Now available

A Call to Business has produced a new dvd, which will be an excellent resource for small groups. In total 139 minutes long, it comprises 11 chapters of between 7-10 minutes, each of which can be viewed on its own and will provide food for thought, discussion and application.

Alongside the dvd is a downloadable study guide to stimulate discussion.

"The call to business"

Imagine a Tolkien-like dreamscape, with little homes, barely illuminated in a darkened corner of the land, workers busy building places of learning and instruction. Suddenly, there is a flash of lightning and the workers have a sense of foreboding as something vast, dark and seductive, is briefly illuminated. Towering over them and all around, is a great palace of luxury, power and influence.

As the workers come out of their buildings and into the dark corridors of this immense structure, they soon forget what they have been taught, and have insufficient power to resist the influences all around them. They meet vast armies of people happily enjoying the pleasures of the palace, but as they focus on the needs of the buildings and themselves, they become assimilated into the dark structure’s culture and are soon indistinguishable from those who inhabit the palace, perversely called ‘the real world’.

There are voices though, springing up across the land, and in other lands. Voices in tune with a distant rhythm, a deep resonating sound calling out to them, urging those in the buildings and those on the move to “come, turn around and gaze at the dark structure that I am about to dismantle. I will show you new ways, I will equip you, directly and through my people. I will demonstrate my power through you and we will bring this ungodly structure to dust. My people will be free. Stand firm, believe and trust in me, persevere and you will overcome. No longer will this palace, which has stored up the treasures of the land, robbed the poor and resisted my people, stand. There will be a new and great city built on a hill, with light and brightness beyond description, and we will live there for ever and ever.”

do we understand the early church? Twelve men were called by Jesus - practical, working men who believed in Him, were taught by Him and who knew that through faith in Him, anything was possible. Jesus changed everything and against a background of opposition and suffering, the message of the Gospel spread like wildfire. The real, visible, vibrant, militant movement of Jesus’ followers shook the planet and truly, as Jesus said, so it was. A church built on the prophets and apostles, people of faith, yet strongly practical.

God has equipped every man and woman to be a minister of the Gospel, all with the same mandate to "go into all the world and make disciples of all nations ..." not only within the structure of the local church, but in our everyday lives, men and women working out their faith in their own spheres of influence, wherever they may be located, and whatever the nature of the work of their hands.

So what is this “call to business” all about and what does it look like on a daily basis?

There are many potent spheres of authority. Undoubtedly, the most powerful of these is business, which in turn has immense influence over politics, the arts and education. The developed world grows more affluent by the day, and yet perversely in this system known as capitalism, the poor become measurably poorer each year. The ‘Babylonian system’ described in the Bible has grown since the beginning of civilisation and is based on luxury and power. It continues to grow unabated with appalling consequences for the less well off, the less capable, and those without opportunity or access to capital.

In contrast, the call of God to those who love Him, has always been to a life of self-sacrifice, service, and witness. Many of us have been busy organising our lives into self-contained compartments which function like separate worlds and this contrasts sharply with the true calling of every Christian to be a minister of the Gospel 24/7. To put it another way, every believer is ordained by God to be an intercessor, a spiritual warrior, a soul winner and disciple maker, in whatever situation they find themselves - for business people their business environment. Believers can be positioned to bring justice, righteousness and excellence, in everyday life.

Unless believers influence their sphere of authority - in this case business - they will not destroy the works of the enemy and bring about change to the degree scripture exhorts us to. Unless believers are counter-cultural they will be assimilated into the world system.

Consider the following:

• A man has an idea which comes to him in a dream. He applies pragmatism and skills, assembles resources and creates a new technology, with the consequence of wealth creation.   Where did the idea come from?
• A non-believer, former merchant banker, sets up a business, challenging the financial markets to consider investing in wealth creating industries giving a double bottom line, where profits can enrich communities, transform societies and empower the poor.   Who inspired him?
• An employee, new to the company, walks into the boardroom. The boss sees things the employee thought were hidden from all - depression and dark thoughts behind the smiles. Words spoken in a moment in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a business day begin a journey which leads to salvation.   Whose power was at work?
• A young woman on the retail shop floor challenges her bosses as to the unrighteousness and offensiveness of their advertising. She speaks prophetically but is ignored. Within months the share price begins to collapse and the founder suffers a financial reversal.    Who brought about the change?

Indeed the God of power, redemption, creativity, love, mercy and grace, is on the move in the marketplace. Like all major moves of God, there will be impostors, worldly mediums trying to engage with this coming reformation, bringing their own agendas, misconceptions and diversions. With discernment, surrendered hearts, sharpness of vision and authority, this new breed of apostolic men and women will avoid deception and advance the Kingdom. They are emerging, people of destiny and ability, full of hope, anticipation, and crucially no longer lukewarm!

A Call to Business was established in 2000 as a clarion call to those in this sphere to ‘wake up’ and realise that they are empowered by God to be ministers of the Gospel 7 days a week, and that every day, they have authority in the Word of God and through His Spirit. Using everything at their disposal, those who are on this journey seek to live out the Gospel both through personal transformation and through social action, creating a counter-cultural movement to challenge the status quo in society.

Whilst the local church has always been part of God’s plan, a wind of change and transformation is blowing. People long becalmed, can hoist their sails into this wind and be carried along with new momentum, but it will not be constrained and it will blow through the corridors of power and authority, shaking their very foundations and bringing spiritual and physical transformation.

Engage, communicate – let us know how we can help you or how you can help us.

Engage, communicate, let us know how we can help you or how you can help us. This is not about building an organisation, this is about prayer, action, mobilising, equipping, sacrifice, building the Kingdom - His Kingdom here on earth. “How will they know unless they hear?”

• A short while ago, 30 Rotary Club members visited a classic car business, viewing 80 beautiful historic cars. In the midst of a talk about the cars, the businessman spoke about the history of the area, its Christian heritage, and his own journey of faith. The next day one of them, a Headmaster, phoned to say how inspired and impressed he was with this talk of the Gospel and asked, “Can I bring my schoolchildren to your garage? They are socially disadvantaged and hungry for spiritual input”. This, a secular school, seeking help from a man of faith, not in a pulpit but in the workplace. This is the ‘call to business’.
• A group set up a mineral water business using biodegradable bottles. The company now has a seven figure turnover. They give 100% of the profits to create clean water supplies and clean up rivers in Africa. This too is a picture of the ‘call to business’.

When calling and spiritual gifting meet natural gifting and purpose the result will shake the status quo to its foundations.

Be blessed! Get involved!!