To whom is given: Business for the common good

Summary

The video script discusses the integration of faith and work, emphasizing the importance of glorifying God in all aspects of life, including business and ministry. It highlights the potential for business to change culture and the role of entrepreneurship in shaping society's values. Personal stories illustrate the challenges and rewards of pursuing faith-based vocations, advocating for excellence and integrity in daily work to create a transformative impact.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The script emphasizes the importance of recognizing that one can glorify God through various vocations, not just in traditional ministry roles, but also in the business world.
• 💼 It discusses the need to overcome the mindset that only certain 'Christian-oriented' work is valuable and to honor all types of work as potentially fulfilling God's purposes.
• 📚 The speaker suggests that there is a need for education to help people understand God's purposes and to challenge the misconception that work outside of the church is less significant.
• 🔑 The script highlights examples of biblical figures who were vocational leaders, indicating that ministry and work are not mutually exclusive but can be integrated aspects of one's life.
• 🛠️ It encourages a shift away from categorizing people strictly as 'business people' or 'ministry people' and instead focusing on the causes and people God puts in front of us.
• 🚀 The speaker shares personal experiences of being entrepreneurial and how a broader vision for business as a way to live out faith was formed through various life experiences.
• 🌱 The idea that God calls us to things we might not choose for ourselves is presented, suggesting that our vocational paths may not always align with our initial plans or preferences.
• 🛤️ The script touches on the concept that our past experiences, even those we didn't anticipate, contribute to our current roles and can be part of a larger, transformative journey.
• 🏗️ It discusses the role of business in creating culture and how businesses can be a catalyst for positive societal change by embodying and promoting virtuous values.
• 🤝 The importance of love as a guiding principle in business is underscored, with the notion that faith should result in love for all people, including coworkers and customers.
• 🌱 The script concludes by highlighting the potential for business to be a vehicle for cultural change, with entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping not only individual lives but also broader societal norms.

Q & A

What is the main challenge discussed in the script regarding young people's perception of ministry and business?

The script discusses the challenge of changing the perception that ministry is the only way to glorify God, and that business can be equally sacred and a valid path for fulfilling one's calling.

How does the script suggest the church could better honor work done outside of traditional ministry roles?

The script suggests that the church could honor such work by recognizing and celebrating the achievements in business and other fields as much as it does for traditionally Christian-oriented work.

What is the role of education in changing people's understanding of God's purposes according to the script?

Education is seen as a key factor in correcting misconceptions about God's purposes and helping people understand that their work in the world matters, thus encouraging a broader view of ministry.

How does the script relate the historical figures from the Bible to modern vocational roles?

The script points out that many biblical figures, such as Paul, Peter, James, and Moses, had vocational roles like tent makers, fishermen, shepherds, and agricultural workers, indicating that day jobs were part of their ministry.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between personal growth and comfort?

The script suggests that personal growth and development rarely occur in places of comfort, and that stepping out of comfort zones, through adventure, can lead to the most worthwhile experiences.

How does the speaker in the script describe their journey from seminary to business?

The speaker describes a journey that began with a desire to be full-time in ministry, leading to seminary, but then took a turn towards business when an opportunity arose to run an outdoor gear company, which aligned with their passions for business, social entrepreneurship, and the outdoors.

What is the significance of the speaker's experience in education and business in their new role at the outdoor gear company?

The speaker's background in education and business was seen as valuable in their new role, as it allowed them to bring a unique perspective and skill set to the mission of the company, which is to provide life-changing outdoor experiences.

What does the script suggest about the importance of being open to God's calling in various life stages?

The script suggests that being open to God's calling is important at any stage of life, and that one's vocational path may change, with different roles such as pastoral ministry and business ministry being valid at different times.

How does the script connect the concept of love to the operation of a business?

The script connects love to business by emphasizing the importance of caring for employees, treating them with dignity, and creating opportunities for them to grow and develop, which reflects the love of Christ.

What is the script's perspective on the role of business in shaping culture?

The script posits that business is a significant creator of culture, as it anticipates and meets the needs and desires of society, and through its products, goods, and services, it can introduce virtue-oriented brands that reshape people's mindsets and aspirations.

How does the script view the importance of daily faithfulness in business or ministry?

