Newsletter - October 2018

SfK Ministries Newsletter - OCTOBER 2018 "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:17,18) Joseph--The Original BAMer    Over the past few months, we have been exploring the meaning of BAM and various businesses that are currently active BAM based businesses.  Although this idea of BAM seems to be a modern way of doing missions work, it has actually been around since the Old Testament times!  Mr. Albert (Al) Erisman, an Executive in Residence at Seattle Pacific University's School of Business and Economics, delves into the life of Joseph as a business person.  He discusses Joseph's life as being the first business as mission leader in his book, "The Accidental Executive, Lessons in Business, Faith and Calling from the Life of Joseph."  Mr. Erisman gave a seminar at the Urbana 12 conference on topics found within his book.  He speaks about Joseph's life of setting up a business in Egypt, representing God to the people in Egypt, all while accomplishing a real purpose that brought value to the people.  Follow the link below to listen to Mr. Erisman's seminar during Urbana 12. Learning about Business as Mission from the Life of Joseph FAITHFUL GIVING: Isaac Baik, South Korea Isaac Baik has faithfully committed to supporting SfK Ministries through his generous monthly contributions.  We sat down with Mr. Baik to see what has compelled him to give and what advice he has for those who are interested in giving to BAM and SfK Ministries. Click HERE to see the full interview...   Ministry Updates  1. SfK Korea held its regular board meeting in September and made two important decisions. One is to establish the first K-Impact Investment Fund (KIF #1) by October 31, 2018. The minimum subscription amount has already been pledged and KFI #1 will be launched after October 31. PTL! Please pray that this fund will become the successful pioneer for all future Kingdom Investment Funds.  2. Also, KIF #1 will make an investment in an online marketing company that has its sales platform in Korea and in the U.S. Please pray this strategic alliance will help advance His Kingdom through impactful Kingdom trade.    3. One Egg Project has decided to fund two pilot projects in Cambodia and Tanzania. Both SfK Cambodia and SfK Tanzania will work with local partners to help feed early age children with one egg per day for their physical and intellectual development. Please pray that this new partnership will produce synergy for His Kingdom for many years to come.  4. SfK participated in KBM Global Gathering, one of main BAM gatherings in Korea. A few ministry opportunities have developed. Please pray that these opportunities will bear fruit that will please the Lord.  5. SfK held several meetings with potential strategic partners to explore the opportunities for collaboration. Please pray that these initial contacts will be fruitful in God's eyes.  6. Two new missional businesses in Malaysia and India have signed up to be part of SfK Missional Business Community. Praise the Lord! Please pray that these relationships will expand to produce greater impact in the lives of people they serve.  Upcoming Events & Prayer Requests   Oct. 22-Nov. 2, 2018:  SfK MBA Boot Camp Training Chiang Mai 2018. Please pray that all participants from 6 countries and 4 Kingdom Fellows as faculty members will work together harmoniously to produce synergy for His Kingdom.  BAM Global is conducting a survey with BAMers and people affiliated with any Christian mission agency to prepare for a consultation tentatively titled "BAM and Mission Agencies." If you are affiliated with any Christian mission agency, please take part in this important survey. For English version, you may go to the link by clicking here and for Korean version, by clicking here.  November and December 2018:  SfK Resource Development Tour to the U.S. SfK will visit and focus on New York, Atlanta, Memphis, Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles. From this tour, SfK prays for God's sending someone to lead SfK Life's development efforts in the U.S. Please pray that this tour will be fruitful and meet someone whom the Lord will prepare in advance. November and December 2018:  SfK Life and SfK Korea board meetings. Please pray that all board members will discern God's voice and prayerfully and faithfully seek His calling in business particularly during this time of rapid changes.  SfK leadership will prepare the Business Plan and Budget for 2019 and update the Strategic Plan. Please pray that this time will be a time to reflect what God has been doing and to see His will for the future.  January 2019:  SfK MBA BCT Phnom Penh (Korean). If you are interested, please send inquiries to info@sfklife.org. Please pray that this training program will challenge, inspire and equip many potential BAMers in the region to work more effectively for His Kingdom in and through business.  February 2019:  SfK Life and SfK Korea will hold their board meetings jointly in Bangkok, Thailand. Please pray that this opportunity will bring unity among SfK members and produce greater synergy for His Kingdom.    Thank you for your standing with us faithfully for equipping and empowering missional businesses in Asia and Africa! Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. May God bless you richly so that you may become a greater blessing to people in need around you and around the world! Consider a charitable contribution in partnering with SfK One-Time Donation Recurring Donations Donate Now SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2018 Synergy For the Kingdom Ministry, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Synergy For the Kingdom Ministry 5440 Enfield Way Suwanee, GA 30024 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Faithful Giving...

