The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission [Paperback]

Mark L. Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Business as mission (BAM), an emerging concept and developing ministry, has drawn fascination in missions and business circles. BAM embodies the practice of using business strategically accomplishing missional purposes. Though the term is ubiquitous in mission circles, there is disparity between its meaning. There has been much theoretical discussion about BAM but far less research accomplished on how it happens out in reality. The Missional Entrepreneur takes an in-depth look at business as missions in action with an eye to expose the most effective principles and practices of this movement.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark L. Russell has a PhD in intercultural studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, a master of divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a bachelor of science degree in international business from Auburn University. His doctoral dissertation focused on business as mission (BAM). Mark has gained tremendous international understanding in his time living and working in Russia, Chile and Germany and in his extensive travel to more than 70 countries to carry out a variety of business, educational, humanitarian and religious projects. Mark has been published in more than 50 academic and popular level publications. Mark lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Laurie and their children, Noah and Anastasia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: New Hope Publishers - Impact (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596692782
• ISBN-13: 978-1596692787
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark L. Russell is the cofounder of Russell Media. He has a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Auburn University.

Mark is a frequent public speaker and has worked as a consultant for a diverse set of organizations. He has done extensive work in areas of poverty, empowering microentrepreneurs through economic development initiatives as well as working on projects involving large multinational corporations. Mark has lived and worked in Russia, Chile and Germany and traveled to over 70 countries to carry out a variety of business, educational, humanitarian and religious projects.

He has been published in over 70 academic and popular level publications and is the author of The Missional Entrepreneur (New Hope Publishers), a coauthor of Routes and Radishes and Other Things to Talk About at the Evangelical Crossroads (Zondervan) and editor and publisher of Our Souls at Work: How Great Leaders Live Their Faith in the Global Marketplace, a book with contributions from several Fortune 500 CEO's as well as a variety of emerging social entrepreneurs. Mark lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Laurie, and their children, Noah and Anastasia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction to Business as Mission, January 9, 2010

By 

Robert Royce "RD Royce" (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission (Paperback)

Some time ago, I started a business consulting practice with the idea that I could use my "business" income to support my "ministry" activities. My plan was to imitate Paul and his use of tentmaking to "pay the bills." However, I found that separating my work and ministry activities was quite challenging and I longed for a more integrated life where everything I did was ministry. But how?

I find Mark Russell's book, "The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission," to be excellent input for my journey into the world of "business as mission" (BAM). Based on Russell's doctoral work at Asbury Theological Seminary, the book is structured into five parts: 1) Fundamentals, 2) Learning from the Apostle Paul, 3) Motivations and Mind-Set, 4) Best Practices, and 5) Special Topics. Russell has traveled extensively and is able to draw upon both first hand experience and direct field research to provide numerous valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in BAM.

Part 1: Fundamentals is a fine introduction, but it's parts 2 and 3 that really set this book apart.

In Part 2: Learning from the Apostle Paul, Russell provides an in depth look into Paul's context, the nature of his work and the rationale behind why he was a tentmaker. After reading these chapters, I've come to realize that my understanding of Paul was inadequate (which certainly won't be the last time that happens). I had a vision for what I call "tentmaking 1.0" that separated "business" and "ministry" into two different spheres. But Russell does an excellent job of demonstrating how integral tentmaking was in Paul's ministry. It not only provided him a degree of economic independence, it also provided him access to people and a context for witness that were integral to his ministry. Paul's witness was not just what he said, or how he moved in power, but in how he conducted his business, openly in the marketplace for all to see. Paul was practicing what you might call tentmaking 2.0, where his tentmaking was part and parcel with his ministry.