The script views daily faithfulness as crucial, emphasizing that while not every day will be a highlight, consistency in doing good work and fulfilling responsibilities is essential for achieving larger goals and experiencing transformative moments.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Glorifying God in Various Professions

The speaker emphasizes the misconception that glorifying God is limited to traditional ministry roles. They argue that God can be honored equally in the marketplace, such as in business, as in the church. The speaker encourages the church to recognize and honor all forms of work, challenging the notion that only certain Christian-oriented jobs are valuable. They also discuss the importance of understanding God's purposes and how historical biblical figures were vocational leaders, showing that ministry and work are not mutually exclusive.

05:01

🛠️ Embracing Life's Unexpected Vocational Paths

This paragraph discusses the idea that God may call individuals to roles they wouldn't have chosen for themselves, dispelling the myth of a perfectly planned life. The speaker reflects on their own varied career experiences and how they were led to unexpected opportunities, such as running an outdoor gear company. They highlight the importance of being open to God's doors and embracing different seasons of life with different vocations, rather than being rigidly fixed on a single path.

10:02

🏗️ The Impact of Business on Culture and Society

The speaker explores the role of business in shaping culture, asserting that businesses create the context in which people live by anticipating needs and desires, and offering products and services that reflect these. They argue that when businesses work together with a shared vision, societies flourish. The speaker also discusses the importance of businesses being virtue-oriented and contributing positively to society's values and desires.

15:03

🌳 Adventure as a Catalyst for Personal Growth

The speaker discusses the role of adventure in personal development, suggesting that it can foster humility, curiosity, and wonder. They describe an outdoor adventure brand's mission to equip and inspire people for life-changing experiences through high-quality outdoor products. The brand aims to be more than just a product provider, but also an influencer that encourages a deeper experience of community, love, and adventure.

20:03

🛠️ The Transformative Power of Business in Society

The speaker shares personal stories of individuals who have been given opportunities through businesses that have changed their lives, such as a pre-apprenticeship program for individuals with criminal backgrounds. They emphasize the importance of love and grace in business, and how these values can lead to positive cultural change. The speaker also reflects on the importance of connecting faith with action in the business world.

25:06

🌟 Integrating Faith and Work for Cultural Impact

The final paragraph focuses on the integration of faith and work, with the speaker discussing how their faith influences their approach to business and their interactions with employees and the community. They highlight the importance of using business as a means to glorify God and make a positive impact on society, emphasizing the potential of business to be a vehicle for lasting change in the world.

Keywords

💡Ministry

Ministry in the context of the video refers to the service of Christians in religious roles or activities, often perceived as separate from secular work. The video challenges this notion, suggesting that ministry can also be carried out in the business world, as a means to glorify God and influence culture. For example, the speaker mentions 'Paul being a Tent Maker' and 'Peter and James as Fishermen,' illustrating that biblical figures had 'day jobs' while also serving in ministry.

💡Marketplace

The marketplace in this video is used metaphorically to represent the business world or the secular environment where economic transactions occur. It's contrasted with the church or mission field, traditionally seen as the primary arenas for Christian service. The speaker argues that glorifying God can happen just as much in the marketplace as in the church, indicating a broader understanding of where and how Christian values can be applied.

💡Vocational Path

A vocational path refers to an individual's career or professional journey. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's calling in various aspects of life, including business, rather than limiting it to traditional ministry roles. The speaker encourages viewers to pursue their passions and the causes they care about, assembling their vocational path around what God has put in front of them.

💡Adventure

Adventure in the video is presented as a catalyst for change and personal growth, contrasting with the comfort that can stifle development. The speaker shares personal stories of taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones, such as leaving a secure path to enter the business world, which is likened to an adventure that leads to transformative experiences and personal growth.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching, and running a new business, which is often initially a startup company. The video highlights the role of entrepreneurship in living out faith and having a transformative impact. The speaker's personal journey includes a transition from seminary to running an outdoor gear company, demonstrating how entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for faith and mission.

💡Cultural Change

Cultural change refers to the transformation of societal norms, values, and behaviors over time. The video discusses the role of business in driving cultural change by creating products and services that reflect and shape the desires and needs of society. The speaker suggests that businesses, through their offerings, have the power to introduce virtue-oriented brands that can reshape people's mindsets and aspirations.

💡Grace

Grace, in a Christian context, is the unmerited favor of God. In the video, the concept of grace is applied to business management, emphasizing the importance of treating employees with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness. The speaker reflects on how being a Christian influences their approach to staff management, incorporating the principle of grace into their leadership style.

