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Q3 2022
Thriving Kingdom Businesses Engaging in Thriving Disciple-Making Ministry
703-652-iBAM (4226) | ibam.org
WE WALK WITH OUR PARTNERS AND STUDENTS THROUGH THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES
When our students go through training to create their businesses and begin their marketplace ministry journeys, we rely on local partners in various countries to work together. The more Alliance Partners we can work with, the more nations and people groups we can reach to spread God’s Kingdom further. Our partnerships are like a marriage: We will walk with our partners and students through successes and failures and any hardships they encounter. These relationships don’t come easy — it takes much time to develop. Both parties must have conversations and the trust required to do what God needs of us, with many obstacles to overcome. We have seen great successes from our students and partners, but we are now walking with Christ and our friends through some hard times in Ukraine. We’ve heard from our students and partners during this time, and it’s heartbreaking to listen to what they are enduring. As war erupts in Ukraine, we’ve gotten personal stories from those suffering — families split apart, women and children evacuating the country, our students’ businesses destroyed, and the traumatic recalling of seeing fighter jets bomb the eastern cities. Concerning communications started back in Feb 2022. First, one of our key crucial missionary partners, Ron Jones, had to evacuate the country with his family. You will read his story in this newsletter. He is now helping other families get to safer locations and out of harm’s way. I didn’t receive a lot of messages until the beginning of March. I learned how the country required men to stay and fight, and women and children were fleeing as refugees. iBAM had several translators, participants, and business owners who had to flee the country. Our iBAM Trainer, Amy Kallman, told us that the attacks destroyed the church in which she used to conduct training. We came alongside our brothers and sisters to help them get to safety by sending money, resources, and prayers. These personal Ukraine Needs Your Help! Your brothers and sisters need you now more than ever. If you want to donate, go to iBAM.org/gIve, and choose “Ukraine Relief Fund” from the designated drop-down box. All of the proceeds will go directly to those in need. Thank you for your support and prayers. They do not go unnoticed.
messages are truly heartbreaking to hear how families are being torn apart in front of our eyes. Several of our students have informed us that their businesses were destroyed or can no longer run their companies due to the turmoil. But this hasn’t stopped them from allowing God to use them to help their community during this time of need. For
Yuris’ food truck provides free relief for war victims near war zone
example, one of our graduates transformed their food truck business into a location where people can get medical supplies and food in the Name of Christ. Several have said their most significant concern is the eternal destiny of their neighbors. They are doing this for free to help others access items that are hard to get and let them know the Lord Jesus Christ loves them. We heard from one of our graduates who lived with a few other men 9 miles away from the war. He said, “The Ukrainian government is going door to door, conscripting anyone and everyone to fight. One specific man they recruited was 60 years old and only had one arm, and he was still forced to fight.” But yet, the believers haven’t had a knock on their door. It’s a miracle that they haven’t been asked to go to the front lines. Praise God for their safety and for protecting them. God is with each of them during these hardships, and some of the businesses in Ukraine are still up and running. A graduate of ours just asked for another loan to expand their agricultural company. They are on the western side of Ukraine, where the war isn’t taking place. They want to grow their farming businesses to help further their community to provide precious resources for their people. It touches my heart that even with tragedy in the eye’s view, our students keep God at the top of their minds and show bravery and courage to help those in need. Through this traumatic time, iBAM will be alongside our partners and students. If you would like to donate to help those in Ukraine, go to iBAM.org/give . Your contributions will go directly to our partners and students. Please keep Ukraine and its people in your prayers.
