II. THE PROJECTS

Possible Enterprises in a village: (1) Agricultural use, (2) Purchase a cow for milk and offspring. (3) Raise rabbits. (4) Brick-making. (5) Retailing, (6) Vegetable growing, (7) Raise chickens, Etc.

Possible Enterprises in a city: (1) Pork distribution, (2) Used clothing, (3) Sewing (4) Carpentry, (5) Timber distribution (7) Vegetable & Fruit Kiosk. (8) Rental property. (9) Catering of food, (10) Boda-Boda, Etc.

III. MONITORING AND CONTROL, CONSULTATION AND REPORTING

The TentMaker Project (US) will not directly monitor the projects. Rather the local church - not the PCU as an organization - will monitor and control the projects with consultation. Monitor and Control is through the local committee (church deacons with an elder). Consultation and Reporting - to TMP (US) - is by the regional committee (closest 3 pastors and 3 representative elders) that is assisting the new pastor's work. Flexibility from this plan in the details is permitted (i.e., the recipient could be other than a pastor, the deacons could come from another church, etc.) as long as the principles of Monitor and Control as well as Consultation and Reporting are maintained.

IV. ORGANIZATION

TMP is a non-profit religious organization in the US that recruits interested parties, sometimes especially the deacons of a local US church, to fund the projects in Uganda. An account is maintained from which moneys are wired through Barclays Bank to a responsible party (the above regional committee in Uganda - or other country) that will deliver the money to the local Monitoring and Control committee (the deacons). Moneys may be wired in stages instead of all at once. Mail services are used by the committee and the recipient to inform of approval and amounts sent.

TMP (Ug) is not run by the church (The PCU), but rather by local deacons (under control of local Session) with advice and counsel by pastors and elders of the church in the region. (See above Monitor and Control as well as above Consultation and Reporting.) TMP is not run by the ecclesiastical entity, the presbytery or the general assembly (other than the local church deacon board) in order to prevent the development of a bureaucracy.

TMP (US) maintains an Executive Secretary who visits the field for purposes of over-all examination and modification re commendations to TMP (US) from the regional committees.

V. APPLICATIONS

Pastors who apply do so directly to the regional committee. Church members who apply do so to the local committee. The forms for application are available from the two committees, and are brief. The applications are to be signed by the applicant, and by the committee that approves. If the application is not approved by the local committee, it would normally mean that more work is needed on the enterprise to be supported, or that the enterprise is thought not to be workable.

Only members of the local church may submit an application. Pastors are members of the Presbytery, and they may submit applications to the regional committee.

At this time, applications are considered from individuals who already have an enterprise that has a history of credible success. Applications are not considered from individuals who only have a good business idea.

When applications are approved by the local committee, they are submitted to the regional committee. The regional committee then determines which approved applications to fund. This decision is based on availabilities of funds, and upon strategic considerations of the ministry of the larger Church. The Regional Committee may decide to fund all applications from one church and none from another at present, or it may decide to fund some from each church. Those not funded are set aside for future availability of funds.

It is urged that all approved applicants exercise patience and thanksgiving that some applications are funded, even if it is not theirs.

TMP (US) is interested in funding small loans related to the PCU. Any other application will receive consideration only if the program appears to have a basis for success and only if the funding for PCU applications are reasonably current. It is stressed that TMP thinks that monitor and control by the local church is a critical element in the success of the program. It is unlikely that other requests will be granted.

Part Two: The APPLICATION

Date:________________________________

Name of person to Receive Loan Funds: _____________________________________________

Check One: Thisis an original application

This is a modified application

This is a subsequent application:

Your Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________

Describe Your Enterprise Physical Location, Where it is, and How to get there:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Name of Church providing Monitoring & Control through its Deacons: ____________________

Church Address: ________________________________________________________________

Name of Pastors (or deacons) providing Consultation to you the applicant:

1. _____________________________________

2. _____________________________________

3. _____________________________________

Description of Project (private Enterprise) that you wish to boost with borrowed money.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Amount of Funds Needed, in What Stages, and When: _________________________________

Proposed Date to begin Pay Back of the Loan: ________________________________________

Proposed Intervals of Pay Back (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually): ______________________

Proposed Amount of Pay Back per Payment: _________________________________________

Signatures:

__________________________________________________

Chairman of the Deacons for a Church Member's application.