💡Justice

Justice in the video is discussed in the context of social responsibility and ethical business practices. It is highlighted as a 'weightier thing' that should not be forgotten alongside profit-making. The speaker encourages businesses to share their social capital and create opportunities for others, reflecting a commitment to justice in their operations.

💡Transformation

Transformation in the video is used to describe the profound change that individuals and society can undergo through business practices and personal growth. The speaker talks about the transformational power of mentorship and providing opportunities, as well as the personal transformation that can occur when stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing new challenges.

💡Love

Love, as discussed in the video, is a central theme and a driving force behind all actions, particularly in a business context. It is presented as a fundamental aspect of Christian faith that should manifest in the way business owners treat their employees, customers, and the wider community. The video emphasizes the importance of love in connecting the dots between faith and daily business practices.

💡Influence

Influence in the video is related to the impact one can have on others and society at large. It is discussed in terms of using business as a platform to affect positive change and to share a message of deeper meaning and purpose. The speaker talks about the potential of business leaders to shape culture, industry practices, and the lives of their employees and customers through their influence.

Highlights

The discussion emphasizes the importance of glorifying God in all aspects of life, including business and the marketplace, not just within traditional ministry roles.

The need to overcome the misconception that only certain 'Christian-oriented' work can glorify God, suggesting that all work can be a form of ministry.

The idea that the church should honor all types of work, not just traditionally religious vocations, to counteract the societal bias towards certain careers.

The importance of educating people about God's purposes and correcting misconceptions about the significance of work outside of religious contexts.

The historical examples of biblical figures who were vocational leaders, such as Paul as a tentmaker and Peter as a fisherman, to illustrate that religious figures also had day jobs.

The argument that God puts things on our hearts and asks us to pursue them, regardless of whether they fit into traditional categories of business or ministry.

The notion that comfort can inhibit personal growth and that embracing adventure can lead to more fulfilling experiences and personal development.

The speaker's personal journey from considering business and ministry as diverging paths to recognizing their potential for integration and mutual enhancement.

The transformative impact of the speaker's time in Seminary, which reshaped their theology and reignited a passion for entrepreneurship as a form of ministry.

The concept that God calls individuals to roles they might not choose for themselves, challenging the idea of a perfect Christian path.

The belief that being open to the doors God opens, regardless of the structure, is essential, as life involves different seasons and vocations.

The discussion on the role of business in shaping culture, suggesting that businesses create the context in which people live and express faith.

The idea that businesses can be catalysts for cultural change by introducing virtue-oriented brands that reshape societal desires and identities.

The story of a business owner who found success and fulfillment in combining their passion for business with their Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of daily faithfulness in all work.

The emphasis on the importance of love in business practices, suggesting that love should be a guiding principle in all interactions within a company.

The concept of using business as a platform for social change, by creating opportunities for those who may not have the same blessings, such as through apprenticeship programs.

The personal story of a formerly incarcerated individual who found redemption and a future through a company that believed in them and provided opportunities.

The overarching theme that faith and business are not separate entities but can be integrated to create a powerful impact on society and individuals' lives.

