Last night my wife and I spent the evening with some friends in Reardan, a farming community just outside of Spokane. The dinner was wonderful, but reliving some of the IAP history was not only enjoyable, but refreshing and encouraging. Daniel, a business man from Romania, was in town and staying with Fred and Vickie. Daniel wasn’t always a businessman. When we first met him he was just a young man trying to find his way in a broken country that was looking to heal from years of communist oppression.

IAP was invited into this brokenness and began by setting up a farm. Fred took the lead with getting donated equipment and Marlin, another Spokane businessman, took time out from his business and, with his wife Sharon, moved to Romania to help these people build businesses that would not only create jobs, but provide funding for churches and outreach. Into this exciting adventure comes Daniel. These men and others took this young man that knew very little about business, mentored him and the rest is history.

The farm turned into a seed mill, the mill into the construction of silos and steel buildings. This process was not a cakewalk and a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the development of RDI. But to see the product of hard work and perseverance and hear the stories of what God has done warmed our hearts. Daniel is now the President of RDI which currently employs 27 Romanians. We viewed pictures on his computer (which I might add was new and much better than mine…not fair…J) of a recently finished 8 million dollar contract. IMPRESSIVE!!

Business, professionals, marketplace people have a wonderful opportunity to minister where they are planted, whether that be as a business-owner or an employee. But God also pricks the hearts of some to take their spiritual gifts and vocational skills and use them to impact the community outside of their local environment. Fred, Marlin and other successful businessmen caught the vision and helped to change lives and impact a needy part of our world.

This transformation that takes place in a life when it connects with people and helps change the world is what keeps IAP moving forward. Although our role in this story is sometimes small, we are blessed as we see God move in the lives of so many. He continues presenting opportunities for linking businesses and professionals with projects in low income countries.

What is your story and how can IAP partner with you?