenburg Region of Russia. e3 Partners ministry helped establish churches in the region and coordinated with local pastors and established a micro-bank to encourage God-sustained growth of the local church.

Lyamshin invests his talents for the advancement of the Gospel within the region. His pastor reports that local Christian businessmen are creating jobs and having a positive impact in the community as they establish relationships based on Biblical principles.

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Technology a Great Investment

KickStart is a non-profit organization that develops and markets new technologies to farmers in poor communities in Africa. With an irrigation pump, for example, entrepreneurial farmers can transition to commercial irrigated farming, growing three or four crop cycles annually rather than just one subsistence crop. Then they are able to sell produce throughout the dry season.

Jane Mathendu, a single mother, bought a KickStart oilseed press to start a new business almost 20 years ago. She now contracts 20 local farmers to grow sunflowers, employs 2 full time workers and sells the cooking oil in the local market. She has became a community leader and sent her daughters to university - an impossible dream before buying her press.

Full story

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Sewing Seeds in Bulgaria

The hum and whir of sewing machines productively generating sheets, pillow cases, curtains and table cloths dominates the workroom at “Ira.” The sewing company, a client of Integra Bulgaria launched in 1990, provides jobs to 33 employees today.

Maria Katranjieva and her son Stoicho, who is business manager for the operation, participated in several business training seminars offered by Integra. In following the “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) strategy they've learned, they have been intentional about hiring those most in need of employment, including women-at-risk. The company is now a prosperous and productive operation; Ira products are now available in major cities around Bulgaria and also in Greece and Spain.
Full story

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Serving Families in Difficult Circumstances

Upon receiving a loan from Investments for Africa (IFA), Partners Worldwide affiliate in South Africa, Mr. L. Matthews started a small Funeral Undertaker business. He bought a hearse, began to build a network of individuals and companies, and has contracted with a local security company to provide services for all of their employees, whenever necessary.

One of the goals of IFA is to see that businesses grow. In the case of Matthews Funeral Undertaker this is happening. It grew from a man with a dream to serve—without knowledge or infrastructure—to what it is today. Now he is able to support his family, and employs four others to assist him.

Full story

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Profit from Piñatas

Nusly Alemán operates a piñata business out of her home. Piñatas are a common site in Nicaraguan markets and stores, and because of their popularity, there were times when customer demand exceeded her supply. Alemán used a loan from MiCrédito, a MEDA micro-bank, to buy greater amounts of raw materials, enabling her to increase production.

Small business loans have given Alemán and many others hope for the future. Through MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), faith-oriented business owners, executives and leaders are integrating their life values with business in practical ways and helping the poor.
MEDA stories

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Much More than a Haircut

In a Middle Eastern city, believing women run a beauty salon. Through their everyday work, they are making a difference for Jesus. One Friday afternoon, “Hanna” walked into the salon. She had been abandoned by her husband and after her beauty appointment, she had every intention of prostituting herself. But as she sat in the salon chair, the love of the women there caught at her heart and she didn’t follow through with her plan.

For several days, salon workers were able to follow up with her. They boldly prayed for her, and introduced her to Jesus. She accepted His rescue from sinful addictions and occult oppression, and has been transformed by the power of God!
Source: Frontiers

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Upcoming Events and Conferences

Ramadan, Islam’s important annual month of fasting and religious observance, begins September 13. The worldwide 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus helps Christians to humbly learn about Islam and pray for Muslims during Ramadan. Pray also for believers living and working in areas where colleagues, friends and neighbors are observing Ramadan.

Partners Worldwide's National Conference, October 4-6, 2007. Meet with dynamic businesspeople that walk the talk in the ultimate faith journey of business. Learn, with others, how you can transform the world through the marketplace locally and globally!

RCE and the Christian Center for Entrepreneurship Development Success present a Kingdom Business Symposium in Ukraine, October 19-21, 2007. Contact RCE for more information on how to participate!

Global CEO Network Conferences: Washington DC, October 17-19 and Shanghai, China, October 31st to November 2nd, 2007. Join other CEOs who are doing business in other nations. Contact Sara Maher for registration information.

The next Europartners Leadership Retreat is February 6-10, 2008 in Jerusalem. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel, so it will be a special blessing and occasion to be there. Click to see the brochure.

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Send Us Your Stories!

We love new stories about what God is doing in kingdom business. Write and tell us about what you and your organization are doing to help transform people and nations through business--we'll consider including it in our next edition of Global News.

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