God, the Great Entrepreneur (Part 3)
Preaching to a congregation in Tanzania who’s eager to learn God’s plans for them is challenging for me. At the same time, it’s a humbling experience.
My Finnish ancestors taught me about SISU – a word they use to describe guts and determination. Now, I draw on all my sisu to stand respectfully before people I have never met before, in a foreign country, with an unfamiliar culture to speak God’s truth.
Using SISU in an acronym, I share with them how the God of the universe, who created “something” out of “nothing,” also helps us create things that we dream and imagine. That the God who creates the endless array of exquisite flowers, fascinating animals, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, also helps us with brilliant new ideas when we ask him. He is the master entrepreneur. He designs us to be a people who are innovative, who create and implement new ideas and concepts. In so doing, we bring honor and glory to His Name.
So, here’s a short outline:
S: Say Thanks
- God blesses us with insights and revelation when we are thankful for what we have.
- When we accept that God knows exactly what we need, we demonstrate our trust in Him.
- “Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.” Sarah Ban Breathnach
I: Ideas
- You can never outdo God, with even your biggest ideas. So, ask big.
- Look and see again the wonder of nature and how creative God is in designing our world.
- God blesses all of us with a good measure of his creativeness. He wants us to find solutions for our challenges.
S: Side-by-side
- God works through the Body of Christ.
- He wants us to help each other, learn from each other and be strong as a community.
- Brainstorm together as a team and know that 1+ 1 can equal more than 2!
- Actively seek out new information and insights from those outside your village.
U: Unbelievable
- God can accomplish that which seems impossible to us. (Eph. 3:20)
- In the Bible we read about many miracles. But, they were not reserved exclusively for Biblical times. Miracles still happen today.
- Look around you to see the miracles that are happening in your town, your community and even in your family home.
- Dare to ask God, the Great Entrepreneur, for wisdom, insight and revelation to perform miracles in Tanzania.
Marketplace Minister’s Question: How can you apply this SISU message in your community?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: God can use you as his missionary – even in your own community – to spread his message and help Him to make modern day miracles happen.
Here is an article if you want to learn more about SISU: Sales Motivation: The SISU Approach to No Excuses
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
God, the Great Entrepreneur (Part 2)
During a family trip to Tanzania, I have the opportunity to preach in a church. I want to inspire my new friends with a message that shifts their perspective for the rest of their lives. (Yes, I often have grandiose ideas!) I intuitively know that I must do it in a way that respects their culture and takes into account the unique challenges they face – challenges very different from the ones we deal with in America! In addition, any message must align 100% with core Biblical truth that transcends customs.
I title my sermon, “God, the Great Entrepreneur”
I decide to work with one of my favorite words, SISU. I’m not certain if you’re familiar with this Finnish word. It’s something of a minor miracle that Finland exists as an independent entity at all. Of course, the Finns themselves wouldn’t call it a miracle; they’d put their unlikely existence down to something they call ‘sisu’. Being of Finnish ancestry, I know about sisu (their word for guts and determination.) Soon after our arrival, I realize that the daily existence of the Tanzanian people also calls for SISU as they fight for life against numerous financial, national and personal belief obstacles.
In an acronym using SISU, I share the message of motivational and spiritual hope:
S: Say Thanks – and God will bless you with even more
I: Ideas – your ideas can never top what God has planned for you
S: Side-by-side – God works through the Body of Christ
U: Unbelievable – God still does the impossible
In my next posting, I will share in more detail the timeless principles we talk about that Sunday morning in the church in Tanzania .
Marketplace Minister’s Question: Where do you need a dose of SISU in your life?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Since God is the Great Entrepreneur, the most creative one who consistently displays His loving-kindness to us, we can trust Him when we meet our own obstacles.
Here is an article if you want to learn more about SISU: Sales Motivation: The SISU Approach to No Excuses
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Love, Life, Light Series: Fully
Spirituality at Work
As I write this prayer as part of the Love, Life, Light Series, I’m returning from an international leadership conference. I’m encouraged that there are many around the world who are committed to the Good News of Jesus Christ. I met people from China, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico and Tanzania that confirm that the Gospel is spreading across the world like never before!
Lord,
Hep me to fully accept your love,
That I may fully love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and
Love my neighbor as myself.
Help me to fully abide in your light,
That I may fully shine the Light of Jesus Christ to those around me.
Help me to fully experience your life,
That I may be a full vessel by which your life flows to others.
In the Name of Mighty Jesus!
Amen
Marketplace Minister’s Question: How is your living contributing to “It’s Happening In Our Lifetime…”?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: God is actively working on a global basis.
Often, we get trapped into a way of living that isn’t fulfilling. You might find this article of interest, Why I Burned My Navy Blue Suit.