I will make sure the proposed project boost is carefully planned, monitored, and controlled, and will report to the Local Committee any problems that need to be addressed:

________________________________________________

Chairman of the Pastoral Advisors for a Pastor's application.

I will insure the proposed project is properly advised (monitor and control) and I will report to The TentMaker Project (Regional Committee) of its progress or problems:

_______________________________________________

Applicant.

I promise to ask for the minimum necessary funds and will repay according to agreed-upon terms spelled out in the Repayment Note Signed upon the reception of the funds. I agree to receive training from a church trainer and to provide regular reports to the deacons (Local Committee) of my church. If I am a pastor I agree to receive training from a church trainer and to provide regular reports to the Regional Committee. Any changes in the project, expenses, or payback must have unanimous agreement of all signatories:

Part Three: Pastoral Priority

The TentMaker Project (TMP) from the beginning has laid stress upon assisting of Pastors in the PCU so that their graduation from Westminster Bible College is not a virtual sentence to poverty in ministry. It is unlikely that the TMP regional committee in Uganda will consider an application from a church member if the pastor is destitute, or nearly so. It is the desire of TMP to focus assistance through small loans to the pastor. Then, in connection with his assistance, TMP will encourage other members of this local church to apply for small loans.

Part Four: REPAYMENT NOTE

(This page may be copied and used as the actual Note the recipient and the deacon signs. Except for signatures, please print in filling out this Note. Copies of this Repayment Note are to be given to the Applicant, the Deacons, and the Regional Committee.)

The parties of this loan agreement are the deacons of ___________________________________

Presbyterian Church and ________________________________________ the Applicant, who is

_______________________________________.

The amount The TentMaker Project will loan the applicant is ___________________________

The date the money will be available is _____________________.

The Terms of pay-back are _______________ (amount), per _______________ (period), starting

on the date of ______________________ and going until _________________________ (date).

We the undersigned parties of this note acknowledge our responsibilities before God to fulfill

this loan agreement in accordance with the terms of this note and the training provided by the

deacons of _________________________________Presbyterian Church.

Signature:

___________________________________________________

Chairman of Deacon Board, or, Chairman of Regional Committee

Signature:

___________________________________________________

Applicant

Date: _____________________________________________

Part Five: PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ETHICS.

(The following and other principles of Christian Business Ethics may be used by the deacons or their designated teacher as a guide in training. You could also copy these pages for distribution to TMP recipients at a training time. It is suggested that you prepare from each section below some questions to ask the trainee group. Sometimes such Questions help in the training process.)

I. RESPONSIBILITY.

Responsibility is defined as the ability to respond to situations as God desires. Our responsibilities before the Lord God include business as well as personal, family and church matters. Business matters include such things as time, talents, purchasing, products for sale, inventory, care for the place of business, and honest dealings with our customer public.

We stand before God with the God-given ability to respond to every situation by faith and obedience. God did not put us into business to compromise with the lies of the devil, to steal and to cheat to make a profit, but to do so in honesty. He calls us to have honest dealings with others, and as we are honest, we are to trust Him to bless the works of our hands.

The concept of responsibility is found in Scripture. It usually is used to assign categories of service in the Tabernacle and Temple. The other major way the word is used is when people have sinned. God holds them responsible for their own actions. They cannot blame others.

Therefore, in business ethics, when we know that we have sinned, we need to repent. If we are convicted that we over-charged a customer, or provided inferior service or product for the money we charged, then we should give the customer credit toward a future purchase, and we should confess to the customer what we have done, and what we will do to solve the problem. We cannot blame others for our sins. In business, if others are dishonest, we cannot justify dishonesty because everybody else is dishonest. We, rather, should trust God to bless honest dealings.

II. ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability in this context is defined as timely reporting to and receiving direction from any responsible authority. In the case of very small enterprises that are receiving loans from friends or the Church, every effort should be made to give a proper accounting to the lending authority. When one asks for funding from another, one has to have the willingness to demonstrate to the lender how the money is being used, and to show if it is being used as was intended.

Accountability also is applied in the manner in which the loan is repaid, if it is according to the terms of the Note or not.

But accountability is likewise due to the spiritual authority, in this case, the Church. The Church has an interest in reports that you are conducting your business in an ethical manner, and that you are also keeping adequate records, are managing your monies properly, and paying your bills.

Please listen to the wisdom of experienced business men and women. Demonstrate accountability to those who advise you, and those who counsel you. In Scripture we are called upon to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:24). Be particularly open to the counsel of the Deacons of the Church, for they are accountable to God and the Elders of the Church. If you are one of those officers, and you run a business, you must be especially alert to the example you set, that you are accountable to your Elders as a group, the Session itself, or to members of the Presbytery.

III. STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship is defined as the management of the property of someone else. God owns all that we have and are. Scripture teaches that "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it, for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters' (Psalm 24:1 See also Psalm 50: 10-11).

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the three servants were given charge of the master's money. They were stewards of the master's property. It was their responsibility to properly manage the master's property. Those servants who invested the money wisely saw it double. That servant who merely hid the money could at least have put it with the bankers for interest accrual.

In our business dealings, we are stewards of properties the Lord has given us. If we have fruit to sell, it is God's fruit. He has given us stewardship of that fruit, to care for it and sell it if we can, and then the income from the sale of that fruit is also God's. He intends for us to use those monies wisely. We are to use it to replace the fruit for future sales, and if there is anything left over, that money should be managed carefully for tithing to the Lord, for business expansion to buy more fruit to sell than the last time, and for personal and family needs.

God's properties should not be squandered for selfish purposes. We do not buy a motorcycle just for the pleasure of it, but only if we can afford it and we need it. We do not get drunk or take drugs for pleasure, for that would be a selfish exploitation of God's creation and a harmful abuse of his creation.

Tremendous satisfaction comes out of responsible use and management of God's goods. God, according to Ecclesiastes, gives this satisfaction as a gift for those who fear Him and obey His commandments.

In this connection, hard work is surely related to stewardship. Ecclesiastes says, 'Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,..." (Eccles. 9:10). In the context of this passage, God may have gifted you with the work you have found to do. Your task is to work hard and realize the fruit of your labors. See Proverbs 14:23; 20:4; 21 :25-26; 24:32 -34 and 26: 13-16 and 27:23-27 and 28: 19

IV. HONESTY

Honesty may be defined as doing right toward others in the eyes of God. There are numerous Proverbs that speak to this quality of human behavior, and many of them are related to business and private enterprise: Prov. 16:11; 20:10; 2 0:17; 20:23; 21:3

There are those who claim that their products are better than they are, and they charge prices that are too high. Not as bad, but very stupid, is the man who has a quality product or service, but charges too little. Experience in business helps the business owner to know what fair prices are.

When products are sold according to weight, it is an offense to God if the scales are false. The Lord will take up the cause of those who are defrauded, and he will not bless the Christian who cheats his customer.

Christians are blessed when they are honest with all people they do business with. There will be times when, out of the integrity of the heart, the honest person will refuse to do evil, as the wicked person who is prospering, will do. But the righteous person is blessed in what he does, for he will not have compromised the will of God.

V. MOTIVES FOR BUSINESS

Christians are permitted, even commanded, to work to supply their own needs, and the needs of the poor. Ephesians 4:28: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." Obviously, a personal enterprise is one of the things in view in this verse.

The motive for work in this case is (1) to do something useful. That would include making money to buy food for the family, or to grow the food. (2) The other motive in this passage is sharing with others. Generosity is the same as the practice of liberality. The way to the blessing of God in personal enterprise is not to amass wealth, but to do something useful, and to share. Generosity is spoken of in Proverbs 14:31; 19:17; 22:9; 28:27.

Wealth, however, is not sinful in itself. Sometimes God blesses His people so much that wealth develops. But wealth is to be used as a tool in God's hands, and is not to be exploited for selfish purposes. Remember the Rich Young Ruler who went away saddened because he had great wealth and would not sell and give to the poor? Remember the one who would loose his soul in order to gain the world? These are example of selfish motivations, and we ought to avoid such motivations.

First Corinthians 10:31 tells us to do everything for the glory of God. This is the ultimate motivation. Hebrews 11:6 say that whatever is not done of faith is sinful. Therefore our business dealings must be done according to faith and for the glory of God. This is the ultimate motive for our business, to honor God. In the end, our main purpose for operating a business is to give a good testimony of God's grace in our lives.

A proper motivation will help us avoid the numerous sins that businesses can be tempted to commit. Honesty flows from a godly motivation. Proper stewardship comes from it. Repaying our debts are the results, and responsible behavior comes from it too.

The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is, "What is man's chief end?" The answer is, "Man's chief en d is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Therefore, if we conduct business outside of the realm of the Christian faith, we make a grave mistake. To the contrary, if we do it for the final purpose of glorifying God, then we do it properly.

Greed and envy come under this topic, for they are sins that war against the glory of God in business. Please notice the following passages in Proverbs: 14:30; 15:27; 23:4; 24:27; 28:6; 28:25; 30:7-9. See also Matthew 23:25.

VI. TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES

The Apostle James seems to reserve his greatest of condemnations for the employer who mistreats his employees:

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you" (James 5:1-6)

It seems that in most cultures women are badly treated in the workplace. This is true in East Africa too. Christian business men (and women) have before them an opportunity to demonstrate the ethics of Jesus Christ toward their workers. Women are not to be taken advantage of due to their female gender, and children are not to be exploited due to their weakness. All Christians who hire others are to pay adequate wages and treat their workers with respect.

Those who cannot pay wages, but who need help, need to arrange for that help in different ways: by bringing into the business partners who will share the labor as well as the rewards of a successful business, or family members who will labor without wages for long-term family prosperity.

VII. INDEBTEDNESS

Indebtedness is defined as that which is owed to another. Romans 13:8 warns: "Let no debt remain outstanding." The point is that only debts that can be paid are permissible. If a debt remains outstanding, then it is a debt that cannot be paid. The person holding the note, in that case, suffers a loss. If the loan were secured with no intention of paying it back, then that is theft, and it is an offense against God as well as against the person loaning the money.

"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," in the Lord's Prayer is not talking of financial debts being forgiven by God, but of sins being forgiven by God. Let us not be corrupt in heart and think that God will forgive us our financial debts if we forgive the financial debts of others.

Proverbs 22:26-27 says: "Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.. This sage advice is designed to keep you from having both a debt that remains outstanding and loosing your bed too, or perhaps your house.

Scripture does not forbid debts, but it cautions about debt. Debt can strangle a person's very financial freedom if the debt is too large relative to means to pay. Banks usually follow this rule: They would rather not loan money to people who may not be able to pay it back. They loan money to people who do not need it. Likewise, do not borrow from the Church or from individuals if you cannot pay back, or, at least, borrow the smallest amount possible so that you can pay it back quickly according to your promises.

God will hold you responsible for debts that you do not repay. You cannot expect His blessing on your business if you insist upon free money by refusing to pay your debts. On the other hand, if you are responsible to repay your creditors, you can claim the promises of God that He hears the prayers of the righteous.

VIII. BUDGETING, BANKING and CASH MANAGEMENT

Budgeting is an essential concept in business. If you have designated a part of your business receipts to a certain amount of business expansion, then you may NOT use that money to buy flowers for your aunt's birthday.

Be alert to the advice and counsel you will receive from veteran business owners. Learn from them the different kinds of budgeting philosophies. Two such budgeting philosophies are: (1) The budget determines how money is to be spent. Rarely is there a departure from this pre-scribed spending discipline. (2) The budget is a general guide to how money is to be spent. In the latter case, a budget changes all the time. The strength of this system is that it is flexible, for the owner cannot make accurate predictions of business conditions, and therefore cannot determine in advance what percentage of money will be spent for what. The weakness of this system is that the budget itself becomes nothing more than a wish list of expenditures. The actual picture is quite different from what is planned.

