Last fall I shared about my transition from my leadership role at HOPE International. Since then, I’ve worked very part-time at HOPE and invested most of my waking hours in sustaining the lives of our four small children.
This season gave me a newfound appreciation for the role Alli served in our family for most of the last 12 years. And, it gives me tremendous respect for the moms and dads out there who spend their days whipping together PB&Js, brokering truces among warring siblings, and navigating the great carpool shuffle.
The actual work is not hard. Wiping butts and pouring bowls of cereal is not tactically difficult. But the compounding effect of dozens of these tasks every hour of every day for months exacts a real toll. The work is invisible to everyone aside from the small children who are often delightful, but often incredulous you might ask them to vacuum the very floors they’ve sullied. To all the full-time and part-time stay-at-home parents out there: You do hero’s work. Hold the line. Don’t let those whippersnappers unionize and boycott their chores today. Not on your watch.
The last nine months have also been gratifying in ways I struggle to fully verbalize. From morning tears about classmates who have chosen new friends to afternoon cackles at the pool, this season gave sacred glimpses into the joy and privilege of raising children. I love these kids immensely and loved the front-row seat this season afforded me to witness their creativity, courage, and wit.
With the kids now all in school and reaching age 40, I’m stepping into a new chapter. And, with that comes a complete change of scenery.
For the last 17 years, I’ve served at HOPE International in a variety of roles. It’s been such a joy to see the organization grow from less than thirty employees in just a few countries in 2006 to over 1,400 employees working across over 20 countries today. From serving just hundreds of hardworking entrepreneurs to today serving millions. In January, I will officially join the ranks of our amazing donors and volunteers championing HOPE without getting paid to do so.
And, starting next week, I’ll be starting a new role at EMJD Corporation, a 53-year-old sheet metal fabrication company located just a few minutes away from our home. There are a host of reasons why I’m excited about this change, but it starts with Luke and Jenna Galli, our longtime friends. Alli and I have been good friends with the Gallis for over a decade. They bought EMJD a few months ago and I’m looking forward to helping them and their amazing team in growing the business. In my role, I’ll support Luke with sales, marketing, special projects, and anything else that’s needed to help EMJD flourish.
I’m also excited about working in a small business that makes things. 11 years ago this month, Christianity Today took a risk on me and published my first real article on the impact a metal fabrication company can have on its employees, with the important products they make, and the communities where they serve. I’ve long been an advocate for the role small businesses like EMJD can have on society and now I get to experience it firsthand.
Finally, I’m grateful for a flexible arrangement allowing me to continue to manage the school carpooling schedule. In a fun perk, I get to work across the street from Alli, who is loving her journey of leading and building businesses with a great team at Marrow.
I remain HOPE’s biggest fan. I can’t wait to invest even more financially in the dreams of the men and women we serve as we live and proclaim the Gospel. God has been so gracious and good to HOPE and to me and I’m grateful for the capable colleagues that carry the baton into new frontiers.
I’m not entirely sure what will happen with this blog and writing in the future, but I’m grateful for the ways you’ve encouraged me along the way. At 40, I guess I’m now officially at the top of the hill, but I’m grateful for the journey up and for what lies ahead on the path down.
I stepped onto Ukrainian soil for the first time as an earnest 23-year-old. With a full head of hair and freshly printed business cards in my bag, I visited HOPE’s work in southern Ukraine. In an email afterward to my friends and family, I shared a bunch of pictures of the spectacular sunflower fields, gushed about the cobble-stone port city of Odessa, and raved about Vitale–a seminary professor and translator–and Natalya–my colleague who hosted me during the stay.
Just six months after that trip, I returned to Ukraine. This time to Kyiv and then onto Zaporizhzhia. While there, I worked from HOPE’s offices alongside Andre Barkov and the rest of the HOPE Ukraine staff. Zaporizhzhia is an esteemed city for many reasons, but among others, it is the birthplace of HOPE International.
