Seminar takes on business approach to faith

Churches sometimes miss opportunities to reach business people because they aren't willing to use current technology in ministry or don't want to make changes without being certain of the outcome.

Yet they could be places of great influence and impact on their community, say a trio who are motivational speakers and Christians participating in a national telecast, with a downlink site in Cape Girardeau.

It's the job of the church to train its members how to be good stewards of life, said the Rev. Paul Short, pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. The church is hoping to do just that with an upcoming Maximum Impact satellite simulcast with motivational speaker John Maxwell. The satellite seminar will be from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. April 27 at the church.

Other speakers for the Becoming a Person of Influence seminar are Dennis Waitley, an author, and Lou Holtz, coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. The seminar is based on information from a book of the same title by Maxwell.

St. Andrew is one of 700 churches nationwide participating in the simulcast. More than 100,000 people are expected to take part. "We cannot influence today's business leaders with yesterday's technology," said John Maxwell, founder of INJOY, an organization that provides personal and professional growth resources.

The simulcast is open to anyone in the community, but should be particularly relevant to people in business. There is a $10 fee that can be paid at the door.

People usually perform better at work if they feel inspired about their job. Yet people tend to look to places other than the church when seeking motivation and leadership training, Short said.

But the church can offer more than just "religious" training and theological study. "It's about good stewardship of life and living," he said.

The Maximum Impact satellite course is an attempt to connect with the business community and help make people better employees, better employers and better church members, Short said.

David Hahs, a representative with Northwestern Mutual insurance, said he's heard both Waitley and Holtz speak at company meetings in Milwaukee, Wis. He's an avid reader of Waitley's publications, too.

"Their previous influence has been in a secular setting, but it just enhances my regard for them to know that they are gladly and willingly associating themselves with a message that is quickly associated with spirituality and faith," he said.

People try to stay spiritually fit through worship and study but expect to find help with business problems elsewhere. Yet Jesus sought out the business people of his day as disciples -- tax collectors, lawyers, doctors, fishermen.

Short said one of his favorite stories in the Bible is about the shrewd businessman who was about to be fired from his job. In the parable, found in Luke 16, Jesus tells how the man went to his boss' creditors and cut their bill in half knowing that when he needed help finding a job someone would owe him a favor.

Jesus told the crowd, "For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light. I tell you his, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. " (Luke 16:8-9)

Jesus wasn't commending the man's shrewdness, but explaining that the church must learn how businesses operate so it can make an impact in the world, the pastor said.

"We need to be honest and good in dealing with business matters," Short said. "The church can put business teachings into a biblical context."

Teaching others is an important aim of the church. La Croix United Methodist Church concludes its first teaching conference this afternoon.

More than 200 people from around Missouri and Southern Illinois have gathered to learn more about outreach and ministry.

Most of the seminars were led by members of La Croix Church, which is one of the fast-growing Methodist churches in the state.

Over the years, La Croix has received calls from other churches interested in their contemporary worship and children's ministries, said Ron Watts, pastor.

Watts said his congregation believes in ministry training and often sends its members to leadership seminars at other churches, so it only seemed right to offer something at their church for other ministry teams.

Watts said it's good to expose people to other ministries so they can learn new techniques. "It raises their vision and excitement to see a growing ministry in another setting," he said.

New ideas are generated and people get excited about ministry at their own church after attending conferences. Several church members attend conferences each year at Willow Creek Community Church outside Chicago.

Short hopes that members of the business community can get excited and motivated about their roles and that might lead them to an interest in the church. The seminar is about being more influential and effective in life, which is a lesson the church can teach.

It's been said that people feel like they are losing control, but even then they don't lose their influence, Short said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126