Core Values are based on the truths contained in God’s Word. These are the fundamental
guiding principles for Business Builders Ministries that must never be compromised.
The Core Values must permeate and be applied faithfully in every part of the ministry, including the Summit studies, the way we relate to one another, and the way we accomplish our mission. Some of these values are distinctive to Business Builders Ministries but others are common to many ministries.
Everything we do should reflect and affirm our Core Values. These principles should be so clear that they will attract those who are called to serve with us.
The purposes for documenting our Core Values are to: (1) clarify God’s mission for Business Builders Ministries, (2) maintain focus on the manner in which God wants us to fulfill our mission, (3) promote unity in the Summit family and help new members understand our
culture, and (4) effectively pass along these values to future generations.
The Core Values
1. C HRIST –C ENTERED
The Lord Owns the Ministry.
Business Builders Ministries belongs to the Lord (1 Chronicles 29:11), not to the board or the staff.We are all servants in the work of His kingdom. We affirm the absolute centrality of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:17-
18) to Summit.
The Lord Directs the Ministry.
God is the only One who knows the direction Summit should take. Just as Israel was guided in the wilderness by the cloud and fire
(Numbers 9:15-23), and the apostles responded to Jesus when He said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), we must be consistently sensitive to the direction in which the Holy Spirit wants to take Business Builders Ministries.
We will not trust in clever leadership but, rather, humbly depend on Jesus Christ to direct the ministry.
The Lord Produces Fruit in the Ministry.
We recognize that true fruitfulness of ministry only flows out of a relationship with Him.
“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener… No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5 NIV).
The more dependent we are on Christ, the more fruitful the ministry. Serving in ministry is not an end in itself; rather, it is an opportunity to worship God and express our love for Christ (Romans 12:1).
The Lord Wants Us to Help Build His Kingdom.
We are called to help build the kingdom of God. All believers in Jesus Christ are members of His body (1 Corinthians 12), but we have different callings (Ephesians 4:2-8). At every opportunity we will encourage and love those serving God in other ministries.
The reason this ministry is named Summit is to remind us to always honor the Lord and serve people.
1. Business Builders Ministries exists to glorify Jesus Christ.
He wore a Summit of thorns when, out of unfathomable love, He died for us (John 19:1-5). Just as the 24 elders in Revelation 4:9-11 cast their Summits before the throne of God, so those serving with Business Builders Ministries should honor Christ in all that we do.
2. Business Builders Ministries exists to serve people.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and Summit” (Philippians 4:1).
We will encourage all members of the Summit family to mature in Christ and learn to walk in His ways
through regular study of the Word of God, prayer, and times alone with the Lord.
- Proclamation of the Gospel.
In our materials and teachings we will explain how people can come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
We are not in competition with other Christian ministries. We will endeavor to be supportive of other Christ-honoring ministries whenever possible. We may cooperate or partner with individuals, organizations, denominations, and churches when mutually beneficial to the accomplishment of our missions. We will never spread gossip about another ministry; rather, we will seek to squelch unfounded rumors that may damage a ministry’s reputation.
2. W ORD –B ASED
Everything in Business Builders Ministries must be based on the principles revealed in the Word of God (Psalm 119 and Hebrews 4:12).
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).
The materials, organization, policies, and strategies must remain rooted in the truths of God’s Word, despite any external pressures to compromise. In the past, vibrant churches and ministries have lost their spiritual vitality because they no longer believed in the power of God’s Word.
Strive for Biblical Accuracy.
In our teaching we can only be as clear as the Bible is clear—nothing less, nothing more, nothing else (Matthew 15:1-9). Second Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Model What We Teach.
We must be faithful to obey God’s Word to be able to speak out of the passion of experience
(Luke 6:40). We can teach what we believe, but we can only reproduce who we are.
Focus on the Priority of Changing Lives.
We must strive to be instruments God can use for changing lives. In order to accomplish this, the Scriptures must be presented and taught as effectively as possible to specific cultures and to different ages—from young children to adults. We must regularly assess our materials and methods to determine their effectiveness in view of changing cultures and needs.
Practical Application
We want to do everything with the highest degree of integrity possible (Leviticus 19:11). Summit is committed to being above reproach in submission to civic authorities and complying with governmental regulations
(Romans 13:1-5).
In the New Testament, there is an emphasis on the city (Romans
1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1). Therefore, we will work strategically to reach cities.
• Modeling.
Modeling faithfulness is a stepping stone to greater responsibility. For example, faithfulness as a student is one of the criteria for selection as a small-group leader.
3. P RAYER –D RIVEN
Seeking the Lord’s direction, provision, and protection through prayer must be a constant focus for us individually and
throughout the entire ministry.
If prayer could have been unnecessary for any person, surely it would have been Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God. However, it was one of the dominant habits of His life and a frequent theme in His teaching. Jesus spent nights in prayer (Luke 6:12); He often rose before daylight to pray (Mark 1:35); and He engaged in focused prayer, preceding the crucial times in His life and ministry (Luke
6:12; 22:39-46).