In Part 3: Motivations and Mind-Set, Russell starts by examining parallels between today's BAM efforts and current and past mission trends. He then examines different motivations and mindsets for BAM before diving into a "composite" case study that compares two models of BAM, drawing upon his fieldwork in Thailand where he conducted 128 interviews across 12 BAM enterprises. I found this section to be invaluable. Russell found a marked difference between those whose motivation was to bless the local population in the name of Jesus and those whose primary goal was to convert them to Christianity. This difference in mindset had striking implications. "Converters" tended to work undercover and stay aloof from local Christians and exhibited low cultural adaptation. "Blessers" worked openly (since there are few, if any, countries where simply being a Christian is forbidden, while there are many where conversion is outlawed), tended to partner frequently with local churches and exhibited high cultural adaptation. Not surprisingly, the "blessers" were generally happier (as were their employees) and more successful in business, but most importantly, the fruit of the activities was also dramatically different. Those enterprises focused on blessing saw 40x more people become followers of Christ. Russell is clear that his study was specific to one culture, at one moment in time, but I think anyone contemplating how to integrate their business skills into ministry will find this section to be thought provoking and worthy of study and prayer.

In Part 4: Best Practices, Russell discusses a variety of business and mission related issues including the value of planning and vision, the challenge of understanding and navigating foreign cultures, and issues of competition. Chapter 5: Special Topics examines issues around leadership and offshoring.

This was an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in BAM. It makes a good complement to Neal Johnson's new book "Business as mission a comprehensive guide to theory and practice." While Johnson's book is more like an academic survey of the literature, "The Missional Entrepreneur," with its exegesis of Paul's tentmaking and its case studies, is more readable and enjoyable as it captures Russell's own journey to understand just what BAM is, and should be, in a clear narrative style. The result is an insightful book that is well worth reading by anyone with heart for business as mission.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for BAM, November 8, 2010

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Dr. Adams - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission (Paperback)

The apostle Paul is a complex person who is often difficult to understand. Many Christians find him the model missionary and evangelical. He was a tentmaker by trade and continued his occupation during most of his missionary journeys. At times, Paul worked numerous hours so as not to be a burden on those to whom he was teaching (I Thessalonians 2:9). The gospel spread through much of the world because of the direct work of Paul and the many seeds he planted.

The author uses the life of Paul to help readers understand Business as Missions (BAM). A clear case is made that both missions and business are meant to coexist and this mixture is effective in the long run. A missional entrepreneur is someone who starts a business to fulfill his/her part of God's plan for the world. A holistic view is offered for the enhancement of the big picture of a Christian's role in this world.

The author presents research on the best and worst practices in BAM. An often discussed issue is the difference between making disciples and converts. The book is demonstrative of the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and why the word disciples, and not converts, is used.

The book is a great read for getting basic theological insight into the world of marketplace ministry. Anyone wanting a basic understanding of BAM would gain from reading the book. I would recommend the section on Paul to even those well read in BAM. What makes this book a must read are insights into Paul and the manner in which the great apostle combines business and missions.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discovering a St. Paul I can follow, August 26, 2010

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Robyn J. Morrison (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Missional Entrepreneur: Principles and Practices for Business as Mission (Paperback)

Mark Russell's book is chock full of ideas and information. The application is directed toward profit seeking businesses with a mission, but some of the concepts could be applied to personal vocation and to transformation within churches and faith communities. I found the following to be the most inspirational parts of the book:
* Part Two - learning from the Apostle Paul. This is the best analysis of Paul's evangelism and tent-making activities I have read. Paul's story provides inspiration for all of us who want to make a living while boldly preaching the gospel outside of the walls of an established church. Christianity would not have spread like wildfire without Paul's commitment to take the gospel into the world of work and into the everyday struggles of real people.
*His BAM Sweet Spot of Synergy - the visual aid that could help anyone committed to following Christ in the real world to discover what God is calling them to do. It is at the intersection of the social, environmental, spiritual, and economic realms.
* The Seven principles for missional leadership - as applicable in the church as outside the church. What if Pastors and paid ministers started to explore ways to make their ministries 'sustainable' - explored possibilities for dual vocations, new powerful alliances between clergy and laity, new sources of revenue for faith communities, new bridges between faith and work.
Mission driven business, nonprofit, and religious leaders should read this book. I am confident you will find at least three valuable ideas that you can implement to improve your missional efforts.