“A Marketplace Christmas” was our focus. “Celebrating blessings…building hope” was our theme. We had a special friend, Brian Sotorske, Plant Supervisor at Superior Industries, share his incredible message. He spoke of his life and death experience two years ago and how his coworkers from his WorkMatters workplace group became his “brothers and sisters” at the hospital. If you have ever questioned the power of relationships at work, take 15 minutes and listen to this moving talk “Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates”. http://www.workmatters.org/events/eight_to_five_unplugged/listen_to_speakers/

As moving and impactful as that was, there’s more.

Prior to the event, we felt lead to find a family where the primary provider had been displaced from their job. We wanted to offer to this group of business leaders the opportunity to “pay it forward”. To take some of our blessings and help a family in need. Basically, we just wanted to tell their story and pass a hat.

It was amazing to watch God deliver my friend Kevin Davis to us just three days before the first event. We have history. He was in an early WorkMatters workplace group. Kevin is a humble, mighty man of God and a father of four young children. He worked for seven years as Supervisor for Martin Custom Homes. I wish you could have been there to hear his boss of seven years, Jeff Martin, who had just had to lay Kevin off two months ago, tearfully describe what this man meant to him.

Then we passed the hat. Sam Bates and I were hoping for $250. Are you ready? $800! We were blown away. Later that day, we got to surprise Kevin with this whole story and present him with the money. The following week, we did the exact same thing at our second event. And the result? $620! This group of business leaders, most of whom have never met Kevin, paid forward almost $1,500!

But there is more. And THIS is why I want you to hear the story. When we delivered the $620 to Kevin last Friday, in his completely humble way, he mentions that he actually gave away about half of the money! I said, “What? These people gave their hard earned money to help you and your family Kevin!” He went on to quietly describe the single mother working a shift at McDonalds and how much more she needed the money than they did.

Pay It Forward…without a job, four children, a wife, Christmas coming, and Kevin’s servant heart is pounding away.

Pay It Forward…business leaders dig into their pockets and purses to encourage a brother in Christ. Not even knowing that they may be helping a young, single mother working at McDonalds.

Need some inspiration? A reason for the season?

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
Matthew 20:28

As I share a few words from the emails and cards below, I want to encourage you to consider two things. First, when is the last time YOU hit the pause button on your job and really reflected on the impact you have had. We go so fast, stay so busy. Find a reason to spend some time thinking that through. Second, find a reason to encourage someone around you. It is amazing how it feels to receive it, isn’t it!

“I can’t believe it has been five years since WorkMatters was born.  It is amazing to look back at the humble beginning and see how God has grown the organization and to see how many lives have been positively impacted through the ministry.  I am very grateful to have been a small part of that process.” 

“Congratulations on 5 years of reaching out to the business community of NWA. I am proud to be associated with such a GREAT organization!!!”

“It is hard to believe that it has been five years, but it has been a great five.  Thank you for your commitment to lead WorkMatters and I pray that God will bless you, your family and WorkMatters over the next five years.”

“Congratulations on such a wonderful milestone! I know you continue to sense God at work through WorkMatters. It’s hard to believe it’s been five years.”

“Your e-mail stirred my heart as I began to think about all that God is doing through you in the Marketplace.  I will not be able to attend the cookout, but want you to know that I pray for you regularly, that God will fill your cup to overflowing and continue to use you to develop, empower and unleash His ambassadors in the marketplace.” 

“WorkMatters is bringing a message that is much needed in a community that has experienced so much prosperity. The truly important focus for so many has been lost. In these trying times, that focus needs to be directed to Him. You are providing that direction!”

Thank you so much for all you do for WorkMatters. I cannot wait to see what God has laid out for the next five years!

David

Have you ever wondered why a ministry like WorkMatters even exists?     Why there is such a need for bridging the gap between faith and work?

The faith-and-work movement began to take off about 10 years ago with pioneers such as Os Hillman, John Maxwell, and most notably northwest Arkansas’ own Dr. Tom Addington and Dr. Steve Graves (who is a current WorkMatters board member) co-founders of Life@Work.  Billy Graham acknowledged the trend saying “I believe the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace.”  Historic events such as 9/11 in 2001, and the corporate ethics scandals in 2004 caused this movement to explode in recent years. And now, the current economic crisis will put an even brighter spotlight on this movement. 

As a result, the need for organizations like WorkMatters continues to grow as more business people are anxious in these uncertain times for encouragement and practical direction on living a life of integrity, character and faith in the workplace. The economy, the election, our growing churches are all driving us to look harder at our lives and what is really important.

It is a great privilege and blessing to reach this five year milestone, especially as we reflect on the way God has used this ministry. In 2002, approximately 100 people attended the first WorkMatters Leadership Conference.  Since then, nearly 5,000 business people representing over 250 companies have attended either an annual leadership conference or a monthly Eight-to-Five Unplugged event. Over 50,000 people per week have heard the WorkMatters Minute Radio messages. And the workmatters.org website traffic has grown to almost 500,000 hits per year. The workplace small group ministry has had incredible life impact (I know that first hand as my J.B. Hunt small group changed my life). The one-on-one coaching and mentoring that we do is so needed by so many leaders who struggle in the marketplace.

So thank you for the privilege of the past five years. In my 30 years in the marketplace and in the church, I have never seen a need greater than mobilizing the “Sunday Christian” marketplace army to live the same way Monday – Friday that they do on Sunday!

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 

My WorkMatters calling began when I decided to invest a Saturday morning on April 27, 2002 to go to Central United Methodist Church to attend a John Maxwell leadership simulcast. It was at the end of that fateful morning that Tom Frase, an Associate Pastor at Central, stood on the stage and launched this new workplace ministry called WorkMatters. My life changed in that moment.

Little did I know that 18 months later, WorkMatters would be launched in October, 2003 as a non-profit organization and that I would walk away from, well, security. But as I look back now five years later, I see that my whole career, in fact my whole adult life, was being orchestrated for this exact opportunity.

WorkMatters is FIVE years old! Countless leaders have given of themselves, their time, their money, their prayers, their talent…to get us to this great milestone. God has used this ministry in some powerful ways to influence thousands of men and women in the marketplace. While we can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate, to say thank you to Him and to you for joining us in this awesome cause of helping men and women to bridge the gap between their faith and their work.

I can’t wait for the next five years!

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”     Ephesians 4:1