Shanghai Kingdom Business Forum May 2008 The Approach of SIM to “Business as Mission” (Part 1) Graeme Kent SIM Advocate for Business Ministries SIM Strictly Confidential Not to be copied without SIM permission

SKBF - May 08 OUTLINE – SESSION ONE Introduction to SIM SIM’s Approach to BAM Ministry SIM’s Ministries in China SIM Ministries in other Asian Countries SIM

SKBF - May 08 The SIM Mission Statement: The Mission of SIM is to glorify God by planting, strengthening and partnering with churches around the world as we:   Evangelise the unreached   Minister to human need   Disciple believers into churches and   Equip churches to fulfill the Christ Commission. SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM - Who We Are SIM is a community of God’s people who delight to worship Him and are passionate about the Gospel seeking to fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.   We started in 1893 as the “Sudan Interior Mission”   There have been mergers with other mission agencies in the past 30 years   SIM now means “Serving in Mission”   Our motto is “By Prayer” SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM - Who We Are   We are a church-planting mission   We work to see communities transformed by the Gospel of Christ   We are a mission-planting mission   We have 1500 missionaries working in 50 countries (Africa, Asia and South America) SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Main Ministry Priorities   Evangelism and church planting   Capacity building in the church   Islam   Leadership development   Mobilisation for mission from the west   Children, youth and young adults   Urban centres   Emerging missions   HIV/AIDS   Asia SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM and BAM Ministry SIM has seen SIM has seen growing interest around the world for using business activities (“Business as Mission”) as a platform for cross-cultural ministry, especially where:   Official access for missionaries is restricted   It provides a means to reach specific groups (business people, professionals, students, upper class, etc)   It can be used to strengthen the local church   It may reduce the amount of financial support missionaries need to raise SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM Statement on Business Ministries “SIM affirms that God uses various ministry methods and strategies in proclaiming the love of God to the nations. We also recognize that God is using new ways in furthering His kingdom. We see great potential for businesses with kingdom objectives, as well as employment in paid professional positions, as having an increasing and vital role in helping SIM achieve its vision and purposes. (continued) SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM Statement on Business Ministries Professional positions and well-run “kingdom businesses” can provide fruitful opportunities for incarnational witness, however SIM will engage in such activities only when they can contribute effectively to SIM’s specified ministry objectives.” SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Approach to “Business as Mission” (BAM)   SIM sees great potential in BAM activities as a way to help us achieve our overall strategic ministry objectives   We have recently decided to give BAM much greater attention SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Approach to BAM Steps already taken 1. 1.We have defined the place of BAM in the ministry of SIM Note:We use the term “Business-based Ministries” (BBM) 2. 2.Appointed a (non-executive) “Advocate for Business Ministries” SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Approach to BAM Steps already taken Set up off-shore “parent companies” (Singapore, USA and England) to own some of the BBM field companies Formed a number of BBM operating companies Started building networks with other mission groups using BAM SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Approach to BAM Steps already taken Signed a Partnership Agreement with SaRang Community Church in Korea SIM is using BAM / BBM activities as platforms for ministry in a few countries, mainly the two largest “Restricted Access” countries in Asia Only a few SIM personnel (about 30) are working full-time in BAM activities. Most are using their BAM activities as a platform for their visas / work permits. SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM’s Model for China   Main Target Area: Central and Western China   Main People Groups:   Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists   Believers who want to be missionaries   Key Partnership: A group of like-minded missions SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM Ministries in China 1. Evangelism and church planting   Expatriate school and university teachers (especially teaching English)   Business Consultancy   Food Manufacturing   Family Counselling and Education Centre SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM Ministries in China 2.Equipping national church members to be evangelists and cross-cultural missionaries  Furniture repair and export company  Food manufacturing SIM

SKBF - May 08 SIM Ministries in other Asian countries Main focus: Reaching Muslims and Hindus Main ministries: Evangelism and church planting   Information Technology company   Management consulting company   Travel company   Fitness Center for Muslim Women   English language school   Creative media company   Fabric design company   School to train motorcycle mechanics   Agricultural research farm   Micro-credit cooperative SIM