– Jeff Samuelson
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AN UNFORGETTABLE, HEARTBREAKING DAY WE MUST KEEP FAITH IN CHRIST
I went to Ukraine in 2018 to conduct training and teachings about Christian business principles. I primarily conducted my training in Ukraine and developed my own teaching program called Business Lab Ukraine, which is partnered with iBAM. We shared a passion and vision for speaking the ideas and values of Kingdom building, and one of the aspects of this business program is the ministry of Kingdom Business School. This school has a vision and goal of reaching out to people in the marketplace and helping these individuals become disciples of God and help other Christians develop a business. We encourage our students to use the skills that God has graced them with and use those to change the lives of themselves and their communities. It’s been inspiring to see business people embrace this vision and use mission work to create brothers and sisters in Christ. In 2018, I moved my family of five to Ukraine. After spending four years there and helping our students become disciples of God, we were forced to evacuate in January 2022. We immediately needed to pack what we could in seven suitcases. Getting out felt physically and emotionally stressful, but this evacuation order didn’t come as a complete surprise. I had received a message about situations becoming tense with Russia in December 2021. But in January 2022, the U.S. Embassy announced that personnel would be evacuated. It seemed surreal leaving Ukraine. I remember looking around at all of the buildings, churches, and people. Our fellow Ukrainian students and people in the community thought we were overreacting about the situation and stated that nothing would happen. I had an internal battle about leaving because it seemed as if I’d abandoned my students. In fact, I felt like a cowering dog, whimpering, with its tails between its legs. I wanted — so badly — to help these people, but I had to leave them. It became a struggle, both physically and psychologically. I had to leave my students without knowing the end of the story. It honestly broke my heart. I will never forget the day when the bombing happened on Feb. 24, 2022. My family and I had been back in the U.S. for about three weeks, and my family had been moving into our new home. Of course, when you’re moving, you should be excited because you get to create new memories in a home with your loved ones. But all I could think about were my brothers and sisters in Ukraine. The experiences and tragedies they faced, the destruction of their homes and businesses. I felt shocked after seeing pictures of the churches we used to teach in and where we had coffee — all of it was just dirt and smoke on the ground. It’s still hard to fathom
Blown up church where iBam class was held
what I saw, and I kept thinking, how am I supposed to enjoy this milestone with my family when so many people are suffering?
Immediately after the bombings, our sponsors and I began developing strategies on how we could help those in need. We’d been frustrated, despaired, and anguished that we couldn’t do anything to help in person. But I was able to start and provide relief efforts and coordinate work here from home. I provided money directly to our students, teachers, and pastors. One of the churches I taught in began providing relief resources by providing food, medical supplies, and helping people exit dangerous areas. Our students showed bravery, courage, and grace during this tragic time. They stayed on the frontlines and helped those in need. They are the hope of the gospel in this dark situation. Seeing the determination of those in Ukraine, hearing about the stories of people putting their lives on the line to help their community, bringing others to safety, and providing resources, shows how God uses His disciples. Even during a time of darkness, Ukraine has united together to help its people. They have hope in their creator and understand that this situation is in His control. Although this can be difficult to see given the circumstances if you don’t have hope in Jesus Christ, each day will be just as dark — we need to have light and faith during this time. Please send your prayers to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. If you would like to donate and directly help those in need, go to iBAM.org/give. Your contributions will go directly to partners and students.
