Background
Over the past several years a
growing number of Christian business owners and marketplace leaders
have sensed God's prompting to contribute their time and talents for ministry
service. Many of these individuals have grown up in the business community and
have not had opportunity to become acquainted with the operational culture of
mission organizations. They are considering the possibility of making a career change
(or at least offering their skills for short-term assignments)
in order to serve the Lord with their individual gifts and experience.
These marketplace leaders are inclined to have unique ideas
as to projects and programs which they wish to see started.
Often they have the experience, the finances, the decision-making
ability and mind-set to make things happen.
Qualification Standards
In order to facilitate dialogue
between these marketplace leaders and mission agencies, a process has been
established to identify mission organizations that are sensitive to these
individuals and prepared to work with them. A set of standards has been developed,
and agencies are given the opportunity to comply with them. Once approved,
they are qualified to receive the MSO 9000 designation. One part of the qualification
process is that the agency be able to offer one or more of the
the following opportunities:
- A vision-casting short-term trip opportunity
- A short-term trip which involves a project that requires marketplace
skills and experience
- A custom-designed short-term trip for one
person, taking into account their initial project interest
Download the Application Form
The Commitment
For many years mission organizations
recruited their candidates directly from Bible schools and seminaries with
little or no business experience. Marketplace leaders come from a different background
and represent unique thinking and needs. They are not interested in processing a lot
of paperwork before they get to the bottom line. Part of being sensitive to these
individuals is the commitment from mission agencies to find projects which capture
the interest and passion of these leaders without having to evaluate them as
potential staff members. Each MSO 9000 organization has personnel with the
maturity and discernment to listen, to evaluate and to encourage these businessmen
without trying to fit them into a particular mold.
Note:
The MSO 9000 Project has been developed
in the spirit of the Marketplace Certification process known as ISO 9000. ISO, which
stands for International Organization of Standardization, develops
business standards for the marketplace and is being used in over 120 countries worldwide.
(For more information go to www.iso.org )
