The Vision
1. Create Christian businesses that will provide sustainable support to local churches and pastors through their tithes and offerings.

• Churches in Eastern Romania are poor and have trouble supporting their local pastor.
• Local churches have become dependent on Western support and must become self-sufficient.

 
2. Train Christian business owners to operate businesses which are ministry points in the marketplace.

• Many Romanians will not come to an evangelical church but will patronize a Christian business
• Business leaders build relationships -> start Bible studies -> plant new churches.
• Strategically start businesses in new areas where a church does not currently exist and a new church plant is desired.
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3. Train local church leadership and congregations in financial management principles.

• First, train local church leaders in church financial management and accounting principles.
• Next, teach stewardship and personal money management to the members of local CBA churches in Eastern Romania
• This training is based on the request of Daniel Fodorean, the President of the Constanta Baptist Association (CBA):

Organization

• Project Board of Directors (Decision-making, Project Guidance and determination of Business recipients)

• Timothy Lampard, Virtual Project Coordinator for IMB. Report to Larry Carnes, IMB Strategy Coordinator for Romania
• Daniel Fodorean (Romanian national, President of Constanta Baptist Association)
• Jim Martin, Communications Coordinator
• Larry Kirby, Organizational Partnership Coordinator
• Marsha and James Byrd, Financial Coordinator
• Jim Putman, Consultant

• Executive Team (Project execution and operations)
• Timothy Lampard
• Violetta Stef (Romanian national, Business Consultant)
• Current position - General Manager, for a consortium of Romanian companies
• Sabina Chiris (Romanian national, Conference logistics, translation, etc.)
• Current position - Law school student
• Teachers (Conduct various training)
• Various individuals from affiliated churches and associations.
• Participate in teaching the Phase 1,2, and 3 conferences annually.

 

Role of the Business Consultant with potential business

• Participate during three (3) Training Phases
• Post Business Cycle: Once businesses are approved to be funded
• Obtaining statute
• Loans
• Starting Business
• Periodic consulting to help businesses stay focused and successful
• Businesses will pay a monthly administrative fee (consulting, translating, etc.) of minimum 50 RON / month based on the size of the business.
• Consultant will act as liaison between the Board of Directors and the business owners.

 
Role of the Logistics Coordinator

• Arrange conference logistics for Phase 1, 2, and 3 training.
• Help facilitate communication with local pastors concerning the candidates that will attend from each church or mission.
• Provide document translation as needed.
• Coordinate the conference translators for each phase of training.
• Facilitate communication between Romania Christian Business Team and Business Consultant (Romanian national).

 
Funding

• Utilizing Micro-Loans for Business Set-up
• < $10,000 for normal micro-business starts
• $10,000 to $15,000 in certain strategic instances
• Loan terms of 2 to 4 years, with specific language that details the loan payback for various business situations (i.e. deferred payment starts)
• Business will sign a notary contract with the Romanian Business Development Team Member for re-payment of micro loan
• Loan payments will be deposited in the bank on a monthly basis by each business.
• Consultant will monitor repayment.
• Assistance in obtaining additional loans through local banks as needed to develop the growing businesses (through work with consultant).

Yearly Business Cycle and Training of Candidates

• Three phases annually
• Phase One – Basic Christian Business Principles
• Candidates must submit letter of recommendation from local pastor for inclusion in Phase 1 training
• Market Research Project
• Project must be completed and submitted within specified time-frame in order to be eligible for invitation to Phase 2 training.
• Phase Two – Develop Three-Year Business Plan and Kingdom Impact Statement.
• Business Selection and Funding
• Responsibility of the Project Board of Directors
• Selection based on each potential business’ candidate evaluation, Kingdom impact statement, profitability, and the availability of funds for business starts
• Phase Three – New business start-up and operation training and funding
• Five-year Program
• Goal is to start four to six businesses per year
• Train new business owners to participate in the annual training with the objective of the indigenous people assuming the program by the end of year five.
• As loans are repaid, the money is re-cycled in the program to start new businesses with the objective of no additional funding needed after year five.
• Program should be self-sustaining after five years.