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Business as Mission or Business as Blessing?


Are you looking to start a business to fulfill a mission or to bless a community?

In the latest ChinaSource Conversations podcast, “Businesses that Bless,” Brent Fulton explores that question with Gary Hopwood, Chief Global Officer for David C. Cook and Nora Hughes, the founder of Business4Blessing. Both have extensive experience in starting and running successful businesses in China, as well as helping others do the same.

Gary and Nora prefer to use the term “business for blessing” to describe how they operate their businesses in China, pointing out that in Chinese the character that is usually translated as “blessing” (福) is not so much a religious term as one that conveys the meaning of benefit. Businesses that are run by Christians should seek, not just to complete a task, but to bless customers, employees, and communities.

In this podcast, they unpack this concept in more detail and contrast it with the more traditional concept of “business as mission,” as well as offer advice for those wanting to start a business in China. They also reflect on the importance of calling in starting a business (as opposed to simply looking for a visa) and the changing role of sending agencies.

Image credit: by Gabriel Jorby, via Flickr.
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Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio


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