The Kingdom Model for Business: ABLE’s Vision for Marketplace Transformation

How one organisation is helping Christian entrepreneurs rediscover business as a Kingdom calling

In a world where business is often driven by competition, self-promotion, and the relentless pursuit of profit, ABLE (Association of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs) presents a very different story, one where business is not just a livelihood, but a calling.

Founded in 2021 through a shared spiritual conviction and officially registered in December 2024, ABLE exists to raise up a new generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs who see the marketplace as a vital mission field. From the very start of the organisation’s birth, the vision has always been clear; to equip Christian business owners to steward their enterprises according to the principles of God’s Kingdom and to demonstrate what it means to do business under His lordship.

Paul Tan, one of the founders of ABLE, explaining the vision of the organisation.

At the core of ABLE’s teaching lies a transformative concept called the Kingdom Model for Business. This model challenges conventional thinking by shifting the focus from profit-centric growth to Kingdom-centric impact. It invites leaders to see themselves not merely as CEOs, but as ambassadors of Christ in the commercial world, men and women whose calling is to manifest God’s wisdom, justice, and love in every business decision.

The Kingdom Business Mindset

ABLE’s foundational message begins with a change in mindset. Business, in their framework, is not divided between “sacred” and “secular” domains. There is no corner of life, including commerce, that God does not claim as His own.

ABLE believes the marketplace is a vital mission field; “…we are called to bring transformation through servant leadership, Kingdom excellence, and Spirit-led impact.” This conviction stems from Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” The verse reminds believers that when we align our business motives with God’s priorities, material success becomes a by-product rather than the primary pursuit.

ABLE believes the marketplace is a vital mission field and that there is no corner of life, including commerce, that God is not sovereign over.

ABLE summarises this mindset in four interlocking pillars:

Mission Orientation — The purpose of business is not merely to produce wealth but to advance God’s purposes in the world. A company’s mission should mirror divine calling.
Kingdom Values — Principles such as honesty, integrity, humility, generosity, and compassion must form the DNA of the organisation.
Servant Leadership — True leadership reflects Jesus’ model which is power exercised through service and love. Leaders exist to empower others, not to dominate.
Marketplace Impact — The ultimate measure of success is transformation; how a business uplifts people, shapes culture, and reveals God’s goodness through its work.

This “Kingdom mindset” turns business from a competitive arena into a community of service. At the foundation of it is the principle that business is about blessing the world, not conquering it.

The Be-Attitudes Playbook

To help business leaders internalise this mindset, ABLE developed a resource called The Be-Attitudes Playbook, launched officially on 1st November 2025. The book presents a creative adaptation of the eight Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.

Instead of offering mere corporate slogans, this Playbook calls leaders to “be” the change they want to see”. Each Beatitude becomes a leadership posture and a business ethic, outlined and explicated in comprehensive detail:

Be Poor in Spirit – Lead with humility, openness, and teachability. Practical examples include acknowledging when a mistake is made and being open to feedback, as well as intentionally promoting a learning culture within the team.
Be Mournful – This one is about resilience while caring deeply about and taking responsibility for mistakes. Practical examples include implementing a transparent process for addressing errors and providing a support system for employees during tough times.
Be Meek – Lead with strength under control; giving others space and willingness to share control. Encourage team members to take initiative and share their ideas. Managers delegating responsibilities to empower team members.
Be Hungry for Righteousness – Pursue excellence and justice in financial, technical/engineering, legal, environment, and social ethical standards. Strive to make things right rather than simply make things work.
Be Merciful – Extend grace to employees, partners, and even competitors. Mercy sustains trust and builds credibility.
Be Pure in Heart – Operate with transparent motives; avoid deceit or manipulation for gain.
Be Peacemakers – Build bridges between people and sectors; reconcile conflicts with wisdom and fairness.
Be Prepared for Persecution – Remain steadfast when ethical conviction invites opposition.

Each of these “Be-Attitudes” forms a layer of spiritual leadership. Together, they remind entrepreneurs that transformation begins within. When leaders embody these traits, they naturally create healthier, more ethical, and more fruitful organisations.

Each of the “Be-Attitudes” forms a distinct layer of spiritual leadership. Collectively, they serve as a blueprint for success in life and in business.

As ABLE often notes, profit is not the purpose of righteousness, but rather the reward of alignment with righteousness.

From Personal Transformation to Organisational Culture

ABLE’s Kingdom Model follows a simple but powerful progression from personal transformation into organisational culture, and finally, community impact.

In the Be-Attitudes Playbook, Betsy Yip and Dr. Oliver Ho, Founder Directors of ABLE and writers of the resource book, outline several compelling reasons for adopting the beatitudes as business core values. These include Worldly Impact (Jesus’s teachings on the beatitudes have been proven to positively influence the world) and Kingdom Citizenship which offers Comprehensive Values (in essence, the beatitudes is about the Kingdom of God, where it signifies that being a citizen of that kingdom involves embracing all eight values for a meaningful spiritual life).

Dr. Oliver and Betsy Yip (immediate right and second right to the placard) are the Founder Directors of ABLE and the main writers of the Be-Attitudes resource book. Standing with them are Rev Sam Ang and the other co-authors of the book.

By embracing the Beatitudes, a transition occurs in an individual’s life where law is transformed into heart qualities and they grow to become more like Jesus. Change starts when a business leader encounters God personally and begins to align their private convictions with their public actions. This inner renewal (humility, integrity, and purpose) becomes the seed of cultural transformation within the organisation.

An organisation led by such a person naturally reflects Kingdom values and the hiring and promotion practices within it emphasise character as much as competence. Decision-making begins to incorporate prayer and ethical discernment. Profit-sharing, customer service, and social responsibility become expressions of love rather than obligation.

