Throughout the process, participants had to prove themselves to be business-savvy, to have outstanding character, and to show a desire and strategy for sharing Christ with others. Phase III was the last evaluation phase for this class of potential entrepreneurs.

The Phase III team began by visiting several entrepreneurs’ businesses to gain a better understanding of the business context we were dealing with. We visited Timothy at his provisions store (below). Timothy has a provisions store deep in the rural communities, and he is the sole provider of general provisions for not only his village but several surrounding villages:

During the training days, we opened every day with worship and prayer:

On the first day of training, we discussed relationships from a biblical perspective and how they could be affected by our businesses. We discussed the difference between business and personal expenses and how important it is to keep them separate. We did some role play so that the participants, who come from an oral storytelling culture, could tangibly grasp the concepts of how to deal with difficult situations and resolve relational conflicts. Below Rita has the task of dealing with her “parents” who heard that she received a loan and demands that she give them the money. The rest of the class gave feedback after every scenario played:

On the second day of training, we talked about marketing and started the preliminary rounds of the famous Sales Pitch Competition. Here Lydia has several minutes to pitch her product (rice) to her customer.

The Sales Pitch Competition bracket looked like this at the end of Day 2:

The third day of training began with a session on evangelism. A few of the local pastors, Azindow, Emmanuel and Yakubu, spoke to the group about how to share the Gospel through their businesses. “Everyone here believes in some kind of god,” Pastor Azindow says to the class, “So you must make sure you share about Jesus Christ and be clear that He is the only way to God. Simply saying ‘God bless you’ is not the Gospel. Your business gives you opportunities to build relationships with people from many different villages. It only takes one person in each village to believe in order for the Gospel to reach others in the villages. Just like the Samaritan woman.” Henry Liao also got up to share from his heart:

We finished Day 3 by working on money management (basic financials), record keeping, reinvestment strategies, and loan terms. Here Leona works with her group on plowing back profit for each person’s specific business.

One of the participants, Sana who sells shea butter, is thrilled to have learned how to keep track of her money by keeping them in different colored clothes, even though she is illiterate! Here we see that in one week, she makes 140 GHC in revenue and 122.80 in total expenses, thus 22.20 profit (about $13 per week). Out of that profit, she uses 8.20 GHC for tithing, saving and family, and 14 to reinvest back into her business or save for a future business purchase.

The final day, Day 4, began with the semifinals and finals of the Sales Pitch Competition. Here’s a glimpse of how the winner, Miriam (who sells fabric and sandals) did it. The class gave feedback that she was the best because she closed the sale by offering a discount for future purchases in exchange for referrals from her first-time customers. She also shared the Gospel as she sold to the customer. Miriam won the first place prize of a gallon of cooking oil. The second place winner received a bag of rice, and third place received a long bar of local soap.

The graduates then each received their Certificate of Completion for the program:

Finally, each one received his or her loan. Because most are illiterate, the signature of choice on the loan contract was a blue thumbprint!

Please pray for these 17 entrepreneurs, so that they can effectively use their loans to grow their businesses and share the Gospel with those who have not heard.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

During the past several weeks, my internship with Videre has been like an exciting crash course that combines development economics, business planning, Gospel-centered creativity, and cross-cultural evangelism. Somehow, all the pieces have fit neatly together into a coherent whole, but it is not Videre that ultimately unites them all. Neither is it the conviction to use business as mission (BAM), as important as that is. Rather, it is the underlying vision of Videre and all of Christian life – the simple truth that whatever we do can be used for God’s glory through Jesus Christ.

Through Videre, I am continually reminded that the Christian life is not only about commitment to a local church, sharing the Good News, praying, or studying God’s Word. Instead, living as a Christian is even better and deeper because it joins all that we are and do into worship to God. There is no divide between activities that are seemingly “sacred” and those that are “secular.” Instead, each moment of our lives is redeemed and transformed into opportunities to reflect the character and image of God. Whether someone is a pastor, business volunteer, entrepreneur, or team leader, their commitment to honor God in their work and life glorifies God.

Reflecting on this powerful truth presents both a challenge and encouragement. Dedicating every word and deed to Christ is what He commands, and it’s hard! On the other hand, what a promise to know that each moment of my life is precious to God! What could possibly be more exciting than knowing that even the most mundane activities can be valuable praise to Him? As difficult as the task may be, the greatness of God’s redemptive work draws us in.

