Introduction: A Year of Faith and Business

This year, the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship Show has been a shining light for people all over the world who want to honor God through their businesses. We’ve seen amazing stories of how faith and business can work together to create real change. Together with your support, we’ve helped business leaders start and grow businesses that follow God’s ways. These aren’t just regular businesses—they’re businesses that care about people, bring hope to communities, and share God’s love.

If you’ve ever wondered how faith can make a difference in the business world, this review will show you just how powerful it can be. We’ll share the lessons we’ve learned, the stories we’ve heard, and the exciting plans we have for the future.

This year was a big one, and as we look back, we want you—our donors and supporters—to see how much of a difference you’ve made. Your help has been a part of every story we tell.

Why Faith and Business Belong Together

Some people think that faith and business should stay separate. "Church is for Sundays, and business is for weekdays," they might say. But we’ve seen that when you bring faith into your business, amazing things happen.

This year, we learned that faith can guide every part of a business: how it’s run, how people are treated, and even how decisions are made. A business that follows God’s ways isn’t just about making money—it’s about helping others, being honest, and showing God’s love.

Here’s what happens when faith and business come together:

1. Communities Grow Stronger: Businesses that follow God’s ways care about the people around them. They create jobs, support local causes, and bring hope where it’s needed most.

2. Lasting Success: Businesses built on God’s principles last longer because they’re built on a strong foundation of honesty, kindness, and care.

3. Lives Are Changed: Workers, customers, and even neighbors feel the difference when a business puts God first.

What We Wanted to Do in 2024

At the start of 2024, we had a big dream: to help people run businesses that follow God’s ways. We wanted to show people how faith can guide their work and make a difference in their lives and communities.

We planned to do this in three main ways:

- Giving Support: We gave money to people starting businesses so they could get their ideas off the ground.

- Teaching Skills: We taught people how to run businesses that follow God’s principles.

- Sharing Faith: We encouraged business owners to share God’s love with others through their work.

These goals shaped everything we did this year, and they helped us focus on what really matters: honoring God and helping people.

Lessons We Learned This Year

Throughout the year, we heard many stories from people who are using their businesses to honor God. These stories taught us some important lessons about faith, work, and life. Here are the big ideas we learned in 2024:

1. Taking Care of What God Gives Us

Everything we have—our money, time, talents, and even our businesses—comes from God. This means we need to take care of these gifts and use them wisely.

Here’s how we can take care of what God gives us:

• Use Money Wisely: Spend carefully, avoid debt, and give generously to help others.
• Manage Time Well: Prioritize what matters most and avoid wasting time on unimportant things.
• Be Generous: Share what you have, whether it’s money, knowledge, or opportunities.
• Stay Organized: Keep things in order so you can do your best work.
• Be Thankful: Always remember to thank God for His blessings.

2. Faith and Business Work Together

Many people think faith and business should stay separate, but this year we saw how powerful it is when they come together.

Here are some ways faith can guide a business:

• Show God’s Love in Your Work: Treat customers, workers, and partners with kindness and respect.
• Be Honest: Always tell the truth, even when it’s hard.
• Help Others: Use your business to meet the needs of your community.
• Trust God: Pray about decisions and believe that God will guide you.
• Make Work Your Worship: See your work as a way to honor God, not just as a way to make money.

3. Building Businesses That Last

A business built on God’s principles is one that lasts. This year, we talked a lot about how to build businesses that make a difference for years to come.

Here’s how to build businesses that last:

• Lead with Love: Care about your workers, customers, and community.
• Teach Good Values: Pass on lessons about honesty, kindness, and hard work to the next generation.
• Plan Ahead: Don’t just think about today—plan for the future.
• Do Things the Right Way: It’s better to take your time and do things the right way than to rush and cut corners.
• Invest in Your Community: Help your community grow and thrive.

Bible Stories That Teach About Business

The Bible is filled with stories about work, money, and business. This year, we looked at several Bible stories to learn how God wants us to work. These stories helped us see that God cares about our work, and He has a plan for how we should use our talents.

Here are some of the stories we learned from:

Joseph: He faced hard times, but he trusted God and became a great leader. His story teaches us patience, faith, and the importance of using our talents to help others.

Solomon: When Solomon became king, he asked God for wisdom instead of riches. His story reminds us to seek God’s guidance in everything we do.

Paul: Paul was a tentmaker who used his work to support his ministry. His story shows us that work and faith can go hand in hand.

Proverbs 31 Woman: This woman ran a business while caring for her family. Her story is a great example of hard work, planning, and generosity.

Weekly Highlights from the Show

Every week on the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship Show, we shared lessons, stories, and advice to help people build businesses that honor God. Each show focused on a specific topic, and together they created a roadmap for faith-driven success.

Here are some of the highlights from our weekly shows:

First Quarter: Building a Strong Foundation

• Show 1: Welcome
  We introduced the show and shared our vision for helping people bring faith into their work.
• Show 2: God’s Plan Is Big
  We talked about how God cares about all our work and how He can use our businesses to do great things.
• Show 3: Business in the Bible
  We looked at Bible stories about work and learned how God wants us to use our businesses to honor Him.

Second Quarter: Growing in Faith and Wisdom

• Show 7: Miracles in Business
  We shared stories of how God has worked miracles in people’s businesses, reminding us to trust Him in all things.
• Show 9: Building Lasting Businesses
  We talked about how to create businesses that make a difference for years to come.
• Show 12: When God Gives an Idea
  We explored how to know when an idea is from God and how to act on it.

Third Quarter: Overcoming Challenges

• Show 13: Questions for Business People
  We answered tough questions about balancing work and family, making ethical decisions, and staying focused on God.
• Show 15: Real Success
  We talked about what real success looks like—following God’s will instead of chasing money or fame.
• Show 17: Sharing God at Work
  We gave practical tips for sharing your faith in the workplace.

Fourth Quarter: Finishing Strong

• Show 20: Being a Godly Leader
  We discussed what it means to lead like Jesus, focusing on humility and service.
• Show 22: Learning from Joseph
  We looked at Joseph’s story and learned about trusting God during hard times.
• Show 24: More Than Money
  We emphasized that true joy comes from God, not from wealth or possessions.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we move into 2025, we’re excited about what’s ahead. We believe God has big plans for the work we’re doing, and we can’t wait to see how He will continue to use this program to make a difference.

Here are our goals for 2025:

Help More People: We want to support even more entrepreneurs who want to honor God through their work.

Share More Stories: We’ll highlight even more success stories to inspire and encourage others.

Teach More Lessons: We plan to create new workshops, resources, and training programs to help people grow in faith and business.

Strengthen Communities: We’ll focus on helping communities thrive through faith-driven businesses.

How You Can Help

You’ve already been an important part of this mission, but there’s still more to do. Here’s how you can continue to make a difference:

1. Give Support: Your donations help us provide grants, training, and support to entrepreneurs who want to honor God.

2. Share Your Knowledge: If you have experience in business, consider mentoring others through our program.

3. Pray for Us: Pray for the entrepreneurs we’re helping, the communities we’re serving, and the work we’re doing.

Conclusion: A Year of Faith, Work, and Transformation

This year, we’ve seen how powerful it is when people bring faith into their work. Businesses that follow God’s ways don’t just make money—they change lives, strengthen communities, and bring hope to the world.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support has made everything we’ve done possible, and we’re so grateful for your partnership.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to see what God will do next. Together, we can continue to build businesses that honor Him and make a difference in the world.

Visit ibam.org to learn more about how you can get involved. Let’s keep working together to share God’s love through business!