The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi
IN their 2017 Business Launch last Sunday at the Vumba Gardens, Adventist businessmen and women and professionals encouraged each other to do business with a mind focused on Jesus.
In wide-ranging speeches and presentations by Seventh Day Adventists and invited presenters, the gist of the launch centred on business opportunities available in this struggling economy and the need to shun corruption in any form and practise clean business ethics.
This, the Adventists in business or contemplating becoming business men and women, including individual professionals, emphasized could only be possible if they focused their minds on Jesus.
Leading an opening devotion to the launch running under the theme: THE PRICE OF COMMITMENT, Adventist Pastor Bimha urged ASI members to consider Christ in business.
“Please consider Christ and consider your family. Don’t allow corruption to creep into your business conduct-Fix your mind on Jesus,” he said.
ASI stands for Adventist — Laymen’s Industries which believes in doing business on the basis of faith and Biblical principles.
The 2017 business launch followed a related special ASI Sabbath service held at Mutare Teachers’ College in which the story of the Rich Young Man took centre stage to remind Adventists of how Jesus saw man’s inner heart full of love for money more than his Father in Heaven, and how it was easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter Heaven. We all know the story.
When Jesus instructed the rich young man after vetting him and loving him, to go and sell his business and give the money to the poor and come follow him, the business mogul was astonished. He turned away from Jesus. Thus he was eluded by salvation and Heaven for the love of his money.
The ASI message was clear, loud, straight and to the point. We must not love money more than the one who giveth it. Supporting Church with dirty money offered by unclean hands all comes to naught (zero) if the love for that money exceeds the love for Jesus. Money supporting God’s work but gained through corrupt business deals nauseates the Lord. That was how clear the message was.
The ASI 2017 Launch was officially opened by the Mutare Chapter chairperson, Mr Denford Ndakavambaani. Mrs E. Madya, a prominent Mutare businesswoman and member of ASI spoke on her experiential success: The Case Of Fascom.
Mr Ian Mutserepete-assistant registrar for co-operatives-Manicaland presented a paper on Business Opportunities in 2017, while Mr Saburi — Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, spoke on Liquidity Crunch-2017 Onwards.
The RBZ official highlighted the crisis of externalisation of Zimbabwean money, cash restrictions in Banks, the benefits of use of electronic transactions/ use of plastic money and told ASI members that the RBZ was a public entity and institution open to assisting Zimbabwean businessmen and women to run their businesses legally with minimal regulatory hitches and obstacles.
Said Mr Saburi: “We have a call-free facility or line which you can use to access important information needed to do your business without disturbing regulatory challenges. Call us, invite us to your meetings, functions like this ASI Launch and other symposia and we will do our best to be of service when you need us.”
The ASI Mutare Chapter Executive Committee comprises the following members: Denford Ndakavambaani (president), Mr Gilias Mbabvu (vice-president, Mrs Tafadzwa Marange (executive secretary), Mrs Sithembiso Mambo (treasurer), Mr Aleck Makuyana (committee member), Mr Benjamin Chikuruwo (assistant treasurer), Mr Sodom Stalin Mugaradziko (assistant secretary) and Mr Shoorai Dzivike (evangelism committee chairperson).
