SfK January 2023 Newsletter

 

SfK Ministry 2023 January Newsletter View this email in your browser

Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

How Can You Be Intentional This Season By: Cory Carlson Article featured in The Faith Driven Entrepreneur December 7, 2022   LEADERSHIP TRAIT: INTENTIONALITY Acts 18:11, “And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” In chapter 18 of Acts, the Apostle Paul has arrived in Corinth, which was one of the political and commercial centers of Greece at that time. Like most cities today, Corinth had a mixture of good and high moral individuals as well as immoral and corrupt individuals. So as Paul was teaching the Good News of Jesus to the people of Corinth, there were people who were very receptive to what he was sharing and others who rejected his teaching, even to the point of insulting him. Like you and me, Paul had his good days and his bad days as he interacted with others. Verse 9 tells us, “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent.’” Paul was obedient to this command and stayed in Corinth for a year and six months, teaching the word of God, as verse 11 mentions. However, it was not an easy eighteen months. There were days of frustration as some people rejected Paul’s teaching. Even though Paul was being obedient and doing his job, he must have felt some- times like he was swimming upstream. Plus, there was the frustration of waiting for God to reveal his next assignment. I know one of the hardest things in my life is waiting for what will happen next. When will I get the job? When will they call me back? Why is it taking so long? While I am waiting and wondering for the next development, I can start to get frustrated. Frustrated that I am not hearing anything about new steps to take. This then leads to feeling anxious about whether I am even in the right place or doing the right thing. What if I didn’t hear God’s signal and should have already moved on? All of these worries can sometimes move me into a place of slothfulness as I feel discouraged and wonder if my goal is even worth pursuing anymore. It’s almost as if I’m thinking, Fine, if it isn’t going to happen, then I will just sit here.

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MINISTRY UPDATES

We could not have done anything without God's grace. Here is a short list of what God did in and through SfK in 2022:    MB Academy - SfK carried out its online training program Business Management Training (BMT) for 16 weeks each for both the Korean track and English track. Also, SfK conducted the monthly Post BMT for 12 months.  MB Academy - SfK held its first BAM Field Trip for 10 days to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. MB Fund - SfK made multiple investments in missional businesses in a K nation in Central Asia, in Cambodia, and in a restricted nation in Southeast Asia.  MB Trading - SfK launched its e-commerce platform, Shop4Impact.com, but ended up discontinuing the operations to focus on its core competency in serving the missional businesses. MB Community - SfK has voluntarily reduced the number of nations and missional businesses to pursue "selection and focus" to better serve the members of MB Community. SfK Network - SfK conducted several seminars and lectures and participated in conferences to help encourage the BAM community at large. Also, SfK signed up partnership agreements with a few ministries to seek collaborative synergy for the Kingdom of God.   We honor and prasie the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ for His gracious guidance in 2022!

UPCOMING EVENTS

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023! 1. August 2023 MB Academy - SfK plans to hold its fourth BMT Korean track. Also, SfK plans to launch a new program called "Missional Business Connect" for the members of the MB community. Please pray that the new initiative will produce a lasting impact.  2. MB Academy - SfK plans to hold its second BAM Field Trip in the second half of 2023. Please pray that this trip will mutually benefit the participants and the field BAM practitioners.  3. MB Fund - SfK plans to consolidate its investment programs in cooperation with partner organizations while continuing to seek investment opportunities in priority nations. Please pray that SfK will pursue collaboration selflessly only for the glory of God.  4. MB Community - SfK plans to develop two new programs to strengthen the capacity of the members of the MB Community. Please pray that these new programs will be designed usefully for the MB Community members.  5. SfK Network - SfK Network is reconsidering its global business model to serve the BAM ecosystem more effectively, particularly in light of the year 2023 being the last year of its second 3-year strategic plan. Please pray that this initiative will seek God's wisdom in the process to establish its long-term viability. 6. SfK Network - SfK will continue to look for opportunities to collaborate with other ministries and to empower the BAM ecosystem globally.  7. SfK Network - SfK Korea plans to redefine its business model to establish its long-term operating sustainability. Please pray that this process will be carried out based on our faithful commitment to the Lord.

We thank you for your continued support and prayer in our commitment to serving the missional businesses in Asia and Africa. .   .   . We pray that the Lord will continue to be gracious to you in 2023 so that you may become a greater blessing for people in need around you and around the world.