JOSEPH BUSINESS QUARTERLY
Publication of Joseph Center® Foundation
Volume 1 - July 2020
Answering the Prophetic Call: The Economic Mantle of Joseph
by Dr. Deloris Thomas, Ph.D.
The Joseph Center® Foundation envisions creating a new economic model that promotes financial inclusion for marginalized members of society. We invite you to become a member of the network of companies that will devote financial resources, partake of both Bible-based and practical business instruction, and engage in peer-to-peer mentoring. For the past 20 years, the Joseph Business School (JBS) transformed the lives of thousands of people equipping them to become successful entrepreneurs using biblical and practical principles, thus eradicating poverty and creating generational wealth to the Glory of God.
However, JBS recognizes that we still have a large opportunity to make a difference in the financial lives of so many people.
In 2019, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approximated cumulative global wealth at $360 Trillion (USD). However, billions of people remain marginalized and live in extreme poverty. Oxfam reported in January 2020, that the world’s billionaires, representing the top one percent, hold 190% of the global GDP and garnered more wealth than 4.6 billion people combined. Essentially, the balance sheet of the wealthiest billionaires exceeded the income of the global economy at that time. Between 2011 and 2017, the wealthiest one percent experienced a 31% growth rate, and the other 99% only a 3% growth in wealth.
The Bible promises every believer the power to acquire wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:18 reads, “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant…” So, wealth acquisition or wealthy people must not become the problem, but rather the world’s economic system that creates a lack of financial inclusion of 99% of the population. Wealth must become a tool to establish God’s covenant to eradicate poverty and bless others. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and will exacerbate the fragility and inequality of existing social and economic systems. The pandemic has resulted in high unemployment and left business owners facing almost insurmountable challenges in accessing capital. Companies are wrestling with difficult choices on how to balance the trade-off between preserving human life and pursuing economic prosperity.
Before the pandemic, the United States of America, one of the richest nations in the world, reported an increase in the income gap between the rich and the poor. According to the Pew Research Center, the share of income of the middle class decreased from 62% to 43% while the upper income grew from 29% to 48%, creating 19 points transfer of wealth from the middle class to the rich.
James 5:4 reads, “Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” We cannot stay idle and become complicit in propagating the financial injustices in society.
The gaps In Income between upper-Income and middle- and lower-Income households are rising, and the share held by middle-income households Is falling
Median household income, in 2018 dollars, and share of US. aggregate household income, by income tier
Note: Households are assigned to Income tiers based on their size-adjusted income. Incomes are scaled to reflect a three-person household.
Revisions to the Current Population Survey affect the comparison of income data from 2014 onwards. See Methodology for details.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of the Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplements (IPUMS).
*Most Americans Say There is Too Much Economic lnequality In the U.S., but Fewer Than Half Call It a Top Priority"
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
In 2016, JBS hosted the Missions and Marketplace conference, and Prophetess Cindy Jacobs sounded the alarm and challenged us to remedy economic injustices. She prophesied,
And the Lord says, some of you have had a spiritual ambition to be millionaires, but God says, don’t set your sights too low! For God says, Am I not able to make billionaires and not just millionaires?! For the Lord says, I want to give the Body of Christ the influence that you need to heal America and to heal this city.
Last night I was looking at the list of wealthiest people in Chicago and I was deeply grieved. I didn’t see one black face in there. I said, that is a crime! So somebody should say, I’m going to change those pictures. It’s not about a black or white issue, it’s about justice.
We can’t just talk about Josephs, we have to be Josephs.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) posited that “…higher inequality is associated with greater financial risks...” but “inequality falls as financial inclusion rises.” We need Josephs who are committed to averting financial crises by creating an inclusive monetary system. But according to Ecclesiastes 9:16, “a poor man’s wisdom is despised…” Hence, we must heed the words of the prophetess and become billionaires to acquire the influence we need to heal America and our cities. But we must unhook from the world system.
The Pew Research Center illustrates that although Americans are deeply religious we fail to operate under Kingdom economic principles. The data below shows that income inequality increases in nations with an emphasis on religion. The data fails to testify of God’s goodness and makes a mockery of religion. In 1 Samuel 17:29, when Goliath taunted the children of Israel, David went to the front line and asked the question, “Is there not a cause?” Are you ready to slay the unrighteous mammon?
Greater income inequality is tied to greater importance of religion
% who say religion is very important in their lives
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Latin America-Caribbean
Middle East-N. Africa
North America
Sub-Saharan Africa
Note: Graphic shows 96 0f 106 countries and territories surveyed. Income inequality measured by 2015 Gini coefficient as calculated by the World Bank, wich does not report coefficients for 10 countries.
Source: Pew Research Center surveys, 2008-2017. Gini data from the World Bank.
“The Age Gap in Religion Around the World”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
The Joseph Center®’s name was inspired by the Bible story about Joseph in Genesis, chapters 40 through 45. Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt, who led the most powerful economy at the time, had a disturbing dream of a devastating phenomenon that even his experienced advisors were unable to explain. But, Joseph, an anointed believer, trusted in the wisdom of God and interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph devised a strategy that thwarted economic collapse and created the most vibrant economy that positioned Egypt as the breadbasket for the world. We seek to nurture modern day Josephs who can tap into the wisdom of God to solve the world’s most difficult problems. Ecclesiastes 9:18 reads that “wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good.”
The Joseph Center Foundation desires to form a network of companies willing to commit to scaling their businesses to billion-dollar enterprises.
These companies will establish a new economic model to eradicate poverty and create wealth by practicing biblical principles that fight against income inequality and promotes financial inclusion. Matthew 9:37 tells us, “…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few...” Become a Joseph,and let us serve as the breadbasket for the world.
Sign up today in two simple steps: (1) Make a financial contribution and (2) Subscribe by adding your company name to the JCF Network. For signing up to become a member of the JCF network of companies, we will grant you access to several resources to help your companies grow such as:
• Business Strategies and advisors to help you scale your business
• Marketing Strategies to identify new customers and new markets both domestic and globally
• Financial Analysis to assess capacity to access capital and maximize cash flow
• Leadership Strategies to create an innovative, adaptive, and productive organizational culture
• Support prototype, patent, and intellectual property development and protections
• Peer-to-Peer Mentoring and Master Classes with industry leaders
• Online Business Directory and Community Networking
• Prophetic Guidance from spiritual leaders
• Prayer Support, Confessions, and Spirit-filled resources to build faith for supernatural results
You may ask, why JCF? You may belong to other organizations like your local Chamber of Commerce or a Trade organization but you still find yourself desiring to take your business to another level. Let me ask you, Are you ready for the billion flow? If you are, then do like Simon Peter in Luke 5:5,
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
We encourage you to make a prayerful decision, listen to God, then ACT! Psalm 72:18 reminds us, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.” Answer the Prophetic Call to become a Joseph! Make a donation. Sign up today!