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Be inspired by this 8-part video series, showcasing the real-life stories of entrepreneurs on our continent who have each embraced their unique callings in the African marketplace.

African culture has a rich tradition of storytelling, a thread that weaves together culture and wisdom, passed down through generations. We believe these videos follow in this tradition as the entrepreneurs share their journeys, and the teaching sessions unpack the biblical principles that we can implement in our own business contexts.

Find out what it looks like to take a leap, trust God along the way, and let your faith lead your business.

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Called to Work Guide

Download the Guide

Called to Work

Whether you are watching these Called to Work sessions by yourself or with a group of friends, family, or colleagues, this free resource will guide you on the journey through this series.

The guide unpacks the core principle of each session and presents you with reflective questions that will enable you to contemplate and envision how these principles can be applied to your work or entrepreneurial context.

Get a sneak peek of the guide using our preview feature or download the full guide now. For additional information, check out our "Frequently Asked Questions" below.

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  • Sessions

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Called to Create

How would it change your perspective on work if you truly believed that what you do is part of your calling as a Christian? In this session, we consider the calling to glorify God and enable human flourishing in and through business and/or entrepreneurship.

Watch the uplifting stories of three trailblazers (Sandy Barlow and Peter Howie, co-founders of Seattle Coffee Co., and contemporary artist Philip Barlow) who recall their 20-year journeys of highs and lows in business, and God’s faithfulness along the way.

Opportunity comes with Responsibility

Do you find yourself falling into the mentality that your success is purely a result of your own hard work and good decisions? This session addresses the difference between ownership and stewardship, and why an understanding is crucial for the Christian entrepreneur.

We feature Kwabena Owusu-Adjei who shares his story on how growing up in both Ghana and the UK has given him a unique outlook on life. Convinced that with great opportunity comes great responsibility, he is passionate about finding (and financing) entrepreneurial solutions that bring systemic change to African economies.

Don’t Worship Work

Have you found yourself making unhealthy (not God-glorifying) sacrifices for the sake of achieving your goals in business? In this session, we explore the temptation that awaits every entrepreneur – that of crossing the line from work as an act of worship, to work as the object of worship.

A successful career demands deep commitment – the kind of dedication that can easily take over your life. But we learn from James Gitoho, an award-winning architect, and his wife Valentine, a chartered accountant who has travelled all over the world, that this does not need to be the case. They have mastered the art of doing excellent work without becoming slaves to it.

Excellence Matters

If entrepreneurship is a divine calling that reflects the image of God, and is also an act of worship, then the topic of this session is clear – excellence matters. Do you value excellence to the glory of God as a principle in your business efforts?

We draw from Alfred Okugbeni’s story where he shares his vision for the haulage and logistics industry in West Africa. Believing that a worthy witness of God demands excellence, he has worked for more than 15 years to raise the standard – one truck, one customer, one technician at a time.

Redefining Success

Would you agree that a successful Christian entrepreneur is one who works for eternal treasure through faithfulness in handling the temporary treasures of this life? In this session we see that the biblical definition of success goes far beyond the balance sheet.

Learn from the tale of two brothers (Louis and Stefan Greyling) who chose to walk away from a multi-franchise family business – to redefine success in the used-car industry. And as their staff and clients attest, they truly put people before profit, every day.

Beauty from Ashes

In this session, we talk about the unavoidable seasons of disappointment and pain in the life of every entrepreneur, and see how God often uses adversity and failure for His glory and our good. Thinking back to a time in your working life where you felt discouraged – how did that experience teach you more about yourself and about God?

We learn from Sam Houlie, who went through tremendous trial in his experience of the 2004 demise of African Bank. Yet his story is about much more than personal resilience in the face of public failure. It is a powerful testimony of how God used the despair and ashes of one family – to bring hope and beauty to many.

Loving Your Neighbour

Do you see your business or the work that you do as a possible answer to someone else’s prayer for daily bread? This session explores what it means to love our neighbours in and through our work.

Follow the story of one man’s journey from a notorious Nairobi slum to becoming an award-winning advocate and founder of a top ten law firm in Kenya. Nelson Ashitiva is passionate about creating opportunities for others to prosper – through hope and hard work, not handouts.

Business as a Calling

In the final session of this series, we talk about how business can be a powerful vehicle for reaching people with the gospel. Would you consider it important to first meet people’s practical needs through products and services before attempting to share the gospel?

We meet Dr Dennis and Irene Tongoi, a passionate couple whose convictions have been refined by real-life experience. They challenge conventional perceptions about the interaction between entrepreneurs and the church. As they would put it, ‘It’s not putting a marble in a glass of water, it’s putting a drop of ink in a glass of water – it changes everything.’

