Almost from the beginning of my calling to revival in Norway and Europe, in 2000, God told me that Christian business would be important in the revival.
In 2004 I was working as a secretary in my church, while studying business. However it did not bring enough to support our family. So I began looking for other jobs. On the side I also created a business plan for a Christian business, that would generate recources for the local church.
The birth of a Christian business
I sold myself into a company and they offered me a position. At that time my business plan had matured into a small team and full support from my pastor and the leaders of the church, and had an investor who was interested in helping us. So I rejected the job proposal.
We didn’t start with much, though. Our office was in the church, and rather than developing products, we had to sell our time as consultants to survive. But we had a fire and vision and mission from God. So we kept at it.
Going to Ukraine
Our goal was to set up an offshore software development center in Ukraine. Over 1 1/2 years I had several trips there (I live in Norway), networking and retrieving information from university tops, politicans, lawyers, software developers and friends.
As the manager I made a plan and budget for how we could launch what we called RightSourcing. It was a combination of local specialists and offshore IT developers, creating the optimal risk profile and value for money.
A real learning experience
Long story short we launched the Ukrainian office, but only with a fraction of the cash needed, because of reluctance from the board and unkept intentions. My venture into daily battle began.
I have never before learned so much in so short time. Prior to that I had never experienced so much agony and pain. But I don’t regret one second of it.
A few months into the venture, God spoke to me, and said that I had to look to other churches for support. I told this to my team. I also began to half heartely look to other churches. However having not enough experience and too much on my hands, I failed to act strongly enough.
The desert experience
A couple of months after that I felt a spiritual door close towards my church and the leaders I worked with there. We later learned that it was at that time that the leader I worked closest with fell in sin.
This is what I call the beginning of my desert experience. It’s difficult to say exactly what that is. However it involves lack of durability in the works you commit, lack of supporting the family and the sense of lack of purpose and direction.
The business involved 10 – 12 people at the most. We had managed to put together people for a new board and a new manager. And everybody agreed upon the necessity for cash. However one year after the launch in Ukraine we were too tired to fight further. It ended in bankruptcy, which ironically enough to me was one of the more easier and pleasurable business experiences I had had that year.
The death of purpose
The business was my work for God and represented my God given vision. Why let God my work for Him die? He have told me later. I will post about this tomorrow.
It is now about 9 1/2 years in preparation for revival and 3 1/2 years in this crazy desert experience. Extreme makeover… Moah, moah, moah. God is good.
Related posts:
- My story: Why did God let my dream die? Yesterday I told you about my failure as a Christian businessman. And how my God given vision went to pieces...
- My story: How does revival start? How can we have revival, and how does it really start? Do we have to pray, fast and scream out,...
- Living for His glory This is a personal journey in trying to reach out to heaven and bring back a piece to earth for...
- The awakening of a nation Is revival revival, or is the revival in Norway different? You can look at revival as spiritual awakening among individuals....
Tags: Christian business, desert, desert experience, God, marketplace, vision
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Interesting story, being a Christian, the title had me intrigued. After reading your story, I can’t help but roll my eyes. My thoughts are this… If God REALLY wanted you in this business, would he have let it go bankrupt? Would he not have opened doors for you to keep the money flowing as necessary?
Hi Scott!
Thanks for your comment.
What can I say? God did warn me. However realisticly, based on my human insight and resources at that time, I don’t know to what degree I could have avoided it.
God’s priority is our character, heart and relationship with him, over any business or job we might be currently involved in. So if it takes killing what we’re doing to take us to new levels, that is what he will do.
Also we’re not in heaven yet. And the devil will be out to destroy. In my case the person falling in sin was not responsible for the company’s daily operations, however he did obstruct us getting more capital.
During all the time I told the others involved what was needed. It was later proved right by their own admission and also the court involved in the bankruptcy. However I had myself major fault in the failure, which I will reveal more of tomorrow.
I’m currently involved in stuff that if they come to pass, will make what I was doing then, nothing compared. Perhaps God will restore my marketplace role. Perhaps not. I don’t care so much anymore.