Easter: The Anchor of BAM’s Vision
By: Grace Kim, SfK Newsletter Editor
As Easter draws near, we find ourselves invited once again into the mystery and beauty of the resurrection story. For many, this season brings familiar traditions—quiet reflection, the retelling of the cross and the empty tomb, songs of hope and victory. We gather in churches and homes to remember that, against all odds, life overcame death, light broke through the darkness, and love had the final word.
But in the midst of this sacred story, there’s also a question that lingers: What does resurrection really look like in the world we live in today? A world that’s still full of broken systems, unjust economies, displacement, and despair. A world where businesses can often be sources of exploitation rather than restoration.
This is where the vision of Business as Mission (BAM) becomes deeply relevant—not as a niche idea, but as a prophetic and practical way to live out the resurrection story in real time.
At the heart of Business as Mission lies a theological foundation rooted in the message of Easter—a story not just of death and resurrection, but of restoration, transformation, and a renewed purpose for all of creation. Easter is more than a religious holiday; it’s the cornerstone of Christian hope, the decisive turning point in history, and a lens through which BAM practitioners interpret their calling in the marketplace.
Redemption is Holistic
Easter is God's declaration that nothing is beyond His power to redeem—not hearts, not relationships, not communities, and certainly not systems like business and economics. The resurrection doesn't just promise life after death; it offers a pattern of renewal for everything that is broken. In the context of BAM, this holistic view of redemption means:
Businesses can be instruments of reconciliation—not just profit.
Supply chains can reflect justice rather than exploitation.
Employees can be valued not just for what they produce, but for who they are.
Holistic redemption sees no distinction between “sacred” and “secular.” A coffee shop in a developing country, a tech startup in a city center, or a manufacturing plant in a rural town—all can be sacred spaces when infused with resurrection purpose.
Hope is Essential
Easter is a story born out of despair. Before the resurrection came betrayal, injustice, suffering, and silence. Many entrepreneurs and business leaders—especially those operating in challenging contexts—experience similar valleys: financial instability, cultural resistance, spiritual isolation, or even persecution.
Yet Easter proclaims that darkness never has the final word. The tomb is empty. Hope is alive.
For BAM leaders, this hope is not naïve optimism. It’s a resilient, grounded belief that God is at work—even when the fruit is not yet visible. This hope sustains long-term vision in the face of temporary loss. It fuels perseverance in complex environments. And it reframes success—not as immediate results, but as faithful presence.
Sacrifice Leads to Life
At the center of Easter is the cross—a symbol of suffering, obedience, and self-giving love. Christ’s resurrection is the vindication of that sacrificial life. In BAM, this principle carries profound implications:
Founders may forgo comfort, status, or financial gain to create businesses that serve rather than exploit.
Teams may choose the slower, harder road of ethical practices over shortcuts to profitability.
Investors might prioritize impact over returns, seeing capital as seed for God’s Kingdom rather than just personal gain.
This sacrificial posture is not loss for loss’s sake—it’s a pathway to deeper life. Just as Christ's death gave birth to resurrection, so too can surrendered business practices bear fruit in ways that transform not just individuals, but entire communities and sectors.
Resurrection as a Pattern, Not Just a One-Time Event
One of the often-overlooked aspects of Easter is that resurrection becomes a template for Christian living. It's not just about Jesus being raised from the dead once—it’s about God continually bringing life out of death in every corner of our world.
In the business world, that looks like:
Turning economic deserts into ecosystems of opportunity.
Taking defunct or corrupt business models and reimagining them with justice and sustainability at their core.
Empowering people who have been marginalized—such as refugees, ex-offenders, or trafficking survivors—and giving them platforms to flourish.
This resurrection mindset changes how we see risk, failure, and growth. It challenges leaders to be more than visionaries or strategists; it calls them to be resurrection agents.
As Easter approaches, let’s do more than celebrate the resurrection—let’s live it out.
The risen Christ calls us to join Him in bringing new life into the world—through our work, our choices, and the way we love others. Whether in business, at home, or in our communities, we’re invited to reflect His hope and healing.
So this Easter, reflect, pray, and take one small step toward renewal. Because the resurrection didn’t end at the tomb—it continues through us.
No comments:
Post a Comment