X-Change groups

Did you enjoy this video series? If so, you might be interested to know that we offer a range of comprehensive courses that delve into the theory and theology of faith and work. These courses take place within Ziwani X-Change groups. These groups are led by trained facilitators, and convene regularly, either online or in person, and adopt diverse formats.

We would like to invite you to explore and discover a community that can support you on your journey and help you navigate business challenges.

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

‘Called to Work’ is a video series that explores eight faith-based principles for integrating faith into your workplace and business environment. We’ve crafted the ‘Called to Work’ series in a clear, session-based format with eight videos, each focusing on one principle.

Every session is split into two easy-to-follow parts:
  • Teaching Section: Here, two pastors discuss and explain each principle, grounding it in biblical teachings.
  • Testimony Section: This part showcases real-life examples from African businesspeople who have applied these principles in their own faith and work journey.

We’ve complemented the video series with a downloadable guide that delves deeper into each session. This guide includes thought-provoking questions to help participants further reflect on the content.

You have the flexibility to explore the series either individually or in a group setting, with members of your choice and a facilitator to guide the discussions.

We trust that ‘Called to Work’ will be a valuable resource, offering inspiration and practical tools for those on a journey to blend their Christian faith with their work.
The ‘Called to Work’ series is designed to be accessible and open to all, with no specific prerequisites required for participation.

Freely access all related content – whether you’re new to the topic or looking to deepen your understanding, this series is ready for you to explore at your own pace.
You can freely access the video sessions and download the accompanying guide of the ‘Called to Work’ series above. To download the guide, simply click the download button and complete the form.
We encourage those interested in the series to visit the ‘Called to Work’ series page. Here, they can download the guide directly, ensuring they receive the latest available version. Feel free to share the link to the page broadly and generously to spread the word.
While you’re free to progress through the sessions as you wish, we recommend a rhythm of one session per week to achieve the most effective and engaging experience.
Group facilitators for the series can be anyone eager to lead a group, whether through their local church or on a personal basis. The facilitator’s role involves guiding group members through the sessions, creating a space for deep and meaningful engagement with the content, and encouraging introspection and discussion. We equip every facilitator with extra resources to help plan and conduct the sessions effectively.

To become a facilitator:
  1. Ensure you have a group to facilitate.
  2. Visit the ‘Called to Work’ series landing page
    • Click the guide download button.
    • Fill out the form and select ‘I am facilitating a group’ in response to ‘How are you planning on engaging in this series?’

For additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected] or through our WhatsApp business helpline for further support.
We currently do not assign or create groups for those interested in joining the series. However, we encourage you to connect with your church, network, friends, or colleagues who may be interested in forming a group that you can create and lead.

To register a new group:
  • Visit the ‘Called to Work’ series landing page
  • Click the guide download button.
  • Fill out the form and select ‘I am facilitating a group’ in response to “How are you planning on engaging in this series?’

For additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected] or through our WhatsApp business helpline for further support.
If you’re participating in the ‘Called to Work’ sessions within a group, your interaction will primarily be with your group’s facilitator and fellow members. However, for those looking to connect with the broader Ziwani community engaged in this series, we offer region-based WhatsApp groups. These groups facilitate robust conversations and broader community engagement.

To join a regional WhatsApp group and be part of these vibrant discussions, please contact us through our WhatsApp business helpline or send an email
Absolutely! To change your mode of participation in the series, just visit the guide download form on our website. In the section labelled ‘how do you plan on doing this series,’ simply choose your new preferred option.
Yes, we offer other resources in our Ziwani X-Change groups. These are communities of business leaders who are on a mission to support and equip each other in their marketplace calling.

X-Change groups meet regularly (either virtually or in-person) and are led by trained facilitators. They follow different formats e.g. some journey on courses aimed at developing their leadership and faith and work competencies, while others journey together on thematic discussions relevant to doing business on the African continent.

You have the option to either join an existing X-Change group within the Ziwani community or take the initiative to start your own. If you’re interested in learning more about how this process works, feel free to send us an email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can find detailed information on our website: https://ziwani.com/join-the-community
Yes, we offer other resources in our Ziwani X-Change groups. These are communities of business leaders who are on a mission to support and equip each other in their marketplace calling.

X-Change groups meet regularly (either virtually or in-person) and are led by trained facilitators. They follow different formats e.g. some journey on courses aimed at developing their leadership and faith and work competencies, while others journey together on thematic discussions relevant to doing business on the African continent.

You have the option to either join an existing X-Change group within the Ziwani community or take the initiative to start your own. If you’re interested in learning more about how this process works, feel free to send us an email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can find detailed information on our website: https://ziwani.com/join-the-community

A video series in partnership with Faith Driven Entrepreneur

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