Transcripts

speeding yes sir

Steve

John all right subjects you guys ready

I'm ready to go just count us

down you ready go

ahead so if you are a young person

saying I feel called to go into Ministry

because I want to change culture how

would you just maybe delete the word uh

Ministry and replace it with business it

seems to me one of the obstacles we need

to overcome is to prove to people that

you can glorify God just as much in the

marketplace as you can um in in the

church or on the for Mission field so I

think that as a church we could do a lot

more in honoring in some way that kind

of work you get a lot of gold stars for

certain kinds of very Christian oriented

work and you don't get any gold stars

for the other so I think that's one but

I also think um it just helping um

educate people to understand what God's

purposes are they've just been wrongly

educated to a large degree um I it's

it's

Brokenness that has caused people to

think their work out there in the world

doesn't matter yeah we have to overcome

that sometimes we read the text and we

forget that these uh great biblical

figures

were also vocational leaders as well you

know again going back to Paul being

being a Tent Maker looking at Peter and

James and their Fisherman's work looking

at Moses as a shepherd and the

agricultural work that he did you know

all of Jesus even as as a carpenter

working with his hands I think sometimes

we look at them as their Ministry and

public worship as being their primary

occupation but they did day jobs so for

me I think we have some real Rich

history both in scripture and church

history for this I think at the end of

the day uh God puts things on our hearts

he puts people in front of us and he

asks us to pursue those things and I

think sometimes we get that mixed up in

well what bucket do I sit in am I a

business person or am I a Ministry

person or do I do this nonprofit thing

and so I I think uh if we can throw

those things out and say there's there's

causes that we care about there's people

in front of us let me go after those

things and I'll assemble the pieces

around what God's put in front of me I

think that's a better vocational

path I think that we so often times find

ourselves in routines and that allows

Comfort to set in and uh Comfort I think

is rarely a place where we find personal

growth and development so I think

Adventure is a catalyst uh to shake

things up it's it's in some ways the

antithesis of comfort it um in the end

it proves to be the most worthwhile

experience and when you're sitting

around telling great stories so many of

those tend to happen

outside I've always been entrepreneurial

I've always had this love for business

and and what business could be and also

love for the Lord and for Ministry and

growing up I saw those as two diverging

paths I I really kind of bought into

this idea there's this sacred versus

second path and if I really want to uh

pursue my faith and and love Jesus uh

that I needed to sell everything and be

full-time in Ministry and so we decided

to sell everything um go to Seminary and

like I'm not even going to look back at

the secular

[Music]

path some people like to think of c as a

very linear path I think often times

when we look back we see that our past

are speckled with different experiences

that would have never anticipated to

bring us to where we are today so I've

had quite a varied past decade of career

experiences that I would categorize as

business design and

education ended up meeting an investor

that after talking to him for 2 hours

over coffee asked if I knew anyone that

wanted to help run an outdoor gear

company after thought and prayer I was

like let's do this so drove out to

Austin got here on a Tuesday started at

kamik on a Wednesday and that that was a

little over 18 months

ago Seminary was an incredibly formative

experience that reshaped my theology God

really started rekindling a passion for

entrepreneurship and business and and

then giving me broader vision for how

might business be a way to live out my

faith in in a really incredible way and

then have transformative impact on a

broader scale and so it's just this

merging of my passion for business

social entrepreneurship and then the

outdoors all in that summer that cic

came to

be I wouldn't have used those words

necessarily but life-changing Adventure

through outdoor experiences is something

that really resonated with me from my

background in education and meeting Greg

and seeing the opportunity to come

pursue that mission through business and

bring to bear my experience in business

and education was really compelling to

me and excited me

I do believe that God calls us to stuff

that we wouldn't

choose and so it is a myth to say you

know to really be a good Christian is to

get it all in that perfect little thing

and there are many things I know God

called me to that were miserable they

were so hard they were so out of my

sweet spot and only in retrospect can I

see how he's used it yeah so I think

it's not an easy answer yeah and if I

could just build on that I think the

idea that we could plan our steps to the

thing that is right is also a myth right

I I would have never put myself in the

seat that I'm in 10 years ago um but I'm

very grateful for it now and I feel like

it's a joy to do it uh but there was no

you know calculus of well am I going to

do this and how will this happen and

will that yeah so I think I think having

an openness too to the doors that God

does open uh regardless of the structure

that looks like we go through different

seasons of life with different vocations

uh it's not a crazy idea to to think

that you could be in Ministry pastorally

and then in Ministry in the marketplace

at different times in your life and so I

think we should embrace those things um

but to your point have a very uh a very

even and open hand to

them engineering is something that I

found out existed a fairly early age and

I thought that's what I'm going to

do somewhere in my teens um I found out

about this place called MIT and it was

really hard to get into and it just

seemed like nerd Nirvana and I thought

that is where I absolutely had to find

myself I had the opportunity to study in

Paris and that expose me to French

pastry and it's there that I really

became en armored by the Beauty and the

craft of French ptic you know as a

scientist I'm used to trial and error

I'm used to you know taking an

experiment and doing it 50 times to make

it right so this idea of of doing

something and failing at it and and

doing it over and over and over again

and and and very rigorously perfecting

it is like innate to

me now throughout my time in California

and at Hopkins is when my husband and I

started doing a lot of entertaining we

sort of found that we really loved it we

would do a lot of large parties he would

do you know the meats I would do sides

desserts appetizers that's way I taught

myself how to make maaha um you know I

taught myself various French techniques

and it was during my postdoc uh at the

NIH that I had the bright idea um I can

do two careers why don't I open a shop

while doing my post

[Music]

