In our modern world, technology’s rapid evolution has changed many business sectors and practices. Communication is instant, production is faster, and digital tools for marketing, campaigning, and networking are more advanced than ever.
Facing business struggles, setbacks, conflicts, and hard financial times is something that business leaders and CEOs expect to experience.
I enjoy unhurried conversations where joys, hopes, dreams, and fears bubble to the surface of our often too-busy lives. As a pastor and frequent speaker on faith, work, and economics, I not only really like a bold cup of coffee but enjoy catching up with congregational members at a favorite coffee shop.
Creating a talent advantage defines much of the human capability (talent + leadership + organization + HR) agenda. HR professionals often gain credibility and have an impact when they help create a talent advantage by answering such questions as why talent matters, how to improve talent, and how to prioritize talent.
“We feel the spirit of God here.” That is a powerful statement, and when you realize the individual is talking about a commercial business enterprise, it is even more potent. That is how one customer described the business of Infinitely Beyond Award recipient, Mr. Bob Weaver. In 1984, with the help and full support of his family, Bob acquired a small Chevrolet dealership in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the heart of “coal cracker country.” He started with 17 employees. By 2014, this small dealership had expanded to include all the GMC brands and was now a sprawling campus of five buildings with over one hundred employees. And all of this survived the General Motors bankruptcy reorganization and dealer cuts. Bob gives all the glory and praise to God.
And it wasn’t just the dealership that was growing. In 2015, a small church plant was looking for a temporary place to meet, and they began to use the drive thru service lane at Bob Weaver Auto for Sunday morning praise and worship. It worked out great for them; you just can’t put God in a box. Freedom in Christ Church continued to grow and they held their first service in their newly acquired facility on Easter Sunday.
Bob has a strong commitment to local and national ministries. He has served on various church boards, and the advisory board of the Salvation Army. He supports the work of Dawson McAllister Ministries, Hope International and the Pocket Testament League.
When the Pocket Testament League approached Bob for support, he took a photo of his pastor’s car, a red Camaro convertible, and had it placed on the cover of the “pocket-sized Gospels of John”, and ordered his first 5000 booklets. Bob has used them ever since, including them with the paperwork when each car is purchased. Little did he know, that Camaro photo would become one their most popular covers, with over one half million with that cover being ordered in 2016 by a community in China.
Bob remains committed to his family and business. He is blessed to have his wife of 30-years, and both sons joining him at work in the family business.
Bob joined Convene about the same time as his beloved father passed away. Convene became a place where Bob was mentored, encouraged, challenged, held accountable, received and gave sage wisdom and advice, and provided a godly influence on how to be a better husband, father and leader in his business.
Bob began a workplace chaplain program, workplace bible studies at lunch, employee mission trips, a Christian resource library and the completion of a Christ-centered vision and mission statement that is prominently displayed throughout his facility.
It is easy to see why his customer stated, “We feel the spirt of God here.”
Anyone who is familiar with the show “Undercover Boss” knows the thrill of seeing the CEO truly understand what his or her workers go through in a day on the job. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, took this to a whole new level...
In November 2008, Tony Lancaster was driven to Southern California by his brother, and dropped off with a change of clothes and a backpack. Fresh out of rehab, having just lost his business and all of his money, Tony was without hope. But later that year, everything changed. He found Jesus Christ, which eventually led him to make a difference in the world by giving back what he himself had been given: hope. Tony started, and still leads, HOPE Café and Catering, which serves fresh, gourmet food to groups of any size (between 10 and 10,000!).
At a recent One2One meeting with a long-time Convene member, Steve—a man with a great heart for God, family and business—shared about a recent vacation to Yellowstone National Park with his extended family (wife, 4 daughters with husbands, and grandchildren). He described the park as a sanctuary of geothermal activity, forests, mountains and wildlife in an ever-evolving landscape. Steve was evidently moved in spirit by this experience. Steve described Yellowstone in this way:
“The environment is constantly changing”
“Only the strong survive”
“God’s hand is so evident there”
My immediate reaction was to ask, “How is that like your business environment?”
For certain, in our information-deluged and technology-advancing world, the environment is constantly changing. How does your business keep up with the pace? Our Convene team has a saying, “What got you here, won’t take you there”.
For certain, in our still-precarious economic environment, the strong survive by great leadership and team building, innovation and operational efficiency. How do you hone your leadership skills?
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”—Proverbs 27:17.
For certain, God’s hand is active in your business. How do you stay focused on God’s intent for your company and your stewardship thereof? Convene helps to impel your decisions through the filters of Kingdom Purpose, Vision and Values.
Could your business have a legacy like Yellowstone?
“Let us not give up meeting together…but continue to encourage one another”. Hebrews 10:25
