My first business was teaching Spanish. It was a natural extension to my years as a teacher and my ability to speak the language. BUT, when God called me into Direct Sales (yes, He called me), I was out of my element. Not sure about what to do or how to do it.
Was I smart enough? Savvy enough? Out-going enough? I had never been in sales. I knew nothing. I’ll admit, the company did a very good job training its consultants. I learned a lot there. BUT, God also brought resources and people in front of me that taught me to do things His way.
By being, out of my comfort zone, I had to rely on Him for my business to run well. I had to trust that the opportunities and coaches He put in my path were for my good. I had to step out in faith and do the work in front of me (and it was a lot of work).
How did I know what to do? How did my business grow? By deepening my faith. By aligning with God for my success.
Growing Faith
The company I signed up with was Mary & Martha. It’s a faith-based company, so it was easy to grow my faith, right? In a way. I wasn’t satisfied just ‘selling’ home décor and hospitality items that had scripture on them. I wanted my business, my work, to have more meaning.
I read all I could about Mary & Martha from the Bible and other texts. I learned about their differences and growth in their relationships with Jesus. I adopted the story of who they were, shared it at my ‘gatherings’, and realized that each of us are more balanced between the two women than we know.
What I also discovered was that Jesus never asked Martha to change her personality after He scolded her. He never told Mary to be more like her sister. By digging into their story, I was getting deeper into God’s character, reflected through Jesus.
I stayed with Mary & Martha for six years. During my time there, I developed techniques for memorizing scripture, created a journaling workshop, and shared how to Pray in Color.
By incorporating these faith-growth practices into my business, I grew in my faith and was able to share it with others.
Growing Business
One group of women I decided to market to was Christian Businesswomen and Entrepreneurs. 
I figured they had their own money and it would be very practical of me to make them my niche market. I was already networking heavily in my local area, but I needed to attract them to me.
So, I started a networking group specifically for Christian Women. This was a second business. It was a membership group with perks, not only networking but also masterminding and social events. I still have this networking group (even though I don’t sell Mary & Martha). In fact, I now lead to a bigger membership organization that has global reach.
The networking group is not the only way I serve Christian Businesswomen. The workshops I started in my Direct Selling days transferred to creating faith and business workshops for my target market. I even had a brick & mortar for awhile where I held meetings, facilitated workshops, and rented space.
Not all business ventures work out how you plan and when the Center closed, it opened the next thing God intended for me. Those stories that started with Mary & Martha, blossomed into an entire book profiling twelve working women of the Bible and the business principles they teach.
Growing Faith & Business
By researching and writing the book, CLARIFY, I learned more about these Biblical mentors. I loved discovering these women in a new way, seeing the impact they made for God on their culture through their work. I learned God has a place and a plan for each of us.
Connecting faith and business might be easy if you sell Christian products or coach Christian women, but God gave you this desire to do your business so you can be His ambassador in the marketplace. No matter what type of business you have, you are called to serve your clients. You are called to work with integrity and show God’s goodness to others.
God has called you and me into the work world, that’s where He expects us to serve Him. He has equipped us uniquely and specifically to bring solutions to our ideal clients. And, He provides resources, coaches, and mentors to help us grow in faith and grow in business.
. . . It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. (Ecclesiastics 5:18b-19)
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