IBAM EP72: From Giver to Builder: How Christians Create Legacy-Level Kingdom Impact

“When you empower a Christian entrepreneur, you don’t just fund a business — you multiply the Gospel.” — Steve Adams | IBAM

From Giver to Builder: How Ordinary Christians Create Legacy-Level Impact Through Gospel-Centered Business

For generations, Christians have been told that the best way to make a difference in the world is to give to charity. And for generations, believers have faithfully responded.

But as the world changes, one thing has become unmistakably clear:

Charity alone is not enough.

Not enough to sustain ministries.
Not enough to lift families out of poverty.
Not enough to disciple the next generation.

And certainly not enough to bring long-term Kingdom transformation to entire nations.

This is why a new movement is rising—one built not just on giving…
but on building.

A movement where Christian entrepreneurs are trained, discipled, and empowered to create sustainable businesses that fund ministry, strengthen churches, and spread the Gospel for years to come.

This is the heartbeat of IBAM:
International Business As Mission.

And today, you’re going to hear a story that captures exactly what this shift—from giver to builder—looks like in action.

The Problem With Traditional Charity

Let’s address an uncomfortable truth that every faith-driven donor eventually encounters:

Charity is unpredictable.

Economies shift.
Donor behavior changes.
Needs outgrow resources.

And when the money stops, the ministry stops.

That’s the reality many churches, missions programs, and community initiatives face every year.

But what if Christians approached impact differently?
What if generosity didn’t end with a donation…
…but began with building something that multiplies?

That is exactly what IBAM helps believers around the world do.

Introducing a New Model: Entrepreneurial Discipleship

IBAM equips Christian men and women in developing nations to:

✔️ Launch and grow small businesses
✔️ Integrate faith into daily work
✔️ Use entrepreneurship as a discipleship tool
✔️ Fund local ministries without dependency
✔️ Train and mentor the next generation of leaders

This isn’t “business for business’ sake.”

This is business as mission.
Business as worship.

Business as discipleship.

And few stories display this better than the testimony of Elijah Aveza from Zambia.

How a Chicken Business Is Discipling a Nation: The Story of Elijah Aveza

Meet Elijah Aveza, the chairman of Awana Zambia’s board… and an IBAM trainee.

Elijah didn’t set out to become a business owner.

He set out to reach more children and teenagers with the Gospel.

Awana clubs across Zambia were growing rapidly.
More churches wanted to join.
More youth were being discipled.
More families were coming to Christ.

But the ministry faced a familiar challenge:

Funding.

Traditional donations were inconsistent, and grants were difficult to secure long-term. Ministries were growing… but the financial foundation wasn’t.

That’s when Elijah encountered IBAM.

“I Never Knew a Chicken Business Could Transform a Nation.” — Elijah Aveza

Through IBAM’s biblical entrepreneurship training, Elijah realized something powerful:

He didn’t need to wait for donations to grow Awana.
He could build something that financed it sustainably.

So he started a chicken business.

Not a huge business.
Not a glamorous one.

But a business with purpose.

And what happened next changed everything.

Elijah watched as:

✔️ Income increased
✔️ Ministry capacity expanded
✔️ Families gained access to resources
✔️ Children were discipled
✔️ Awana clubs multiplied
✔️ Faith deepened in his community

And then Elijah said the sentence that captures the entire IBAM movement:

“Our business isn’t just income… it’s discipleship.”

Why This Matters: Business Isn’t Separate From Ministry—It Is Ministry

One of the most powerful outcomes of IBAM’s training is that entrepreneurs discover something biblical:

Work is worship.

Business is a discipleship platform.

Entrepreneurship is a Kingdom tool.

Through IBAM, Elijah began blending:

📘 Scripture
🏭 Business skills
🙏 Prayer
📊 Financial management
📣 Evangelism
📈 Growth strategy
🌱 Spiritual mentoring

All inside his business.

And he’s not alone.

The Spiritual Transformation Behind the Business

Many people assume IBAM is just business training.
But that’s not true.

IBAM is business discipleship.

Leadership formation.
Biblical stewardship.
Gospel integration.
Spiritual growth.

Entrepreneurs gather weekly to study Scripture, pray, share testimonies, and learn business principles rooted in biblical truth.

Elijah shared:

“IBAM’s training didn’t just develop my entrepreneurial skills. It deepened my faith.”

He began discipling his staff.
Teaching biblical principles.
Praying with his employees.
Mentoring young leaders.
Supporting the spiritual growth of fellow entrepreneurs.

This is what makes IBAM unique:

We don’t separate business from ministry.
We merge them—just like Jesus did.

Mentoring: The Secret Ingredient of IBAM’s Impact

While training is essential, the real transformation happens through mentorship.

IBAM leaders walk alongside entrepreneurs personally, helping them:

✔️ Develop budgets
✔️ Implement marketing plans
✔️ Build savings
✔️ Apply biblical decision-making
✔️ Build habits of prayer and accountability
✔️ Grow in integrity and stewardship

Elijah, once a trainee, is now a mentor himself.

“We talk about budgeting… but also about prayer.
We dream about business growth… but also the Gospel.”

This dual focus is why IBAM-trained entrepreneurs grow faster, healthier, and more spiritually grounded.

Other Voices Joining the Movement

Here are just a few testimonies from others impacted by IBAM:

Mapheso:

“IBAM made me disciplined and accountable in my business. I learned to share my faith effectively.”

Patience:

“IBAM helped me grow as a person. My business grew too. I can now budget, market, and plan strategically.”

Josephat:

“This partnership empowers people through business and spreads the Gospel. It’s transforming nations.”

These voices represent hundreds more.

Each one is more than testimony—each one is a multiplier.

Why Givers Become Builders

Traditional giving is good.
But building is better.

Why?

Because builders:

✔️ Strengthen local leadership
✔️ Empower families with income
✔️ Create stable Gospel opportunities
✔️ Fund ministries for years to come
✔️ Disciple believers in real-world contexts
✔️ Multiply impact generation after generation

When you support IBAM, you don’t just help one entrepreneur.
You help build an entire ecosystem of faith, entrepreneurship, and discipleship.

This is legacy-level impact.
The kind that doesn’t fade.
The kind that doesn’t depend on fluctuating donations.
The kind that multiplies.

The Future of Missions Is Sustainable

Around the world, ministries are beginning to recognize:

The most sustainable missions strategy is empowering believers to build businesses that fund the Gospel.

No more dependency.
No more instability.
No more short-term programs.

Instead:

Long-term discipleship
Sustainable income
Local leadership
Ongoing ministry growth
Gospel expansion
True transformation

This is the IBAM vision.
This is the IBAM model.
This is the shift from giver to builder.

How You Can Be Part of This Global Transformation

Here’s the exciting part:

You don’t need to start a business in Africa to build this movement.

You can empower the entrepreneurs who are already there—
the ones God has positioned…
the ones who are ready…
the ones who simply need a chance.

When you give to IBAM, your impact becomes:

A business
A job
A discipled leader
A sustained ministry
A thriving community
A lasting legacy

Your giving stops being a moment…
and becomes multiplication.

Your Invitation: From Giver to Builder

If this message resonates with your spirit…
If you’re ready for your giving to produce long-term fruit…
If you want to help disciple nations through sustainable business…

Then today is the day to become a builder.

You can equip entrepreneurs like Elijah.
You can strengthen ministries like Awana.
You can help spread the Gospel across Africa and beyond.

🌍 Ready to Build Legacy-Level Impact?

Empower businesses. Spread the Gospel. Give today.

👉www.IBAM.org