TMB

The Arab Spring & the Power 
of the Gospel.

/ Ari Rocklin

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We have seen amazing changes in parts of the Arab world recently and more challenges are in the news daily. While much grief and horror has been brought into the region, we are reminded that God is still very much in control behind the nightly news scenes.

Christian expatriates are reporting increased openness by the local people from many of the affected and nearby countries. While intense fighting was still taking place, there was a sense of impending freedom from dictatorial leaders. One worker describes how even taxi drivers were openly asking them about God while adding that a new time is arriving where it is permissible to speak about Jesus.

There are credible reports of new house churches being started with minimal to no direct participation by expatriate Christians. Indeed local authorities have been suggesting that foreigners distance themselves from these new churches for the safety of everyone involved.

Local people are optimistic of a new and better future, where they have a say during this ongoing process. The son of a terrorist group leader, who is now a follower of Jesus has said that even those countries that may initially embrace a more strict form of their majority religion, have now been empowered to make change, and thus will not tolerate any form of government that is not representative of the people they claim to represent.

We remain overwhelmed by these rapid changes in this region and rejoice in the news of God’s kingdom being built on many fronts. Opportunities for expatriate Christians and businesspeople still continues to grow. 

Widespread Business Corruption Demonstrates Need for Christian Business Influence

/ Phill

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“About two in three adults worldwide believe corruption is widespread in the businesses in their countries,” according to a recent Gallup study.

Results vary from country to country, but perceived rampant corruption is just as likely to occur in developed as developing countries. Corruption is seen as a major impediment to ongoing development and to overcoming poverty. As such, the poor and those in developing countries are hurt most.

Investors are hesitant to put their money where trust in the economic system is lowered. They fear losing money and having it fall into the wrong hands.

According to the World Bank, corruption is “one of the single largest obstacles to economic and social development.”

Gallup says, “Strong leadership, policies, laws, and greater transparency are necessary to fight corruption, which in turn may actually promote job creation and economic development. Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs rely on a stableenvironment, but widespread corruption makes it difficult to estimate the risks involved in starting new enterprises.”

This report overlooks the most important factor of all. What these countries need is men and women of integrity to participate in business and the governments of their countries and transform their communities to align with the principles of God.

This report should really be seen as a call for the church to engage more strongly in doing Business as Mission and transform their spheres of influence, their communities, and their nations.

“Gospel Entrepreneurship transcends the typical categories of entrepreneurship—social entrepreneur, business entrepreneur, artist—by uniting them around the idea that men and women who work for shalom must think of their enterprises first and foremost as mechanisms through which they can restore and renew the human community.

“Shalom” is that condition in human community described in scripture as including beauty, truth, justice, goodness and human flourishing. We believe it is the gospel-minded entrepreneur who is equipped to bring innovations to life that advance shalom in our communities and in our world.”

What the world needs now… more than strong leadership, policies, and laws… is godly leadership. Christians in the marketplace can be the salt and light that make the difference.

How to share Faith Naturally – A Case Study

/ Phill

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Greg is an international consultant who spends many days living out of hotel rooms. Along the way he has made many international friends. He is making new discoveries about them all the time.

Discovery.

He brought a colleague from work to his hotel to see if he might like it better than where he was staying. The non-Christian friend noticed a book on business as mission on his nightstand.

Later his colleague mentioned that he had bought and was reading the book he had seen on Greg’s nightstand.

He said he was surprised it talked about mission so much. Greg explained that the principles were good and applicable to all businesses.

The friend also accompanied him to church one Sunday. He noticed Greg did not carry a Bible like the others and asked, why not. “Ah,” Greg explained, “there’s an app for that.” He showed him that he had the Bible on his smart phone. 
The colleague immediately downloaded the Bible onto his phone too. Clearly, there was a desire to understand and emulate Greg as a wise and successful business person and friend.

As Greg discovered, your business associates are always watching. You never know what will make an impression on them, so you need to always be ready.

Opportunity.

If you are alert, there are lots of opportunities. When the opportunities come, give an explanation and move on. Don’t “over-respond”. They will continue to pursue their questions when they are ready. Because Greg did not become “preachy” his friend didn’t feel pressured but did feel welcome to continue the conversation later.

Takeaways:

1. People are always watching. Let your light shine. Learn to drop tiny spiritual bombshells in the most casual, natural way!

2. People are curious. Any casual thing you do or say that discreetly announces 
“I know about God and I am willing to talk,” will feed their interest.

3. Follow up on openings. Answer questions briefly, adding bits of information to keep more questions coming. And move on.

4. Take small steps. Allow seekers to pace the conversations with their questions as they are ready. Seekers need time to process what we tell them and time for the Holy Spirit to work on them.

This approach is what Ruth Siemens referred to as fishing evangelism. It is patient, allowing seekers to pursue their conversations and questions as they are ready. We can turn people off or confuse them by saying too much too soon and using terms they do not yet know. Speak briefly and then wait. Think, “The next move is up to them.”

Muslims and Christians take over the world

/ Steinar Opheim

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The two biggest religions in the world are growing in number and influence. The others are diminishing.

Islam and Christianity seem to be the winners on the religious market according to a new report from the Center of Study of Global Christianity.  200 years ago 33 per cent of the world´s population belonged to one of these two religions. Today their share has grown to more than 50 per cent. Estimates for the future show that they will continue to grow and that 66 per cent of the world’s population will be either Muslims or Christians by year 2100. The Christians will continue to outnumber the Muslims.

The intermingling of Muslim and Christian peoples is evident in Africa, Central Asia, India and Indonesia—all areas where Muslim-initiated persecution and conflict are more likely. Religious conflict could become a major destabilizing factor along the fault line between Muslim and Christian areas, states Patrick Johnstone in the book The Future of The Global Church that was published last year.

Stein Villumstad who is heading the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL) says it is important that leaders from different religions acknowledge and show respect for each other.

To a growing extent the leaders now take part in both formal and informal talks across the religious borderlines and we experience that there is a greater sense of understanding between them than before, says Villumstad.