Over the last 25 years, HOPE has served over two million hardworking men and women across the globe, investing over $1.4 billion in their dreams for their future. During that time, we’ve opened dozens of bank branch offices and have partnered with thousands of churches. But the very first branch office and that very first church were both in the town of Zaporizhzhia.
Today, Zaporizhzhia, like much of Ukraine, is under siege.
This nondescript industrial town in eastern Ukraine rarely makes international news. But, that all changed 19 days ago. Shortly after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Russian forces targeted, shelled, and overtook the largest nuclear facility in Europe, which is located in Zaporizhzhia. The situation remains dire.
Those early trips to Ukraine in 2006 and 2007 breathed life into me personally. In Ukraine, I experienced delicious slow-cooked barbecue–shashlik–and experienced the breadth of a new culture and new people. In those trips and subsequent visits to this beautiful country, I also experienced a culture that took pride in its heritage and identity. Ukrainians love Ukraine. And, as we’re seeing in the news each day, Ukrainians risk their lives to defend this home they love.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is heinous in every way. But it’s also personal. The men and women who rush to their basements and subway stations when the air sirens blare are friends. They are coworkers. In more ways than I can articulate, they have been generous hosts and guides to the community they love.
Me with my Ukrainian colleagues in Lviv, Oct 2019
Each day, our internal crisis management team updates us on the latest developments in the war and on our staff and clients. In some ways, the reports begin to feel regular, even normal. But this is not normal. It is not OK. It is not justifiable, nor is it targeted. It is a widespread, violent affront to all the norms and freedoms the people of Ukraine have earned and should expect.
To Vitale, Natalya, Pasha, Andre B, Luda, Maksim, Bogdan, Andre K, Max, and the dozens of current and former colleagues: I am so deeply sorry. We continue to pray for you and advocate for you however and wherever we can.
May God show his mercy and give us wisdom in how to care for those who are hurting and in how to respond to those who cause them hurt.
Nestled amid tea fields in a valley outside Byumba, Rwanda, a group of 28 farmers, grocers, and tailors gathered in a small Anglican church. We heard the group before we saw them. They sang with gusto, beating their drums and stomping their feet in worship as we filed inside. Even our most-reserved visitors could not help but join the rhythm of dancing and singing.
After introductions were made, we settled in to observe the group. They studied Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, discussing how they might better practice community. “But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up,” they read. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” They then made savings contributions. Together, they had saved close to $500 USD over the past 12 months and had lent far more out to each other in small loans to grow their livelihoods, pay for school fees, and improve their homes.
And then they began sharing their stories. Every year for the past decade I’ve visited groups like this one in the communities where HOPE works around the world. To be frank, I’ve grown almost immune to the power of these stories. But not on this visit.
One group member stood up and shared, “I was depressed and alone before joining this group.”
Another stood and said, “I was ashamed and invisible before joining this group and now I have an identity.”
Still another member stood up and she said, “I used to be a backyard person only. I would not leave my house.”
This group member—a mother and wife—described how isolated she once was from her neighbors. How alone and ashamed she felt because of her poverty. She described how members of the group invited her to join their group. And how that invitation changed her life.
“I was saved at this church,” she shared. “And I now have people who can pray with me.”
The isolation she experienced is not unique to rural communities in Rwanda. It is not even unique to rural communities on the continent of Africa. Across the world, loneliness is endemic. Over the last 30 years, even as our wealth and technology have boomed, the “percentage of American adults who say they’re lonely has doubled from 20% to 40%.” Studies have shown that feelings of isolation increase poverty and are “linked to cardiovascular disease, dementia, and depression and, according to some researchers, its effect on mortality is similar to smoking and worse than obesity.”
We are connected to everyone but truly known by very few.
She sat down after sharing her story. I stared out the front door of the small Anglican church to the hilly Rwanda landscape and beyond. Across the world, HOPE and our partners serve 550,661 savings group members in 32,789 groups like this one. Together, these groups have $11.9 million (of their own money) in savings accounts. But their impressive financial accomplishments pale in comparison to their isolation-fighting work. In these savings groups, men and women are known, dignified, and served.
