At the event, At Work on Purpose (AWOP) honored Transformation
Trailblazer award recipient Amy
Sherman
CINCINNATI, July 30,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- At Work On Purpose (AWOP)
hosted its annual XL Summit 2024 at Grace Chapel in Mason, Ohio, on July
12. The event drew 250 Christian workplace leaders from
around the world, coming together to connect, collaborate, and
celebrate citywide workplace ministry and transformation
efforts.
"More than at any time in our ministry's
history, the concept of a citywide community of working Christians
is coming of age," said Chuck
Proudfit, AWOP Founder and President.
"More than at any time in our ministry's history, the concept of
a citywide community of working Christians is coming of age," said
Chuck Proudfit, AWOP Founder and
President.
The summit began with worship led by Sadell Bradley, Pastor of The Warehouse Church
in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after, John McCarthy, CEO of AGI Management and Founder
of The Purpose Promise, led the first panel of interviews. The
interviews highlighted stories of working Christians making
vocational contributions that have become a blessing to
individuals, organizations, communities, and industries.
Brogan Orcutt, the founder of Inner Trek, served as an example
on the panel of how God uses work as a discipleship tool for those
who integrate their faith and work. Michelle Smith, Founder of Faith, Freedom, Life,
shared how she was inspired to start the organization during a
challenging time when her son was incarcerated. Feeling isolated
during that time, she turned to God and began Faith, Freedom, Life
to support families in similar circumstances. Through her efforts,
the organization has successfully fostered healing and restoration
within hundreds of families affected by incarceration. Last,
Chris Young, Founder and President
of The Good Place Institute, continued the discussion from the
context of Biblically grounded organizational development. Young
shared deep application of how he works to equip leaders so that
organizations can thrive, people can flourish, and so that
communities can prosper.
The latter part of the Summit celebrated citywide workplace
ministry and transformation efforts, connecting the dots between
vocational and cultural flourishing.
Landon Martin, Vice President of
Business Development at Trophy Awards Manufacturing, shared how
Trophy Awards broadened its vision through the concept of Total
Appreciation. This innovative approach now offers ways to recognize
employees using the five love languages, significantly enhancing
the company's positioning.
Next, continuing the theme of appreciation, the Transformation
Trailblazer Award was given to Amy
Sherman of the Sagamore Institute. Through a feature story
in "Christianity Today" magazine, Amy brought global visibility to
the AWOP ministry more than a decade ago. Proudfit explained:
"[Sherman] has been instrumental in helping us understand At Work
on Purpose as a ministry advancing both vocational and cultural
flourishing—similar to two sides of the same coin," he said.
After receiving the award, Sherman shared multifaceted insights
from her books "Kingdom Calling" and "Agents of Flourishing." In
addition, Sherman shared "what's next" in the faith at work
movement. She first recognized that many people are making the
"connection between Sunday and Monday." She added: "The movement
now has matured to the point where we need to be leaning into some
of the big issues that really are at the intersection of business
and society," she said. "As a movement, we have to be thought
leaders at the table where these big issues are being debated."
After honoring Sherman for the monumental difference she has
made in the AWOP ministry, Proudfit spoke further about how
vocational work can be used for the flourishing of the city, in
particular when Christians come together for collective effort.
In a panel discussion exploring that topic, Proudfit spoke to
Denis Beausejour, Bryan Holland, and Ford Taylor. Beausejour was a
former executive at Procter & Gamble who was
called into pastoral ministry. As a spiritual city leader, and
author of "The Biggest Idea Ever," Beausejour shared impactful
stories that have shaped him, and his vision for the Church across
the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Holland is CEO at the Genesis at Work Foundation and a former
leader at Holland Adhaus. Holland spoke about how Genesis at Work
finds meaningful work for individuals with special needs, which
ultimately enriches lives and businesses. His story reminded
attendees of the inherent dignity and value of work for everyone.
Next, Taylor shared how he has leveraged his transformational
leadership training, which he's used as a consultant, not just to
improve performance in organizations, but to organize and equip
Christians for transformation in cities.
Proudfit and Taylor shared how they are bringing this work to
cities across the nation through City Impact initiatives. These
initiatives are organizing and mobilizing Christian workplace
leaders to collaborate for city flourishing, through the sectors of
business, education, government, congregations, and nonprofits.
Lucretia Bowman, Executive Vice
President of Community Engagement at City Gospel Mission then
prayed over and commissioned leaders who are a part of this City
Impact Initiative locally in Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Annually, the XL Summit equips leaders for citywide Kingdom
impact and transformation, and this year was no exception. The
event concluded with a heartfelt song by Emily Duffy, a participant in one of the Genesis
at Work programs.
Proudfit summed up the 2024 XL Summit as "marking the moment
when citywide workplace ministry emerged as a global movement for
the Church at work."
About At Work On Purpose (AWOP)
At Work On Purpose is a pioneer in the workplace ministry
movement, advancing the citywide workplace movement around the
world. Headquartered in Blue Ash,
Ohio, more than 12,000 working Christians from the private,
public, and social sectors are a part of the AWOP community in
Greater Cincinnati alone, with
thousands more in the AWOP network globally. For more information
on AWOP and its specific initiatives, visit
http://www.atworkonpurpose.org or call 800-513-9580.
Media Contact
Laura Jackson, At Work On
Purpose, 800-513-9580, ljackson@skillsource.com,
https://atworkonpurpose.org/
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SOURCE At Work On Purpose