As the hymnwriter Isaac Watts writes:

Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

RUTH CHAN
Videre 2011 Winter Intern

In September, a team went on a Phase I trip to begin teaching 30 participants how to use their businesses to share the Gospel.

In October, a second team went on a Phase II trip to create business plans with 21 participants who came out of Phase I.

Now we have 18 entrepreneurs who made it through Phase II and are anxiously waiting for their loans. We need a team to go on a Phase III trip so that these entrepreneurs can complete the program and graduate before they are funded!

On the Phase III trip, the team will provide training for the final 18 entrepreneurs in small groups and work with them in the following ways:

• Build savings and reinvestment schedules for long-term business growth
• Review specific loan terms and qualifications for a loan
• Teach on evangelism in the marketplace
• Teach on the importance of keeping records
• Understand how to nurture relationships with family members and employees through the business
• Participate in a sales pitch competition
• Role play on specific what-if scenarios tailored to their business plans

The trip is scheduled for January 20 – 29, 2012. Email iliang@videre.org if you are interested.

SUBMIT A TRIP APPLICATION NOW!

The team worked with 21 participants who came back from Phase I in September. The team visited some of their business to get an idea of what it means to do business in northern Ghana. Below is John Kaserman as he visits Rita, who sells sewing materials and accessories, and her husband Timothy, a tailor, at their home that also serves as their workplace. Visiting the entrepreneurs at their workplace helps team members understand the business context of where these entrepreneurs operate.

Each of the team members then sat with these participants one-on-one and vetted their business plans. Mark and his translator Solomon (center) worked with Yakubu (left), an entrepreneur who sells medicine in twelve different villages. Yakubu was formerly a Muslim who started two or three mosques. Now he uses his business to heal the sick and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with hundreds of people.

After an extreme vetting process, we determined that there are 18 fundable entrepreneurs in Class 2. These entrepreneurs have not only proven their business savvy and impressive plans to grow their businesses, but they have also shown us their hearts to use their businesses as an extension of their calling to show the love of Jesus Christ.

These entrepreneurs are now waiting for their loans. The average loan size for an entrepreneur is $638. Depending on the individual business, the loan size ranges from $156 to $1291.

We need your help and generous contribution to fund these loans!

Click here to make a donation now to sponsor one of our 18 entrepreneurs.

 Radio with a Mission

The village of Buguya, has a population of about 1,000 people and is about 145km from Tamale where our weekly radio broadcast is transmitted from and about 120km from Yendi where we live. Buguya literally means ‘the home of idols’. About 96% of the village’s population is Muslim who practice syncretism. Their occupation is mainly farming and hunting.

The community had never had any former contact with Christians or heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, through our weekly radio broadcast ‘Hour of Hope’ the people in Buguya heard the Good News for the very first time in their mother tongue, Dagbani. They contacted Abukari and he was able to visit them and share further about the Christian life. He later made a return visit with his team of evangelists. Since the people are farmers, they decided to have an evangelistic service in the night after the day’s work in the fields was finished. The experience of that service was amazing. Men and women, old and young, all gathered in the open dark to listen to the Gospel preached to them in the language of their heart. The crowd was so big that we had to use eight lanterns and torch lights to lighten up the place a little. The people were so quiet and attentive as they listened to the good news. It was the first time in many years that the evangelists received such a good reception; a crowd fully attentive to the Gospel without pouring insults on them or throwing stones at them. At the end of the message 14 people gave their lives to Jesus – Praise the Lord for this great open door!

Evangelism in Buguya

In trying to find a way of discipling them, Abukari and his team realized that there is no single adult in the village who can read and write in either English or Dagbani. We hope to be able to start a literacy class in the near future for the people in this community. Pray for this village as BCA intends to start a literacy class for the people in the community so that they will be able to read the Word of God.

Transportation to visit this remote village is another challenge as an evangelist would have to visit the new believers regularly to help and encourage them in their spiritual growth. We hope and pray that Buguya (the home of idols) will become the ‘the home and beacon of the gospel of Jesus Christ’.

For more information about Abukari and Joke’s ministry, visit their blog: http://yakubufamghana.blogspot.com/