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Q. What does the CEO of a bakery do?

A. I'm the strategic leader of Fresh Start, which supplies McDonald's with breads and rolls around the world. I oversee 5 bakeries in the U.S. and 9 in Europe and Latin America. We've seen such rapid growth over the last 15 years that we keep our organizational chart in pencil! McDonald's also has me consult with other countries on how to do business with their franchise. This causes me to travel about 75 percent of my work week.

You're a regular Sunday worshiper at your church. With your schedule, how do you do it?

I make it a top priority. Ninety percent of the time, I can make it to church. I engineeer my schedule and take a firm stance to be home on Sunday mornings. On more than one occasion, I've left for the airport right after worship was over.

Are you ever tempted to sleep in?

No. I think it's critical to teach our children how important worship is. Skipping church is just not an option—it supplies us with meaningful time together as a family.

Why is worship so important in your life?

It's too easy to get involved with the details of life and forget about your relationship with God. Worship brings me back to spiritual reality. Every Sunday I return to ground zero and refocus. I also enjoy the connection with other Christians. Shared faith is shared strength.

What would you say to men who feel that adding regular worship to their day planners seems a monumental task?

If you give it the priority it deserves, it will become an effortless part of your life. Part of that is the work of the Holy Spirit. He makes it easy. Also, as head of a family, you need to lead by example. It's honestly something I don't think twice about.

—Craig Olson, president of Fresh Start Bakeries, Inc., is active in Salem Lutheran Church in Orange, California.

Credits: Adapted from—Steven B. Borst, Men in the Church (Concordia, 1998)

Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. For reprint information click here.

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