I live here on the hill on Capital Hill

in DC a spot opened up just um a few

blocks and everything seemed to to gel

and that was um kind of the um what led

to the opening of The Sweet Lobby about

5 and 1/2 years

ago shortly after we won um Cupcake Wars

we found ourselves really growing in

popularity not only on the retail side

but also on the wholesale side

we found ourselves needing additional

space so there in um enters uh in Suk

and so Suk is back of house our

wholesale macaron production as well as

our um Cafe pastry production um and

then our front of house is our globally

inspired market and uh Bakery and Cafe

space as a a small business owner I kind

of had to decide where to place most of

my energies a lot of people ask me w so

you in bi medical engineering you

developing like Vision saving technology

that seems so honorable and so needed

and sort of how do you decide then to go

into baking you

[Music]

know as human beings we're created with

one main purpose and that is to glorify

God and to do that in whatever sphere we

might be in

[Music]

for me I think um Colossians you 3:23

really uh came to mind and that's you

know whatever you do do heartedly is for

the Lord rather than for man knowing

that from the Lord you will receive an

inheritance for is Christ the lord whom

you serve so this idea of whatever I was

doing that I should be doing it heartily

and for the

Lord I'm thinking of Ephesians 4 which

in which Paul says some are called to to

be pastors some are called to be

evangelists some are called to be

teachers but their job is to build up

the ministry and it seems to me clear

that what Paul is saying is that the

actual Ministry of the church are the

Ley and they're the ones that are

actually doing the work outside uh the

the doors of the church yeah well uh I

mean I think it it by its very nature we

are going out and creating the context

that people live in and so we are

creating expressions of faith

and so each of us uh wherever we go

whatever we're doing uh have to

ultimately say I'm I'm learning about

this this this Orthodoxy that I have

this doctrinal thought and then I have

to go put it into my hands which is

orthopraxy and so I think that

connection of theology to action is the

expression of the lady that you're

talking about and uh if we divide those

two things and we're just content with

what's in our head I don't actually

think that's a full expression of faith

and I think the church needs to

encourage people to do that application

on a regular basis and uh encourage the

exploration of what that looks

like many of us had worked together in

different capacities but when kind of

pulled us together and talked about hey

we're all passionate about being

excellent what we do about process about

people we can we can do this thing um

and it kind of started there we really

focused on the quality and really wanted

something better for our clients they

were paying a lot of money not getting

the quality and then we also knew the

knew the problems that the employees

were having which is construction Market

can be a rough rough trade we decided

hey we can do this we can do this better

we can provide the quality we can

provide a good place for the employees

to learn and uh develop new skills we

work throughout Colorado and Wyoming and

we service different vertical markets

ranging from small service projects up

to large construction

projects we started in a bad economy uh

we started with no local relationships I

mean it was a big challenge we had to do

Grassroots efforts to get our name out

there and our quality and our service

and who we were and 15 years later you

know we've been really blessed and

grateful and amazing people and amazing

projects that we've worked

on for us it's kind of evolved over time

figuring out what is our culture going

to be who are we going to be we really

view that you know we want people to do

well here we want them to retire well uh

we want them to feel like they're a part

of something bigger and so setting that

vision and what are we do in the next 5

years what's our role or responsibility

in the community how are we serving how

are we giving back how do you do

something bigger than build a

building church is the conscience of

culture we make sure that culture

understands its higher moral calling but

business is the creator of culture they

look at market conditions and they

assess needs and desires and wants and

in an anticipatory way they create

products goods and services that

actually bring to life what's in our

hearts and our imaginations and if they

work together in complimentary ways like

that then our societies flourish even if

it's one of 20 brands that someone

engages with on a weekly basis it's

important uh for it to be a different

vision and uh I think there's

opportunities for us to introduce brands

that are very virtue oriented

to reshape people's uh mindsets about

what their life could look like and we

encourage our entrepreneurs in this way

