The Scruples Business and Missions News is brought to you by The School of Biblical Economics in Santa Rosa, California. Join them for their Summer Intensive – Shaping the New Millennium – June 20th to 23rd, 1999. For more information on the School and the Programs offered by the New Cambridge Institute please visit: <http://www.newcambridge.org/> or e mail: <info@scsnet.org>

• Scruples Upgrades the Business and Missions Page *
• Scruples Author REPENTS In THE DEBATE About why Christian Missionaries should not be in business. *
• New Business and Missions E Mail ConFerence set up with Brigada. *
• Global Perspectives on Business and Missions Credit Course *
• WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS - Business and Missions STORY FEATURED IN Bangkok Post Newspaper. *
• INC. Magazine looking for Christian Business Start Ups. *
• Christian Network Marketer takes issue with Scruples over Residual Income debate. Do you have an opinion? *
• For Christians -- Can Business ever be an end in itself? *
• Not Too Late to be at Intent 99 - Kingdom Professionals: Future Edge of Missions – May 21St.-23rd. *
• How Then Shall We Lend? - Christian Micro Enterprise Summit in Thailand. May 30^th to June 1St., 1999 Pattaya, Thailand. *
• Learn How to Launch a Business God’s Way – YWAM BC Seminar June 4-12th. *
• Business along the Silk Road – Stuttgart, October 4-7^th, 1999. *
• Book your Reprint of IJFM Issue on the Basics of Tentmaking. *
• Scruples Business and Missions newsletter Subscription Information *

1. Scruples Upgrades the Business and Missions Page
We have significantly upgraded the information at the Scruples Business and Missions Page located at <www.scruples.org/bizetmiz/>.

• We now feature a Directory of over 135 Organizations that have ministry or mission opportunities for Christians in the Marketplace from tentmaking positions to micro enterprise development initiatives. <http://www.scruples.org/web/directry/dirmssns.htm>
• You can find an ANNOTATED Bibliography of Business and Missions resources with over 125 sources. The bibliography lists articles, books, research papers, videos, web sites and much more. <http://www.scruples.org/bizetmiz/web/articles/bmbiblio.htm>
• The Scruples Business and Missions Newsletter has been archived and you can find all the previous issues at <http://www.scruples.org/bizetmiz/web/bulletin/bmarchiv.htm>
• A Calendar of Events features upcoming training seminars and conferences for Business and Missions. at <http://www.scruples.org/web/calendar/calendar.htm>
• A Discussion Forum features Business and Missions debates that provide informed opinions from veteran Business and Missions people on subjects ranging from the Secular/Spiritual divide to Bribery to Successful Principles and Models in Business and Missions. <http://www.scruples.org/Bizetmiz_Forum_toc.htm>

Please pay us a visit!

2. Scruples Author REPENTS In THE DEBATE About why Christian Missionaries should not be in business.
Speaking of debates, I generated a very lively discussion in my recent opinion piece – "Top Ten Reasons Why Christian Missionaries should NOT be in Business." I had over 70 responses! Now I did try and clarify my rationale behind the article and point out that I am FOR Business and Missions just needed a little help with the objections. Boy did I get help! So I have posted some of the best responses to the Business and Missions Forum (See above Link). I have also prepared three articles For Your Information: "My top FOURTEEN reasons why Christian Missionaries should NOT be in business" (I added FOUR more objections!); My top EIGHTEEN Reasons why Christian Missionaries SHOULD be in business (See, I have more FOR than AGAINST!) and Finally, TWENTY FOUR "I’s" for Business and Missions (that is, Success Factors in Business and Missions). Please visit the Forum Page to view the articles or if you would like me to e mail them to you, please reply with a request for Business and Missions Articles. I will send them to you in basic text format with no carriage returns.

3. New Business and Missions E Mail ConFerence set up with Brigada.
The Scruples Business and Missions Ministry has established a general Business and Missions e mail conference at egroups.com for everyone interested in Business and Missions. The conference will feature the latest news in Business and Missions. Subscribers can send announcements to the conference with respect to Business and Missions news and opportunities. There is a Member Only chat site for Business and Missions people to meet and discuss Business and Missions initiatives. There is a group calendar on which you can post your Business and Missions events. The conference is a private conference which requires membership approval of the conference owner – Mike McLoughlin who is the author of the Scruples Business and Missions Site. To subscribe to the conference please send an e mail to <brigada-business-and-missions-subscribe@egroups.com> and include your name, organization and mailing address and a brief sentence on why you are interested in business and missions.

