In the bustling streets of Asia, a young woman named Claire is brewing more than just coffee. She's brewing opportunity, faith, and hope for young missionaries across Central Asia. What started as a simple idea—selling homemade coffee alongside small flower bouquets—has blossomed into a five-branch business spanning Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

But Claire's business isn't just about beautiful arrangements or delicious drinks. It's a living testimony to how entrepreneurship can fuel ministry and change lives.

From Muslim Roots to Christian Entrepreneur

Claire's journey began long before her first coffee sale. Born into a Muslim family, her life took an unexpected turn when she met Jesus at just nine years old.

"Jesus revealed himself to me," she shares with quiet conviction. "He showed me his true love, and I saw many testimonies in my life."

As Claire grew in her faith, her church mentors planted an important seed in her mind. They taught her that to be a full-time minister, financial stability was crucial. "They were teaching me that I need to have a startup or business just to be free for full-time ministry—to go wherever I want for any mission, service, or ministry."

This wisdom set Claire on a path that would eventually impact countless lives across Central Asia.

Finding the Right Business: A Garden of Attempts

Like many entrepreneurs, Claire's path wasn't straightforward. She tried her hand at several ventures before finding her sweet spot:

• Selling fruit crisps
• Launching a dance studio
• Teaching English

Each attempt was like planting a seed that didn't quite take root. But rather than giving up, Claire kept planting.

"The great idea that happened with me was selling flowers and coffee," she explains. She started small—making coffee at home and pairing it with small flower bouquets. The simplicity of her business was like a single bud, holding immense potential.

Blossoming Into Success

That potential quickly bloomed when Claire noticed how much people enjoyed the coffee-flower combination. With keen business instinct, she pivoted slightly, enhancing her product offering.

"I did kind of rebranding and started to sell not only coffee but flowers in boxes with vases—like already done bouquets," she explains.

Her first big test came on March 8th, Women's Day—a major holiday in Central Asia. Claire sold 100 boxes in a single day. The following year, that number soared to 500 daily sales.

Like a well-tended garden, her business was flourishing.

Growing New Branches

With encouragement from her pastor, Claire began to expand. She opened a second branch while personally running the business in Almaty. A third branch followed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

It was around this time that Claire's path crossed with IBAM (International Business as Mission), a turning point that would accelerate her growth even further.

Divine Appointment: Meeting IBAM

Some might call it coincidence, but Claire sees God's hand in how she connected with IBAM. While attending a Christian conference in Turkey, on her last day—when she was supposed to check out of her hotel—a woman introduced her to Daniel from IBAM.

"I never thought that any businessmen or great organization would care about just a small startup selling flowers and boxes from the house," Claire admits with wonder in her voice. "But Daniel did it."

What followed amazed her even more. The IBAM team traveled to her country to educate her team, offering training grounded in biblical principles.

"My mind was turning to the Bible side more than just the business side," Claire explains. This shift in perspective proved transformative.

Biblical Business: A New Foundation

The IBAM training began not with marketing strategies or financial projections, but with God's Word.

"We started from God, from the Bible," Claire recalls. "What does the Bible think about business? What are the Bible principles?"

This approach helped Claire realize something profound: "Not me only running the business, but God is in charge of everything." She adds, "Usually we're thinking that God is in charge of everything except business, and you are the owner deciding every step."

This revelation—that her business was "the business of God"—gave Claire both freedom and responsibility. It shaped how she viewed her growing company.

Investment That Bears Fruit

IBAM's support went beyond training. They provided investment that allowed Claire to open two more branches—one in Dushanbe (Tajikistan's capital) and another in Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

Like water to seeds, this investment nourished Claire's vision. "I needed to buy more supplies, I needed to hire people," she explains.

Today, her garden has five flourishing branches across Central Asia, all rooted in the same mission.

More Than Just Business: A Mission Field

What makes Claire's story truly remarkable is the purpose behind her business. She's not just building a company—she's building a platform for ministry.

"My main idea is to support missionaries," she states clearly. Her church has eight congregations across Central Asia, with missionaries as young as 17 years old.

"In my heart is just to help them, for other missionaries to be financially sustainable also, as I needed when I was a teenager."

Everyone working in Claire's business—her employees, partners, and coworkers—are full-time missionaries. "These girls are serving and working at the same time," she explains.

Her business has become a garden where both faith and financial stability can grow together.

Visions of Future Growth

Claire isn't stopping with five branches. Her eyes shine when she talks about the future.

"My vision is to share the gospel through the business," she explains. Her approach is multi-faceted:

1. Hiring unbelievers and showing them Christ through relationships and example

2. Building relationships among people and families through their products

3. Supporting missionaries by giving them places to work

4. Supporting church ministry throughout Central Asia

Her next step? "I want to start to sell the franchise," she shares, excitement evident in her voice.

Like a gardener planning new plots, Claire sees potential for growth in every direction.

Wisdom for Young Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice she would give to young women listening, Claire doesn't hesitate:

"Never think that anything can be impossible," she states firmly. "Everything is possible with God and we need just to try."

She recognizes that fear often holds people back from pursuing their ideas. "Women have lots of ideas in their mind, creative minds," she observes. "My advice is not to be afraid of just trying."

Claire's own experience proves this point. "I thought my idea about the flower business was something strange, but I just tried. And then I realized that it's working."

But beyond business success, Claire emphasizes what truly matters: "The most important thing we can do is not the business, it's not earning money, it's not even being financially sustainable—it's helping to change the lives of others."

For Claire, success is measured in lives touched, not just profits earned. "If my life or my one cup of coffee or my one conversation can totally change the life of just one person—that means my life was really a success and Jesus died for a reason."

Plant Your Seed Today

Claire's story reminds us that great things often start small—a cup of coffee, a simple bouquet, a conversation that changes a life.

Like a tiny seed that grows into a flourishing garden, your business idea might be the beginning of something that impacts countless lives. As Claire would say, you just need to try.

Whether you're a young entrepreneur dreaming of your first venture or an established business owner looking to align your work more closely with your faith, Claire's journey offers inspiration and practical wisdom.

Remember: your business isn't just yours—it's God's business working through you. And with that perspective, everything changes.

Want to learn more about how International Business as Mission is empowering entrepreneurs like Claire around the world? Visit ibam.org to discover how you can be part of this movement of faith-based entrepreneurship that's changing lives and communities.

Become an IBAM Impact Partner here: https://www.ibam.org/impact-members