Even in the midst of His busy public ministry, the Lord consistently spent time alone with His Heavenly Father. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16 NIV). Jesus is our supreme example for prayer.
What Christian Leaders Say About Prayer.
Throughout the history of the church, those serving in leadership have recognized the importance of prayer.
“The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from our prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”
– Samuel Chadwick
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“God shapes the world by prayer.”
– E. M. Bounds
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“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.”
– Hudson Taylor
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“God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”
– John Wesley
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What the Scriptures Say About Prayer.
The Bible teaches the importance of prayer. Part of the reason we are to pray is because we are engaged in a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:12, 18 NIV).
- We are to pray all the time.
(1 Thessalonians 5:17) for everything (Philippians 4:6-7).
“He [Jesus] told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Luke 10:2 NIV).
- Pray for provision of resources.
“You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2 NIV). “Ask and it will be given to you…
everyone who asks receives” (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV).
Practical Application
As individuals and as a ministry, we must pray consistently for every aspect of our lives and ministry.
• Pray for People.
We must obey the Lord’s command and pray for Him to send us
the people necessary to fulfill Summit’s mission and vision.
The Lord is the One who provides our needs and the resources necessary to fulfill the tasks He has given us to perform. Pray daily for His gracious provision.
- Pray for Financial Revival.
How we handle money has a profound impact on the intimacy of our relationship with Christ
(Luke 16:11). Money is a primary competitor with Christ for our affection (Matthew 6:24). Therefore, training people to handle money God’s way is an important step in expanding God’s kingdom. Horace Bushnell recognized this when he said, “One more revival—only one more—is needed, the revival of Christian stewardship, the consecration of money to God. When that revival comes, the kingdom of God will come in a day.”
4. R ELA TIONSHIP –D ESIGNED
We will seek to build a family of faith by nurturing close relationships with oneanother by loving each other (John 13:35), striving for unity (Philippians 2:1-2), caring for each other (Galatians 6:2), praying for each other (James 5:16), and honoring one another above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). Developing close friendships, enjoying fellowship, and having fun are the “icing on the cake” to all that we do. The world does not offer anything comparable to genuine Christian fellowship.
Exhort One Another to Mature in Christ.
E. M. Bounds said, “We are constantly on a stretch…to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This has a tendency to lose sight of people. God’s plan is to make much of the man or woman, far more of them than anything else. People are God’s method.”
Each Person Is Unique and Valuable.
The worth of each person and the value of his or her contribution should always be respected—veteran and novice, men and women, staff and volunteers. In 1 Corinthians
12 Paul describes each follower of Christ as making up a different part of the body of Christ. We have different backgrounds, skills, spiritual gifts, and personalities. This God- given diversity is intended to make us to be more effective and to enrich our lives. Occasionally this diversity will be challenging as we seek to understand each other. We must maintain our close relationships during these times, exercising humility, love, and forgiveness.
Encourage Each Other.
“Let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”
(Hebrews 10:25 NIV). Waging a spiritual war is difficult, and all of us experience times of discouragement. We need to encourage one another. A gracious call, a kind letter, or a friendly visit can be enormously important.
Care for Others in Difficult Experiences.
Individuals will experience difficulties, such as financial problems, illness, and fractured relationships. It is especially important for us to care for one another in times like these, grieving together and celebrating together.
“Carry each other ’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV).
Practical Application
• Encouraging Families.
We are committed to encourage and influence each other ’s spouses and children to grow in Christ. Also, Summit is a ministry in which the husband
and wife may work together or individually in serving Christ.
Individuals must be our focus. People are more important than organizations or projects. We will not view
the body of Christ as a market to exploit—a house of merchandise (John 2:14-16).
Our intention is to be committed to each other for life with a
desire for our relationships to become closer and more accountable.
- Building on the Wisdom of Others.
In 2 Timothy 4:13 Paul wrote, “When you come bring…the books, especially the parchments.” The person who wants to grow spiritually will benefit by reading excellent Christian books. Biographies of outstanding Christians are particularly helpful to better understand the importance of developing godly character, establishing life-goals, and being committed to sacrificial service.
Gossip and harsh criticism are not to be tolerated. We resolve to handle conflicts in a Christ-like manner according to Matthew 18:15-17.
5. P EOPLE –T AUGHT
In order to fulfill our mission of teaching people God’s financial principles, Summit will work with and through churches, denominations, organizations, and individuals.
Church-Focused.
We will implement Summit primarily through the local church—God’s chosen instrument.
Summit is designed to serve all Christian church- es, and we will not allow minor theological issues to impede our serving the broad spec- trum of the body of Christ.
Broadcast Media.
It is essential for Summit to effectively use a variety of broadcast media, including radio, television, and the Internet. This is the quickest way to teach many people God’s financial prin- ciples and acquaint them with our ministry.
Other Organizations.
We will also cooperate and partner with God honoring organizations, such as Christian schools and universities, ministries that serve the business community or meet the needs of the poor.
Practical Application
• Promote Summit in the Church.
