Meet the Owners
Bill and Irene have lived in Mongolia for nearly 9 years; Bill was Executive Director of Joint Christian Services for the 5 years prior to starting the company. Prior to 2002 Bill and Irene served for 6 years in United Mission to Nepal in various leadership roles. Bill had a focus on mission / government joint venture companies in the hydro power and vocational training / appropriate technology fields. In the now dim and distant past Bill worked for almost 18 years in the Oil Industry (Exploration Services, Engineering and Management) and Irene as a Pharmacist (Retail & Sales) and also a teacher at international schools and a teacher of English primarily to adults. They have been blessed with much business experience as well as qualifications; Bill holds an MBA and B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering whilst Irene holds a Masters in Manufacturing Management, a B.Sc. in Pharmacy,and a Diploma in English Teaching.
Two years at Bible College led to a decision to serve through Christian Mission in any capacity and in any location. Bill and Irene have been faithfully supported by several churches and many individuals over the past 15 years in a partnership that allows dignity to be given back to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. Faith is the motivation, having received God's saving grace Bill and Irene serve to love God and to love all their neighbours. This love is primarily through giving real help to people – teaching people to fish for themselves.
Bill and Irene are now serving through World Horizons who have a number of developing Business as Mission initiatives in a number of countries.
Bill & Irene expect to be in Mongolia for another 5-7 years developing the company and developing Mongolian citizens to run it in the future. They take nothing out of the company for themselves and have invested more than 50% of their own funds. What next will become apparent when this current work is done.
Why a company in Mongolia?
Two things were at the front of their minds. Firstly, great training was being given by NGOs but out of the training only a few people actually started sustainable businesses. Maybe a business to business approach was needed. Secondly, whilst people have skills, they do not have language to easily communicate with foreigners in country or abroad and many folk live in distant locations across Mongolia. Often NGOs or people within NGOs set themselves up as the good middleman or facilitator for people starting businesses – this tends to be short to medium term in nature as projects tend to have a defined life time. Bill and Irene decided to set up a “bridge” / “good middleman” company that if self sustaining would also be a major help to sustain other small businesses in the long term. NGOs are usually sustained by donations – Mary & Martha Mongolia is sustained through people buying quality products, knowing they are fairly traded and at a reasonable price. A network of artisans are supported through a company in a way that individuals with individual products would struggle to do for themselves. Currently the owners donate their salaries to a ministry called “Lost Sheep Ministries”, and by working in partnership with local social services and other organisations Mary & Martha are able to demonstrate how companies can have a strong commitment to their local communities. Profits in the early years are being used to grow artisans businesses (cash flow critical). Now Mary & Martha are reaching the point of being able to use profits for the same activities - the goal being to use up to 50% of profits after tax for social benefits. This is, they hope, a very healthy business model for the future. Bill & Irene run what is termed a Business as Mission company.
Mary & Martha Annual Report
You can download a copy of the Mary & Martha Annual Report here.