If you are presently on the Bizetmiz List you will also be receiving an invitation to subscribe and all you need to do is to reply to that e mail.

4. Global Perspectives on Business and Missions Credit Course
Youth With A Mission Marketplace Ministries has developed a 30 Hour College Credit Course/Seminar for people interested in Business and Missions. Students will: 1. Understand the Biblical Basis for the Integration of Business and Missions. 2.Know Historical Examples and Lessons from Business and Missions initiatives. 3. Understand the present reality and context for Business and Missions and the reasons behind this new paradigm for Missions. 4. Identify and apply principles and success factors for Business and Missions Initiatives in the context of 21st Century Missions. The Course Prospectus is available online at <http://www.scruples.org/web/seminars/globalbm.htm>. I will be conducting the Course at the new YWAM Okanagan Training Base in November, 1999. Please stay tuned for further details. If you or your ministry is interested in booking the Course please contact me at <scruples@csi.com>. Thanks.

5. WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS - Business and Missions STORY FEATURED IN Bangkok Post Newspaper.
This feature article tells a fascinating story of a 19 year old entrepreneur who moved to Thailand and lived for 7 years in a slum where he started a day care. He moved onto teaching English as a way to fund his growing work. Also, as a way to increase funding and ministry he started an importing business for jewelry making machinery. He currently funds multiple day cares, hostels, as well as funding further education for many young people. Visit <http://www.bkkpost.samart.co.th/news/BParchive/BP971118/1811_out.html> for the full story.

6. INC. Magazine looking for Christian Business Start Ups.
Do you know of a Christian Business Start Up that could be profiled in INC. Magazine. Emily Barker, Senior Staff Writer at INC. is looking for Recent Start Up Businesses that are specifically targeted to the Christian marketplace. The business must have Christians as its primary customers and be less than 3 years old. Any recommendations? Please e mail me at <scruples@csi.com> INC. Magazine has a circulation of over 660,000 readers!

7. Christian Network Marketer takes issue with Scruples over Residual Income debate. Do you have an opinion?
A Christian Network Marketer argues that Residual Income is a KEY BENEFIT of Network Marketing rather than a ruse to recruit more clients for the Network Marketers downline. Mike McLoughlin stated that Christian Small Business people should focus on selling products of real value to their customers rather than perpetually recruiting downline distributors of products.

Do you have an opinion on Network Marketing and Multi Level selling? Should Christians be in the Network Marketing Business? Why do we hear horror stories about relationship breakdown and church infighting over network marketing products? What’s wrong with promoting a business that depends more upon recruiting downline distributors for its revenue than selling products directly to customers?

8. For Christians -- Can Business ever be an end in itself?
In reply to a recent article on Business as Ministry one fellow described how his business is a means to missions. He stated, "In our own case, business is a tool for world missions. We call it 'Missions through Business', which is a specific application of 'Ministry through Business'. You choose a tool for ministry just as you would choose a tool to, say, chop down a tree. For effective use, the tool must be:

· the right tool for the job. We use Business as our tool when it provides the best way to evangelize and disciple our target people. Otherwise we use another, more appropriate tool. The task is to get the tree down - not to enjoy using our axe, chain saw or whatever. The old adage remains true that the Lord seeks our availability

· of good quality, and sharp. We pursue professional business excellence that will in itself be a good witness to those amongst whom we work

· expertly handled. Those who choose Business as a tool must be called, equipped and focused on using this tool to achieve our task."

In light of this example, my question is: Is it ever right to consider business as an end in itself? (i.e. enjoying using the axe) That is, does business have intrinsic value in the Kingdom of God or is it only of utilitarian extrinsic value to reach people with the gospel or provide for employment, etc.?

