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Great Commission Companies: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions
In recent decades global missions have been revolutionized by such movements as microenterprise development efforts and tentmaking professionals working in restricted access countries. But little has yet been said about the new missions opportunities created by today's globalized economy. Nor has much been documented about the role that corporations and businesses can have in the missionary enterprise. Economist Steve Rundle and missiologist Tom Steffen offer a new paradigm for the convergence of business and missions--the Great Commission Company. These companies intentionally create businesses in strategic locations, pursuing profits while remaining unabashedly Christian in their purpose. By establishing authentic businesses that employ local workers among the least-reached peoples of the world, they contribute to the economic health of the immediate community and also provide avenues for both physical and spiritual ministry. Based on a five-year study of groundbreaking enterprises like Pura Vida Coffee, this book offers keen analysis of the principles and practices of these companies. In an era where multinational corporations have global influence and impact, the Great Commission Company opens up new possibilities for missions-minded entrepreneurs and businesspeople who want to change the world to the glory of God.
204 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 20, 2018
Informative introduction to the world of Business as Missions and filled with many examples of Christians utilizing their gifts for the kingdom.
November 7, 2012
The book was informative and well-written. However, this book is almost a decade old. Business as Mission as a focus of strategy in missions is still fairly new and as such best practices are still being initiated and evaluated. It would be interesting to see what discoveries and developments have taken place in the last ten years.
February 16, 2021
2.5 stars
I'm clearly not the intended audience for this book, as I don't own a business, let alone one employing between ten and two thousand people. The authors focus on this size company, and only those that are global/international in nature. Since the goal was to promote business as missions, I think this focus was a mistake. Surely, smaller companies, or ones working in only one country, can further the Gospel with their practices, as well.
The authors are far too optimistic about these global companies and their effects, and overly critical of donor-supported missions.
They appear to support a factory - rather than artisan - mindset when it comes to production. But we've seen the cultural erosion of that mentality in the Western world - wouldn't it be better to help other places avoid the mistakes we've already made?
The authors also assume that foreign countries will use their own resources to the fullest, and don't take into consideration supply and demand - particularly the demand of powerful, Western nations. The way the Amazon rain forest has been ravaged irresponsibly to provide for the whims of Westerners is a perfect example.
They believe that donor-funded missions should give way to businesses. Why can't they coexist, each one being used wherever they're most effective?
It seemed to me that anytime a question was raised that might cast doubt on their approach to missions, they said something along the lines of, "We didn't research that aspect much, so we can't speak to it," and then quickly changed the subject.
I was unimpressed with the book, on the whole.
I'm clearly not the intended audience for this book, as I don't own a business, let alone one employing between ten and two thousand people. The authors focus on this size company, and only those that are global/international in nature. Since the goal was to promote business as missions, I think this focus was a mistake. Surely, smaller companies, or ones working in only one country, can further the Gospel with their practices, as well.
The authors are far too optimistic about these global companies and their effects, and overly critical of donor-supported missions.
They appear to support a factory - rather than artisan - mindset when it comes to production. But we've seen the cultural erosion of that mentality in the Western world - wouldn't it be better to help other places avoid the mistakes we've already made?
The authors also assume that foreign countries will use their own resources to the fullest, and don't take into consideration supply and demand - particularly the demand of powerful, Western nations. The way the Amazon rain forest has been ravaged irresponsibly to provide for the whims of Westerners is a perfect example.
They believe that donor-funded missions should give way to businesses. Why can't they coexist, each one being used wherever they're most effective?
It seemed to me that anytime a question was raised that might cast doubt on their approach to missions, they said something along the lines of, "We didn't research that aspect much, so we can't speak to it," and then quickly changed the subject.
I was unimpressed with the book, on the whole.
December 29, 2016
Tom Steffen is my church planting Prof at Moody and had us read his book. It was interesting... It changed my perspective on business as mission. However, I think more time was spent on telling how to run a regular business rather than a GCC. If I wanted to know how to run a business I could read a plethora of other books about that
August 28, 2022
This was a really good book that gave amazing advice on how to run a business with the gospel in mind and the gospel in focus. I love the case studies in the back and the broad spectrum of business with a solid theological base in-mind. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews