Dreaming

Lately my thoughts have been saturated with plans for the near and distant future. I have come across or formulated some ideas that have excited me.

I think I will start with us first coming to Seattle for me to go to MHGS. I felt drawn to the school, it felt so right. I loved and love the vision and emphasis. The school has met my expectations. I applied to the Master of Arts in Christian Studies program, but by the time I registered for classes, I switched over to the Master of Divinity program track because I was attracted to the Global Engagement concentration. I still desire to do foreign missions and this seemed to fit. The MACS is 48-hours and the MDiv is 90-hours.

Now I am considering if that extra 42-hours will best prepare me for my calling. Or, if I could spend that time and money on another degree that would better prepare me for my calling and open up opportunities overseas. I believe missionary work has to be more and more innovative in our postmodern, globalized world. I want to be effective. I want to make a real, significant difference for people’s life, especially the poor and marginalized, not only for eternity, but for the here and now. I want to create communities that foster faith, hope, and love where there is little to be found.

I want to make sure my education is not an excuse for inactivity. However, I do not think it is, but is a means of better preparing me to be an effective change agent. So I have been looking at other options, namely in the Seattle area, and have three on the top of my list:

1) A MBA in Sustainable Business from Bainbridge Graduate Institute, http://www.bgiedu.org/. This is what I am most excited about. Sustainable business as I understand it focuses on social, ecological, and economical wellness as opposed to just profits. I could write about this for a while, but I will write what I believe this degree would prepare and facilitate for me, a hope, a dream. A factory or business in China that trades internationally and would provide its workers with excellent working conditions and treatment, vacation time, and fair wages (this is the opposite of most factories in China). I believe this would open up many evangelistic and humanitarian opportunities. Profits would be used to go back in to the communities where the businesses are located. Part of the dream would be for such a place to serve as a model for others. Also, if and when North Korea opens up, I would love to do such an endeavor there, a place where such a community undertaking would be much needed.
2) A Master of Arts in Organization Design and Renewal from Seattle U., www.seattleu.edu. This is a one-of-a-kind degree program. It is geared more for people to become consultants. It has classes on social responsibility, but that is not the emphasis. I could still do the above, or I thought I could be a “Corporate Social Responsibility Consultant” and help other companies accomplish the above. A problem I see is not being able to let the beneficiaries know it is for the sake of the gospel these things are being done.
3) A MBA in with a concentration in International Business from Argosy U., http://www.argosyu.edu/. This could perhaps open up the same opportunities as BGI. The attraction here is that I could complete it in one year versus two for Seattle U. and BGI, and still have enough Montgomery G.I. Bill to pay for it. Also, it is located one block from MHGS, allowing me to stay close to that community.

There are still so many factors involved in deciding: timing, money, working, family priorities, MHGS is revamping there MACS next year towards something more suited for my desires, etc. I am not one to make rash decisions so my plan right now is to give these thoughts the test of time.

I have come across two businesses that I believe are doing great work around what I am writing about. Pura Vida Coffee, http://www.puravidacoffee.com/, and Ten Thousand Villages, http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/. Both have volunteer opportunities here in Seattle, and I am thinking about doing an internship with Pura Vida if I go this route. Also, I highly recommend buying coffee and international goods from these two companies.

I am still thinking, researching, and praying about how to best serve the North Korean situation. I am willing to help the refugees in China “on the ground” full-time, but I am thinking I could better serve their cause in other ways: advocacy, working to change policies, or perhaps through business. Since they are underground in China, as white people, we might bring unwanted attention to them.

Please dream with and on behalf of me. Please share your counsel or feedback and if you know me well enough, please share with me what you think my gifts, talents, or calling may be. I believe a community can help its members realize their gifts.