The story of Business Forum began in 2017 when an individual who was passionate about disciple-making movements traveled from South Africa and divinely met up with a team of USA-based business coaches from a company called SummitTrek. For the next two years, this individual continued asking the SummitTrek team to come to South Africa to invest in business people to see a positive transformation in a nation. After two years of asking – sounds a bit like Luke 11:5-10, “… he will not give him anything because he is his friend but because of his persistence” – they prayerfully decided to say YES to the invitation.
The team arrived in South Africa in November 2019, and some key relationships were birthed with leaders in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. After a few more interactions, they invited a handful of leaders from around South Africa on a coaching journey to experience the restorative approach of how they do things. It was through their deep humility and radical generosity that the idea of Business Forum was birthed in the hearts of business and church leaders. How could church and business leaders partner together and how could the Church be part of the solution to the socio-economic challenges being faced in South Africa (and globally)?
Ephesians 3:10 has been a foundational Scripture from the very start of the journey, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
RP = Restorative Presence
DC = Deep Connections
WC = Wise Counsel
RG = Radical Generosity
RP = Restorative Presence
DC = Deep Connections
WC = Wise Counsel
RG = Radical Generosity
We have found that as leaders live out there calling with the elements of restorative purpose, deep connections, wise counsel and radical generosity they experience what it means to live freely and lightly! The invitation is for each of us to move toward living more freely and lighty, day by day.
Eugene Peterson’s paraphrasing of Jesus’ instruction to carry an easy yoke pushes back against the performance culture of the world and is a timely reminder of the invitation for leaders to live freely and lightly (Matthew 11:28-30),
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
An effective way of finding out what something is, is to also consider what it is not. Rather than trying to be prescriptive, the thoughts below seek to describe the heart of Business Forum. The ideas are not meant to be exhaustive either, instead, we hope that you will begin to see more clearly what Business Forum could look like in your context.
Our desire is to see the Church as the source of God's manifold wisdom being made known and people giving thanks to god for the manner in which they are served. Some churches will offer Business Forum for free, while others will ask delegates to cover the costs of delivering the sessions.
Business Forum is operating as part of a bigger vison to see God's Kingdom being established in cities and nations. To do this, the right partnerships will be developed through churches. We trust that God will connect the right people's hearts to continue the restoration story in different spheres (e.g. business, education, healthcare, government, entertainment & arts, etc.).
Business Forum is unashamedly Christian in its worldview. Our desire is to create a space where business people can connect to the redemptive purpose of their work, finding a real expression of their faith as they learn to partner with the Divine in their families, organisations, and broader contexts in which they lead.
Business Forum is not primarily about getting resources to people. While the Business Forum content (resources) is amazing, it is used to serve relationships. Often, people come for the resources but stay for the relationships.
Business Forum is not a tool for self-promotion. When leaders function from a place of God's love and the security it brings, their faith is stirred to live for the benefit of others. When leaders function from a place of insecurity, they end up self-promoting and self-protecting. To avoid this, we have to learn to think beyond ourselves.
While we have a Christian worldview, we want to help business people express their faith in authentic ways in the marketplace. the language we use should speak to the crowd (not just the congregation) and create a welcoming space for those who are unchurched.
Business Forum is not primarily about getting resources to people. While the Business Forum content (resources) is amazing, it is used to serve relationships. Often, people come for the resources but stay for the relationships.
Business Forum is not a tool for self-promotion. When leaders function from a place of God's love and the security it brings, their faith is stirred to live for the benefit of others. When leaders function from a place of insecurity, they end up self-promoting and self-protecting. To avoid this, we have to learn to think beyond ourselves.
While we have a Christian worldview, we want to help business people express their faith in authentic ways in the marketplace. the language we use should speak to the crowd (not just the congregation) and create a welcoming space for those who are unchurched.
