A Story of Marketplace Mission  

It’s Africa or me!

My family and I traveled to the nation of Zambia in late 1993 after doing a Crossroads Discipleship School at the Kona YWAM base.  We chose Zambia because of two reasons. Firstly, my wife Sue had a dream to be a missionary in Africa.  Secondly, we had friends who were Zambian who would welcome us to their country.

When Sue was a young girl she saw the movie "Born Free". This inspired her to be come a medical doctor so she could go to Africa.  However, when she met Mike, who had recently graduated from business school, he had plans for a business career.  He said to her, "It’s Africa or me!."  Sue chose Mike!

However, I(Mike) felt quite badly that I had forced that choice upon her. So, to make it better, I thought a short term trip to Africa would satisfy this dream. In 1984 we travelled to Zaire (Democratic Congo). But this had the opposite effect, increasing our interest in Africa!

Soon after returning, we arranged for an African Christian family to come to Canada from Zambia.  Derek & Gladys Mutungu lived with us in Canada while he pursued a degree at Regent College in Vancouver. When their family returned to Zambia they invited us back to minister with them.  However, we felt it best to have some missions training before we followed them and so we joined YWAM in 1993.

Business can be God's tool for Missions

Our YWAM training confronted us with the question of how best to serve God in missions.  It was easy to see how Sue could serve as a doctor.  However, I was a business person.  I had left a small business to join YWAM and my experience was entirely in the business arena.  People suggested I could do fund raising or administration as a support to evangelistic missions personnel. As I prayed for an answer, God spoke to me from the story of Moses and the Burning bush.  When Moses objected to God sending him back to Egypt, God asked him a question.  “What do you have in your hand?”  (Exodus 4:2)   Moses replied, “ A staff!”  The Lord asked me the same question and my answer was “Business”. That was God’s word to me that I was to use business as a tool to help the poor and reach the lost in Zambia.

YWAM Zambia welcomes the McLoughlin Family

YWAM Zambia was under the leadership of Randy & Jane Rhoades.  We contacted them and explained our interest in being under a YWAM covering in Zambia.  Because my background was in small business training  and Sue was a medical doctor they saw much opportunity for us to serve with them.  We joined YWAM Zambia as staff in early 1994.  We served in Ndola in the Copperbelt region.  We were blessed and encouraged by Stanley and Priscilla Banda who were the DTS leaders in Lusaka. Over the next two years I conducted 15 small business seminars, training over 1,000 students. Sue worked part time at a rural medical clinic while looking after the home front with three small children, Sam, Ben & Stephanie.

Brother Mike! We have no money for business!

I had many students approach me in the seminars with the problem of financing their small businesses. They would ask me to provide monetary assistance.  The one time I did provide it the lender defaulted on the loan. The first principle I taught the students for success as a Christian in business was “Serve God first in business, NOT money! However, for them to have a business at all they needed finances.

As I prayed about this problem, the Lord led me to a passage in Acts where Peter and John were entering the temple in Jerusalem. A lame beggar asked them for money.  Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6) As Peter reached out and took his right hand to help him up, the beggar was instantly healed!.  The Lord spoke to me that I may not have the silver and gold to help these people, but that if I took them by the RIGHT hand to help them up, he would work to provide for them.

Zambia is a nation in need

Zambia is very poor and things were getting worse economically.  Although these business people now had the tools to start their business, they did not have money.  Another worsening problem that hit Zambian families hard was orphaned children. Many of the students in the seminars needed extra income to care for children of relatives who had died unexpectedly.  Some were orphaned due to the ravages of HIV/AIDS. This problem was becoming acute and continues today.

I developed some wonderful friendships with Zambian Christian business people.  One lady, Irene Mutalima, a Bank Manager, shared her vision for a community banking group to help poor Zambian entrepreneurs start businesses.  So I suggested we organize a small group to consider the idea of a venture capital company for small business. The group included Eva Sanderson; Lawrence Temfwe; Jonathan Zulu; Justin Mwaba; Peter Kanaganayagam; Edna Macauley; and Miriam Moyo. This company may be God’s provision for finance for business start up. 