What comes to mind when you think of a devoted supporter of a ministry?  Someone who is generous? Indeed, generosity is a great characteristic when it comes to a supporter.  However, it is not the most important quality. The best supporter of any kind of ministry is a faithful, steadfast supporter.

Isaac Baik is one of these types of supporters. He is a faithful financial supporter for SfK Ministries. Since the inception of SfK Ministries, he has been making significant monthly financial contributions. We wanted to talk to Isaac about why he decided to support SfK Ministries and advice he can give to those interested in contributing to the ministry. 

Initially, Isaac was reluctant to sit down with us. SfK is deeply grateful to him for agreeing to this interview. - Editor

SfK: Can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?

A: My name is Isaac Baik. I am a 30 year old Korean. Currently, I work for one of Samsung’s companies as a team leader. I am blessed to be a member of God's family.

SfK: For a Korean, Isaac is not a common name. Was it your name from birth?

A: No. My father became the first Christian in our family in 2007 and changed his name to Abraham.  He changed my name to Isaac. Now most of paternal family members are believers. It is God's grace.

SfK: You are a faithful giver, making monthly donations diligently for over two years. Can you tell me why you give so generously and so faithfully?

A: I am indebted to God for His grace. Because of His creation and His redemption, my life belongs to God. I took a stewardship class while in Rwanda, and I decided to be a good steward of treasure as well as time and talents all of which have been entrusted with me. I allocate my earnings according to certain formula. One tenth for God. Tithing. One tenth for SfK Ministries. One tenth for people in need including the poor. One tenth for the family. And I spend the rest.

SfK. Wow! That is a very tough standard for a young man like you! How well do you follow the standards?

A: At times, I sense temptations, honestly. But, in general, I have been able to honor this commitment.

SfK:  SfK is grateful for support. Why have you chosen to support SfK Ministries?

A: I am in the business world and well aware of how beneficial a business is to humanity and how powerful a business can be in the mission field. SfK supports such missional businesses by equipping and empowering them. I see that SfK is allowing God's resources to flow to the areas in need. I also see that SfK's efforts produce the impact for holistic transformation. Also, I see that the leadership of SfK in the U.S. and in Korea are credible people. Moreover, SfK takes only 5% of my donation as an administrative expense. That is a big plus. That is why I have chosen to support SfK.

If I may add one more point, someday I would like to run a missional business myself. I am beginning the journey by supporting SfK that works for such missional businesses. 

SfK: We at SfK are humbled and honored by your consideration and commitment. We are pledging ourselves to continuing to meet your expectation. Can you make any suggestion to those who may want to also join you in making faithful giving to any ministry of his/her choice?

A: I think the awareness of stewardship and the resolve to be a good steward will be the foundation to any faithful giving. The resources are not mine but God's own under my custody. If this foundation is established, it becomes natural for a good steward to use His own resources for the purposes He cares for. Logistically, PayPal auto payment setups help you keep your commitment without struggling too much with the temptation every month. 

SfK: Again, we are grateful for your faithful support and we pray for God's greater blessing so that you may become an even greater blessing to others around you.

