From the Director: Partnerships Multiply Effectiveness
The word for 2007 is partnership. As we research what BAM practitioners need to expand the movement, we have partnered with several key organizations. Through these partnerships, RCE maximizes its contribution to the BAM movement by adding our expertise—research, education and strategic analysis—to the good work of others in the field.
Sometimes our interaction with an organization might consist of a few strategic planning meetings, such as the work we did with SALT International to link them to a potential partner and to help them think through their strategy for global expansion.
Sometimes it might involve our evaluating and documenting the effectiveness of an organization’s programs, such as we did with Nehemial Project International Ministries (NPIM) and are planning to do with La Red.
In other cases, RCE is able to draw on its many relationships to launch new initiatives or to help organizations scale up their work. The project in Ukraine exemplifies the value of partners—RCE, Regent SIFE, Regent MBA graduates, CBN in Virginia Beach and Ukraine, executive friends of RCE, and a local center director (see articles below).
2008 promises to be even more exciting and productive than 2007 as several of our partnerships mature. RCE is working closely with NPIM to test a comprehensive model of global transformation, beginning with sites in Cameroon and Washington, D.C. Part of this effort includes connecting donors and investors in the U.S. with business start ups and expansions in inner city U.S. and in developing countries. RCE is working with one web-based and one foundation-based model of raising capital for such investments. Stay tuned for progress reports.
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Roundtables Activate RCE Initiatives
Nearly sixty executives from across the country convened at RCE in 2007 for Executive Roundtables focused on kingdom business. Input and participation from participants resulted in substantial actions and momentum in two key projects: Transformation Ukraine and Mission Hotel, and in October Bob Mack was honored as a "Pioneer in Kingdom Business."
Roundtables helped to solidify plans for a Kingdom Business Symposium and launch a center for Entrepreneurship in Ukraine. Franchising was also determined to be a key development tool as plans move forward for Ukraine. Leveraging another strategic project, Mission Hotel, there are also plans to launch a hotel in Ukraine from an existing franchise and expand the business/church plant concept internationally.
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Kingdom Business Energizes Leaders in Ukraine As New Center Is Launched
In October 2007, an international team of nine business people (including 5 Regent MBAs) led by RCE Director Dr. John Mulford, traveled to Ukraine to encourage and support Kingdom business through networking, training, consulting, and starting a Center for Entrepreneurship there. Business people were challenged to re-think the way they approach business, to team with like-minded Christian business people, and to start new businesses in their communities.
All are excited about the new Center for Entrepreneurship in Ternopil, supported by RCE and run by Ivan Papish. Team member, consultant, and Regent MBA Tom Stansbury helped with the start-up of the new Center. We look forward to seeing the impact kingdom business will have on Ukraine.
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Students Build Bridges for Orphans' Future
RCE and Regent Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) have launched a project in cooperation with Orphan’s Promise (a ministry of Operation Blessing International). Under the direction of Dr. Shauna Tonkin, the pilot project will provide job skills training and internships to five orphans who are transitioning from their orphanage to independent living. Based on the experience of this pilot test, we hope to expand the program to serve hundreds of orphans in Ukraine.
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RCE Presents Research Nationally and Internationally
One of our primary goals at the Center is to share our research about business as mission (BAM) with practitioners and academics in order to provide a solid research foundation to guide the rapid expansion of the BAM movement.
At the Christian Business Faculty Association's annual conference, John Mulford presented a paper on starting businesses in developing countries, based on information gathered from the Kingdom Business Symposium the Center hosted in May.
Another paper by Koshal and Mulford, The Role and Impact of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) in the Fight Against Corruption in Developing Countries, was presented at the McGill International Entrepreneurship Conference. Koshal presented a third paper at the International Conference on Integrating Spirituality and Organizational Leadership, held at the University of Delhi.
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La Red and RCE Join Forces Promoting Biblical Values
RCE's Russ Wendell, Jeremiah Koshal, Johncy Rajan and Wes Stewart, along with many other influential entrepreneurs and business owners from around the world, attended the La Red Business Network certification training last July.
La Red trains business and political leaders to implement biblical values and principles into their organizations to create a deep, core level change on society, and their "plain glass" approach has proven successful both locally and globally. RCE and La Red plan to work together to evaluate, document and communicate how God is using La Red and 42 biblical principles to truly transform nations.
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Kingdom Entrepreneurs Changing Their World
John Mulford delivered the keynote address to the annual meeting of Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM), an RCE partner. Mulford encouraged the entrepreneurs, most of whom graduated from NPIM’s Biblical Entrepreneurship program, to think big and think globally. He shared biblical principles of achieving God’s victory in business and presented data and examples of the global expansion of kingdom business.
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RCE Hosts Biblical Entrepreneur Certification Training
RCE hosted NPIM's certification training at Regent University in December and sponsored two of our close associates to become certified Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE) trainers. NPIM offers a series of three BE courses for entrepreneurs who want to start kingdom businesses. RCE intends to offer this training in Ukraine and in other countries.
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Kingdom Business Training Symposium at RCE
Christians in Kingdom Business glorify God in their businesses while at the same time creating true wealth. To extend the influence of these ventures, training and equipping is becoming a need of utmost urgency.
With the understanding that business is a key leading institution with a great opportunity to fundamentally improve the social, economic and spiritual condition of disadvantaged populations, RCE conducted a symposium on Kingdom Business Training in May that brought together Christian businesspeople who are passionate about training entrepreneurs in developing countries.
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Alumni Transforming Their Communities
Dominion Poultry Limited, a growing chicken business operating according to kingdom business principles, is a manifestation of what God started in Abel Mbewe in 1994. RCE and Regent University's MBA program helped prepare him to return to Zambia, build up his business, reinvest in the community, and provide jobs and hope in his nation.
Go Africa Safaris is a kingdom business based in Nairobi, Kenya, started by RCE’s Dr. Jeremiah Koshal and Joseph Lenku. Go Africa offers a variety of tour options, and a good part of their profits go toward holistic development (social, spiritual and economic) that is aimed at transforming the poor communities of East Africa.
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Biblical Foundations of Business Symposium
For the second year in a row, RCE collaborated with Regent's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to present a symposium last April entitled Starting, Funding, and Expanding Your Business. The workshop highlighted key Biblical principles for success in business, and raised awareness about SBA resources for small businesses. More than 100 business owners and aspiring business owners from the local community left equipped with Biblical principles, funding ideas and an understanding of support services available to their businesses.
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A Year of Weddings for RCE Staff
Jeremiah and Ruth Koshal traveled to Kenya last December and were married in a Christian Masai ceremony.

In August, Samuel and Manika Shrestha were married in a Christian Nepali ceremony in Colorado.
Javkhaa and Skye Ganbaatar celebrated their marriage with a second wedding, in Mongolia last August, among family and friends.

Wesley and Amy Stewart were married in September in Maryland, and honeymooned in Ireland.
Merry Christmas from all of us
here at the Center!
We wish you a joyous Christmas season and a New Year filled with peace and the Lord's blessing.

Wes, Skye, Johncy, Jeremiah, Russ, and John
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