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How Faith Influences the Owner of a Concrete Company

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“When I go back into this business, it’s going to be God first, family second, and business third.”

That’s what B.H. Yerbey told his family in 1972, when he repurchased the concrete business he had founded in 1950. His family was doubtful – they had seen this entrepreneur pour himself into business for the 20 years prior. He was a driven man, working sunup to sundown, always looking for the next big job, the next business venture. He started several other companies: home remodeling, crane rental, building duplexes, until in 1967, he sold them all. His drive to be successful was overwhelming his life and his relationship with God and family.

When the concrete company was in bankruptcy a few years later, B.H. had the opportunity to buy it back. His wife and family had reservations, remembering the stress and the long days, but B.H. insisted. “The men need work. I just need to do this.” His wife was with him the day he re-opened the business, and she heard the employees talking about how excited they were to have B.H. back and in charge. That night, she told B.H., “You do need to do this. These men really respect you and want you back.”

This time it was different. His family saw him put new principles in place, honoring God and his family – and following God’s lead in his business decisions.

In 1992, B.H. handed the reins of the business over to his son Gary, who had always played an active role in it. The business grew under Gary’s leadership, and B.H. stayed away as Gary began managing the company. Months passed and one day his dad stopped by. They had a conversation that ultimately led to a regular mentorship. B.H. would come by 2 or 3 days a week. “He listened to my ideas, to what I had going on, and he would encourage me and give me insight into what I needed to do. I learned that being a leader meant more than going out there and making a living. Dad would drive around with me and we would talk. And guys would come to him and talk to him about issues going on in their lives.”

Gary credits his father with putting him on the right path in business. “I prayed about every decision that came down. When I needed manpower, I would pray about it. The people who came walking through the doors would be the perfect person for the job. God has never failed me.”

Gary models servant leadership with his employees and clients. “I try to be open about everything. With the guys in the shop, if we share a meal, I pray and I thank God for these guys that God has led to this company. That leads to the guys coming to me and saying, ‘Gary, I need to talk to you about something.’ God has opened so many doors that way.”

Being a business owner can be hard. More than once, Gary despaired and felt ready to give up. Business would be slow; he didn’t have the workload he needed to stay afloat. Sometimes he felt that God was leading him to close the business. At those times, Gary would go to his knees and pray, “Lord, show me what you want me to do. If you want me to stay in the business, you need to show me what to do. And if you’re going to shut us down, you need to show me that too.” He laughs today saying that every time he prayed that prayer God would load his plate up. “I got where I didn’t want to pray that prayer any more! God’s always been faithful in ways I can’t explain.

When he was about 45 or 50, Gary began praying for God to provide the next leader to take over the company. “God answered my prayers with good people – but never with that leader that I felt could lead the company forward.”

“When Dad was approaching the end of his life, I had to be away from the business more and more, caring for him. A young fellow, Seth, had been working for me for about 4 years, and the year earlier, he had become my son-in-law. Honestly, he was just a really young guy. But he was a Christian, and he did things that I thought were really good. Seth stepped up to the plate more and more for me as I was called away quite a bit. When Dad passed away, I had to take care of the estate, and honestly I just couldn’t focus on the business. Seth took care of everything at the office.

“After things settled down a bit, I got up one morning and told my wife I was going back to work that day after my morning devotions.  I was sitting in my chair reading my Bible, and I began praying, and I felt the Lord say, ‘what are you doing?’ I’ve never heard the Lord speak to me like that, and we started carrying on a conversation. I said, ‘I’m going back to work. That’s what I do.’ And He said, ‘you know, Gary, you’ve been praying for 20 years to have someone to come along and run the business, and now I’ve put somebody in place down there and what do you want to do but go mess it up.’

“Well, I finished my prayer time, turned the TV on, and my wife came in and said, ‘I thought you were going to work.’ And I said, ‘well, I was. But the Lord made perfectly clear that I don’t need to be back down there.’ God put the leader there that I was praying for the whole time. To my surprise, Seth came along, a young guy, and stepped up to the task. It was neat to watch.”

“If you want to be in business and have it be something meaningful that you can look back on and be proud of, remember it’s not what you’ve accomplished, it’s how you’ve accomplished it and what you’ve allowed God to do through it all.”

Gary enjoys watching people like Seth step up into business leadership. His advice for anyone who is going to be a Christian business leader: “You have to dig into what God’s telling you. Read the scriptures. Open your eyes to what the Lord’s got for you. I wish I could say that I do that every day. Sometimes my eyes are open, but sometimes my thoughts are on the day ahead of me. If you can focus on what He’s trying to tell you on a day to day basis, it’s done more to help me than anything – getting my focus right in the morning. If you want to be in business and have it be something meaningful that you can look back on and be proud of, remember it’s not what you’ve accomplished, it’s how you’ve accomplished it and what you’ve allowed God to do through it all.”

Gary is semi-retired now and is still attentive to God’s will for his life. “I’ve learned that God has places for me to be and things I need to be doing. He’s been good to allow me to have fun and do what I want to do. But He’s also been very clear that when He has something for me to do, I need to do it. I depend on God to show me what He wants me to be doing.”

