The Business as Mission Podcast with Mike Baer

The first of several episodes exploring the BAM work of Empower Hope in Nairobi, Kenya. This episode features founder, Bob Cook.

Returning guest, Florina Darvell, shares an update of Melissa’s. She started this small company to provide jobs for poor women asking questions like, “If Jesus loves me, why can’t I feed my children?” Her first episode tells the heart rending story of the launch of this company. This episode catches us up on struggles and victories during the last year. You can see and purchase the clothing manufactured by these wonderful women at https://melissas.ro and you can contact Florina directly at Florinadarvell@yahoo.com or Florinadarvell@gmail.com. Please rate this episode and share it with your network. You can support the podcast at https://patreon.com/bamstories.

Erwin Wietses is a man of many talents and projects—all connected for the glory of God. Launching Houses of Prayer, restoring an historic monastery, supporting church planting in Latin America, and running a successful business are just some of Erwin’s world. The restored monastery, Stadklooister Dort, is a tremendous place to stay (trust me, I stayed there last November while in Dordrecht for the BAM Netherlands Congress! Erwin serves as one of the leaders for BAM Netherlands (http://businessasmission.nl). Listen, rate, and share this episode. To support the Business as Mission Podcast go to http://patreon.com/bamstories.

S-P O’Mahony is an Irishman working for ATG (a UK based BAM company) and living in Romania. S-P (yes, that’s his name) is a true encourager and connector who uses his relationships to guide people toward the Kingdom of God. He often gathers people who wouldn’t normally meet (believers, unbelievers, NGO workers, business people and politicians) and challenges theme to examine their worldview in light of the claims of Christ. S-P is also the Honorory Irish Consul to Transylvania, a testament to his role as an encourager. S-P describes his work as “Relationology.” For more information about S-P and his work go his LinkedIn site: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spomahony773332473?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app. To support the podcast, you can give at https://patreon.com/bamstories.

In this virtual coffee klatch, Mike Baer (Third Path) and Larry Sharp (IBEC Ventures) start an ongoing conversation about various challenges and advances they are seeing in the modern BAM Movement. This episode is the first of several conversations on these and other topics but the two veteran BAM leaders. Www.thirdpathinitiative.com www.ibecventures.com https://patreon.com/bamstories

Jun Shiomitsu helped found the African Business School in Uganda and now the Avoda Institute. Avoda is a high end professional training and equipping work based in Kampala with plans to expand to other African nations. Many of their instructors travel in from around the world (there may be a place for you!) and, in addition to education, Avoda has established an investment fund (there may be a place for you!). This is Jun’s second appearance on the show and his updates are truly exciting. For more information, www.avoda.org To invest or give, www.avodafund.org

Matt is a veteran worker, business person, disciple maker who has recently taken the lead in a global finance and business scale up company. We are limited in what we can say or write due to the sensitive nature of their work but rest assured, Matt and team are making huge Kingdom Impact in the hardest to get to places. Listen to the journey that God has taken Matt on and the future that God has planned. You can learn more at www.transformationalsme.org You can also show your support for this podcast by subscribing, leaving us a rating and review wherever you listen, and sharing these stories with a friend. Financial support is given through www.patreon.com/bamstories

How does someone who loves Christ, loves business, and gets finance do to expand the Kingdom of God? For Derek Kessen, the answers led him on a path to found Heron Ventures, a Chicago based portfolio management company that is impacting the world. Thoughtful, strategic investments is what excites him and his team, enabling them to join God in His work of life and societal transformation. Learn more at https://heronventures.vc.

Danilo Brizola (Snowman Labs) and Samara Brandao (entrepreneur) are part of the backbone of BAM Brasil. Their stories about discovering Business as Mission, diving in, and now leading the effort in their home country are inspiring and encouraging. Learn more about them at https://bambrasil.org. Note also the upcoming BAM Conference in Curitiba in May. Please rate our podcast where you listen and consider supporting us at https://patreon.com/bamstories.

