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Men of Integrity, Jul/Aug 2001
Worthy Candidates
Theme for the Week: The Job Market
Friday, August 17
Key Bible Verse: "Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?"
Large numbers of unemployed in our area were virtually unemployable because of records tarnished by crime, substance abuse, or dropping out of school. We decided to start a company to hire and train them to do subcontract work for us. Ed Seabold, a no-nonsense manager with a heart of gold, offered to run it. The schools, police, and courts provided plenty of "bad" enough candidates.
Soon, Advent Industries was employing over 50 people. For most, it was their first legitimate job. We combined compassion with accountability, teaching them how to work, respect authority, cash a paycheck. We knew how far we had to go the day Ed left his office door locked while he was out for a few hours. On his return, he unlocked the door and noticed that someone had been inside and made coffee. Querying the workers, he learned that a few had removed ceiling tiles, dropped down, made their coffee and returned to work!
While many washed out, unable to handle the disciplined work environment, many others gained needed skills plus a sense of self-worth and purpose, and have gone on to business success.
—John D. Beckett in Loving Monday
Respond:
One way I could encourage better job performance for myself and for others is . …
Thought to Apply:
Jesus teaches that. … the Christian's compassion must be like God's—unceasing.
—William Barclay (British pastor, writer, 20th century)
Adapted from: Loving Monday (InterVarsity, 1998)
For your convenience, Loving Monday is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
July/August 2001, Vol. 4, No. 3,
Men of Integrity
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