Gary is aware of how we set an example for others in everything we do. As a youngster, he loved baseball and dreamed of playing professionally. But he knew there was no way for him to do that. “My mom and dad had us in church every Sunday, Sunday night, Wednesday night. I knew I couldn’t play baseball because I had to be in church on Sundays and Wednesdays!”

His favorite team was the Yankees, and his favorite player was Bobby Richardson. When the Yankees won the World Series in 1962, Gary saw all the guys in the clubhouse celebrating and popping champagne bottles. “A few days later there was an article in the newspaper with a picture of Bobby Richardson in the corner of the clubhouse that night, praying and praising God for the opportunity to win a world championship. I thought, ‘How cool is this. This man stands up for what he believes, and he’s a baseball player!’”

Years later, Gary had the opportunity to meet Richardson, and he told him that story. “I said, ‘you don’t even know what a big influence you had on a kid when you were just a young baseball player, but you did.’”

Gary’s father told him just 2 stories from his days in the Navy. In one, he told of a Japanese POW who was assigned to help him with painting and other jobs. B.H. loved and respected this man. One day he told him, “You’ll be going home soon. The war’s over.” To which the man responded in broken English, “I no home to go to.” Those words broke B.H.’s heart. Here was a man he respected, who because of the war, had no family, no place to call home.

Home was so important to B.H. He was in San Francisco when he received his Navy discharge, and all his buddies were going out to celebrate. B.H. said, “Guys, I’m not going out. I’m going right down to that bus station, and I’m catching the next bus to Chattanooga.” And that’s what he did.

When the bus pulled into Memphis, there were predictions of snow on Monteagle Mountain. “Dad was worried that he wasn’t going to be able to get home. So he went up to the bus driver and said, ‘Well driver, do you think we can make it through that snow?’ And the driver said, ‘Get your seat back there, sailor. We’re going to Chattanooga.’ And sure enough, that driver closed the door and they headed to Chattanooga.

“I tell you that story because it was the only thing about Dad’s Navy days that he would talk about: Here’s this one fellow that didn’t have a home to go to, and all Dad could think about was going home. And when Dad was laying there the last few days of his life, the only thing I could think about was that story: ‘Get your seat back there, sailor, we’re going home.’ I think that if you’re looking at God for everything you do, it’s all about the trip. Getting home may be bumpy, there may be snow, but it’s a trip you’re taking.

“When dad got home that night, he opened the door to the house and saw his mother in the kitchen. She turned and saw him and she just came running, just yelling, to greet him. And I’m sure that’s what happened when he got to heaven too.”

How Faith Influences A Chattanooga Business Leader

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The Lord gives unique gifts to all. Corporate America is full of believers and non-believers both who attain the gifts and skills to take companies to the next level. Bob Bosworth is a man who has helped the city of Chattanooga flourish by using the gifts God has given him. I had the opportunity to sit with Bob and hear about the ways his faith in Christ has manifested itself in the many roles he has taken on throughout his career.

Walk us through your vocational journey.

My vocational journey began when, after failing out of Amherst College, I was drafted into the United States Army, in the midst of the Vietnam War.  I spent three years in the military, with significant time in a base at the DMZ in Korea and, also, at a base in Monterey, California.  It was a time when I worked with people of different races, different socio-economic levels, different levels of commitment and radically different levels of aspiration.  It was also a time in history when the country was hugely divided over matters such as the war and race relations.  It was a time that the military was despised to the extent that I was spat upon while in uniform by people of my own generation, and protesters appeared at burials of young men killed in war, burials at which I was part of the team conducting the solemn military burials.  This, while a long explanation of the start of my journey, in retrospect, served as the foundation of that journey as I learned, sometimes in very hard ways, of the importance of working with a diverse group of people in less than ideal situations.

Following my release from the Army, I was readmitted to Amherst, and then continued my education at the University of North Carolina where I received my MBA.  From there I went to work for PruCapital, the investment arm of Prudential Insurance Company, in Atlanta. My focus was on working with smaller companies, with whom I could develop meaningful relationships. One of those relationships, with Chattem, eventually resulted in my hiring as a financial analyst in 1980. Over the next eighteen years, I was fortunate to work with many wonderful people in a variety of roles, eventually assuming the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  After eighteen years, I had experienced a fair amount of stress, mostly self-imposed, and as a result, I left Chattem, which had been my vocational home for a long time.

During the next 7 years, I was involved in a variety of things. My family was one of a small group that helped plant Rock Creek Fellowship in West Brow, Georgia in 2000. That effort proved to be one of the most rewarding and spiritually enlightening and growing experiences of my life. RCF was focused on reaching the people on the back of Lookout Mountain in meaningful physical as well as spiritual ways.  During that time a group of us founded a company, Livingston, which was an investment company focused on providing financing and investments to small and early stage companies. Eventually I had the opportunity to go back to Chattem as President of the Company after having served on the Board of Directors during the seven-year hiatus.  I remained in that role for seven years until Chattem was acquired by a large international pharmaceutical company. I retired in 2012.

In retirement, or more appropriately, in this season of life, I have been blessed with many areas of involvement. I am privileged to serve on the Board of Directors for Covenant Transport, Southern Champion Tray, and Rock City and on not-for-profit Boards including Chattanooga Christian School, United Way, Hamico Foundation and the R.L. & K.H. Maclellan Foundation. Yet my greatest joy and gift has been the opportunity to work with young people as a mentor and thought partner as they wind their way through the earlier stages of life.

This is a long journey, befitting, of course, my 70 years in this world, but each step of the journey has taught and continues to teach me much about life and faith.

How are ways you have seen the Lord work in your vocational journey?

I was brought up in the Congregational church in Bolton, Connecticut, where my father was a Deacon, my mother taught Sunday School and my brother and I were always involved.  Over time, and particularly when I was in business school and at PruCapital in Atlanta, I drifted away from the faith. There was a sense in which my material needs were being fully met, but there was also a quiet sense of being lost. Ironically, and more importantly, providentially, I met my wife, Susan, in Atlanta. She was and is a woman of great faith.  When we first met and our relationship was growing, I recall thinking, “I don’t fully understand the depth of her faith, and don’t know if I can share such depth.” I am thankful that the Lord brought her into my life at that time, as I was in an environment that was desolate and essentially devoid of faith.  It became the first time that I thought clearly about the way that the intersection of faith and vocation should occur, and it was also the time that my faith began to be renewed.

A second point occurred during my time at Chattem.  It was here that I began to recognize the power of a quiet faith in the presence of others and in the midst of a work place environment that did not overtly proclaim the faith.  It was amazing to me the manner in which people closely watched the actions of others, not just the words.  This reminded me of a story Eric Youngblood told about the moment at which he asked his mentor in seminary if he should tell people that he was a pastor when he arrived as the first pastor of Rock Creek Fellowship.  His mentor told him that “Whatever you do, don’t tell them. But don’t let them be surprised when they find out.” This is how I have learned to approach the faith/vocation intersection.  Ironically, I also found that many people who were not overtly of the faith carried many of the same principals. In fact, the prominent mantra for Chattem was “Do what’s right. Do your best. Treat others like you would want to be treated”.  This sharing of principles created a very effective working environment which, in turn, created a very successful company.

Thirdly, I have also been blessed to be on the Board of Directors of two companies, Covenant Transportation Group and Southern Champion Tray, both of which are founded on the Christian faith.  In these cases, it has, again, shown to me the diverse way in which His presence can be known and made known.

How have you tried integrating your faith with your business and has it been difficult?

In reality, I try not to separate them. They are one in my mind. However, using the word integration, I tried to exercise the principles that are consistent with my faith, and recognized, as I said before, are not inconsistent with the effective operation of a business. I didn’t hide my faith, but was not evangelical as the term might generally be used.  And I certainly never used my faith as a weapon in a judgmental sense.  But I don’t believe many people missed the fact that my faith was my foundation.  Perhaps due to the way I approached the situation, it has not been difficult for me to see business and faith as one.

Is there a mentor that has helped you in your faith/business journey?

Scotty Probasco, a very well-known businessman and philanthropist in Chattanooga was on the board at Chattem and became a real mentor for me. He was an incredibly faithful, supportive and encouraging individual.  But he was also very capable of showing tough love, and provided real guidance in doing so.  One of my favorite stories which reinforces this point, derived from the time he called me into his office after I had made what I perceived to be an extraordinary presentation on an important topic to a bank group which included the bank of which Scotty was Chairman and Founder.  When I sat down he told me that he was going to tell me something that I would be sorely tempted to take as a compliment: “You were the smartest guy in the room. You were smarter than all of the bankers to whom you were presenting.”  At that point, I must have started smiling as he said in no uncertain terms, “Stop, you’re starting to take this as a compliment; you failed to engage them as people, as human beings and as people talented in their own right. Yes, you were smart and yes, you got the deal, but you are not going to be successful in life and in business unless you engage with, care for and respect all people.  Remember that always”.  This was a powerful moment in my life, and one that reminds me daily of the importance of fully loving our neighbors.

What does being a Christian Business Leader mean to you?

I almost want to alter the phrase to “being a leader who is a Christian”.   To me it simply means that one has solid values which are evidenced in the manner in which your vocational skills are exercised, and, more importantly, in the manner in which you treat the people for whom you work with, and those who work for you.  That is what Christian leadership is all about.  While perhaps a strange way to think about this, in my eulogy, I hope it would not be first said that he was the President of a leading Chattanooga company; I would prefer them saying first that he cared about people and empowered them through the Lord to do things of which they were capable.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story?

The verse that is my favorite, and that I try to live by is the verse on which Rock Creek Fellowship was founded: Mark 12:30-31, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”  While the first point is clearly preeminent, I find the second point exceptionally important in the way in which we deal with others, all others, in every aspect of life

Do we need to cultivate more Christian business leaders, and if so, how do we do that?

Developing leaders with Christian values is very important. There can be a certain devotion to servant leadership that focuses solely on the word “servant” and neglects the responsibilities and importance of the word “leadership.” I think empowering leaders to understand that exercising the leadership talents that God has provided for success vocationally coincides well with exercising their faith. We need to find a way to empower and teach leaders to rise up professionally and spiritually without bowing to cultural norms, and doing so in a manner that draws others to those leaders rather than pushing them away.

Do you have any specific advice you would give for an up and coming Christian business man or woman before they start their business?

Find a mentor. Find people who have been through the wars, people with whom you can share worries, concerns and opportunities. Surround yourself with people that you respect and trust. Also, foster those faith-based qualities particularly in caring for all people, those for whom you have great care and admiration but also for those with whom you struggle. Sometimes it can just mean a smile, or a simple act of kindness. Those “random acts of kindness” can be incredibly powerful.

If you could say one thing to other Christian business leaders, or the business community as a whole, what would it be?

There are three things: First, let your values undergird everything you do in the way you act and the way you treat all people. Second, don’t ever neglect or underestimate the importance of your God-given vocational skills. These vocational skills allow you to be in a position to exercise and display your values. I don’t care what you do, but be good at what you do, and a good steward of the gifts you have been given. Third, “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary use words[1].”

No matter who you are: selfishness, power, and money tend to become unconscious underlying motives when working towards success. For Bob Bosworth, I see a man of true character and a man that genuinely cares for the good of people. Bob is not a perfect man, but he follows a perfect God who has used Bob’s faithfulness to advance His Kingdom.

 

[1] Quote from St. Francis of Assisi

How Faith Influences the Owner of a Resort

By

Sally at summer camp

Sally Worland owns Hidden Hollow, a summer camp and event venue in North Georgia. Her faith and values are an integral part of how she operates her business.

Hidden Hollow is in the southern Appalachians and is a part of McLemore Cove, which is included on the National Historic Register. It is 135 mostly wooded acres of seclusion at the foot of, and on the side of, Lookout Mountain, 20 miles from downtown Chattanooga. The five-acre lake is spring-fed with a small creek bordering the property. Special on-site interests (besides the many tourist attractions in the nearby areas) are the Cherokee Indian heritage, the Civil War happenings, remnants of old moonshine stills, and varied outdoor games.

 

How did you get started? How did your business idea originate?

 When I was 14 years old, I felt very strongly that the Lord was leading me to start a camp for children. I immediately talked to my mom and dad about buying property. At first they thought that sounded rather odd. I tried to convince them how serious I was; I even offered to help pay for it (although there wasn’t much I could do at 14). But my mom decided to humor me, and so we looked at different properties. Over time, she developed an interest in having a bed and breakfast, and started to really enjoy looking at farms and daydreaming about the future.

At this point my dad had no interest in it because he thought it would just be one more thing that he would have to work on (and he was right). But when we found this property several years later, we convinced him that it was “the one,” and we purchased it. Through the years, I took on different projects and loans to pay my share, and make the improvements that had to be made. My first camp started in 1976, and it’s happened ever since.

Did you experience any resistance to your business idea, especially as someone so young?

 Yes, I told my minister (who I just thought hung the moon), and he laughed and said, “No, Sally. He wants you to be a missionary.” So I decided that I wouldn’t tell another person because I didn’t want anybody else to throw cold water on me. So I kept it to myself, even though deep in my heart I still knew it was what I was going to do. I even decided to explore the mission field to see if that’s where God was leading me.

So over the course of the following summer, I went to France and Africa, and several more trips in the years after that. But after every trip, although I gained more and more respect for missionaries, I always knew it was not my life’s call. And because of that, I’m very conscious of not putting a damper on what children tell you they’re supposed to do. Only they have access to that direct connection between them and God.

 As a young person who felt so strongly called to a particular role, are there any lessons you learned between realizing your goal and achieving it that you would like to share with today’s youth that might feel similarly called?

 There are kids of faith, teenagers and younger, who already know that the Lord is leading them. I would encourage them to know Luke 1:37, “With God all things are possible.” They may feel defeated at times, but don’t give up, keep putting one foot in front of the other. God gives us these dreams and goals because He expects us to take action.

I would also remind kids that it’s really important to prepare yourself. In college I took every camping and camp leadership class because that’s where my passion was. However, I majored in social work in case I needed something else to fall back on. And it turned out to be a good move that allowed me to achieve my dream.

My social work degree helped me to get my first job as the youth director for the YWCA, and then after when it merged with the YMCA. It involved a lot of inner city children’s work, but it also followed alongside the school system, allowing me to have summers off. So I was able to start and fund my camp, doing both jobs at the same time.

And for those who don’t consider themselves persons of faith, I think it would be a whole lot more difficult, but they still need to pursue their dreams and their goals. Everyone, regardless of faith, has a purpose and a role, and are called by God to follow that.

Within your business, with your employees and clients, how do you, as a Christian business person, see your role with them?

Personally, it was to be kind to one another[1]. If you can’t do anything else, you can be kind to people. And we all fail on that at times. Even if someone has different religious beliefs, or values, I can still be kind to them. But it’s a constant thing I need to work on.

I also want to be as generous as I can be. And that has to be balanced with being wise in a business sense, which can be hard at times, because you want to be generous, and you want to give, but you also know you can’t run a business if you don’t run it business-like. The key for me is to find the balance between those two.

Has there been any point where the two came into conflict?

 Yes there have, and I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way, like sometimes in the spirit of generosity you can end up hurting your business. Even though the Bible tells us not be slovenly in business[2], sometimes you get your heart ahead of what is probably the best thing to do at the moment. Especially in my line of business, because I’m not selling something directly, I’m offering an over-night stay, or a week stay, people don’t realize how expensive it is to put them up for free because there are many, many people and programs involved. But you don’t want people to see that, you want everything to be in a spirit of generosity.

But on the flip side, you can often fail to be generous when you should have been. So you try to learn, is this someone that really needs this—is God saying, “Yes, give this to them,” or is it someone who is just trying to take advantage? I’ve learned a lot about human nature, especially from the resort end of the business. But I don’t want to ever get jaded because there are more kind, thoughtful people out there. You just have to learn to be wise.

Do you have any specific examples you can share with us?

 Oh yes. There was this one lady who called me and said they didn’t have the money, but they wanted to stay for several days. She said she was in some kind of promotional business, and she would be sure to promote our business “big time.” I gave it to her at a greatly reduced rate and in end, they just trashed the cabin. It was terrible. But it was a lesson well learned.

Do you feel that Christian business leaders should be held to a higher standard, and if so, how has that affected you (or not) with Hidden Hollow?

 Yes, I ultimately think of God as my CEO. He’s the one I’m trying to work for. So when I make mistakes, I need Him to show me what I’ve done wrong and how to do it differently. And I know if I choose to go in a way that is not proper for a Christian, it’s going to be counterproductive. It’s just going to make things worse.

I’ve learned that so much more is “caught than taught” (especially by kids). Every interaction can be an opportunity to showcase your faith. Now, it’s not like I stand around talking about my Christian faith to everybody by any stretch, because I don’t. But if there’s opportunities I would, or if it seems like it’s appropriate I would. A whole lot more is expressed by attitude, and that’s what people notice.

Unfortunately, because of many new laws and rules we now have to be careful of how we share. And although I try to never shirk from that responsibility, at the same time, I’m hoping people see more than they hear of how much Christ does love them.

In bringing up our legislature, how do you think we can support, encourage, and/or invest in Christian business leaders in what they believe they are being led to do?

 I think it’s good to have networking among those folks. And there’s a lot of that already going on, but being able to talk, share, and be supported is so important, in addition to reaping wisdom from others.

Do you see your business growing into other avenues over the next 3-5 years, or do you feel you’re in the place your supposed to be and the focus now is just on maintaining?

 That’s actually something I’m dealing with right now. I’m trying to decide exactly what direction to take it. Maintaining is important. I don’t foresee doing any additional business projects other than some small things in the future.

But I also want to know what direction I am supposed to be going in, because, as I said earlier, there have been so many changes that make having a Christian business difficult. It’s especially cumbersome since I’m an incorporated business and not a non-profit.. Hidden Hollow isn’t looked at as a Christian ministry, even though I feel like at its heart it is.

Hidden Hollow Resort

 Do you have a message you would like to share with either today’s youth who feel called like you did, or current Christian business leaders, or both groups?

 Don’t give up for one thing. Keep that glimmer of what you’re supposed to be doing and keep adding to it so that it builds a bigger and bigger fire for that passion that you have. I think you’ll know if it’s a passion if it just doesn’t go away—it stays with you. You usually know if you’re not doing exactly what you’re cut out to do, and I think it’s the same way when you’re directed towards a specific goal.

Also, share your dream with a few trusted people. In my situation, I didn’t get a very supportive response at first, but I did later on, especially from my parents, and I really appreciated that. Some people (like my pastor) mean well but they are guiding you to their vision for your life, and it may not be the same as God’s vision. So I’ve learned never to say, “Oh no, you’re not supposed to that,” when kids come to me. Unless of course it’s some thing that’s illegal or dangerous, then that’s a different story.

 I would also add that God is the only absolute we have. There’s the saying that “The only thing constant in the world is change,” and there’s a lot of truth to that from the world’s perspective. But from Christ’s perspective, He says very clearly, that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever[3]. We know he is not going to change; He’s not going to leave us[4]. And so when you’re His, and when you’ve accepted Him, He holds you in the palm of his hand. No matter how hard things of the world become around you—if something bad happens to you, or your family, or your friends—He’s still there. Even though we can’t understand it all, because we’re not in heaven yet, we know that we still can trust God. He is the absolute constant in all things.

 

Edited for content and brevity.

[1] Ephesians 4:32                    [2] Romans 12:11                    [3] Hebrews 13:8                    [4] Deuteronomy 31:6

How Faith Influences the Co-Founder of Bellhops

By

Cameron Doody, Co-Founder of Bellhops

 

Starting a business is a risky endeavor. At the age of 25 the Lord was calling Cameron Doody to do just that. In 2011 Cameron and a friend launched what is known today as Bellhops, a modern moving company that combines technology and a talented workforce to provide a fun, friendly, and professional moving experience. It is in over 15 cities and was named Best Company Culture of 2015 by Entrepreneur Magazine. As a man of faith, Cameron quickly learned that starting a company and seeking the Lord in the midst of it all was easier said than done. I had the chance to meet with Cameron Doody and talk to him about his experience in building a company as a Christ-follower.

Tell me a little about your vocational journey.

The early twenties is a scary time. I had no idea what God wanted me to do. I was experiencing a lot of anxiety and lack of fulfillment in my current job, which ultimately led me to starting this company. I quickly learned that starting a company is all consuming. It was not your typical 9-5 job, and I found it difficult to invest time in my spiritual life. I unintentionally lost closeness to Christ in the first two years purely because of time. It seemed like everything other than this company and my wife was taking a back seat. God never left my mind, but there were times where my natural tendency was to clam up and try to do everything myself.
Ultimately, trying to build a company and not having Christ as my immediate thought caused me to have anxiety attacks. I physically needed God. Experiencing anxiety attacks was a huge wake-up call for me, and I knew that I couldn’t do this alone. Since then I have strived to seek Christ before all things, but it hasn’t been easy. The demands of building a business are real and tough.

How have your Christian values manifested themselves in your business specifically?

The culture here at Bellhops is very positive and family oriented. Bellhops is built on a foundation of truth, honesty, and integrity. Christianity shines through in unstated ways: how you react to things, how you prioritize things and how you treat other people. If you are truly living your life for Christ, that should be clear and as a believer, it is our responsibility to act in a certain way.

Is there a book and or mentor that has helped you in your faith and business journey?

A huge mentor for me throughout the years has been Krue Brock. That man is good at understanding when something isn’t being said. He reaches out to me when I’m not doing well. He encourages and lifts me up. I have seen the power of prayer through Krue in how God puts it on his heart to pray for me and reach out to me when he does. It is so important to have somebody like that in your life when starting a company.

What does being a Christian business leader mean to you?

When you are put on a pedestal and put in the lime light where you are leading and providing for a lot of people and families, you have a responsibility to act in a certain way, and clinging to Christ is of the utmost importance for me. If you are truly living your life for Christ, it should be clear in the ways you care for your employees.

What are some verses you rely on in your job, or that help you form your bases of Christian values for your company?
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
I think this is such a perfect verse to consider at work. Work is a place that can consume a lot of your thoughts, and certainly a lot of your time. Are you serving yourself, or your company? Or are you here on earth to serve the Lord? This is a great reminder of what is really important.

Do you have any specific advice to future Christian business leaders?

From the start, think about whether you are going to build a Christian organization and one that welcomes anyone. It is an important question to ask. As Christians, we are called to bring non-Christians to Christ. How best can we do that? You can’t do that when you are in an echo chamber (only surrounding yourself with other Christians). As a Christian you have an obligation to build an organization based on Christian values, whether employees are believers or not. To bring in employees that do not consider themselves Christians is a God-given opportunity that as a leader I believe we shouldn’t let slip away.

If you could say one thing to other Christian business leaders or to business leaders as a whole, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to voice your faith. Bringing faith into any conversation is not an automatic pass. It’s hard to justify a faith based decision unless your company is openly rooted on Christian values, it’s almost impossible to make decisions otherwise. If you want to be making faith based decisions at work, build a company openly based on Christian values.

Cameron didn’t do everything perfectly; he even admits today that it is still a struggle integrating his faith alongside his work. Yet Cameron is continually striving to understand what it means to live faithfully in the world of business. Praise God that there is grace for all, and praise God that there are men and women out there like Cameron seeking to unify corporate America with Christian values.

How Faith Influences the Owner of A National Furniture Company

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We continue our new series on how faith influences business with William White and his story.  Our goal is to find out how their faith influences their business, the role of Scripture, their role in the Church, and more.

He believes that God was leading him “always and in all ways.”

“William, are you going to do something special? When are you going to find your career?” William White’s grandmother was always after him to make his life count for something special. Many years later, he is President of Gabriella White, a holding company named in her honor, overseeing 350 employees at furniture companies Summer Classics and Gabby.

His career path took many twists and turns, but he believes that God was leading him “always and in all ways.” Growing up, he spent summers working in the warehouse of his father’s fledgling business, Summer Classics, an outdoor furniture company. Loading and unloading trucks in a hot warehouse, he remembers as “rough work in a rough environment.” And it left him with a bad taste in his mouth. He did not want to work for or with his dad at Summer Classics.

But after a stint in banking, and a promising sales job at a chemical manufacturer, White began to reconsider his options. He could stay with the chemical company, which would involve a move, or his father held out a tantalizing prospect: start an indoor furniture company under the Summer Classics label, helping the company avoid the seasonal downturn endemic to the outdoor furniture business.

He took the bait, and launched “Gabby” in January, 2010 – the midst of the recession – with a 1,500 square foot showroom in Atlanta. Today the Gabby line is found in showrooms all over the US, and it has been profitable every year. Gabby and Summer Classics now operate out of a 500,000 square foot warehouse/showroom where 220 employees are housed, with 13 additional retail stores across the USA.

Working with his father as he launched Gabby had challenges, but White believes that “faith is an integral part of how we maintain our close relationship and run the business.” The father and son work successfully together because of their strong faith, and they consider themselves best friends. “The culture at Summer Classics has become better because of the two of us working together – two heads are better than one,” he jokes.

The company’s statement of Core Values is ingrained in everything they do. The statement was derived from a study of scripture, which White relies on for daily guidance leading the business. Every employee is held accountable to those values in their regular performance reviews.

Last year he invited his weekly Bible study leader to come into the office every Friday, to be available as a Chaplain for employees to talk to.

White nurtures his employee relationships and tries to be positive every day, remembering that “if the boss ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.” Relationships are the area where he strives most to model his faith. Last year he invited his weekly Bible study leader to come into the office every Friday, to be available as a Chaplain for employees to talk to. This gives employees a venue other than the Human Resources office where they can share personal issues, problems at home, or other relationship issues. The Chaplain listens, counsels and disciples those who come to him. White says, “I think it’s working well – but it’s really not any of my business. I pray that employees are taking advantage of this opportunity to receive counseling – but it’s all very private.”

White wants the workplace to be “kind of like a club. We work hard to find the right people for every job – those who fit the requirements, want the job, and have the capacity to get the job done. And once you’re in the club, you want to stay there because of the people around you.” When mistakes are made, “we try to model compassion and forgiveness in the workplace,” White says. The company has a “3-strike rule”, giving employees who make mistakes an opportunity at a second, and even third chance.

The companies in the Gabriella White family strive to give back to the communities they serve, helping previously homeless families get into furnished housing, donating to cancer research in honor of a 17-year employee who lost her battle with the disease, and offering physical and logistical support for emergency response when disasters strike.

“Scripture is the most important thing – living in the Word.”

When asked if there were specific books which guide him in his business faith practices, White said, “Scripture is the most important thing – living in the Word.” He has many verses that he goes to as he lives out his faith at work and at home.

From Titus 2:7, “in everything set them an example by doing what is good.” In Proverbs, he cites 3:1-3, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you.” And from Philippians 2:1-2, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

He is also led by the verses in Proverbs that speak to letting God direct your paths and seeking wise counsel. His favorite parable is The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. He prays that as he honors God in the workplace, God will honor him by saying, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

“well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

How Faith Influenced The Owners of A Painting Company

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In anticipation of the upcoming publication of a handbook for Christian Business Leaders, we will be interviewing business leaders who seek to exemplify Christ in the workplace. We hope to explore various topics involving how their faith influences their business, the role of Scripture, their role in the Church, and more. Our first interview is with Greg Duble, about how God owned their painting company.

Walk us through your business journey.

In 1998, I met with the owners, two brothers, of a manufacturing company in Memphis, in what I thought would be a routine appointment. But little did I know that their company story would change my life forever.

Their father owned the company and was ready to retire, but the brothers were unsure if they wanted to buy it. They began to pray, and came up with a plan. “If we’re going to buy this company,” they said, “we’re going to make a covenant with God.” They would set aside the resources to run the company and grow it, but everything beyond that, they would donate for Kingdom work.

In their first year, they gave away $20K to several ministries. When they followed up, they were amazed at the impact they had made.

Fifteen years later, they were giving $20M away. They still ran the company as if it belonged to God, calling it a “storehouse company.”  They wanted to follow ancient Egypt’s example, storing supplies in case of famine, and ensuring that they would always be able to provide for their community.

Even though I left that appointment thinking, “Man, doing something like that would be really cool,” I also thought my interest would eventually fade. But it didn’t. I wrestled with the idea for several years, praying for clear direction.

Finally, six years later, I was convicted to go out and see what God had for me. I sat down with wise people whom I really trusted and cared about. After discussing the idea, two of them wanted to get financially involved. I realized then that God had already found the capital to start the company. Now if only He would tell us what kind of company it would be.

My two investors and I agreed that there would be three pillars for the business. Again, using the manufacturing company as a model, we wanted to do Kingdom work with the money we gave away. So, our first pillar was to have an impact on the people that work for us for Christ. The second pillar was to have an impact on all those we encounter for Christ. And the third was to be a storehouse company. We made a commitment to God that everything above what it cost to run the business, we would donate.

Then we decided to get into the commercial painting business. We named the company, “Thousand Hills Cattle Company,” because of Psalms 50:10, “God owns the cows on a thousand hills.” It made sense to us, but apparently not to anyone else. People would ask, “What’s that got to do that with painting?” And I’d say, “In all things, Christ preeminent[1].” Christ is in everything. And it was because of the name that I had so many opportunities to share the gospel with people. I really believe the name came from God—I would never have picked it out. For example, I had decals on the side of our vehicles with cattle on the side of a hill. People would stop me on the street, and ask how many cattle we had. When I told them we were a painting company, they would always be confused and ask for an explanation. Occasionally, I would even get the opportunity to share the gospel with them. We even used wrong number phone calls as a chance to talk to people about Christ. We were blessed with multiple opportunities to live the gospel out in front of people, and with the people I worked with.

We truly believed that our company represented Christ. And because of that, all the things we did had to be done as if we were doing it for Christ. We worked hard to make sure work was done properly, and a job site was left spotless. Multiple times we got compliments from clients, and again, it was just another opportunity to say it’s because we’re doing this for Christ.

This was the first time I really recognized that it doesn’t matter what you do—if you’re a garbage collector, if you flip burgers—it doesn’t matter. God wants to use that.

In the first year, we went from 2 to 43 employees. We had multiple job sites all running at the same time. It was exciting to see what God was doing, and at the end of each year, how much we could give away to various ministries. It really changed my understanding of business from the heart, not just the brain. It was amazing to recognize God’s ownership, not just of our money, but of our time and talent. This was the first time I really recognized that it doesn’t matter what you do—if you’re a garbage collector, if you flip burgers—it doesn’t matter. God wants to use that. It’s a part of His plan to send the gospel out. We had several guys that worked for us that became believers. And we had believers who were deeply impacted by that process. It was really exciting.

But the work also had to fall within contractual and legal guidelines. There are all kinds of hoops to jump through to weed out dangerous circumstances and keep people safe. But it can lead to hard decisions. For instance, we would compete against companies that would cut every corner and underbid us on jobs. We would say, “OK God, I’m going to do the right thing, the thing you called me to do.” And you’d watch someone that was doing the wrong thing get the bid, get all the rewards, and not get caught. We’d wrestle through those moments, trying to focus on scripture. In the end, the important thing for me was being assured that God’s intentions were good for me, being assured that God was going to take care of me, as I followed Him.

How did you see that play out? In terms of, you lose an important bid to someone who wasn’t doing as good of a job as you could have, and you trust God to take care of you.

Yes. It’s clear to me that God uses these kind of wounds or trials in our lives to help us draw closer to Him saying, “God, I don’t understand this, but I trust what You tell me in scripture. I trust that what I am doing is reflecting You, and that’s the most important thing here. I cling to the promise where You say You’ll care for my needs.”

Often times, I’d be upset about losing a bid to someone who would cut every corner, and then another significant bid would come up. I would win it, and then I would realize that the bid we won fits perfectly into what we were trying to accomplish with the company. If I had gotten the other job, it wouldn’t have worked as well, and I would have missed out on the other bid.

So, lots of times I had to wait on things that I couldn’t see where God was at work. God’s always looking ahead and saying, “Hey, I’ve got something for you, just trust Me, trust Me, trust Me.” These moments would remind me that I don’t trust God like I should. That I wanted to be in control. I think we go through these things so that we realize, “You really do have me God. You really are trustworthy.”

I did my best to let God steer the company. Things only got messed up when I tried to grab the reins. But when you’re trying to do things in a biblical manner, you’re trying to follow, to reflect Christ, people are going to cheat you. People are going to mock you. People are going to be naysayers. You just have to face that.

Any way that the church as part of the community can be more supportive of Christian men and women in business?

I think the true picture of the church is the body. And a large part of the church is made up of business owners and business leaders. And so I would say that we are the church. The church’s responsibility is to love people through grace, to shepherd people, to pour their lives into people. And I don’t think that only involves the pastor, I think that includes the body. We should look for ways to engage; we should look for ways to be involved. Because let’s be honest, in our culture especially, the biggest mission field is where the business leaders are going to be. So I think we should walk alongside, and love, and care, and hold accountable as a united church.

Do you have any specific advice you would give for an up and coming Christian business man or woman before they start their business, or in general?

I would say two things are key. Stick a nail in your hand, cut your finger, do something to keep you from being idealistic. There’s nothing idealistic about starting a business. If it can go wrong it will go wrong. You have to be logical; you have to be grounded. The other thing I would say is you have to find wise counsel. Find people that you trust that can walk alongside you. People you’re willing to hear hard stuff from. Those are key.

Also, “growth” always seems like a good thing. And the right kind of growth can be great, but the wrong kind of growth can drive you out of business. So be mindful. You always have to be present. We have this idealistic thought that if I start a business, I’ll be my own boss, and I can do what I want. Well you really can’t. So being mindful, being present in your business, is really important.

What I’d like people to take away from my story is that as a believer we need to realize that what we do, we do for Christ. So that means He is the business. He is a part of the business. He owns the business. And we are but mere stewards. You’re never your own boss. In fact, I was so convinced of that, that I rejected the idea of being called the president or the CEO of Thousand Hills Cattle Company. My title was Chief Steward. And I think that’s what we are—we are each the chief stewards of God’s work.

Any favorite sections of scripture that explicitly address business?

Proverbs is full of great wisdom about how we’re to reflect Christ in our dealings. But there are many places where, as a business owner or leader, you’re going to be confronted about how you should act. You’re not going to have to look very far to figure it out. Proverbs is one of those places. Psalms is another. The whole Old Testament talks about when God is displeased by His people’s actions. Understanding that is important.

In Ephesians, Romans, and Hebrews, Paul encourages us to not shrink back, to keep our eyes on Christ, to realize that we’re broken and sinful. And because of what Jesus did—that justification on the cross, His resurrection—we’re in a life of sanctification to become more Christ-like.

I named the company after a verse that God gave me in Psalms. And interestingly enough, if you read that whole section, God is yelling at His people because they are rejecting His ownership over all things. And God’s responding, “Who are you? What do I need you for? I own it all. I created the wild animals of the forest, and I own the cattle of a thousand hills.” And God wasn’t just bragging. He was giving an example of great wealth—unattainable wealth—for all generations to come. And God’s responding, “Who are you? What do I need you for? I own it all. I created the wild animals of the forest, and I own the cattle of a thousand hills.”

 

*Interview has been edited for continuity and brevity.

[1] Col. 1:15-20.