Gea Gort has come a long way since she and husband, Menno Gort served on Mercy Ships. Learning to see a ship as a floating business, Gea was led more and more into the world of BAM and today, she leads BAM Netherlands. Her insight, passion, and intelligence will challenge and inspire you. Gea will be speaking at the BAM Vancouver conference in early March (for more info, www.bamvancouver.org). She and her team will host another BAM Congress in the Netherlands in November 2024 (www.businessasmission.nl). Recently, she and BAM leader Bill Job launched Kingdom Keys for Business, Life, and Work, a biweekly podcast and they are in the process of building out BAM courses (for information go to www.bammoves.com). We wonder what Gea does in her spare time. Please give us a like and a rating wherever you get our podcasts. You can support The Business as Mission Podcast on Patreon (www.patreon.com/bamstories).

Our guest, Rob, lives and works in a closed country (hence the name contraction), but from there has managed to build, launch, and grow a BAM Incubator that is impacting expats and nationals around the world—especially among the unreached. The incubator is exciting but so is the journey that God led Rob on to get to where they are today. Listen to Rob’s story and then check out their site— https://b4tincubator.com

Carrie-Anne Ballantyne, co-founder of BAM Canada gives us an exciting update about what God is doing in her country. Great insights on local, national, and international developments in the BAM Movement. To learn more, check out bamcanada.ca, info@bamcanada.ca, and ourcommoncalling.ca. Carrie-Anne was our guest earlier on Season 3: Episode 5. Welcome back Carrie-Anne!

My thoughts are literally my thoughts. These are my brief reflections on the recent past and the near future of the Global BAM Movement. Mike Baer is the founder of Third Path Initiative BAM education platform at https://thirdpathinitiative.com and a founding member of TriVenture, “The BAM Launchpad,” at https://triventure.com.

Dr. Rod St. Hill, the BAM Pastor, joins Mike again to talk about developments in the world of BAM, pastoring BAM practitioners, and the latest lessons that God is teaching him. Dr. Rod is a perennial favorite to BAM Stories listeners and always an encouragement.

Robert Cross, former US Marine, came to Christ shortly after getting out of the service. His passion and gifting led him to a life of evangelism, church planting, and entrepreneurial activity—all at the same time. Through all of this, Robert saw huge need for discipling people in business. Entrepreneurs start things and Robert is the perfect example. Contact him at robert@yourconnectionschurch.com

Dani Goeppert—Canadian who served in Ukraine and is now based in Austria—is the perfect example of someone who needed God’s help to learn and launch a BAM company. And HE met her, again and again. Enjoy the humility, joy, and perseverance of Dani as she shares the journey that led to virtual conference company Risen Events. Learn more at www.risenevents.com or contact Dani directly at Dani@risenevents.com.

Joao Mordomo, newly chosen Executive Director of BAM Global, shares an amazing journey from traditional missions into BAM and now into the role of leading the BAM Global Network. Joao’s story is inspiring on many levels and you will be blessed by the ways that God has captured and matured and broken and healed his heart in the journey. For more information, you can go to BAMglobal.org or contact Joao directly at joao@bamglobal.org. This is an episode you’ll want to keep and share!

Bob Bush, Executive Director of IBEC Ventures, and Mike Baer, CEO of Third Path Initiative, join up to discuss what they saw on a recent trip to South Asia and to share what God is doing there in and through BAM.

In this episode, our good friend Mark Polet from Canada discusses the 4th component of the Quadruple Bottom Line—Environmental Impact or Creation Care. This is a challenging focus for BAMmers around the world. We want it but what does it mean and why does it matter. Biologist Mark Polet helps unpack this vital topic. Mark welcomes contact via his email: markpolet@icloud.com The 4 Creation Care Papers mentioned are available here— https://bamglobal.org/reports/. The Lausanne Paper mentioned is here— https://lausanne.org/content/wealth-creation-stewardship-creation

Meet Brandon Junkin, founder of Arimathea. Brandon and his team are mobilizing college students and recent grads to consider the BAM Movement and, at the same time, they are connecting potential and actual BAMers to resources available from the many groups serving the ecosystem. Enjoy the story and the selfless way in which Arimathea serves. For more information, go to https://Arimathea team.com or connect with Brandon via LinkedIn.