Business as Mission in Guinea-Bissau
Above: Pastors meet at the Lendem Translation Center with Clinton Dix, coordinator of the Scripture Impact Partnership, to discuss strategies for evangelism, Bible translation and business as mission.
Guinean Bible translators are rich in faith.
On a trip to visit some translators in their homes in late 2007, Dr. Allen Jensen, the technical coordinator for the Luke Partnership, saw firsthand what they coped with: a severe lack of infrastructure, including transportation, communications and electrical power, as well as the aftermath of rebel conflict in the north of the country.
“It was humbling,” Jensen said, “to see the unstable conditions in which [they] find themselves. It was a testimony to us of God’s greatness that any translation takes place at all, that He fills people with such a love of His Word that conditions in life actually become secondary to their task. These Christians are very dedicated.”
Dedicated and rich in faith, yes, but not rich by the world’s standards. In 2007, of 209 countries ranked by the World Bank in per capita income, Guinea-Bissau was 206. Per capita annual income was $200.
The leadership of the Evangelical Church of Guinea-Bissau is passionate about reaching the people of their country, through the Word and through making the Church relevant to daily life. In order to take ownership of the Bible translation task and grow into a fully self-sustaining Church, these Christian brothers and sisters need help with economic development.
The Business as Mission (right; BAM) team at JAARS is excited about opportunities to come alongside and help. Several programs are being planned.
A micro-finance program will offer very small loans to active and retired pastors and local translators, to help them begin small businesses and thus partially support themselves. Pastors have struggled to make ends meet because the churches, especially rural ones, are not able to pay even the minimum church-established salary—around $100 a month.
The director of the sole Bible institute in the country has asked for help starting projects that will provide some degree of financial stability and sustainability. Although the cost to attend is very low, students often cannot afford the fees.
Responding to this request, a BAM program will include developing agriculture and animal husbandry on the institute’s significant land holdings, thus providing food for the institute. Selling the excess will provide additional income. For similar reasons, a bakery is also being considered. These projects will also provide employment for students, paying part of their tuition.
In Lendem, a translation center hosts workshops and other activities, but more facilities are needed. The electrical and water systems need upgrading, too. One of the greatest needs is housing for Guinean translation facilitators. Until they are able to move to Lendem, they are unable to work together as an effective team.
To provide financial sustainability for the Lendem Translation Center, which also owns land, BAM wants to develop an agricultural program similar to the Bible Institute’s.
Also under consideration is a processing plant for cashew nuts—a cash crop in the country. Cashew nuts grow attached to a pear-like fruit that is often discarded. That fruit is a possible source of ethanol, a biodiesel fuel needed for boats. A cell phone charging station is also being considered. These businesses will provide employment and additional income to pay center employees’ salaries.
JAARS is providing business planning, consulting and encouragement to these endeavors as well as raising money to help start the businesses. They will be run by a department of the Evangelical Church, whose board will include business people, assuring maximum benefit for the church and Bible translation.
Through building economic sustainability in the community, the Church will also gain relevance in the eyes of people, drawing more people to Christ in the process.
This story originally appeared in "Partnering with the Church in Guinea-Bissau," the Fall 2009 issue of Rev. 7.