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Letters from the King: The Christian’s Family (9)
Letter from Father
Note: to start from the beginning of Letters from the King: The Reluctant Christian Ambassador, go here.
You’ve got it, Daughter!
The criteria you have chosen are exactly correct! However, there is one addition. I sent you into that land with a husband and children. I have entrusted them to you. I need you to take care of them. Families are important. I do wonder, Daughter, why you haven’t mentioned more of them in your previous letters.
Christian Leadership
How are you handling that responsibility? I have sent you to this land to announce my message, and yet, I have also entrusted some very precious people to your tender loving care. Do not forget them. I need you to nurture them also, so they will be just as bold and confident as you are in proclaiming my message.
Your loving Father
Marketplace Minister’s Question: How often do you get too caught up in work and the non-ending ToDo List?
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: Caring for our families is one of the highest calling that we have a Marketplace Ministers.
P.S. I’m interested in your comments on this journey. What details would you add? What questions are you asking yourself after reading? If you were in the character’s shoes, what questions would you be asking? I look forward to your insights!
To keep following the story, go here
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Sales Growth Specialists, All Rights Reserved.
Transform our World Conference Interview: Danita Bye
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Kevin Donlin: |
Hi. This is Kevin Donlin. I’m on the phone with Danita Bye, CEO and Founder of Sales Growth Specialists and Marketplace Ministers. Danita is reporting back on her trip to the Transform Our World International Conference sponsored by Harvest Evangelism. That was in Hawaii last week, I believe.
Danita, hi. Thanks for joining me today. |
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Danita Bye: |
Thank you. Glad to be here. |
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Kevin: |
You’re welcome. When was the conference exactly? |
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Danita: |
The conference was last week in Honolulu. |
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Kevin: |
Good place to be. What was your reaction to that? How did it go for you? We spoke earlier, and it seemed to be a really transformative experience. |
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Danita: |
There were about 1,000 participants. About 60% were from the U.S. and the other 40% were international. I am always inspired and strengthened by the international Christians.
For instance, the first person I met at the conference was from China. He talked about his story of being raised a Hindu and then encountering Christ. He has now been a Christian for three years. He and his wife, in that three-year time-frame, have lead 600 people to the Lord. |
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Kevin: |
Awesome! What should folks here in Minnesota take away from this? What can we be doing? How can we be energized from what you learned there? |
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Danita: |
I learned much by listening to the Christians from China, Malaysia, and Africa pray. One of the names that they often call Jesus when they’re praying, is Mighty Jesus: “Thank You, Mighty Jesus!” And, the emphasis is on MIGHTY!
Often when I’m praying, my prayers are much more cerebral. They pray with a different level of conviction, “Jesus, our life depends on You. We need You. Mighty Jesus, come to our rescue. Come help us.” They’re living out your life in a country where there’s opposition every day. That changes the depth of their prayers. |
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Kevin: |
It’s kind of like that old farm adage that strong winds make for strong trees. |
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Danita: |
Yeah, that’s really true. |
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Kevin: |
We take it for granted that we can worship without interference. You’re exactly right. It’s so wonderful to get another perspective on how to address Jesus and God. Wow. I think you really saw some incredible things.
Are there any final words or impressions you’d like to share with the readers? |
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Danita: |
Yes. All of the people I met are business leaders. So, they recognize that in order for them to be effective ministers in the marketplace, they need wisdom and courage to interact with all people whom God puts in their pathway, whether peers, bosses, or employees.
One organization that I talked with out of Singapore, is looking to build a network of 1,000 distributors. The owners are also hiring a chaplain in order to minister to those 1,000 distributors. They feel it’s important to meet the spiritual needs of their 1,000 distributors and mentoring them so that they can meet the spiritual needs of those who work for them. It was an inspiration to see how they are looking to be very intentional about ensuring that their business relationships are relationships where the Kingdom of God can be expanded. |
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Kevin: |
That’s insightful. Danita, I know we can talk for quite a few minutes more, but I think our space will be limited for this issue of the newsletter. I hope you can share your experiences with us at the next Christian Chamber meeting. Thanks so much, Danita |
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Danita: |
Sounds great. Thank you. |
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Kevin: |
You’re welcome. |
© Copyright 2011, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Missional Renaissance (a Call to Marketplace Ministry)
I’m reading Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal. Reggie is author of another book that’s in my Dantotsu (Best of the Best) Collection, The Present Future. I highly recommend both books. Here are some excerpts from the introduction of Missional Renaissance to peak your interest:
Marketplace Leaders
- “The rise of the missional church is the single biggest development in Christianity since the Reformation.” (pg. xiii)
- “To think and to live missionally means seeing all of life as a way to be engaged with the mission of God in the world.” (pg. xiv)
- They (the three shifts he’s recommending) will move you from doing church primarily as a refuge, conservator and institutional activity in a post-Christiendom culture to being a risky, missionary, organic force in the increasingly post-Christian world in North America.” (pg. xvi)
McNeal then discusses three significant trends in our culture and how the church can rise to challenge and become relevant to people in our society:
- The emergence of the altruism economy
- The search for personal growth
- The hunger for spiritual vitality.
