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In late February, Christianity Today announced the results of the first Best Christian Places to Work survey, a landmark study commissioned by CT and administered by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI). It is the largest survey ever conducted on the attitudes of employees at Christian workplaces, with more than 8,500 respondents across a range of industries.

A panel of independent judges selected four companies in ten categories for special recognition. For two weeks CT is saluting the first place organizations in each category

Group Publishing
Loveland, Colorado

Thom Schultz was a 22-year old journalist who volunteered for his church as a youth worker when he had a great idea. Noting that resources to help people in youth ministry like him were scarce, he decided to start Group magazine out of his Loveland, Colorado, apartment to fill the gap.

Nearly 30 years later, Group Publishing now creates resources for all areas of church ministry and has 245 full-time employees.

"There was no way for me with my 22-year-old vision to see where this was going," Schultz says. "I was just on a quest to fill unmet needs."

But he wanted to do more than create high-quality products. He says, "It was one of those desires that God planted from the beginning in me, to place a great deal of importance on the quality inside our company as well as on the outside through our products and services."

As a result, potential Group employees go through a rigorous hiring process to ensure they are a good fit with the organization. After they are on board, they are given numerous educational opportunities through "Group University" to improve their skills.

Visitors can sense the difference as soon as they walk through the front door. "The day I interviewed and took a tour of Group, I went home and told my husband that I had to work here. This came from experiencing Group for only a few hours," says Tiffany Rogers, staffing and benefits supervisor.

Schultz's quest continues.

"We have a passion for the ministry of the local church," he says. "And we'll do whatever we can to meet those needs."

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Our 40 Best Christian Places to Work articles include:

The 40 Best Christian Places to Work | What makes them so good? (Hint: Not money)

The Complete List & A Closer Look at the Top Finalists | Christianity Today salutes four finalists in ten categories.

Inside CT: Great Places to Work | There is indeed much to praise and imitate in Christian companies.

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March (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47