9. Not Too Late to be at Intent 99 - Kingdom Professionals: Future Edge of Missions – May 21St.-23rd.
There is still room available at INTENT '99, a Conference for Business & Missions types. It will be explorer-focused and will provide a good opportunity for networking explorers with practitioners. If you are looking for information on tentmaking for yourself, your church, or your mission agency, and/or how to help others connect to an opportunity to get involved with God's agenda in reaching the unreached, don't miss this opportunity! The dates are May 21st to 23rd at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. For more information contact Dorothy Blaha at INTENT, 115 Marengo Ave, #403, Forest Park, IL 60130 Tel 1-800-478-2598 1-773-921-0457 Fax 1-708-771-9223 E-mail: dorothy@intent.org

10. How Then Shall We Lend? - Christian Micro Enterprise Summit in Thailand. May 30^th to June 1St., 1999 Pattaya, Thailand.
Why another conference on MED? Microenterprise Development is regarded by the secular world as one of the most effective ways to alleviate poverty in developing countries. However, in Christian circles, clear guidelines reflecting biblical norms and standards need to be generated. This conference is the first of its kind in that it will address issues specific to practitioners of Christian MED. A challenge has been issued to these organisations and serves as the primary purpose for this conference: How can we be successful in lending and yet be faithful to scripture in MED? Please join us as we pray through, discuss and ultimately answer this challenging question. To register please contact Renee Christensen, Conference Coordinator at reneec@opportunity.org.au or register online at http://welcome.to/med-christian-summit.

11. Learn How to Launch a Business God’s Way – YWAM BC Seminar June 4-12th.
YWAM Marketplace Mission is sponsoring a Small Business Seminar, Friday, June 4th to Saturday, the 12th. It is an eight day intensive residential seminar at the Youth With A Mission Base here in the beautiful Okanagan valley in British Columbia, Canada. It is a great opportunity to learn how to succeed in small business with a special emphasis on business and ministry working together. Students will develop and present to the group a business plan. We will cover The Twenty One Principles for True Success and the Thirty Six Steps to Business Success. The cost is only $350 US including Room & Board! For more information please e mail or fax me your fax number at <scruples@csi.com> or fax (250) 763-1260 and I will send you a brochure. Also, check out the Seminar Web Page at <http://www.scruples.org/web/seminars/sbsu.htm>.

12. Business along the Silk Road – Stuttgart, October 4-7^th, 1999.
The Central Asia Business Consultation will happen in Stuttgart, Germany, 4-7 October, 1999. "As business people we carry the pass-key to areas of the world resistant to traditional mission. Central Asia is such an area where most people have never heard the gospel – even once." Invited speakers are Loren Cunningham of YWAM; Harley Booth, Dept. of Trade & Industry, United Kingdom and Ken Wesche of Enterprise Development International. Early Registration Fee is $130 before September 1st, 1999. ($150 after). Contact CABC@xc.org for more information.

13. Book your Reprint of IJFM Issue on the Basics of Tentmaking.
The supply is exhausted of the International Journal for Frontier Missions Vol. 14, No. 3. The publisher is considering reprinting this issue that focuses on the basics of Tentmaking. Some trainers have used this journal as a primer for a tentmaking course since it does such a thorough job of covering the history, the Biblical mandate, Paul’s mission strategy, the definition, vision, training, and examples of tentmaking. The publisher has asked if there is a market for a reprint and he wants some kind of an estimate of how many journals Business and Missions supporters might use. Since any orders now would be at the pre-publication price we can be assured of a 20% discount for individual orders and 30% on orders of 20 or more. Would you please let Ken Smith know at <tie@gati.wa.com> if this is of any interest to you and what the quantity might be in your area. The list price for the Journal is $5.00 per copy.

14. Scruples Business and Missions newsletter Subscription Information
The Scruples Business and Missions Newsletter is brought to you FREE from the Scruples for Marketplace Christians Web Site. Scruples is an Internet gateway Site for Marketplace Christians. It is full of helpful news, information, directories and reference guides for Christians in business, professional practice or career employment. It is located at <http://www.scruples.org> To subscribe to the Scruples Business and Missions News please send an e mail to <scruples@csi.com>.

Blessings!

Mike McLoughlin, Director
Youth With A Mission, Marketplace Ministries

Web Site: http://www.scruples.org