Missional Renaissance is a must read for all Christian entrepreneurs and business professionals who are committed to participating in God’s movement to expand His Kingdom.
Marketplace Minister’s Lesson: God is calling His Church to a new level of authenticity and engagement.
Marketplace Minister’s Question: How are you being missional in your work and in your business?
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Sales Growth Specialists, All Rights Reserved.
North American Conference on City and Nation Transformation
I’m planning on attending the 
North American Conference on City and Nation Transformation. What about you? Will you be in Elk River also on July 7-10?
Here’s an excerpt from an eMail from Ed Silvoso, author of Anointed for Business, one of my all-time favorite books which I’ve blogged about.
“You will hear first-hand from the Elk River leadership team about the joys and challenges of leading a “city transformation movement” for more than a dozen years. Elk River continues to be on the cutting edge of modeling a strategic partnership between “pulpit and marketplace ministers” for the sake of impacting a whole city for Christ.
“You will hear from partners like:
· Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, who is committed to ending “systemic poverty” in the City of Elk River.
· David Monroy, an attorney who has developed a strategy called “The Business Roundtable” to bless and disciple Kingdom Companies.
· Pastor Greg Pagh who has developed resources to help pastors disciple Transformation Churches.
· Scott Powell, from Elk River Ford.
· Mike Matter, from Zylstra Harley Davidson.
…and many others who are part of the transformation team in Elk River, Minnesota.
“You will hear from Ray Pinson and Kevin Mitchell and their team at OPIN Systems in Bloomington, MN. This software company has pioneered an Apprentice Program that is training and equipping the next generation of marketplace leaders.
“International guests will include Brian Burton from Phuket, Thailand and Pastor Poncho Murguia from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Brian is a “Brit” serving in Buddhist Thailand. The devastation of the Tsunami in 2004 called his congregation out of the building and into the streets. As they began to “pastor their city,” miracles began to happen as God began to transform lives from the poorest of sea gypsies to the Provincial Mayor.
“Poncho serves in the city known as the murder capital of the world. God has raised him up as chief advisor to the Mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. From the prison to the city streets the grip of the drug cartels is being broken. His life is literally on the line everyday in pursuit of this vision of city transformation.
“I will be sharing insights from my new book, Anointed for Politics: How To Swim in Dirty Water Without Drinking It, as well as “kingdom” developments from my recent trips to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Spain. God is touching high ranking officials from business, education and government with the love of God and a vision for transformation as never before.”
I’ll be there on Thursday and Friday. Hope to see you!
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
I’m so driven…HELP!
I’m so driven, so hard of hearing,
I don’t really hear
the cry of the world around me,
the voices of despair,
the plea for help in those I meet and work with on a daily basis.
I confess that I’ve lost my sense of hearing.
Lord, help me to hear, really hear,
that your love can flow through me and people will know that you love
them and really hear them.
I’m so driven, so out-of-touch & cold hearted,
I don’t really feel,
the pain and frustration of others,
the helplessness of those locally and globally who are desperate for live-giving food and water,
the dance of celebration, when others are finally right with you.
I confess that I’ve lost my sense of feeling.
Lord, help me to feel, really feel,
that others may know that You really feel and are with
them in their pain.
I’m so driven, so tunnel visioned,
I don’t really see,
the pain and anguish in people’s eyes,
the loneliness and cry for love,
the life that’s searching for purpose and meaning.
I confess that I’ve lost my ability to see.
Lord, help me to see, really feel,
that I may see where You are working in people’s lives
that I might join you in accomplishing Your task.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
What’s Your Christian Worldview? Individualist or Collectivist?
I learn a new marketplace ministry concept this week while working with Ray Menard and Karen Winners on the Cheetah Development project, tuka pamoja.
Tuka pamoja means “we are one” or “unity” in Swahili. To help us understand it’s importance to the Tanzanian people, we need to understand how foreign the concept is to us in America. There’s an interesting body of work done by Hofstede discussed in Riding the Waves of Culture where he identifies five dimensions in which cultures vary. One of these dimensions that relates to tuka pamoja is “Individualism vs. Collectivism.”
Wikipedia describes this Individualism vs. Collectivism dimension as how much members of the culture define themselves apart from their group memberships.
- In individualist cultures, people are expected to develop and display their individual personalities and to choose their own affiliations.
- In collectivist cultures, people are defined and act mostly as a member of a long-term group, such as the family, a religious group, an age cohort, a town, or a profession, among others.
