Gone are the days when “missionary” and “businessman” were considered two separate professions.
Using business as a gateway into a foreign context is “the next wave of missions,” said Timothy Hostetler, an International Mission Board (IMB) representative who works with Marketplace Advance, an initiative aimed at empowering businesspeople to share their faith overseas through their professions.
IMB President Tom Elliff said the initiative is “IMB’s means of challenging corporate leaders and employees, as well as other marketplace professionals, to place their lives, businesses, resources, international connections and their energies on the altar for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.”
Not only that, Hostetler said — it may actually finish the assignment believers have to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.
“It may very well be the last wave of missions,” he said. “This may allow us to finish the task.”
The idea of Marketplace Advance is to equip businesspeople to share the gospel overseas through their job rather than by being appointed and supported by the IMB.
“Our role is to encourage businesspeople and cheer them on, as well as offer them team support by connecting them with mentors on the ground in the city where they would be working,” Hostetler said. “When somebody calls us and says, ‘Hey, my job is transferring me to such and such a place,’ often we can get them connected with some local church planters to help them.”
A job transfer is a great avenue to reach an unreached area, especially for the older, more experienced businessperson, because while students are often the ones wanting to go, companies often aren’t as willing to transfer their more inexperienced employees to their overseas offices, Hostetler said.
“Somebody with experience could put in for an international assignment — IT professionals, corporate leaders, medical personnel, artists, students, teachers and engineers,” Hostetler said.
There is ample opportunity for a spouse and family to get involved too in the community and schools, he said.
This sort of strategy targets a sector of people not well reached by traditional missions methods, Hostetler said.
“It’s hard to intersect their lives (the growing middle class) with the methods we are normally using,” he said, noting that the middle class often works long hours and goes straight home, so there isn’t much opportunity to reach them outside of the offices where they work.
“We recognize that there is a growing segment … not being reached with the gospel,” he said. “How do you get to them? Through the marketplace.”
If you’re thinking of making disciples overseas by getting a job transfer or a business-related job in another country, Hostetler recommends preparing by making disciples in the U.S. first.
“Whatever it is that you think you’re going to do overseas, do it first here,” he said. “If you’re trying to do something there that you’re not doing here, that’s going to be very difficult.”
If your church is starting a church plant somewhere, ask how you can get involved, and if possible, find a way to engage with international professionals right where you are, Hostetler said.
And above all, start making disciples in your everyday life, he said.
For more information about Marketplace Advance, visit imbgsm.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Hostetler’s name has been changed for security reasons.
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