Business NOT Charity

I chaired the initial meetings at which we decided to name the group, The Christian Enterprise Trust of Zambia (CETZAM).  I mentioned that this name might spell trouble for potential investors especially those with politically correct sensibilities.  Also, this was a business not a charity and we expected all the loans to be paid back with interest. Using the word Christ at the start of the name of the company could prove problematic.  However, the group felt very strongly that Christ must be the foundation of the company and that by serving poor Zambian entrepreneurs they were serving Jesus. The company was officially registered in December, 1995. 

The Birth of The Christian Enterprise Trust of Zambia

Because I was not a Zambian citizen I could not be registered as a Director so I handed the reigns of the leadership of the group to Irene Mutalima. I was also able to put the group in touch with Larry Reed of Opportunity International in Harare Zimbabwe. Opportunity International (OI)  provides assistance for national organizations interested in launching Micro finance development initiatives. When I met with Larry about helping CETZAM he was interested but reluctant.  Firstly, Opportunity International (OI)  had never partnered with a group that was self initiated.  They usually formed their own board of local people.  Secondly, he felt using the word “Christian” in the name would l lead to problems with donor support and loan defaults.  However, despite his reluctance he agreed to meet with the CETZAM board along with the Zimbabwe Opportunity International (OI)  Director Dominic Magwada. The meeting went well and the Opportunity International (OI)  people were impressed with the caliber of the Board. It was especially impressive to see Christian women business people taking such an active leadership role.

The end of the Zambian Adventure

Our family had to leave Zambia to return home to Canada in late 1995.  It was the end of our two year mission adventure.  During our time there, I was able to conduct 15 small business seminars and train over 1000 Zambian entrepreneurs!  God was faithful in many different ways.  He provided for us and allowed us the privilege of mission service in Africa.  Sue’s dream & Mike’s “accommodation” had been realized. For more information on our time there you and the lessons we learned please  read the Zambia Mission Review at

http://www.scruples.org/web/moreinfo/zambia/zamrevw.htm

Are you going to “stay in Missions”?

When we arrived back in Canada we were frequently asked if we were going to “stay in missions”? Most people think “Missions” is something you do over there, in Africa. In fact, most Christians think that the Great Commission is for professional ministry people, zealous Christians who have a call from God to leave their secular jobs and serve Him full time!

If you are a Christian you are in Missions! Missions is just as important here in Canada, as it is in Zambia. Missions is about a way of thinking as much as it is a place or a people group.  A better definition of missions is “Missions is being, living, and communicating the presence of the Kingdom of God in every sphere of society.” Missions is about the WHOLE people of God taking the WHOLE gospel to the WHOLE world!

Answering the cry of Christian business people

When I was in Zambia, I needed help teaching the business people about the Christian faith and business.  How can one be a Christian in business? There was no easy answer.  So I wrote to 100 of my friends and business associates n Canada for help as to how they integrated their faith and their work.  I received some very interesting replies. Many Christian business people felt abandoned by the church and had no idea of how faith could help them do business well.  To many, it was pure survival.  Their cry to God was “Please help me to simply get through this day!”

Marketplace Mission begins

So when I returned to Canada I resolved to launch a ministry to help Christian business people integrate faith and work.  This is how Marketplace Mission was born. I received a covering from the leadership of YWAM BC Society and I launched the ministry in 1996.

Where is the lasting impact?

Meanwhile, back in Zambia, I had heard the bad news that the initial capital of CETZAM was dwindling.  In 6 months time the new company would be insolvent.  This was quite disheartening as I felt CETZAM would carry on my ministry there. This was unrealistic.  Two years of mission experience was not long enough to really have a lasting impact, I was told by other missionaries. In fact, in some missions circles, we did not qualify for consideration as a true missionary because we had not lasted more than two years!

However, I knew that CETZAM leadership would not give in easily and that God was behind them.  After a year back in Canada  I heard that God had provided additional funding for CETZAM through the generosity of the regional partners of Opportunity International (OI)  Southern Africa. They had received funding for another 6 months.  PTL!