Newsletter - September 2018

SfK Ministries Newsletter - SEPTEMBER 2018 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24) Over the past few months, we have examined what BAM (business as mission) is and explored various businesses that currently operate under a BAM model. By now, you are probably asking yourself, "How is BAM relevant to me? What can I do to get involved? How does God want me to serve?" There are several avenues to become directly/indirectly involved in BAM.  SfK has many opportunities to serve within various capacities. We continuously search for willing Kingdom servants to become part of our ministry.  Whether it be directly consulting BAM businesses with your business acumen, sharing your expertise in a specific field or supporting through monetary means, YOU can be involved in impacting many lives. Below is an article from the Christian Broadcast Network website that outlines 6 tangible ways you can become involved with BAM. SfK provides business mentoring opportunities, MBA (Missional Business Academy) trainings, as well as opportunities to contribute financially to BAM businesses.  Feel free to contact us at info@sfklife.org to get involved and see where your talents can be used for His Kingdom.   - Editor   ___________________________________     Six Ways to Get Involved in the 'Business as Missions' Movement by Scott McFarlane   Have you ever felt that your calling is not as "spiritual" as someone else's? Has a friend or a leader in the church ever implied that if you were really "on fire for the Lord" you would drop your current profession and enter what is commonly referred to as "full-time ministry"? Have you wrestled with why God would give you skills and abilities in the field of business if that is not a valid use of your time? In many church bodies, the Christian business community has been effectively marginalized by what Dr. R. Paul Stevens has poignantly described as a "Spiritual-Vocational Hierarchy." Illustrated in the shape of a pyramid, Stevens shows how unbiblically some in church leadership view business people. Each level of the pyramid supposedly gets you closer to becoming more spiritual since, in the minds of these leaders, God is more pleased with the service of those in the upper sections—those known as "professional" clergy. (Apparently, then, He must be pretty displeased with lawyers, politicians, and others who don't even make it onto the chart!) Sadly, these are the prevailing assumptions about work in many churches, and they culminate in apathy, discouragement, resentment, and ultimately, a sweeping demobilization of talented people. The good news, though, is that many leaders are seeing through the fallacy of this pyramid and actively awakening people to the important work they can do for the Lord, both locally and globally, using the skill set He has already given to them. In fact, this has now become a burgeoning movement of the Spirit. Today, it is loosely called the "business as mission" or the "Kingdom business" movement, but these are not new ideas. They are freshly packaged in a way that fits the global marketplace. Because God desires to use the whole body of Christ to advance the Kingdom around the world, He has opened up several options to gifted business professionals. Here are six of these options. Click to read more Ministry Updates    SfK Central Asia #1 - God has opened the door of opportunity for SfK to serve in Central Asia through this missional business. For security reasons, we are calling this business SfK Central Asia #1. Please pray that this missional business will play a pivotal role in this region that is hostile to Christianity.  SfK Life Board Meeting had a board meeting on August 10, 2018 - The board has resolved on a few important issues unanimously. Please pray that all board members will remain true to God's calling for each of them.  Travel to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia - SfK served a couple of missional businesses in Malaysia, and one of them signed up to be a member of the SfK Missional Business Community (MBC). Please pray that this business will thrive in building the artisans and their community with eco-friendly products.                      Travel to Kolkata, India - SfK visited several freedom businesses that aim to give freedom to those in modern slavery including human trafficking, and met with their leadership teams. One of the freedom businesses has signed up to be a member of SfK MB Community. Please pray that this freedom business creates significant transformation impact in the lives of these women who desire to escape from the modern slavery.   Travel to Kathmandu, Nepal. - SfK spoke to approximately 100 Korean business men and women and many wanted to participate in SfK MBA BCT (Boot Camp Training). We have scheduled a 2-week training in August 2019. SfK also spoke to 30 members of GCC and spent time with a few freedom businesses and one bioponics business. A Kingdom investment opportunity has been brought up to SfK and we are reviewing their business plan. Please pray that the seeds sown in this harsh land will be deeply rooted and sprout to grow.                         Travel to Kunming, China, - SfK visited various cities to explore the Yunnan Province, meeting several business people. It was joyous to talk to them and provide them with words of encouragement. A couple of missional businesses desired to minister together with SfK. Praise the Lord! Please pray that the ground-breaking efforts will bear fruit over time and we will be patient for God's perfect timing.  Upcoming Events & Prayer Requests   SfK has made a working capital loan and disbursed it in early September to a missional business in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the first financial investment that SfK has made for the Kingdom impact in Africa. This missional business is engaged in several businesses, including an automobile garage that has so far rescued and empowered approximately 50 young people from Kibera, the world's largest urban slum. Please pray that this business will uplift more Kibera youth and empower people in need. SfK will participate in KBM Global gathering to take place in Sorak, S. Korea. Approximately 50 people will attend and share their stories for mutual learning and encouragement. Please pray that this gathering will receive God's favor and participants will be blessed. SfK Korea Board Meeting - The board members will deliberate a few important proposals for decision. Please pray that all members will honor God in the process of reviewing and making decisions. BAM Conference in Philadelphia, PA - There still is time for you to register if God is calling you to serve people through business. Please pray that the event will inspire and challenge the participants to see God's calling in business for His purpose. SfK will hold a few strategic meetings in Korea during September. Please pray that these meetings will be fruitful in God's eyes.  SfK Missional Business Academy is scheduled to hold the following 2-week BCT (Boot Camp Training) programs in the coming months: October 22 - November 2, 2018 - Chiang Mai, Thailand (in Korean) January 14 - 25, 2019 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Korean) April 29 - May 10, 2019 - Central Asia (English) July 8 - 19, 2019 - Arusha, Tanzania (English) August 5 - 16, 2019 - Kathmandu, Nepal (Korean) If you are interested in learning more about this intensive but useful training, please send your inquiry to info@sfklife.org. Please pray that all these training schedules will produce synergy and impact for His Kingdom. Thank you for standing with us in equipping and empowering missional businesses in Asia and Africa for His Kingdom! Your prayers and financial support are invaluable to our ministry. Until we contact you with more updates, God's peace be with you and your family! Consider a charitable contribution in partnering with SfK One-Time Donation Recurring Donations Donate Now SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2018 Synergy For the Kingdom Ministry, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Synergy For the Kingdom Ministry 5440 Enfield Way Suwanee, GA 30024 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.