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Field Trip Reports from the 2008 iBAM Course The iBAM course was created on the premise that it should be a transformational course where the participants would not just add head-knowledge, but that it would facilitate revelation and a real renewing of the mind for the participants – a real paradigm shift to see business and mission more like God. With that in mind a weeklong field trip to visit business as mission companies working out the reality of building the kingdom in business was included in the 6 week schedule. In evaluating the iBAM 08 course, the field trips proved to be a key component of the course to help the participants take a hold of God’s heart in and for business in his kingdom. As a reflection of that Will and Elena, two participants, share some of what they saw and how it impacted them. Will travelled to Indonesia with 7 other participants and was impacted by his experience. In Indonesia, we visited a wide variety of different businesses that are responding dynamically to the local needs in this region of the world. Poverty and lack of basic infrastructure is overwhelming. The businesses we looked at ranged from handicrafts to internet café to a construction business. Daniel, the entrepreneur who started them, has worked in this area of Indonesia for nearly 20 years. He and his wife moved their family to what seemed like the end of the world because God called them to be pioneers in a difficult often, hostile environment. Through business and economic development, he saw that he could help bring life into this area of Indonesia. The businesses, micro-credit and training programs they started have been a life-line, reaching to many in need. | | 
| From his 20 years experience of living and working in Indonesia, other organizations that are just now starting up in the area are turning to Daniel for his wisdom, experience and knowledge of the area and culture. God has given him this favour and further opportunity to influence and consult with organizations that are catching the vision and need to bring economic development and sustainability here. | | | |
Personally, one of the lessons from this course that has been highlighted for me practically during the field trip is the value of finding locals, training them and releasing them in their gifts. This is exactly the model that Daniel has followed and it is working well. He has committed to Indonesia for the long-term and is just now seeing some of these fruits of his labor. I think we have yet to see the full extend of what God wants to do in this area of the world and it will continue to show more over time. Alena traveled to Cambodia with a team of 5 participants and she shares some of what showed her about business. Alena recently started an outdoor adventure business in a remote community and is committed to bringing social, spiritual and economic transformation for the Kingdom through her business.
On my return from my field trip in Cambodia I realize that business in my understanding is really about distributing wealth, demonstrating goodness, revealing the goodness and glory of God to every level of our society. One of the businesses we visited in Cambodia showed very clearly that we reveal the Creator in the quality of our work, just as the Creator has revealed Himself in the quality of His work. People get changed and societies transformed by realizing and applying this in real life situations and issues. | |  | It is required of us that we think creatively in this issue, and find new keys of understanding from the scriptures. Our lives are stretched while working out how to handle the different tensions in the business world. In my experience, it requires strength and endurance to do this. Yet through this the power of God can flow and produce productivity, success and social change. | | | |
Taking part in the IBAM course helps me to put my finger on these issues and helps me to integrate these important values and principles into my business. By having a business that organizes outdoor activities in the north of Norway, I aim to bring forth social change and growth in the community - Empowering and training locals in different life management areas such as responsibility, leadership and decision-making. Before I tended to think that it was all about bringing God from one place to another while it is more about identifying a God who is already there. I am glad to be able to see and observe this today, through the field trip and here as I attend the course in Thailand. For more information about the iBAM 09 visit our training page or email us @ bamtraining@oval.com
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