God proves himself faithful to Zambia

Later I was told that the British Government had contacted Opportunity International in the United Kingdom and asked if they had a partner agency in Zambia.  Apparently, the new government of Tony Blair wanted to invest in alleviating poverty in Zambia. They proposed a $3 Million US Dollar Micro Finance project in Zambia.  CETZAM was contacted and they prepared the NOZAMED proposal for Northern Zambia.

The British conducted an audit of CETZAM and approved the company to lead the project.  This was a miraculous provision of God! Three million US Dollars would have en enormous impact on thousands of poor Zambian entrepreneurs.

How much is a name worth?

However, there was one condition.  CETZAM had to change it’s name.  They had to drop the word “Christian” from the name if they were going to receive the money.

The CETZAM Board met to discuss the condition The meeting did not last long.  The answer to the British was “You can keep your money, we are going to keep our name!”  If you want to start your own group and call it by a different name you can do that, but for us we are the CHRISTIAN Enterprise Trust of Zambia! 

The British were flabbergasted! How could CETZAM refuse such an amazing offer?  Surely, three million US dollars is worth more than one word?  Any other person or group would gladly do anything to get their hands on the money.  But these people? They were stubborn.  CETZAM was not going to loose its Christian identity for the sake of money no matter how many people it could help!  They were going to serve God first, NOT money!

Serve God first in business, NOT money!

In the face of such a resolute stand, the British backed down from their politically correct position.  The 3 US Million dollar NOZAMED project under the leadership of CETZAM was approved..  With integrity and fortitude, the CETZAM board had passed a test of faithfulness and God blessed them for it!  In the past five years, CETZAM has made over 25,000 loans, with an average amount of $98 US; to over 18,000 clients with a repayment rate of 97%.  The success of the project was such that the British invested another 10 Million US dollars in 2000..  This has made CETZAM the most successful partner agency for Opportunity International (OI)  and positioned it to become Zambia’s bank for the poor.

Business is God’s way of taking care of Zambian Orphans

It was very encouraging to hear about this progress.  I knew that God had more in mind for business than to be a source of administrative skills or money for missions. Research has shown that more than 75% of Micro finance clients use the additional resources from their business to support orphans or children of deceased family members. God knew that Zambia was going to face a terrible crisis.  He knew that thousands of Zambian children would need care.  He provided CETZAM so that those 18,000 clients could take care of orphans as they took care of business!

Prophetic Fulfillment of David Livingstone Words & Life

In 1857, a Zambian missionary named David Livingstone said in a lecture to students at Cambridge University. "By encouraging the native propensity for trade, the advantages that might be derived in a commercial point of view are incalculable nor should we lose sight of the inestimable blessings it is in our power to bestow upon the unenlightened African, by giving him the light of Christianity. Those two pioneers of civilization -- Christianity and commerce -- should ever be inseparable." His primary purpose to be in Africa was to preach the gospel and to see the interior of the continent opened up to legitimate trade.  Only through proper business activity could the Africa be delivered from the scourge of slavery and set free to serve God.  David Livingstone gave his life to serve the people of Zambia.  His heart is buried under a tree in that country. I see the success of CETZAM, in part, as God’s prophetic fulfillment of Dr. Livingstone’s words and life. I also believe that God wants to do it in many other countries and he can with faithful marketplace Christians who are willing to look after God’s interest first. 

Scruples Web Site launched

The success of CETZAM encouraged my other efforts in marketplace mission.  In September 1996, I launched the Scruples Web site.  It is an Internet portal and resource for Christians in the Marketplace.  It has a library of teaching material; a directory of ministries working in the marketplace; and other great resources. The initial web site has evolved into an online community where Christians can receive advice, mentoring and encouragement in faith work integration. Please visit the site at www.scruples.net.

Marketplace Mission has also evolved over the past five years.  The name has been changed from Marketplace Ministries.  Seminars and teaching material has been developed not only for small business but also for all Christians in the Marketplace.  The purpose remains the same though and that is “to know God and make him known in the marketplace." Sound familiar?  This is the YWAM mission statement applied to the marketplace. That is why it is called YWAM Marketplace Mission.

For more information on this ministry or to book Mike for a speaking engagement you can visit Mike’s personal Web Site at www.mike.mcloughlin.com