Our Mission for Sustainable Business Enterprises
As we reflect on Labour Day, it's an opportunity to think about the value of work and how our labour can contribute to a more just and sustainable world. At Tenth, our commitment to love and justice extends beyond our immediate community and into the global marketplace. Through our global initiatives, we are dedicated to fostering sustainable business enterprises that uplift marginalized communities and promote long-term economic development.
One of the key ways we engage in this work is through our partnerships with redemptive businesses around the world. For example, our collaboration with VillageWorks in Cambodia has not only helped provide dignified employment for artisans with disabilities but also supported the growth of sustainable, fair-trade practices. The products they create are sold through initiatives like JustBags, an ethically sourced product line that connects our congregation to these artisans' stories and crafts. By supporting these enterprises, we are participating in a cycle of empowerment that honours the labour of others and promotes sustainability in the global economy.
On this Labour Day, we are reminded that work is a gift and that through it, we can contribute to God’s restorative work in the world. Tenth remains committed to creating and supporting business ventures that align with our values of justice, dignity, and sustainability – locally and globally. We invite you to join us in this mission, whether through supporting fair-trade products, participating in our Justice Journeys, attending local Business is Mission events, or praying for our global partners who are working tirelessly to create sustainable futures in their communities. Together, we can make a meaningful impact, ensuring that our labour - both near and far - advances the Kingdom of God in tangible and transformative ways.
Labour Day is also intended to be a day of rest. A pattern of work and rest is essential for human flourishing and the well-being of the world we care for. However, it has been disrupted by human greed and laziness. Instead of true work and rest, we often find ourselves caught in toil and leisure, neither of which brings the flourishing life we were designed to live.
Andy Crouch describes toil as excessive, never-ending labour that leaves us exhausted with nothing meaningful to show for it. Leisure, on the other hand, is a fruitless escape from labour. It’s a kind of rest that doesn’t truly refresh our souls, restore our relationships with others or God, or give others the chance to rest.
Work and rest are foundational to creation, and we are invited to redeem our relationship with them. Let’s reflect on how our lives can be shaped by working and resting for the goodness and glory of God.
Andy Crouch is one of my Praxis leaders. Andy is Partner for Theology and Culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books plus another with his daughter, Amy. Learn more about Andy here.
If you resonate with Tenth's practices of supporting sustainable enterprises, feel free to give [email protected] a quick email and share some thoughts.
Photo credit - Joel Krahn from October 2024 Justice Journey