– Ron Jones
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GOD IS PROVIDING FOR THOSE IN UKRAINE
Each teacher trains students about Kingdom business principles from different perspectives. Although I helped teach these principles, when I trained students during my time in Ukraine, I primarily focused on connecting with our students’ hearts. Getting to the root of things, that desire to seek the heart, led me to many connections and conversations with our students. All of the students came to learn about Kingdom business building and to truly understand what it looks like to love employees, how Jesus loves them. But, in addition to this, I had the opportunity to understand what Jesus had started doing in our students’ lives and how they are using that for their business. For example, one man wanted cows so he could meet his family’s needs and also help his neighbors get resources while sharing the gospel. Another man wanted to open up a school and teach children from a loving and encouraging perspective — something that most Ukrainian schools do not do. These conversations were done with our interpreter, Elena, with whom I created a close relationship. I was back home when the tragedy in Ukraine occurred. When I first heard the news, my initial thought was, “I can’t believe this is happening.” It seemed like time moved in slow motion during this time. I empathize with our students, and I tend to put myself in their shoes and try to understand how they feel. I would get anxious thinking about seeing a plane fly over my house and seeing dirt, dust, and debris cloud the air. It felt frightening to think about. I’m not in Ukraine myself, but I’ve been getting live updates from Elena. The war was coming right to her doorstep, and it was very frightening for her and her two young children — they immediately needed to evacuate and seek safety. So, she picked them up and evacuated to the Polish border, leaving everything she knew and loved behind. Her first text to me came when she made it to the border … and she couldn’t find anyone to take her across to safe land. Then, two hours later, God carried her and took care of her. Finally, someone brought her across the border and provided her and her children with a place to stay. But Elena did not know what her next steps would be. So, she decided to pray and hope that God would keep her family safe. She then
received news that there were three seats on a bus that would go to Spain. She texted me explaining that it felt amazing to see how God provided for her every step of the way. Although Elena shared her gratitude for the blessings God provided her, she still felt grief and loss that she had to leave everything she knew behind. But one day, she found serenity and peace. Elena sent me a text that I would like to share. “I was sitting on the grass, and it felt like home. Every tiny piece of grass showed me the past, the future, and what God is doing in my life. I got a strong feeling that I was at home. I realized that the planet, the world, belongs to God, and because He is our Father, this planet is mine. I shouldn’t be tied to the walls. He can give me new walls. Most importantly, He knows who I am, and I know Him. That gave me comfort and peace.” Within a matter of weeks, I witnessed Elena go from grief and sorrow to peace and comfort because of God’s power and presence in her life and ours. Hearing her story and God’s role in her life inspired me to see the blessings God has provided me and think about how I am trusting God. Hearing about firsthand experiences of the tragedy in Ukraine is heartbreaking. But seeing how God is protecting, providing, and showing Himself to our students is beautiful. It shows us that God is always with us and that He has a plan. Even with tragedy and darkness around us we can find peace and comfort because of our faith in our Lord and Savior.
– Amy Kallman
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give@ibam.org 703-652-iBAM (4226)
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1. Donate to Help Those in Ukraine 2. An Unforgettable, Heartbreaking Day 3. With God in Our Hearts, We Can Overcome 4. With Us Since the Beginning INSIDE THIS ISSUE PO Box 4323, Wheaton, IL 60189
MEET ROB SHOWERS There are many individuals who play a vital role behind the scenes for iBAM. Therefore, we would like to introduce you to someone who has been with us since the beginning, Rob Showers.
HELPING SINCE iBAM’S CREATION
over two decades of experience, Showers strives to help start businesses and help businessmen in developing countries support their economies. After the two met, Showers began helping students develop, create, and fund their businesses. “Many of us business people have to realize that yes, these developing countries need Jesus. But they need Him in other areas. They need businesses using the Kingdom
Rob Showers is the managing owner of Simms Showers law firm in Northern Virginia. His firm helps with a wide range of practices: civil law, nonprofit church law, trademarks, and estate planning. In addition, he has played a critical role in our disciple- making and Kingdom-building process. Showers met Steve Adams, the founder of iBAM, 10 years ago during a business meeting. “I met Steve through another organization I was serving. I was the sitting general council, and Steve was the board’s chair. Steve talked about how he had a training program that could be used for other missionaries. He asked me if I would be interested in helping him start his idea,” Showers says. “I was very inspired by him because he is truly an entrepreneur and follower of Christ.” The training Adams provided appealed to Showers who said, “[Steve] wasn’t trying to build an empire, but Kingdom work.” With
worldview to help strengthen their economy and faith. We need to teach them how to fish rather than giving fish,” Showers says. By working with iBAM since the beginning, Showers has heard tons of success stories which inspired him to get more involved within the organization. Today, Showers is the secretary to the corporation of the board. He loves the mission iBAM is on and enjoys
seeing how God impacts and inspires those in other countries to spread His message and improve their communities.
Thank you, Rob, for everything you do for us. Your faith and devotion to God are inspiring.
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