According the Hofstede’s study The US ranks as one of the highest in the world for Individualism (89), whereas East Africa ranks significantly lower (27).
I submit that we in America can learn the wisdom from other cultures that are more attuned with the Biblical concept of unity. For example, read Ephesians 1 inserting “you all” whenever you see the word “you.” The original Hebrew is written as “you all.” However, we in America, with our high individualism worldview, consistently read “you” and interpret as “you” vs. “you all.” Understanding this truth shifts the way we worship, the way we do business and the way we interact with others in all our business interactions.
How does the Biblical concept of unity and community impact how your live your life and do your work?
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Marketplace Ministry and Micro-Venture Capital Initiatives
I’ve recently become involved in the Board of Directors for a start-up non-profit, Cheetah Development. I’m graciously extending an invitation to you to meet the U.S. board as well as one of our Tanzanian board members, Chilwa Kiliaki. Mrs. Kiliaki was born in a poor village in Tanzania and has worked her way to become a leader of economic policies for the country of Tanzania. During our informal gathering on Wednesday, she’ll share how Cheetah’s work can have
impact in Tanzania. I’m told that she’s a dynamic and brilliant African woman.
Often I’m asked, “Why Cheetah Development?” I’m certain the unasked question is, “Why Cheetah…..when there are so many other non-profits serving those under-developed countries?”
There are a number of compelling reasons.
1. Being an entrepreneur at heart, I’m always looking for opportunities to help other entrepreneurs. I am enormously blessed to be born in the United States of America. This blessing is not be squandered for “we are blessed to be a blessing.” We are to be wise stewards of the unique gifts and talents that we have. That’s also one of the reasons that I’m involved with the Opin Apprentice Program.
2. Cheetah Development is filling a niche that other economic-development initiatives aren’t addressing. For example, the Nobel-prize winning model of micro-finance typically addresses projects that have smaller capital requirements, usually $100-200. On the other spectrum Venture capitalists, who see Africa as an awakening economic giant, are poised to invest $2million and above. But, what if a project needs a loan for more than $200, but less than $2 Million? That’s where Cheetah Development specializes, providing micro-venture capital to support entrepreneurs that can build a sustainable economy for their village.
3. As mentioned, Cheetah Development takes a distinctively different approach than many aid organizations I’ve experienced. It’s a servant leader approach. When Ray Menard, the founder, does the preliminary investigative work for this project, he starts with dialogue with the village pastors. (The church is the strongest social institution in most of these villages.) Invariably, when asking about the greatest needs of the village, the village pastors say that they feel helpless to really help the people of their village; to really help means to provide jobs. Without jobs, the villagers can’t buy food to feed their families, medicine to save their dying children or an education to give their children a hope for a better life.
Ray then asks the pastors to introduce him to those who are gifted as entrepreneurs in the community. I find this interesting…the pastors know who the entrepreneurs were! Then, Ray sits down with these entrepreneurs to discuss their ideas on how to help build a thriving economy of their village. Again, I find this interesting; the entrepreneurs know what needs to be done. The problem is that they don’t have the financial resources or mentoring to pursue the project.
In many ways, I find Cheetah Development’s approach a Culture Shift from traditional aid models. Cheetah’s hope is to build pride in achievement and hope for the future, not dependency. Or, as Ray says, “Our goal is not to give fish; but, to teach fishing and to build fishing pole factories, a fish cannery and a distribution system for the fish.”
4. I want to be involved in initiatives that are making systematic and sustainable impact. I’m being challenged by principles discussed in the Faith Beyond Belief series. As a Christ follower, I am to not only be Charitable, but that I’m also to address issues of injustice, including Systemic Poverty (Luke 4: 18-19). Many of the U.S. aid organizations I’ve supported have taken the Charity approach. Although this approach leaves me with a feel-good-because-I’ve-done-my-part attitude, I believe it’s been counter-productive in much of the developing world, leaving many countries weaker than they were before our involvement.
If you’d like to join us, please send me an e-mail at Danita@SalesGS.com or call me at 612-267-3320.
I’d also like to hear about the areas you are called and empowered to address.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
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About Danita
Bold and Refreshing
Danita has a special gift of igniting others into action. Her skill and experience, partnered with ministry insight, makes Danita a powerful marketplace minister! Her sharp precision cuts right to the heart of business matters – assisting others in breaking new ground for Kingdom Advancement!- Rhonda M. Kalal, President
MN Christian Chamber of Commerce
Connects in Conversation
"Danita delivered a powerful, insightful and thought-provoking talk that dramatically kicked off the new semester with great success. She is a polished, professional and prepared speaker, yet connects with her audience as if she were having a conversation with a good friend. Thank you, Danita!"- Heather Lam
Communications & Marketing Director
Moms In Step, Woodridge Church
Medina, Minnesota