Taking care of friends and guests during the launch of the book.

Finally, this transformed organisation begins to impact its surrounding community by creating fair jobs, mentoring the next generation, and addressing real social needs. The company becomes a light on a hill, illustrating that business can indeed be ministry.

This was affirmed in June 2000 when a member of ABLE received a heavenly revelation through a profound dream. In the vision, she found herself standing before a stairway to heaven, where reciting all eight Beatitudes was essential for ascending. This revelation highlighted the significant role of the Beatitudes in shaping the spiritual path and principles that guide both personal and business endeavors towards fostering a meaningful and virtuous approach to life and work.

The Marketplace as Mission Field

Within its calling, ABLE’s theology distinguishes between the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom. Salvation redeems individuals; the Kingdom redeems systems. The goal is not only to bring people to Christ, but to bring Christ’s values into the structures that shape society.

Within its calling, ABLE’s theology distinguishes between the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom. Both are distinct but they make up a holistic whole.

In practical terms, the marketplace as a mission field means treating employees as image-bearers of God, not as mere labour. It also means competing with integrity rather than manipulation, innovating solutions that serve community welfare, and creating businesses that model generosity and fairness. Such businesses become testimonies of God’s character. They display that righteousness and profitability can coexist, and that faith has a legitimate, transformative place in the modern economy.

Strategic Relevance for Malaysia and Beyond

Malaysia’s marketplace is uniquely diverse. It’s a meeting point of cultures, languages, and beliefs. This makes ABLE’s approach towards the marketplace as a mission field especially timely. By rooting business transformation in universal Kingdom values such as humility, honesty, stewardship, compassion, ABLE speaks into a multicultural landscape with wisdom and grace.

ABLE’s location in Subang Jaya allows it to serve as a hub for collaboration between Christian entrepreneurs, business associations, and church networks throughout the region. As local companies face increasing globalisation and technological disruption, the need for spiritually grounded leadership has never been greater.

The many guests who came for the launch.

By embodying this model, Malaysian businesses can become examples of integrity and innovation. They can show that when business is guided by eternal principles, it not only survives economic storms but also becomes a vessel of hope for communities.

The Be-Attitudes Playbook shows the way. It is not just a business manual but a very intentional road map built to help business organisations define what Kingdom Businesses are – alongside their purpose – before embarking themselves on the road towards growing into becoming a Values-Centered Business, Excellence-Minded Business and finally a Spirit-Led Business. The scope is comprehensive, taking into account the core values, models, keys to unlocking and developing Kingdom strategies, building the structure, and long-term strategic planning.

Among the comprehensive content of the book are road maps and business models.

Implementing the Kingdom Model: A Reflection Guide for Malaysian SMEs

SMEs, in particular, remain a focus field for ABLE. For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, integrating faith into business may seem abstract. ABLE offers a range of training programmes to help leaders grow through these phases: short Kingdom Business Talks, in-depth two-day seminars, monthly coaching and mentorship, and tailored consulting services for ongoing transformation.

Through a careful study, ABLE’s overall framework can be seen to be encapsulated in several practical steps for bringing the Kingdom Model to life in everyday operations. The most tangible of these steps include

Clarify Calling: Move beyond profit motives to identify a redemptive purpose — whether it’s creating dignified jobs, promoting sustainability, or reflecting integrity in your sector.

Examine Culture: Assess your workplace values. Do your practices mirror compassion, fairness, and excellence? Consider forming a small “culture team” to review policies through a Kingdom lens.

Integrate Kingdom Rhythms: Introduce prayer or reflection moments during meetings. Encourage staff to see their roles as part of a larger mission. When faith is integrated naturally, it fosters belonging, not division.

Redefine Success: Adopt a “triple bottom line”: People, Purpose, and Profit. Evaluate decisions by their impact on human flourishing, not just financial growth.

Partner for Influence: Join networks such as ABLE to learn, share, and multiply impact. Collaboration among Kingdom-minded businesses can shift entire industries toward justice and generosity.

This carefully considered approach demonstrates that transforming business is not about religious symbolism. It is about a lived and experiential journey towards ethical renewal and a holistic purpose.

Building the Heavenly Kingdom’s Economy Together

Like the Playbook, the overarching Kingdom Model for Business presented by ABLE is more than an ideal. Indeed, the resource facilitates and offers a tool for believers who long to see their work reflect their worship, but it is merely one part of a whole vision. Through the Be-Attitudes Playbook, structured mentorship, and community engagement, ABLE is on a mission to help leaders turn biblical conviction into tangible business excellence.

Shofar blowing serving as a declaration of God’s lordship, proclaiming His sovereign reign over every area of life.

It calls entrepreneurs to build not just companies, but kingdoms of goodness; places where integrity thrives, people are valued, and profit serves a higher purpose.

In an age where many feel their work lacks meaning, ABLE’s message that your business is your ministry resounds with clarity: when you lead with righteousness, your workplace becomes a sanctuary, your product becomes a testimony, and your success becomes a reflection of the King Himself.

Fellowship among Christian business leaders.

Many of the guests, including Dr Tan Tek Seng shown here, were invited to share their perspectives and a word of encouragement with the gathering.

As more business leaders embrace this calling, the vision is that Malaysia – and indeed the world – will witness the rise of a new kind of economy: one marked not by greed or fear, but by grace, purpose, and transformation.

Christianity Malaysia would like to thank Betsy Yip and Dr. Oliver Ho as well ABLE for their kind hospitality and help throughout the production of this article. All photos of ABLE kindly provided by them. All other images used solely for illustrative purposes.

More information about ABLE can be found on their website at ablekingdom.org. They warmly welcome enquiries and would be happy to hear from you at +6017 818 8807 or via email at info@ablekingdom.org

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