Lisa
International business major
Jan. 11, 2007

With our recovered student back from the hospital, our numbers were back up to 17 this morning when we checked out of the YWCA in New Delhi.  We spent the morning visiting with Matt, an American small-business entrepreneur who has lived with his wife in India for 11 years.  He talked with us about his passion for the Business as Ministry (BAM) model. 

Matt and his wife first lived in Haridivar, where they partnered with Indians to set up a business to sell handicrafts.  In 1999, they left the business in the capable hands of Indian businessmen and moved into Delhi, where Matt started a consulting company.  The company has three different focuses – language, business, and IT.

The language component began as the main source of profit for the company.  Known as On-Site Language Services (OSLS), the three-year program is the largest community-based language program in India.  The IT portion of the business provides Internet work, webpage design, and data-processing services to American companies operating in India. 

The unique aspect of the business is its focus on relationships and ministry.  According to Matt, the motto of the business is outreach to the people they employ.  Matt and his partner work to develop respect and to invest in each individual employee.  They incorporate scripture and prayer into the weekly staff meetings and work to model godly characteristics in their everyday work.

The company currently employs 20 people of different nationalities, religions, and castes.  While the business is smaller in size and has a smaller annual growth rate than other businesses in the industry, Matt’s company has a strong sense of vision and purpose.  He said that his desire to see the gospel spread through the natural means of business is what keeps him going through the hardships and challenges of living and working in a developing country.

As business students studying at a Christian college, we found it inspiring to hear Matt’s testimony and to see the way he has been able to combine business and ministry successfully in India.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Matt and his family at their home (complete with brownies imported from the U.S.!).  We then took cabs to the train station, where we boarded an overnight train to Mumbai.