BUSINESS BLESSES ‘CLOSED’ COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH ASIA by Amy Zawislak, Livelihood and Projects Coordinator
JULY 2019 • VOL 1 ISSUE 1
SOUTH ASIA
Products gives SIM the opportunity to establish I sat in an SIM Asia board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2018, nervously awaiting my turn to biblical values education and Bible storying in these speak. As Livelihood Coordinator for an SIM country, I least-reached places. As I closed my presentation to the board, to my had been invited by the Central South East Asia surprise, the missionaries expressed that my story Director to present about the missional business God was challenging them to rethink their missional led me to start with the SIM country director there. models. They saw how my background gave me access I had been in many high-level meetings in my 20+ to communities that had been year architectural design career, ‘closed’ to Christians. It struck but I found myself alongside a PLEASE PRAY me for the first time how, though very different group of people I lacked a degree in missiology, that day. No longer was I with for disciplers in our partner God was using my project seasoned architects, operations communities, as the women grow in management and business skills, managers and executives; their understanding of Isa Al Masih. learned in my former career, for next to me were seasoned for spiritual growth and protection such a time as this. missionaries with degrees in Joshua Bogunjoko’s TABLE for two women weavers who now missiology and theology. from May 2017 resonates follow Isa Al Masih. I swallowed my feelings of with my journey: “My desire is intimidation and began to tell for A*, a person of peace, and 14 other that missional business and the my story, which, like all of ours, Muslim women and families in our placement of professionals … for is God’s story. new partner community, that they will Kingdom purposes will become a Three years earlier, I had be open to praying in the name of Isa natural ministry approach for SIM. taken a mission trip with my Al Masih and for open doors. “This is not merely efficacious church in Chicagoland, USA. We for more markets so we can expand or a last resort when there is facilitated a retreat for about in our country and possibly other SE no way to do other missionary 200 women missionaries serving Asia countries. activities; it is strategic. Business among the five million Muslims holds a place alongside medical in this country. outreach, theological education, I shared how God had taken translation, education, etc. me from a corporate project manager and sender of “All of these align with the mission, purpose and missionaries to a full-time, mid-career missionary vision of SIM from its very founding.” myself. What had begun as a whisper from God Email me at amy.zawislak@sim.org to talk more became a missional marketing business named Chora. about Chora Products Livelihood – how you can be a I was now providing market opportunities for part of our team or share our products in your city or handcrafted fashion accessories, made by Muslim country! I’d love to hear from you. women in impoverished communities. Chora
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