Presidents Message for Year End 2010

Reflecting Back and Moving Forward

2010 was a year of change for sure for the Central Oregon Christian Business Association.  Our year didn't start until May, when we brought back monthly programming with breakfast meetings every second Thursday at Jake's Diner in Bend.  In August we finished our strong run of four Profile of Champion events with Tom Lehman.  With the Jeld-Wen Traditions tournament moving out of state in 2011, this was our last year.

We sold close to 340 tickets to hear Lehman, and we heard a man whose faith changed his life and has allowed him to touch many, many people through his career.  And whose faith was watered and nurtured by others in golf both famous and less known.  It was a rich experience to hear him speak.  We are sorry this opportunity won't likely come again. 

We thank Jeff Hart of Search Ministries in Portland for connecting us with this opportunity four years ago, and helping us make it happen each year since.  We sincerely appreciate Harlan Friesen and the Friesen Foundation for its support this year and in the past.  Thank you to the hundreds who attended, and because of their generosity we were able to help over the past years Pregnancy Resource Centers and Teen Challenge.  We also specially thank Bill Moe for his guiding and moving this event through its successes, even when other things in his life were calling him away from COCBA.  His leadership and drive were the main reasons for our consistent growth.

At our monthly Thursday breakfast meetings, were were blessed to hear from speakers with a wide range of experiences and topics.  Giving us interesting and compelling presentations prior to the August Profile of Champions were Adam Clark of KOHD News, Attorney Jason Conger (Now State Representative Jason Conger!) and CORIL Executive Director Jim Lee.  Afterward, Paul Leeberg of Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras, Beth Wickham of COCC's Small Business Development Center, Kelly Walker of Incite Marketing and in December COCC Business and Communications teacher Lowell Lamberton finished up 2010.  We are grateful to each of them for giving their valuable time for our benefit.

It would not have been possible to hold these monthly meetings without the help of a few newer faces who helped with registration and promoting our meetings.  Thank you to Jayson Tuma and Cindie Derrickson for being there at "Zero-Dark-Thirty" at Jake's, and to Tina Smith for working on our meeting flyer toward year end.  As an all-volunteer organization led by those who have full time jobs and other ministry/personal priorities, having many helping hands is the only way things get done. 

So where do we go from here?  I would like to make some observations, some obvious and others less so.  2011 promises to be as challenging as 2010, but I hope that COCBA can be more effective.

Business people, by and large, are struggling.  Not everyone is burdened by a significant drop in business, or fewer hours, or a job loss, but many are.  Those that are still managing a measure of success are working harder, leaner and often have to drop commitments which they cannot now afford- either with time or money.  No one seems to have cups that runneth over, at least not in resources.  Does this mean that Jesus Christ is any less significant in the marketplace, or less relevant to an individual's business life?  Of course not, and He still remains the key to our spiritual and life success.  

We have always had strong participation from ministry and charitable organization people.  While for them there are definite synergies and benefits, the networking and fellowship opportunities are a major strength of what COCBA has offered to these servants.  From what I've seen, most organizations have been hit as hard if not harder than the for-profit businesses in our community.  Jesus is still front and center with these ministries that participate in COCBA.

Our diversity of attendees has been one of COCBA's strengths since we started in 2005, with business managers, professionals, ministry and non-profit leaders, self-employed folks, retirees and some regular working people making up our mix.  One steadily declining demographic has been the medium to larger business owners, the business leaders in the community.  COCBA began with the help of several, but very quickly they went back to the commitments they already had, like service clubs, industry associations and the like.  With the exception of the Profile of Champion events, these executives haven't joined us in ministry.  This has hampered our growth and effectiveness and limited our resources, but we have strived to work with those who have participated, and are better off for it.

I have not seen another ministry or organization...even a church...which has focused on the business world and supported business people locally in the same way other ministries support people and life situations.  Many work through efforts designed to help the individual- men's and women's ministries, charitable organizations, prayer groups, for example- but with so much of our lives built around the 8 plus hours each day we spend working, there are issues and opportunities unique to the business environment.  An organization ministering to people where they work, figuratively and literally, we believe is important.

Supporting individuals in the business environment is critical.  Just as important is helping them better understand and practice God's principles in the workplace.  The Bible has many passages referring to business specifically, and other general precepts which have business application.  We believe Christians need to measure to this higher standard in business.  How many of us who want to do business with our brothers and sisters in Christ feel without question that Christians in business hold to a significantly higher standard?  If not, this is a poor witness for our Lord.

Most of us have a sphere of influence in our work environments which include many non-believers.  We relate to these people likely more hours each week than we see our own families.  We share, counsel, laugh and cry with people, and build relationships.  Is our witness strong enough to point people to Christ?  Often business issues are interwoven with personal problems, and do we know how to respond?  Particularly managers and supervisors can have great impact with others.  The field for evangelism in the workplace is fertile, if we are prepared to sew and harvest.

For these reasons we believe COCBA has a purpose in Central Oregon at this time, in this season.  If we don't work toward it, who will?  For 2011, I see the following as our general game plan:

1. Continue the breakfast meetings at Jake's.  Bring in speakers who add value in business topics, offer spiritual insight, reveal needed business resources, or preferably a combination of the three. 
2. Add a second monthly meeting at a different time, probably lunchtime.  This would need to be affordable to the majority of interested persons.  The $15 lunches of two year's ago are not likely to work in this economy.
3. Connect business educational resources currently available to those who can use them.  Many of our prior speakers and attendees offer training and other education, and will provide discounts to COCBA participants.  Many will also add value in a Faith-based context.
4. Start small groups centered on business.  We have materials available for use which are quite good, and there are more available.
5. Restart our membership program, which would allow us to re-join the Bend Chamber of Commerce, purchase new resources, and explore other program opportunities.
6. Provide opportunities for service.  Build participation on our "committees" of special programs, regular programs, membership and education.
7. Look for special event opportunities which align with our purpose, ministry and would serve the community.

One special idea is moving to the front burner.  I don't know about you, but I am noticing that more and more people I see- both new acquaintances and old- are out of work.  The unemployment rate does not represent everyone who needs more income to provide for their families.  I'm sure this is no surprise to any of you, but this is a serious problem.  So what is The Church doing to help?

Depending on how you look at it, the church is doing a lot for families and individuals, but how about helping people find sources of income?  Not charity or public (or private) assistance, but jobs or starting and/or succeeding at businesses?  Maybe it is happening, it isn't common knowledge.  What could COCBA do to help?

We are exploring the idea of a Christian "Job Fair", which would bring together resources, both Christian and secular, under a Christian umbrella, which would help, encourage and connect people in providing for their families.  We have some foundational ideas, but would really like to hear some passionate suggestions from individuals who want to help.  Might that be you?

Our growth at COCBA this year and putting these ideas into practice really depends on two things: Resources and God's plans.  Our main resource need is people to help get things done.  We also need to remain in prayer and seek God's will for all that we do.  Will you consider helping us?

If you made it this far in my message, congratulations and thank you!  I look forward to ministry with you in one way or another in this coming year.

May you, your family and your business be richly blessed in 2011!

In His service,

Wayne Hanson
COCBA Board President
whanson@bendcable.com
541-280-5922