faith and work

How Faith Influences the Owner of a Resort

March 8, 2018 By LMW

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

February 22, 2018 By LMW

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

February 14, 2018 By LMW

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.”