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What is God leading you to uniquely do in the discipleship of Him?
In this episode, Jeff and Steve discuss:
Key Takeaways:
"If you want to disciple others, you’ve got to be a disciple yourself." — Steve Adams
Episode References:
About Steve Adams: Steve Adams is the Founder and CEO of IBAM (International Business As Mission), a global movement equipping Christian entrepreneurs to launch redemptive businesses that fuel church planting, disciple-making, and sustainable poverty alleviation. After leaving a successful corporate banking career at God's urging, Steve built a company to $100M in revenue — then redirected that operating discipline toward Kingdom impact.
A 2004 mission trip to Bangkok ignited a calling that would reshape his life. Over the next decade, Steve helped plant 30 churches and witnessed 1,500 new believers come to Christ. But something was missing. As a businessman, he couldn't see himself working as a traditional missionary in a way that used his particular strengths. A business-driven mission trip to Russia in 2007 changed everything — training local believers to start sustainable businesses as platforms for discipleship showed him the power of entrepreneurship as a mission.
In 2014, Steve launched IBAM and built the Three Fish Model: Give a Fish (startup loans), Teach to Fish (biblical entrepreneur training), and Equip for Discipleship. Today, IBAM operates across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Central Asia, with indigenous master trainers replicating the model locally. Biblical business training has raised loan repayment rates from roughly 40% to over 90%, proving that every dollar creates a flywheel — not a one-time handout.
Steve also hosts the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship Show, a weekly podcast inspiring faith-driven entrepreneurs worldwide. His long-term vision: a business-as-mission practitioner in every village and one million entrepreneurs discipling nations through business. Learn more at www.ibam.org
Connect with Steve Adams:
Website: http://www.ibam.org/
Website: https://www.tigermi.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iBAM-org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-l-adams/
Twitter: https://x.com/ibamtoday
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internationalbusinessasmission
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibamtoday/
Connect with Jeff Thomas:
Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/
Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/
Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw
By Jeff Thomas, Alan Barnhart, Jeff Rutt5
3333 ratings
What is God leading you to uniquely do in the discipleship of Him?
In this episode, Jeff and Steve discuss:
Key Takeaways:
"If you want to disciple others, you’ve got to be a disciple yourself." — Steve Adams
Episode References:
About Steve Adams: Steve Adams is the Founder and CEO of IBAM (International Business As Mission), a global movement equipping Christian entrepreneurs to launch redemptive businesses that fuel church planting, disciple-making, and sustainable poverty alleviation. After leaving a successful corporate banking career at God's urging, Steve built a company to $100M in revenue — then redirected that operating discipline toward Kingdom impact.
A 2004 mission trip to Bangkok ignited a calling that would reshape his life. Over the next decade, Steve helped plant 30 churches and witnessed 1,500 new believers come to Christ. But something was missing. As a businessman, he couldn't see himself working as a traditional missionary in a way that used his particular strengths. A business-driven mission trip to Russia in 2007 changed everything — training local believers to start sustainable businesses as platforms for discipleship showed him the power of entrepreneurship as a mission.
In 2014, Steve launched IBAM and built the Three Fish Model: Give a Fish (startup loans), Teach to Fish (biblical entrepreneur training), and Equip for Discipleship. Today, IBAM operates across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Central Asia, with indigenous master trainers replicating the model locally. Biblical business training has raised loan repayment rates from roughly 40% to over 90%, proving that every dollar creates a flywheel — not a one-time handout.
Steve also hosts the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship Show, a weekly podcast inspiring faith-driven entrepreneurs worldwide. His long-term vision: a business-as-mission practitioner in every village and one million entrepreneurs discipling nations through business. Learn more at www.ibam.org
Connect with Steve Adams:
Website: http://www.ibam.org/
Website: https://www.tigermi.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iBAM-org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-l-adams/
Twitter: https://x.com/ibamtoday
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internationalbusinessasmission
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibamtoday/
Connect with Jeff Thomas:
Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/
Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/
Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

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