Business Administration

Masatepe is a community of roughly 45,000 people located in the Central Pacific region of Nicaragua and is approximately one hour south of the capital city, Managua. It is in the heart of a region known as the "Meseta," and is believed to be the most densely populated region of the country, outside of the capital city. There are many trees, lakes, and mountains surrounding Masatepe. The community of Masatepe is split 50/50 amongst urban and rural populations. The rural segment of the economy consists mainly of subsistence and small-scale farming, whereas the urban center consists more of micro-enterprises in the areas of carpentry and artisanal products. What Masatepe might lack financially, it makes up with its people, culture and resources!

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Unemployment rate is high throughout the country, and Masatepe's unemployment rate is just below the average. Poverty is widespread, especially in the more rural areas. The vast majority of the population here in Masatepe professes Catholicism or Evangelical Christianity, with over 30 churches established within the town's limits. Yet, we believe the holistic Gospel includes more than what has been experienced here so far. We believe that the Jesus of the Bible cares about the poor and oppressed; in Masatepe there is still a ways to go to see holistic transformation within the community.

Given the challenges the people of Masatepe face, both economically speaking as well as opportunity, we know the solution has to be an innovative one. That's why we've chosen an entrepreneurial and ministerial approach towards Integrated Community Transformation (ICT)* here in Masatepe. *Following Jesus' example to care for the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the people. This Goer would focus on the systems and processes of business; working to maintain an affect management system for our products from design to production to connecting with clientele. This supports the business endeavors to empowering the Masatepinos to live out their roles in the community.

Our business center operates out of a coffee shop, where we currently have multiple small businesses initiatives. We have laid the foundation for our team here by employing like-minded, Christian individuals who also desire to see lives and communities transformed by the power of God. By employing team-members through business, it creates a sustainable base on which to build our efforts, and it also connects us to the community in ways traditional missions simply cannot. We have a Nicaraguan team in place, we have assessed the community, and we are working toward partnering with the right people to develop and launch these initiatives. We are seeking an individual who can work well with a team to serve in an entrepreneurial capacity that can help launch, manage, and evaluate several initiatives over a 2-year or longer period. These initiatives could include partnering with local partners ranging from schools, NGOs, businesses and churches, as well as coordinating efforts with volunteers serving here from overseas. Each initiative or project launched needs to be developed into a sustainable effort that can be carried out and then evaluated over time. We will use businesses where possible to help sustain these initiatives both from a personal standpoint as well as financially speaking.