On December 28th the Real Hope Program members gathered together in Pignon to share a meal, encourage one another, and receive business and spiritual lessons. Claude and Pastor Salnave provided instruction for several hours to the attentive and engaged group. Also, due to the generosity of a donor each participant received a Haitian bible as a gift.
Though we were again not able to attend due to Covid related restrictions, we sent words of encouragement and professional advice from the Real Hope Program team. The following thoughts were part of what was shared with the micro-loan participants:
It is with great excitement and honor that we write to you. We are blessed to partner with you to help the Pignon community and be a light for God.
Hope = Confident Expectation.
When you started your business you had HOPE that it would be successful and it would provide for you and your family. You thought about what type of business to have, how you would operate the business, and how you would work hard for it to be successful. You had confident expectations for your business. As a business owner and leader you have a passion for making that vision and plan become a reality. You work long hard days. You do not quit. You have that HOPE deep inside you, and it is part of everything that you do.
Like planting a seed, starting a business requires faith and hope. When we put a seed into the ground we have faith and hope that it will grow. In a few days that seed starts to grow roots and pushes a sprout up out of the ground. That moment is amazing! We get to see the results of our faith and hope. However, the process is just beginning. At first, that small plant and your new business are growing, but they are fragile. They need continued support and attention. They need watered, fed, and regular attention. We need to be intentional in attending to our businesses.
We need to work hard "In" our business, doing the day to day work of our business and serving our customers. However, we need to also be intentional in working "On" our business. We need to regularly set aside time to study our business. What is working? What is not working? What can we do differently or better? I would encourage you to at least once a month set aside time to study your business. Study it through your eyes. Also, study it from the viewpoints of your customers, your suppliers, the non-customers in your community, and God. How does your business help each of those individuals? Can all of them see you? Do they know what you do? Are you helping them? Do they know you and desire what you have? God made all of us different. He is very selective in how he gives each of us personal, professional, and spiritual gifts. As we assess our businesses, it is a great practice to ask a few other people to join us in looking at our business. How do they see your business? Do they see different ideas or opportunities that you might not see? In doing this, you need to ask people that you know will be open, honest and encouraging, and will keep your ideas, challenges, and successes confidential. They also need to know your true vision and purpose for your business. They need to know your original HOPE for your business so they can help keep you focused on that purpose, while also giving you ideas of small changes. Just like as a tree grows from the seed that was planted, a gardener can help you trim a bad branch or give water at the right time. However, if the gardener doesn't know how tall you want the tree to grow, they may trim too many branches, or none at all.
Is the Holy Spirit one of your business advisors? Have you ever sat down in a quiet place and had a conversation with the Holy Spirit about your business? Do you look at the Holy spirit as a business partner? Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit how to handle difficult decisions like you would with a business partner? When I am facing a difficult decision with our business I always ask my wife for her advice. I respect her and the advice that she provides. I also have a group of 6 business owners that I meet with once a month. I humble myself and ask them for their advice when I am making difficult decisions. As I have matured as a business owner, I have also learned to have those conversations with the Holy Spirit. I will have a conversation with Him as if he is sitting beside me. As you do this, you likely will not hear a voice speak back to you. However, when you invite the God and the Holy Spirit into an active role and relationship in your life, they will draw near. Just like people, they desire relationships and want to be connected with people who want to be connected with them. Like water that comes in different forms like water, ice, and steam. The Holy Spirit will often answer your conversations in different ways. Sometimes you will immediately feel confidence in your decision. Other times he will have you truly wrestle with a decision. Often he will put a thought, idea, or person on your heart that was not there before. He will even prompt another individual to reach out to you for encouragement. God always loves us, but the more we draw near to him and make him an active part of everything in our lives (including our business) the more we will experience His presence.
These same ideas work in sharing God's word with others. It can be challenging, difficult, and even scary. However, if we surround ourselves with good friends and regularly draw near to the Holy Spirit, it becomes more clear on how we can do it. Remember Hope = Confident Expectations. If we have Hope that the Holy Spirit is going to work through us and our businesses, and we actively involve Him, how can we not be confident? It becomes His business, giving glory to His Kingdom, and we know God never fails!
We love each and every one of you, and pray that your business and relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit grow daily. We pray that a day will come soon when we are able to travel to Pignon again, and meet each of you in person. We know that God has a plan for each of you, and we look forward to learning about your businesses and seeing how God is using your gifts and talents.