Banking and checking accounts can be a useful tool in the tracking of expenses and receipts of a business. If this system is not used in very small enterprises, it would be because it is too expensive an expenditure itself. In that case, a system of cash accounting should be developed. Use the advice of other business owners. Sometimes a simple ledger book can be used to track your money.

A big problem with non-banking cash management is security. The most dangerous thief is the business owner himself, for cash bums holes in pockets. That is to say, it is too easy to spend ready cash on non-essentials, things that are off-budget, or too much of what IS allowed on the budget, and therefore too LITTLE of other things that are necessary. An example: A banana seller offers you a better price if you buy twice what you intended to buy. It may seem like the thing to do, because the next day is expected to be a good business day, and the cash will be available for the purchase of Coca Cola. But then, when the soda man arrives, after an unexpected slow business day, the money is not available to re-supply the Coca Cola, which you are nearly out of. Then the anticipated buyers do not show up for the sweet banana! The next day they are over-ripe and you have to discount them to sell them. You have lost money and you do not have the Coca Cola to sell.

Thoughtful and disciplined budgeting can avoid such problems. If you do not budget and manage your cash very strictly, the loan you acquire to increase your stock will be spent, and your stock dwindles back to an all-time low, and another loan is needed, this time to manage better, if you have learned your lesson.

IX. CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY TO INDIVIDUALS

The officers of the Church have a responsibility to the individuals of the Church, even in their economic interests. The Deacons and the Elders are not intended to manage anyone's business, or to dictate, for example, the purchasing policies for a retail operation, but they are to be concerned that the principles in this manual are taught, and that the Deacons are permitted by the business owners to monitor the progress or lack thereof of the business.

The Deacons (in the case of The TentMaker Project) need to be alert to enterprises that are going well, and to those that are not doing as well. They may be in a position to help those that are not going too well to make some helpful changes. They may be able to bring to the situation others who have experienced advice.

These officers who comprise the local committee of The TentMaker Project also have a responsibility to keep in prayer all of the business people of the Congregation, even those who are not receiving loans from The TentMaker Project. It is the Lord who blesses business, and He should be appealed to constantly.

Individuals who are benefiting from the Project need to recognize that the Church has a responsibility toward those who benefit, and to cheerfully cooperate with the Church.

X. RESPONSIBILE CONSIDERATION OF THE ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS

There are several basic elements of business. Some of these elements do not apply to some businesses, depending on the type of business. For instance, brick making does not require a retail location, nor does manufacturing. The usual elements of business are:

1. Product for Sale or Service to Offered.

2. Assessment and Continued Re-assessment of the Public's Desire for the Product or Service.

3. Marketing of that Product or Service, including Advertising and Sales.

4. Manufacturing of or Purchasing of Products for Sale.

5. Capitalization for Manufacturing, Purchasing, Facilities, Marketing.

6. Management of Capital, Materials, Facilities, Personnel, Etc.

7. Accounting, Management of Monies, Banking, Use of Cash, indebtedness, Etc.

8. Location of Retail Operations, if applicable.

Related to Responsibility, Accountability, and Stewardship (sections above) these elements of business should be committed to God the Creator and Redeemer. These are not mere secular issues that are of no interest to God and His people. All things are to be brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we are to have some enterprise or other, then it should be presented to God for his blessing. Therefore our prayers to Him should be for the specifics of the business, the elements of business, and the details of every element of business, the specific transactions that are under consideration. If a salesman is to arrive with vegetables, then a Purchasing decision is to be committed to God for wisdom.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously, without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (Jam 1 :5)

These elements of business are important enough to become the outline of a whole section in this training manual. It may be that such a section can be written by some Christian business person with gifts in this area. They should, how ever, be addressed within the African context, and therefore, it is recommended that they be discussed by the training group.

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