Best Practices for Engaging Business Leaders

Brett Eastman moderated the panel of business leaders this morning. On the panel he engaged: Dale Dawson (Investment Banker Entrepreneur), Jim Lane (President of New Canaan Society), Chris Perry (Bond Trader and Investment Banker), Mark Affleck (Retired CEO), Dave Arnold (Executive Pastor at Saddleback)

I got a big bad case of "Been there, done that." I met a pastor who was obviously the best entrepreneur I had ever met. He had a vision to transform his country by creating a new generation of servant leaders, modeled after Jesus, who would transform his country. He asked me to help him build a school and it is not the best school in Rwanda. - Dale Dawson

My work felt more hollow. I asked the pastor what I should do. He said, "You are a businessman. Build businesses in Rwanda." When I thought, "Business and Ministry," I heard my call. At 50 years old, Jesus whispered in my ear and said, "You can do both." I have a personal mission. My personal mission is to build a bridge from Rwanda to the United States, and transform lives at both ends. - Dale Dawson

I spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs. 1+1 should be a huge multiplier in the Kingdom. I retired in my 40's. I had more time than ever before. I thought about what I'd done right and wrong. One thing I realized was, if I had more male Christian fellowship opportunities along the way, it would have made all the difference. I gathered 25 guys in my family room for coffee and bagels. We talked about "living our faith in the marketplace." We agreed to commit ourselves to each other, and to whatever God was leading us to do. We are now partnering with P.E.A.C.E. to bring guys in and help them take their faith seriously.  Then we want to work with them - together - for Kingdom work. - Jim Lane

I worked in London for eleven years. I worked hard. I was a social church guy. Business was my life. I moved back to New York and was working in mid-town Manhattan on 911. I missed the breakfast, because I was doing a deal, and all the people at the breakfast I missed were killed in the terrorist attacks of 911. That changed my life. - Chris Perry

It's all herding cash and trying to get agreement so everyone can move forward. - Chris Perry

I'm able to apply what I know, and did, with a passion that allows me to be me and allows me to make a difference in a multiplying way. - Chris Perry

My dad was an alcoholic. Sports got me away from the dysfunction of my family. I accepted Christ in college. I went to the business world. At age 33 became president and CEO. I started coming to Saddleback. I signed up for 101 so I could say, "I'm a member of a church. I'm a Christian." I signed up for 201 because Pastor Tom asked us to sign up for spiritual maturity. I thought, "In four hours I can become spiritually mature." I went to 201 fifteen years ago and I've been back to that class every time since. I've been teaching that class for 15 years! God was saying that guys like me can be in His inner sanctuary. The habits of a disciple are the ways, the means, for communicating with God. - Mark Affleck

I'm a trustee here at Saddleback. Saddleback has embraced me to come in here and work here as a business guy! - Mark Affleck

God said, "Come now." My wife said, "What?" - Mark Affleck

I made the decision. I was exposed to the P.E.A.C.E. plan and I think it will offer a framework for business guys to get involved. I'm a strategist for the P.E.A.C.E. plan. They key to let business guys be who they are! - Mark Affleck

I was raised in the church. I was a Christian and I loved business. I loved deals. I did about 40 mergers and acquisitions. I thought I had a pretty good life. I had all the things you're supposed to have: airplanes, boats, houses. Then I went to the S.H.A.P.E. class. They looked at my S.H.A.P.E. profile and decided I should drive the bus.  I did that for a while and did not feel very fulfilled.  I went back to S.H.A.P.E. class because I decided to give them a second chance. Second time around they said I should run the cameras for the services. - Dave Arnold

When I first heard Rick describe the P.E.A.C.E. plan, he started talking, saying, "We're going to build hospitals. We're going to build schools." My wife said, "Who does that? You should do that! Dave, you should do that!" I did not sleep well that night. I got up the next morning and wrote a letter to Rick Warren and said, "I'll do anything I can to help this P.E.A.C.E. program.  I'll dedicate the rest of my life to it." - Dave Arnold

We don't know anything at all about relationships. Genetics indicate men are inferior to women in relationships and communication. - Jim Lane

We say we are a community of men that love Jesus and love each other. - Jim Lane

I get 25 requests for financial donations every week. Guys like me do, and quite frankly, we're a bit tired of it. We want to do what can do. We can get things done. - Jim Lane

Pastors need to look at business people without seeing them as a threat. the criteria for involvement ought to be the Christian Heart, not titles or positions. Everyone with the Christian Heart ought to be able to work together for Christ. - Mark Affleck

The business world if a charge. It is lots of fun to make lots of money. When times are good and men are making lots of money, it releases animal spirits and drives the economy forward. Ministry that released the animal spirits could be good. - Chris Perry

We are the church. We get hung up in the local church and the local grouping of believers. We can get things done. That's what we do. We can get things organized. We need to figure out how to work together. Frankly, you need to learn how to work with us. - Jim Lane

Getting a business person to engage the world and leverage their gifts is the whole game. My pastor once said, "I used to think I was to be a fisher of men. That was true, but I recently learned I'm supposed to be a 'catch-and-release' fisherman." - Dale Dawson

Freedom and opportunity opens a business guy's heart for volunteering. - Dave Arnold

Cast a vision that is outside the walls of your church. The Baby-Boomers have more time, education and affluence than you imagine. This is the time for local pastors to deploy business leaders with enormous talent. - Dale Dawson

Get to know us, as men. Be part of the guys. You need, just like we need, the friendship, transparency, honesty and community. You are the CEO's of your business...just like we are. A lot of the relational issues are the same. Get to know us. We're intimidated by you just like you are by us. - Jim Lane

Go back and form an "Advice Squad" and say, "I need you." Start a dialog so you can move down the road to the point where these people can be engaged. The Advice Squad is loosely connected. Nothing about church budget, or church plans. Only friendship, faith and advice! - Mark Affleck

There is only one way to end poverty in the world.  J.O.B.S.  Period.  There are only two strategies for ending poverty: Wealthy Creation or Wealth Distribution. Communism says, "What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it." Christianity says, "What's mine is yours and I'm going to share it."

Pastors, you need to get over the idea that profit is bad. The only way anything is sustainable is if it operates at a profit. - Rick Warren

We'll have to create self-sustaining P.E.A.C.E. projects. - Rick Warren