S.A.L.T & Projects

Entrepreneurial Startups – S.A.L.T.

In Matthew 5:13-16 (a core scripture) Jesus tells us to be the salt of the earth and a light to the world and let our good works be seen before men that they might glorify our Father in heaven. Salt is related to natural ‘good works’. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world“, the Lord never calls himself the salt of the earth. We are the salt and the gospel of Jesus and the power of the light. If we are just transmitters of light, the Gospel (John 1:1-4) with no salt– ‘good’ (God ordained) works done out of love– we can be irrelevant or even an irritant to the people we are trying to reach with the light (James 2:14-17)! If we are all salt and no light, we are irrelevant to the Kingdom of God and do not touch the real primary need that exists in the hearts of the people we are to love and serve. We will end up no better than those who do ‘good deeds’ to earn the praise or favor of men! (Matthew 6:1-4)

At SFI we define S.A.L.T as Society And Lifestyle Transformation through practical and tangible methods.

As this whole genre of ‘business as ministry’ is somewhat new and strange to many and controversial to some, we have tried to explain this concept. Go to the Fundamentals & Philosophy tab located at the top of the page, scroll down and click SFI Philosophy on Business as Ministry and on Kings and Priests. You can also click on the following titles of the various articles written on this subject: “The Four-Legged Stool”, “A Tale of Two Kings”, and “Biblical Foundations of Business as Ministry”.

Historical Projects

A core purpose of SFI has been to send or partner with apostolic ministers and ministries to meet specific and relevant needs, ‘Salt’. There is the added benefit of helping that ministry over time to become self-sustaining and an “indispensable asset” to their respective communities, gaining the favor of God and men. Here are a few examples:

Orphanage and Farm in the Philippines

SFI sent the founding apostle and provided the financing, platform, and consulting for the startup of an orphanage on a remote island of 600,000 (mostly impoverished) people where there was no orphanage. An organic sustainable farm was added, which grew into a sustainable and profitable Agricultural business. A sustainable Ag eco-training center was subsequently established and has held seminars for hundreds of local farmers. Also, a number of international missionaries and ministers have been trained in these agricultural techniques and we are helping them replicate this model of salt and light into their own poverty-stricken communities and nations. (Go to Vocational Training tab to read more about the Ag and Orphanage training programs). This ministry has saved many babies and toddlers who are placed into Christ-centered homes, helped thousands of mothers in crisis, educated the community on nutrition and proper hygiene, and has used the platform of the Ag training to preach the gospel of light.

Church construction oversight in Cambodia

SFI sent and financed a highly skilled and experienced Asian construction manager to Cambodia to inspect and monitor the building of a large, but impoverished, indigenous fellowship’s church facility. This kept the local general contractor honest and accountable to use sound and safe construction techniques for assuring the structural integrity of the building through regular inspections and quality control while also saving hundreds of thousands of donor dollars. SFI also sent and financed a market research team into the country to search out possible business start-up opportunities to provide training, jobs, and income for the fellowship members with the hope of setting the lead apostle free of constant and prolonged fundraising trips to the US. This particular endeavor failed due to government corruption. However, a foundational model was established and adjustments made that have since produced other successful S.A.LT. projects, like the one in the Philippines.

Continue reading about other S.A.L.T. Projects SFI has partnered with.

For more detailed information about SFI’s business start-up protocols, click here to read “The Four-Legged Stool”.

Active Projects

Here are a couple of specific projects we are presently involved in establishing now. There are others that cannot be explicitly mentioned due to political or religious volatility.

Establishing Sustainable A G (Agriculture and God) Training Centers in Liberia and Nepal.

(See SFI short Video “Salt and Light in the Highways and Hedges“)

Liberia: Land has been acquired not far from Monrovia and we are well on our way to establishing an AG center. This will be our African Training Center where several local interns are currently training and, in time, will grow into a profitable farm and eco-community. We are raising funds to build an international student dorm. Our first out of country student and intern is expected to arrive in the near future. We have many requests from all over Africa to come and hold seminars and teach these proven and effective agricultural techniques. It would be much better to send them here in Liberia for training than to the Philippines for a variety of reasons. We would also like to build and establish medical clinics in villages we are established in. We are partnering with a seasoned senior apostolic leader and his wife that we have known for many years.

Nepal: We have done AG training seminars here and it has been well received and extremely effective. We are working with one local evangelist that is ethical, Godly, and well-connected. We have sent two local pastor farmers for training in the Philippines and have sent another with his English speaking daughter to an ECHO conference in Thailand and are searching for ways to effectively partner with them in establishing a salt and light project. (Our training centers are dual purpose, salt and light, and have been highly effective in both arenas – the natural and the spiritual.)

We have set the foundations for the development of a Seed company and AG training center in Nepal.

Future

SFI is looking to send an apostolic indigenous worker to train in the Philippines for 4 months. After which they will go to their native country and start Ag seminars in remote and unreached villages. This is a restricted country where persecution and oppression of believers is the norm.

In the future, SFI as also looking to send its own sustainable Ag developer to India to develop a comprehensive plan for the creation of an AG center in India. This is being done in partnership with an indigenous business man, a ‘king’.

Establishing a Cafe, Eco village, and training base expansion in the Philippines

Seventeen acres and 1500 hundred feet of highway frontage have been acquired on the way to the top tourist destination on the island. 1.2 million tourists visit this site annually. This property is situated half way between the main town and this tourist site. The long-term goal is to create a ‘green eco-village’ complete with a bed and breakfast, living accommodations for interns, and Vocational training students with a fully functioning sustainable and eco-friendly organic farm.

Present needs:

A.) Skilled short-term laborers (1 to 4 weeks)– All manner of construction, plumbers, electricians, finishers, painters, etc. (Rammed earth construction methods will be used on the walls and floor of the facility.)

B.) Long term staff: Business managers, trained baristas and cafe personnel (to start and train), building construction manager (Cafe is the first part of a broad plan.) Also, we desire our staff to not only be excellent in their work in managing a cafe/restaurant but also to be ready to share the love of Jesus Christ with the patrons.

C.) Financial Investment/Support: These Byways and Hedges projects always need initial capital investment. Also they are not quick turn around. It may take up to five years for an A G project to reach it’s peak production. At that time they should be able to stand alone. Schools also take time and finances to build and to maintain. Yet we are confident that in most scenarios with the Lord’s grace we can start and establish an A G (Ag and God) project in 5 years, that will become a self sustaining SALT and LIGHT generator.

Once established, it is the goal to not only be a model and completely self-sufficient financially but also to support and give back to others. This is a model that we want to instill into all SFI affiliated ministries, breaking off a ‘poverty’ or always receiving mindset. For truly it is better to give than to receive.

Other Projects

Actively engaged in a number of business start-ups with varying degrees of maturity in volatile countries where traditional methods of sharing the gospel cannot be used (nor can we talk about them without putting our brothers at risk!)

Entrepreneurial Network Associates
As SFI has a long track record of starting and implementing both businesses and ministries, we have established a network of relationships with a number of skilled professionals in a variety of vocations. Another core purpose of SFI is to network the body of Christ – “Growing a Net that Works”- so we have do have a list of business partners and network associates. If interested in this information, email us at: surefoundint@gmail.com and tell us a little about yourself and what you do and after being vetted, we will pass your information along to the appropriate NA and allow them to initiate contact with you.