they're building Society they're

building out the things that society

says we should desire what what their

identity should be what they should

desire what the good life looks like all

these these really large philosophical

questions that businesses are trying to

answer on a daily

basis Kim's an outdoor adventure brand

uh purposed to equip and inspire people

people for the adventure of changing

lives we do that through high quality

outdoor products such as camping

hammocks sleeping bags and new product

lines uh to come our goal is to design

gear that's really simple and intuitive

to use that can be used in your backyard

even in your house and then go with you

on your most epic Adventures so gear

that's simple but also really

technically

Innovative we want to invite people into

a fullness of life and share a story

that uh equips and encourages people to

to love others well and that has to

start here that has to start within the

walls of this

office we want to use Adventure very

strategically to help produce something

uh greater in people um so we hope that

Adventure produces humility uh curiosity

and wonder we're not just like an

endpoint for the consumer for the

customer but we're more of an outpost

that is equipping and inspiring and then

moving them on we think that the

products we're creating are catalysts

for creating that experience of a Fuller

and Deeper Life product is is not the

end for us the product is the very

beginning of the cycle that kind of

pushes us all the way through being able

to you know tell the story to the

customers uh both of the retail space

and our customers um and also kind of

inspire them through that of what our

give is and and how we're giving back to

give people Adventure

in the outdoor space it's a very social

space people that are wanting to connect

with a deeper meaning and purpose and so

we actually have something to share as

to why we believe there is deeper

meaning and purpose and we want to move

people beyond the brand and Beyond the

physical products and into this deeper

experience of Adventure community and

love and ultimately you know my hope is

that in those catalystic events they

they would find uh the Lord

[Music]

so some of the Fool's go that we we've

sold to Millennials is this thought that

everybody's going to change the world

and that's a good concept unless it

leads to us only getting excited about

the big things and I think it is

important that we highlight that every

day in business or in pastoral Ministry

is not going to be a highlight real it

is us being faithful to the daily task

of doing good work and making sure that

we are mindful of the responsibilities

and duties that are set before us and as

we do that these great explosive moments

come they they come as a result of us

being faithful we have a tendency to

overlook the importance of dropping your

kids off at school every day or being

faithful in paying your taxes or showing

up to work on time so I think that we

have to get a vision for God being

glorified in the small things which

ultimately lead to big

things so do you want to set up the

experiment that we did the other day

yeah do you remember how to do it this

one okay what else do we

need

oh and they did fall down

a t

being a business owner you certainly

work all the time but you do get to set

your own hour somewhat I'll have a

couple hours off in the morning if my to

take my child to school I think that

flexibility was was um was

attractive as a Believer as a Christian

as a you know follower of Christ that

has to be my faith it's what kind of

governs my priorities It's tricky

because it's far easier said than than

done because we're so driven in this

life by what is visible what's easily

around us we seldom naturally consider

what Christ would have us

do if you would ask what sort of the

main challenges of of running a business

I think the first thing would just be

managing staff well and this is really

in the pursuit of perfection right I

mean these are are they're very good

they look very nice but I I really think

that we can do

way better I think we can do

better as a Christian there's um a few

considerations that you have that

perhaps um someone who's not a Christian

would would not have I think the concept

of um Grace you know is something that

as a as a Christian you you understand

so for me that's been a huge part of how

I

manage I started to to consider what a

business really meant it meant um a

community where you can provide

employment um for folks you have the

opportunity to do something else that I

love was just to Mentor um young people

I think when I look back at people who

have been with us for you know some of

them you know 3 four years it's just

amazing to see that transformation

through um through mentorship and

through providing opportunities and so I

think it's important to think through

bringing glory to God and how best you

can do that whether it's pursuing

Ministry or pursuing another

[Music]

