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On this episode, Darren sits down with Steve Adams (Founder and CEO of International Business as Mission) to discuss how IBAM has funded and discipled hundreds of entrepreneurs globally to break cycles of poverty and advance the gospel.

Darren Shearer sits down with Steve Adams, founder and CEO of IBAM (International Business as Mission), to talk about how business can be more than just a way to make money — it can be a tool for discipleship and transformation. Steve, who left a successful corporate banking career after a life-changing mission trip in 2004, shares how encounters with former criminals-turned-business owners in post-Soviet Russia convinced him that businesspeople can play a vital role in God’s mission. Through IBAM, launched in 2014, he’s built a global network that equips local believers with microloans, biblical business training, and discipleship tools, aiming to reach one million entrepreneurs by 2035.

At the heart of IBAM’s model is a simple but powerful framework: fund small service-based businesses with loans under $1,000, train entrepreneurs in both practical skills and biblical principles, and teach them that their work is their ministry. Borrowers are required to have church-backed character references, commit to mentoring others, and document their spiritual growth, creating a multiplying cycle of discipleship. Success stories range from Elijah in Zambia, who grew his taxi business while mentoring future leaders, to a young entrepreneur in Indonesia whose helmet-cleaning business became a platform for sharing Christ through everyday conversations. These examples highlight IBAM’s belief that business isn’t just about profit — it’s about integrity, excellence, and pointing people to God.

IBAM’s approach is lean but deeply impactful: about $2.5 million has been invested since 2014, and each $1,000 donation can be recycled through multiple entrepreneurs. Shifting decision-making and accountability to local partners has boosted loan repayment rates from roughly 40% to over 90% and helped eliminate dependency on Western aid. Steve argues that empowering indigenous entrepreneurs is one of the most cost-effective and culturally effective ways to advance the gospel — for the cost of sending one missionary family overseas, IBAM can equip up to 600 local leaderswho already know the language, culture, and needs of their communities. For Steve, the future of missions is clear: the marketplace is a mission field, and business is one of the most powerful ways to change lives for Christ.

www.ibam.org

 

Key Takeaways 💡

  • Business as Mission: Steve Adams’ Calling – Former banker Steve Adams founded IBAM (International Business as Mission) after a 2004 mission trip showed him how business can disciple people and change lives. Inspired by former criminals in Russia transformed through faith and entrepreneurship, he launched a global ministry in 2014 that equips local believers with microloans, training, and mentorship to build sustainable businesses and spread the gospel.
  • Discipleship Through Enterprise – IBAM’s “three fish” model funds small service businesses, teaches biblical entrepreneurship, and makes discipleship central. Entrepreneurs must show character, receive coaching, and mentor others, creating a multiplying impact. Stories like Elijah in Zambia, who grew a taxi business while training leaders, and a young Indonesian entrepreneur sharing Christ through a helmet-cleaning shop, show how simple ventures can become platforms for faith.
  • Values That Transform Communities – IBAM teaches business as a calling grounded in integrity, truth, and excellence. Entrepreneurs honor commitments and treat funds as God’s resources, raising repayment rates from 40% to over 90%. A single $1,000 gift can recycle through multiple businesses, proving that empowering local believers makes missions more sustainable and impactful. For Steve, the marketplace isn’t separate from ministry — it’s one of God’s most powerful tools to transform lives and communities.

 

Christian Business Leader is the show for marketplace Christians seeking to explore and apply God’s will for business. If you want to learn more about how to do business for the glory of God and shape culture through discipling the business world, this show is for you.