Business blesses ‘closed’ communities

BUSINESS BLESSES ‘CLOSED’ COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH ASIA

by Amy Zawislak, Livelihood and Projects Coordinator

I sat in an SIM Asia board meeting in Bangkok, Products gives SIM the opportunity to establish 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. had been invited by the Central South East Asia As I closed my presentation to the board, to my Director to present about the missional business God surprise, the missionaries expressed that my story led me to start with the SIM country director there. was challenging them to rethink their missional I had been in many high-level meetings in my 20+ models. They saw how my background gave me access year architectural design career, to communities that had been but I found myself alongside a very different group of people PLEASE PRAY ‘closed’ to Christians. It struck me for the first time how, though that day. No longer was I with seasoned architects, operations managers and executives; next to me were seasoned  for disciplers in our partner communities, as the women grow in their understanding of Isa Al Masih. I lacked a degree in missiology, God was using my project management and business skills, learned in my former career, for missionaries with degrees in  for spiritual growth and protection such a time as this. missiology and theology. for two women weavers who now Joshua Bogunjoko’s TABLE

I swallowed my feelings of follow Isa Al Masih. from May 2017 resonates intimidation and began to tell my story, which, like all of ours, is God’s story. Three years earlier, I had taken a mission trip with my church in Chicagoland, USA. We  for A*, a person of peace, and 14 other Muslim women and families in our new partner community, that they will be open to praying in the name of Isa Al Masih and for open doors. with my journey: “My desire is that missional business and the placement of professionals … for Kingdom purposes will become a natural ministry approach for SIM. “This is not merely efficacious facilitated a retreat for about  for more markets so we can expand or a last resort when there is 200 women missionaries serving in our country and possibly other SE no way to do other missionary among the five million Muslims Asia countries. activities; it is strategic. Business in this country. holds a place alongside medical

I shared how God had taken outreach, theological education, me from a corporate project manager and sender of translation, education, etc. missionaries to a full-time, mid-career missionary “All of these align with the mission, purpose and myself. What had begun as a whisper from God vision of SIM from its very founding.” became a missional marketing business named Chora. Email me at amy.zawislak@sim.org to talk more

I was now providing market opportunities for about Chora Products Livelihood – how you can be a handcrafted fashion accessories, made by Muslim part of our team or share our products in your city or women in impoverished communities. Chora country! I’d love to hear from you.