When appropriate, we will recommend Summit for the local church through our broadcast media and the other organizations we serve.
- Authority of Church Leadership.
God requires those serving in positions of church leadership to shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-3) and pro- tect the church. Therefore, when we are serv- ing a local church Summit will be implemented under the authority of church leadership. We will always seek to honor those who serve as pastors and those in church leadership.
The role of pastor and ministry leader is difficult. We will endeavor to pray for and encourage pastors and ministry leaders whenever we have the opportunity.
• Funding. One of Summit’s major responsibilities is to help fund the work of Christ by teaching people to be generous. We will never intentionally compete for funding that should be given to the local church or to other
Christ-centered organizations.
6. S ER VANT –L ED
Jesus states the contrast between the world’s concept of leadership and biblical leadership.
“Those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:42-43).
Jesus Taught and Modeled Servant- leadership.
Only once did Jesus say He was leaving His disciples an example—when He washed their feet to illustrate servanthood (John 13:3-17). Jesus said this about leadership, “And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:10-11).
Teach and Model Servant-leadership.
All those who serve in a leadership capacity must demonstrate the characteristics of a servant-leader—unconditional love, humility and self-sacrifice. Servant-leaders encourage others, want the best for others and help to empower others. There is no place for the proud or power hungry. It is important to note that the person chosen to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian captivity was referred to as “Moses, My servant,” not “Moses, My leader.”
Exhibit Humility.
We should serve others out of humble submission to the Lord Jesus Christ because they are more important than we. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also
for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Practical Application
Small-group leaders must serve their students. Church coordinators should serve their churches, their small-group leaders, their budget counselors, and their seminar leaders. City directors should serve their city teams and the churches in their communities. An attitude of service and humility should characterize all that we do.
We should consider ways we can sacrifice for those we are leading. “He [Jesus] laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
Servant-leadership is not self-centered; it is other-centered. Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 45:5). Jeremiah did not warn against ambition, rather he warned against the wrong type of ambition. We should be motivated to seek the best for others.
Everyone should be accountable to another person. Each should regularly give an account of how his or her responsibilities have been fulfilled, resources utilized and relationships nurtured.
7. E XCELLENCE –D EVELOPED
We must never become complacent with the quality of any aspect of the ministry. We should be grateful toGod for all He allows us to accomplish, and we must “press on” toward our calling: helping to equip every Christian worldwide to be a faithful steward.
We represent the Lord, and as His representatives we are to strive to honor Him with uncompromising excellence (Colossians 3:23-24). We will constantly seek to improve everything we do. This necessarily means we must focus on our mission, wisely delegate tasks to faithful people, and develop and expand the organization only as rapidly as we can maintain quality.
Encourage Innovation.
Many ministries start with a compelling vision but end with too much structure. We should encourage innovation and a willingness to adapt to change.We should
constantly evaluate what we are doing, comparing it to what is possible and what is needed. On a small scale, new methods should be attempted to evaluate what God blesses.
Accept Failure.
Create an environment in which people have the freedom to take a risk and fail. Failure can be an important teacher.
Practical Application
Actively seek counsel from all those involved with Summit and from experts in various fields.
Communicate new ideas to those in authority and secure permission for experimentation with innovative ideas.
8. G ENERA TIONS –I NTENDED
Few ministries or churches have maintained their spiritual vitality and purpose for more than one hundred years. During their history, all ministries face challenges—succession of leadership, changes in the culture, and infiltration by those not committed to Christ.
Business Builders Ministries’ mission is to help equip every Christian on earth to handle money from God’s perspective. Therefore, we must design Summit to serve successive generations, because our purpose will not be fulfilled quickly.
Nurture a Long-Term Perspective.
We will be steady plodders (Proverbs 21:5) who are committed to long-term obedience to our calling. We must not become distracted by attractive opportunities that cause us to lose our focus.
Develop Future Leadership.
Everyone in the ministry should intentionally develop future leadership and his or her replacement. Cultivating leaders will help ensure the preservation of our Core Values. We must consistently transfer responsibility to emerging leaders.
Practical Application
We will develop transferable methods and materials so a learner can more easily become a teacher, thus enhancing the process of spiritual multiplication. We will develop training methods that effectively train all those involved with Summit.
• Communicate Values.
Business Builders Ministries’ Core Values must be communicated consistently and discussed frequently so that these values permeate the ministry.
Statement of faith - What we Believe:
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative word of God. It is without error in all its teaching.
We believe that there is one God, Lord of the universe, eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ in His virgin birth; in His perfect, sinless life; in His miracles; in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to heaven to the right hand of God the Father; and in His personal and visible return in power and glory.
We believe that all people are lost sinners and that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling thee Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe that all people will be resurrected —those who are saved to eternal life and those who are lost to eternal damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that God, as Creator, is the ultimate Owner of all possessions on earth. God has given people the authority to be stewards of those possessions and the responsibility to faithfully manage them according to the principles in the Word of God.
Verses identified as (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
All other verses are taken from the New American
Standard Bible (updated), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission.