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The Importance of Business

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Surprisingly, God Himself tells us how to start and operate a business. God’s Holy Word actually spells out how to be successful in business as well as in life. In fact, early in the creation process, God ordained labor to be one of humanity’s major activities. When He created the first man (Adam), He immediately charged him to get busy and work, to subdue and manage the earth, to tend and look after it (Ge.1:28; 2:15). This means that having work to do, the privilege of a job, is of critical importance.

Think for a moment: What would the world be like without structured businesses? There would be no jobs to provide work or income, no companies to construct houses, make cars, or build stores, no products or services available to sustain human life.

Indeed, without businesses, we would likely still be living in a primitive society. Humanity never would have progressed as it has through the centuries without businesses nor would we have achieved the quality of life we enjoy today. Knowing this should make business one of the most honored institutions on earth. It is you, the business owners and professionals whom God has
called and gifted to lead, who enable humanity to function as it has through the ages. Whether yours is a single-person operation or part of a huge conglomeration, you play an important role in providing the products, services, and flow of money that are essential worldwide. Likewise, you are key to the progress, development, and strength of communities and nations. You have an integral role in helping people meet their most basic needs:

• Their physical needs—by creating jobs through which people can provide food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities for themselves and their families

• Their practical needs—by supplying beneficial products or services that make life more productive, enjoyable, and comfortable

• Their emotional needs—by providing purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction through meaningful work

• Their spiritual needs—by giving them at least one day a week for worship and rest, which enables them to support churches and other ministries that are helping the needy and taking God’s Word to the world

Your call to business leadership, whether as an owner, executive, or manager, requires much of you. It requires wisdom, fearlessness, and fortitude—the fortitude to make difficult decisions and take extraordinary risks. Indeed, there may be days when you feel you cannot go on, that your situation is hopeless, that you are unprepared, or that your responsibilities are too great. In addition to everything else, you may feel all alone. But, thankfully, you are never alone as you go through the long, difficult days. God is always there, always available for you. If you seek Him, He will give you wisdom and direction, and you will feel His power working in you. He will enable you to overcome your fears with an infusion of sound thinking (Jas.1:5). His presence will strengthen you and give you the courage to move forward (Is.41:10). In fact, He invites you to bring your heavy burdens to Him. Just ask Him for help and He promises to empower you to persevere through the darkest, most hopeless conditions. He will give you rest even when your troubles are so overwhelming that you cannot sleep (Mt.11:28-30). God has promised you all of this and more, everything you need as you lead your business or area of responsibility.

 

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How Faith Influences the Founder of a Consulting Firm

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If you are looking for a strong and zealous businesswoman, look no further: Jenny Whitener has lived her professional life with great tenacity and has used her God-given gifts of problem-solving and innovative thinking to serve and empower businesses all over the world. She is the founder and current CEO of Bridge Innovate, a business that strives to team up with organizations to help build leadership, strategy, innovation, and change capability. She is a seasoned facilitator and architect of collaborative design sessions for many organizations all over the world. I had the incredible privilege of sitting down with Jenny and experiencing firsthand the wisdom and passion she possesses.

Walk us through your vocational journey.

I graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree and a minor in marketing and debate. I started my career with Delta as a flight attendant, and that was three years of really understanding and dealing with the public. I was not very close to my faith during that time—it was all about exploring the world, meeting new people and growing my career.

When I left the airline business it was difficult, I remember pulling into a job interview for a healthcare company and my car had just died. I sat in the car praying, “God help me out, I don’t have a job or a car, I really need this job. Help me to do well in this interview.” I went in and landed the job. So I worked for Kaiser Permanente in Sales and Marketing and it was a great experience. After three years I became Marketing Director. In those three years, we grew so much that the Kaiser Permanente medical director told me that we needed to stop marketing because we were bringing in so many people that they couldn’t recruit enough doctors to work in the clinic. I said, “Let’s talk about your physician recruiting problem.” Within six months I was working for him, reinventing their approach to physician recruiting and credentialing. Whatever problem the company had they would put me on it. By the grace of God, I could go in and figure out what the problem was and come up with solutions.

I was eventually recruited to Prudential Health Care where I ran physician recruiting and launched a Physician Leadership Institute. While attending a healthcare education conference, I met a partner from Ernst and Young, and after about two years, he approached me and told me I needed to work for them.

I had the opportunity to meet Don Sweeny, who was a partner at Ernst and Young and who ultimately hired me. He is a phenomenal Christian and has been a great mentor to me throughout my career. It was God’s blessing that I went into such a large firm under the mentorship of such a strong Christian man. I eventually got a global post and had an office in both Atlanta and Paris. It was very exciting.

Around that time I got married and at the age of 42 I had my first child and by 44 I had my second. Both were such special gifts. With that, I knew that I couldn’t continue consulting the way I was and be a mother. I remember my husband saying to me, “You should just launch your own business!” and I said, “You think I could do that?” With his encouragement, I had an LLC and within a month I had my first consulting project for $10,000. When these kinds of things happen in your life, it is so obvious that He is with you every day, every step of the way. I launched my business in 2002 and God has really taken care of us. It has always been the right balance of work and time to be a mother to my kids.

What was the experience like starting Bridge Innovate?

Early on, I think entrepreneurs experience a lot of fear around being accepted or wondering if they will be successful. Overcoming the fear of being rejected and having the community to talk with about that was huge for me in starting Bridge Innovate. Another part of it is experiencing failure and constantly saying “Lord, lead the way. If this isn’t the right project for me, open the next door; don’t let my bias and orientation close the door.” Having both of those things and being prayerful and open are so important. I wanted to be open enough to hear everything that God might be telling me, even if it was just a casual meeting because that could shape the next opportunity for my life. Often we engage with opportunities and we don’t see them, or notice that they are special moments that God has given us.

What has God taught you or shown you through your role at Bridge Innovate?

First is to trust Him. When you have payroll, or when you have a business, you know that there is risk associated with that and sometimes I find myself worrying about when the next new project is going to come in. We have all been given gifts, so it’s not like I can just sit here and wait for God to deliver, it’s really trusting him and knowing that I have to put my effort in. A lot of that is trust and prayer.

When it comes to weaving your faith into your business, one of the things that I do, especially when I’m really afraid, is I turn it over to God and I say “Your will be done. If I am here to help influence leaders, let my work be His extension.” That gives me the courage. I will wake up in the morning and think, “I have to go in and face this client and help them solve this problem today. Am I ready?” But I get that inner strength by having that conversation with God before an event. I’ve had people come up to me after a session and say “You’re a Christian aren’t you?” and that pleases me so much. It is the most celebrated moment when people can see it in your work.

“Your will be done. If I am here to help influence leaders, let my work be His extension.”

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in regards to your faith and your business? How have you handled it?

Definitely ego. I have so much fun solving problems. It’s like if you are an athlete, and you are winning a race, for me, winning the race for consulting is solving the problem with a client. It becomes so exciting that I have to continue to remember, in terms of my earthly life, that the time with my church, family, and business is the order it should go in. That is the balance and trying to maintain that balance and not letting the thrill of solving a problem with a client overshadow some of the other more important aspects of my life.

Have you experienced any resistance or hardship being a woman in the role you are in?

Absolutely. It has been interesting in the press with a number of women coming out about the complexities they have faced with harassment because of being a woman. At a very large company that I worked with for years, I had a similar situation. I was being pulled into the national division and a man I worked with was upset that he wasn’t, so for a month, he tried to get me fired. Women have to be prepared to do their job and to earn their place, but they also have to be prepared to stand up when there is a wrong and do it respectfully. You have to decide what you are going to stand up for, and you have to have the internal strength to make that stand.

Also as a woman, you can’t expect to be a mediocre performer and compete in a male-dominated world. If you want to compete you have to know more, be more, and perform better, so that it is without question that you deserve the job. I don’t think it is right for women to sit back and say “based on my gender, give me the role,” but instead demonstrate that you can perform and that you should have it. That’s hard work, and you have to be willing to do that.

How do you feel like being a Christian has led you in your role as a leader and CEO?

I know that the future of my business is in the hands of God; it’s not in my hands and I recognize that every day. And for that, I am thankful to Him, and I know he will progress the business at the pace he wants, and when he thinks it’s time for me to stop, it will be obvious.

Do you think Christian Business Leaders across the country are doing a good job of leading our nation?

I hope so. One of the reasons I was so committed to Christian education for my kids is because I remember meeting with Chad Dirkse, the President of Chattanooga Christian School. He talked about how the role of Christian education is to celebrate and amplify the talents that God has given all children. That means whether they are going to work at Subway or to do open heart surgery. How they live their Christian values and how through their life they are a testament to Christianity—that has to permeate all they do. It starts in their schooling and then becomes a way of life.

I pray that for all Christian leaders. We need Christian leaders who are the mayors of cities, senators, and heads of non-profit organizations. We need Christians to be involved in leading our world, both in the ministry side but also in business and bringing that set of values and ethics and Christian world-view to how we make decisions in this very complex world. We really do need to foster that way of thinking for our children in all the different careers they will pursue.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

You have to be passionate and start your business with the mindset that failure is not an option. Wake up every day continuing to modify your approach and listen to the customers. Gather their perspective and continually adjust your approach to the market. Remember that for every contract signed, there are 10 or 20 that you lose. In the early stages, it is a numbers game, so you have to be tenacious and listen to the market, which takes an extraordinary amount of energy.

You need to continue to look at what your competitors are doing, continue to challenge your assumptions, and continue to look at new technologies. If you are not doing that you are not enhancing your entrepreneurial skills and someone else will beat you. You need to have zeal and drive to continue to challenge yourself to know more, and learn more, and be observant and to use that to shape your business.

If you could say one thing to other business leaders who are Christians or just in the business community as a whole, what would it be?

To invest in the next generation. It has been a great blessing for me to partner with the Chattanooga Fellows Program. God has given me the resources, and this is a great way for me to give back. It has been so meaningful to support and mentor the young professionals that are coming through the Chattanooga Fellows program; to see the excitement in their eyes and to see how different they all are and how passionate they are about their faith and connecting it to business. It is very inspirational, and I think it could be very inspirational to other business leaders like myself. It has been a long time since we were that age and it is exciting to reconnect with that level of energy and passion.

One thing Jenny learned from her parents was that if you were going to do something, you must give it your very best, and try to exceed people’s expectations. I believe Jenny’s parents would be proud. She has found the avenue where she can maximize the gifts God has given her and has excelled. She desires to engage and be faithful to not only her work, but to her family, her community, and to the next generation of leaders. Jenny’s dependency and trust in God have and continue to be vital in her success, and I pray for more leaders to live their lives in such a way, making God’s glory the heartbeat of all they do.

How Faith Influences the CEO of an Award-Winning Non-profit

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An integral and foundational piece to human growth and city flourishment is non-profit work. One of the most well-known and award-winning non-profits in the Chattanooga area is First Things First. First Things First is an organization that provides healthy relationship skills through classes, events and multimedia outlets. They aim to be a community resource for the Chattanooga area by providing the most up-to-date research, content and educational experiences to all. The back bone of this organization is the CEO herself, Julie Baumgardner. I had the privilege of getting to sit down with Julie and talk with her about her experience with First Things First and the ways God has and continues to shape her into the leader she is today.

"As a counselor and somebody who worked in the healthcare profession, I saw so many of these issues impacting society: fatherlessness, divorce, unwed childbearing, and the thing is—they are all preventable."

What was it like starting First Things First?

Scary. We were started as an experiment and I had just come out of corporate America. We were really launching something that was very different and unique. It could have gone either way in terms of how people took it, because we were talking about very personal things. Interestingly, while they may have been very personal, people’s personal decisions impact the larger community. So you hear people talk about “what happens in my home” or “what happens in the bedroom” is nobody’s business but mine. The problem is that in truth the behavior in your home does impact all of us. So starting First Things First was a scary and exhilarating moment all at the same time.

What made you want to start First Things First?

Some business leaders actually came up with the concept and started it. So what made me want to be a part of it was knowing that it was prevention-oriented in nature. As a counselor and somebody who worked in the healthcare profession, I saw so many of these issues impacting society: fatherlessness, divorce, unwed childbearing, and the thing is—they are all preventable. So, I was all about educating people and giving them information, because I do think that when people understand the construct of things they can actually take those skills, use them, and do better rather than flying by the seat of their pants.

What drives First Things First’s mission?

I think that if the team were sitting here, they would say that everybody wants to have healthy relationships, and in order to have healthy relationships you need skills. You need to know how to communicate with people and how to appreciate opinions other than your own. People need to know how to deal with conflict, problem solve, make decisions, and to think about someone other than you, and a lot of people don’t have those skills. I definitely work with all ages and when we get together on a weekly basis, it’s all about watching the light bulb go on and watching people have an aha moment. We are guiding people to be the hero of their relationship story.

Have you noted any new or different challenges within families or with the people you serve over time?

Oh yes. I think it has become very complicated and convoluted. When parents don’t take responsibility and actively engage with their kids, and sometimes even when they do, there are just so many things speaking into the lives of people today. Social media: you’ve got young people on Instagram and Snap Chat who think they know who they are talking to, but they don’t really know. They may be talking to someone somewhere who they’ve never met. There are just so many people speaking into the lives of others who may or may not be out for their best interest. I think there are a whole host of things going on. Some parents who are completely asleep at the wheel and some parents who are working diligently just to keep a roof over their kid’s heads and put food on the table, both absent on each end of the spectrum, therefore there are things that are filling the void. Twenty years ago we absolutely didn’t have the issues we have now with social media and technology. Technology is even impacting marriages. So you have that to contend with. You also have this very loud culture voice speaking to people saying things such as, “What do you mean you can’t have a child outside of marriage? Who has the right to tell you that? It’s your body and nobody should tell you what to do.” But if we are looking at what is in the best interest for children, there are definitely reams of research for what is in the best interest for children, and that is to have a mom and a dad and a healthy marriage.

Have you experienced setbacks and/or challenges? If so, how have you handled it?

We had a grant that was a million dollar grant that we had had for 9 years. They decided to go in a different direction and wanted to change how we did business, so we ultimately decided to walk away, which was a big deal. We were walking away from a million dollars and having to replace that. It was really scary. We are in our third year away from the grant and really doing okay. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m thankful. I’m thankful to not be jerked around anymore. It has also allowed us to do more faith-based experiences in addition to the secular work that we do. I definitely spend a lot of time in prayer; I am very prayerful about what I am doing. My goal is to grow as a leader, and to be thoughtful and wise and discerning about what I do. And to constantly be looking to the future, thinking about new and creative ways to engage people.

Not operating out of fear, but operating out of the fact that I am doing this with a right heart and am seeking to do the best I know how to do, I have to trust that God will honor that.

What has God taught you or shown you through First Things First?

The biggest thing he has shown me is that he is absolutely faithful. Even through the really hard gut wrenching times, I can look back and it is unbelievably evident that he is faithful. I also know that I am not in control. I have been entrusted with something and I take great responsibility for that, but I am definitely not in control. For somebody that is really type A and who is out there leading a lot, sometimes it is a battle. Not operating out of fear, but operating out of the fact that I am doing this with a right heart and am seeking to do the best I know how to do, I have to trust that God will honor that.

I would absolutely say that in every way I do business, handle the business, and talk to people it is with biblical principles.

How do you feel that being a Christian has led you in your role as a leader and CEO?

I would absolutely say that in every way I do business, handle the business, and talk to people it is with biblical principles. Everyone here seeks to treat people the way Jesus would. We talk about that all the time. Sometimes people are really prickly, but what would Jesus do? He would move in closer.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story pertaining to your work or how you view your role at First Things First?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. I literally can wake up in a panic attack and heart be racing and breaking out in a cold sweat. I’ve always been that way, I’m less so now than I used to be. I have just really learned that He keeps his promises. In twenty years now when I get really anxious I can just look back and think “Well here we are twenty years later and look how He has been faithful.” I could tell you stories about how crazy the timing has been on stuff; there is just no other explanation. Being prayerful is also huge. Also, reminding myself that His yoke is easy because I can either carry the burdens and be in toil about it or lay it before the foot of the cross.

This is very humbling work, because really no matter how good you are, if you are not letting Him lead, then it is going to be a problem. You have to be prepared that it is going to be hard work. I love what I do, but it is no less a challenge to me today than it was twenty years ago.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to go into the non-profit world?

If you feel like that is where God is leading you and that is what you are passionate about, then whole-heartedly embrace the ride, because it is definitely a ride. I don’t think it is for the faint of heart because some of the meanest encounters I have had have been with other Christians. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I also think that it’s complicated and highly competitive. I am a firm believer that if God has called you to do something and this is His work, He will use you to accomplish his work, and maybe not in the way you thought. I don’t think there has been a year where I felt like “Oh fundraising, what a breeze!”

Keep your eyes wide open for where He is working and where He wants you to engage with Him in the work. This is very humbling work, because really no matter how good you are, if you are not letting Him lead, then it is going to be a problem. You have to be prepared that it is going to be hard work. I love what I do, but it is no less a challenge to me today than it was twenty years ago.

Sometimes we think if we are going into ministry that we won’t encounter difficulties with people, but the reality is that people are people. You run into complicated stuff no matter where you are, and that’s really the challenge, letting Christ lead you in the midst of absolute insanity.

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

I would say from a non-profit perspective, this really is a new day. I think that if we want to make a difference we need to help non-profits function more like businesses rather than entities that are always functioning out of “there’s never enough.” That means that people can have great hearts, but if they don’t know how to lead or be an administrator, or do the work that it takes to make it happen, they are probably not the entity that needs to be leading that charge. Sometimes it’s hard for business people to make the transition to working with nonprofits. I have watched people in the business world who are highly successful not know how to make the leap to helping nonprofits be successful. I would just say that the nonprofit world desperately needs more for-profit people who are willing to come alongside them and grow them and teach them and help them be better, but in a way that is helpful and not condescending.

Julie is a woman who is to be admired, a woman who truly seeks the peace and prosperity of the city (Jeremiah 29:7). I pray for what Christ has consistently shown to Julie—that we learn to release our illusion of control and let God have what is truly his—our lives and our businesses. He is faithful.

A Paradise In Every Heart

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What does it mean to “make a paradise in every heart?[1]” To “plant the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul[2]?” To tend and cultivate for the Lord, day after day, month after month, year after year?

Deep in the heart of Southern Africa, in the country of Zambia, known for Victoria Falls, copper, incredible biodiversity, and as “one of the fastest growing economically reformed countries,[3]” there is a paradox of Christianity. In a country that professes to be 95% Christian, many are unfamiliar with basic tenets, including the concept of sin, and even the redeeming love of Christ. This has been largely due to the historical failure of evangelical missions.

But that is slowly becoming a story of the past.

Throughout Zambia, a new wave of missionaries are educating community leaders, who are in turn spreading the Gospel within their respective neighborhoods. Thanks to advances in technology and free biblical training resources through digital platforms like LWM’s Lystra Global, pastoral resources are more available now than ever, allowing new church plants to quickly grow and spread.


In Kitwe, a city located in the Copperbelt region of Central Zambia, pastor Daniel Sitali, has lived this history. He was raised in a Christian household, because every household was Christian. He attended church because everyone attended church. But one Sunday, when he felt a pastor preaching directly to him at his sister’s church, holding him accountable for not living a proper Christian life, he did what many of us would do—he refused to go back. It wasn’t until a group looking to plant a new church literally rang his doorbell looking for volunteers that he was finally confronted with God’s calling for his life. They preached to him from the Bible, sharing with him the truth of sin and the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. They told him to change his life and accept Christ as his savior. They held him accountable and encouraged him on his road to salvation. And on December 25, 2000, Daniel gave his life to Christ. He then, in turn, joined in door to door evangelizations to share the gospel with others.

Over the years, Daniel worked with several church plants, serving primarily as a worship leader, before being promoted to assistant youth pastor. At the time, he was content and happy sharing the good news and helping others find their way to Christ. But as providence would have it, the pastor he worked with told him that he was destined for more. He pushed him to attend the Central Africa Baptist College (CABC), and study to become a pastor himself. While at CABC, Daniel received free access to Lystra Global resources, including The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible. After graduating in 2015, Daniel became a full-time youth pastor. Since then, he has seen dramatic and incredible conversions.

One of the most notable came when he preached to a congregation of people living with HIV/AIDS. Many of them had given up on living, and only attended church because that’s what everyone did on Sundays. So he decided to preach to them about the woman with the blood disease from Matthew 9:21-22. He told them that the woman’s faith in Jesus as savior allowed her to accept the redeeming love of God which cured her. He told them of the promise of everlasting life and the unending forgiveness of God. Afterwards, he was approached by many people who thanked him, and four who gave their lives to Christ that very day.

Daniel was recently asked to take over a church that has been without a pastor for a year and a half. It is a small congregation of about ten people, but it is surrounded by “Christian” churches that focus on reaping worldly rewards. These churches ignore the true meaning of salvation in Christ, and often lead their followers into dangerous situations. Daniel works tirelessly to fight their influence in his community and in his church, but is often met with resistance from what many see as an “easier road” to salvation. But he will never give up; he knows each and every soul is precious to our Lord.

Daniel still sees himself as a newcomer to Christianity, and works diligently to educate himself and those around him, using the resources from Lystra Global to prepare his sermons and inform his arguments against “false churches.” According to him, “What I like about The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible is that it provides good information and background of a text or a book of the Bible, and the sermon outlines are very easy and clear to understand and follow.”

Daniel’s hope is to grow spiritually alongside his community, so that they can greet Jesus together, as one family, one body in Christ[4].

He endeavors to honor his calling to ministry by proving faithful to the Word of God and to his congregation[5]. And in that, he needs our help and prayers. He has accepted a flock that is continually under attack, and works tirelessly to sow and reap the love of God in every soul—to create a “paradise in every heart” for Jesus. But he needs his brothers and sisters in Christ to help him. As his conversion was brought about by his community, so too can the conversion of his new community, and even his country, come through our love and support.

[1] Maria Valtorta      [2] C.S. Lewis      [3] According the World Bank in 2010      [4] Ephesians 3:6      [5] 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

 

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 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