New initiative uses marketplace to advance gospel outreach

ALLEN (BP)—In the mountains of Ecuador, Scott Tye's small office serves as more than just a satellite for his business, based in Allen. And it does more than provide an income for eight of his employees.

Scott Tye's small office in the mountains of Ecuador is more than just an extension of his Texas-based business. It is a way of using his expertise in the global marketplace to advance the gospel throughout the world, much the same way the first-century church spread it into their known world. (BP PHOTO/Matt Miller )

Recently, Tye hired a young Ecuadorian couple to manage the office. Their goal is eventually to serve as missionaries in another country.

"They were looking for several businesses that they could use to provide a part of their support," said Tye, a member of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson.

By hiring them, he is helping to do just that, as well as expanding his business in other countries—all for the sake of kingdom work.

Tom Elliff, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, sees Tye's efforts as recapturing the first-century model that led to the expansion of the early church throughout their known world.

"Traveling along sea-lanes and roads, on the back of commerce, followers of Christ began to carry the message far and wide," Elliff said.

The IMB has established a new office called Global Strategic Mobilization to assist Tye and others like him who work in the global marketplace. Global Strategic Mobilization focuses on identifying, connecting and equipping Southern Baptists for greater involvement in fulfillment of the Great Commission through their work across the globe.

"We want to do all we can to get the gospel to the nations through whatever doors God opens," said Scott Holste, IMB vice president in charge of this new endeavor. He wants to make sure "marketplace professionals in our churches are poised to join with IMB missionaries and others to help finish the task."

Elliff sees Global Strategic Mobilization as a way of advancing the mission board's purpose of helping churches fulfill their mission of reaching the world for Christ.

Global Strategic Mobilization "will become IMB's means of challenging corporate leaders and employees—as well as other marketplace professionals—to place their lives, businesses, resources, international connections and their energies on the altar for the fulfillment of the Great Commission," Elliff said.