career there is something about

employment that lifts the countenance up

and makes someone feel like they're

fully in in God's image and that is

something that a business can do

entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

carrying enough about the AO day in

people to build businesses that

eventually build great cities you know

Jesus uh criticizes the Pharisees in

Luke 11 verse 42 where he says you know

you tithe of your mint and your cumin

and your spices but you forgot Justice

and the love of God you should have done

those other things but not forgotten

those virtues the weightier things right

and I think in business uh if he was

sitting around this table he would say

you launch great businesses you make

wonderful profit profit and that's all

wonderful and it's great but don't

forget Justice don't forget to share

your Social Capital uh with others and

create opportunities for others who may

not have the same blessing that you

have being in the electrical trade you

have four years to be in the field of on

the job training to become a journeyman

electrician and with that we support a

four-year apprenticeship

program we're always hiring people to

come into our program and we like to

bring people in that are completely

green don't know the trade so we can

train them in our

process with that we were starting to

donate spend time with different

charities we realized that they had some

candidates that were coming out of their

program looking for jobs and so that's

where we decided Let's test this out and

uh we started this pre-apprenticeship

program so the guys come to us from some

of the varied programs not only they

learn everything they're kind of putting

their lives together too they learn

their tools they learn learn what what

it takes to go out on the job site and

then when we send them out they're ready

to go they're ready to be a part of

Wayfield it's really been just giving

these guys just an opportunity that you

you care for them and you you you say

guys I got you 40 hours I got your

health insurance and um they've never

had that opportunity before so it's it's

just

rewarding life has its challenges and

things kind of change and uh ended up uh

getting a felony and uh it's kind of

hard getting a job as a felon as an

addict um it's hard to to get back into

society and reintegrate to get with a

good company it's tough road I bumped my

head quite a few times uh got some drug

charges uh some DUI and um this last DUI

I got was kind of a Make It or Break It

For Me honestly I don't think that i'

I'd be here with such a a great future

ahead of me without W I just bought a

house literally a month ago um he just

paid off my vehicle um you know things

are things are looking very

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positive just they're ready to make a

change in their life you see that switch

where hey I've made some bad decisions

in the past but this company Believes In

Me and they're giving me a future and

they're investing in me when a lot of

people wouldn't hire me before um it's

kind of this you see it

click we've got you 300 employees right

now and if you equate that out and

there's you know 600 people that were

were affecting and were affecting

families I think the one word that sort

of has continues to resonate with me as

you sort through that is the word love

if somehow our faith doesn't result in

love then we're not connecting the dots

so that love could be for the coworker

it could be for the person that's going

to receive the product that we're making

um often it's very mundane it's often

unlikable people that um in our business

work in particular we're still called to

love so grappling with all right how

does my heart change how is what I know

about the truth of Christ dying on the

cross and being raised again from the

dead Chang my ability to love in the

business I'm in um I think we've got to

wrestle with that question that's go

that's that's such a big Point uh I

think most of the things we talk about

in the realm of cultural change uh are

actually not motivated out of love

they're motivated out of hostility or

discomfort or wanting things to be more

like we want them to be instead of

saying we we wish that this this context

of life was was easier or better we talk

about the entrepreneur in their role in

shaping culture and they're starting uh

as as equivalently a mustard seed with

this idea that most people say won't

work it grows it starts to shape the

organizations it starts to shape the

employees who's around them and then as

those employees go about doing their

work with that organization's mission

and vision that starts to shape the

stakeholders around them it shapes the

vendors that they work with shapes the

places they buy ads it shapes the supply

chain that they work with and then as

those uh different things come to life

through stakeholders we think industry

best practices start to change right

people engage with companies in

different ways they have different Norms

uh and then as those Norms go as those

Industries change that's where I think

the culture actually starts to take on a

different

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form I love that uh in my work I'm I'm

not you know just in this in this bubble

of faith of you interacting with all

these other people that are that believe

the same thing that I do or see the

world the same way that I do I think

that um being in in the business

environment just gives phenomenal

opportunity to connect with a a diverse

group of people um in ways that maybe an

NGO or a faith-based organization

wouldn't be able to

have there is work to be done in in all

places in our culture and insy and we

can have a positive impact wherever we

are and that regardless of the work that

you're in like you're always being

prepared and shaped for that next

season my perspective as a as a Believer

who uh is deeply passionate about

Ministry and thinking thinking about how

Ministry is integrated into my work I

see them not as two separate things I

see them as all as all one I think

business today is the greatest vehicle

for uh lasting change in the world

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thinking through can you bring glory to

God and in in in what you do and then

you know again back to I think

Colossians 3:23 is there something that

I can do heartily you know working

working for the Lord um you know rather

than for man or even rather than myself

I have to check my ego every day um as I

think through how am I am I really

working to glorify myself or is this

really to bring glory to

God view that the workplace everybody

spends time there right so many hours a

week and so how can you make a

difference by um being consistent and

showing people just in your actions that

you care and can be present with your

time um have a conversation with them um

you know cuz I think when you build

relationship then that's when people

trust you and you can talk a little bit

more about your faith what you believe

in and with all the connections that we

have um focusing on giving back and

serving and connecting with Community

groups and charities it takes it to this

other level so we're affecting families

we're affecting Community groups and it

starts to build on each other and it's

uh it's a beautiful

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thing you know God gives you different

giftings and if you have that business

gifting and you can Excel within

business you can capture a big

audience being in that position where

you can have an area of influence um and

affect people positively is really

powerful oh

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oh

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