No longer confined by her shame, this woman from Byumba, Rwanda is now a front yard person. She goes out into the world with confidence, feeling known and supported. Her savings group has not freed her from all hardship, nor fully eradicated the effects of poverty in her life. She may never have a big house nor the latest iPhone. But she has people who see her, pray with her, and depend on her.
On a Thursday afternoon in September 2016, Peter Greer scribed notes on his whiteboard as Jill Heisey and I kicked around ideas about a new book project. We came into that meeting with very little clarity about what the project would become. We left that meeting with just a bit more clarity, but a shared commitment to pursuing the project together.
In just two weeks, Rooting for Rivalswill be available in hardback and audiobook at all your favorite booksellers. Nearly two years after the genesis meeting, a whiteboard becomes a book. Just for fun, I’ve included the most common questions I get about the book below.
What’s the story behind the name?
The original working title for the book was Open Hands. We also kicked around the title Kingdom First. In the end, we liked Rooting for Rivals because it is both sticky and communicates the heart of the book. It was on a trip to Australia, however, where we learned that “rooting” holds quite lewd undertones Down Under. While blushing during a meeting with an Australian director of a Baptist camping ministry, I asked if we should consider changing the title. Without hesitation, he responded, “Absolutely not. Most Australians understand the American use of the word. And, you’ll likely sell more copies in Australia if you keep it as-is.”
What role do your agents play?
Andrew Wolgemuth was our agent for both Mission Driftand Rooting for Rivals. Andrew (also my brother-in-law!) is an agent with Wolgemuth & Associates (“W&A”). Akin to sports agents with athletes, literary agents help authors pitch their ideas and serve as guides to the confusing world of book publishing. We’ve said this elsewhere, but Andrew and the W&A team—Robert, Erik, and Austin—are the very best in the business. I’m obviously biased, but these guys are capable, faithful advisors and friends.
Who is the publisher?
Like with Mission Drift, Andy McGuire at Bethany House (an imprint of Baker Publishing Group) believed in this project and believed in us from the very beginning. The first time around, we pitched Mission Drift to a slew of publishers. Because of that experience, though, this time we went straight to, and only to, Andy. What stands out about Andy and the Bethany/Baker team is their genuine enthusiasm for these ideas.
What was Jill Heisey’s role?
Better question: What wasn’t her role? Jill and I both joined HOPE’s staff in 2006. During the last 12 years, she has worked in a whole host of full-time and part-time roles. But, in every assignment, she demonstrated her gifts as a writer, editor, and thinker. Jill sharpened our thinking and refined our writing. That she agreed to work with the two of us makes Peter and I forever in her debt. It’s not an exaggeration say this book wouldn’t exist if not for Jill. I’ll also note the roles of Brianna Lapp and Tom Lin. Brianna joined HOPE’s staff midway through this project and has played an important project management role over the last year. Tom embodies the principles in the book and wrote an exceptional foreword.
What’s it like to co-author?
Writing with Peter Greer is like sparring with a grizzly bear while riding a bull.
In seriousness, writing with Peter makes both of us better. He invites critique and offers it. He puts forward bold goals and invites helpful constraints. Our team used a shared Google Doc to draft, suggest edits, and collaborate. It became a bit unruly when the draft surpassed 30,000 words. But, otherwise, we found it to be a big improvement over emailing Word documents back-and-forth like we did last time. Some people ask if Peter is involved in the nuts-and-bolts or just the big ideas of the book. And, I can honestly say it’s both. Despite leading a full life and a growing organization, he is actively involved from start-to-finish.
Who financially profits from the book?
The Kingdom! Unless your last name is Rowling or Sparks, writing is not lucrative work. But, Peter and I have committed all the royalties from this project to HOPE and other like-minded churches and ministries. So when you buy a copy or a case (thanks, Mom!), you can trust it’s lining God’s pockets, not our own.
Why the seven deadly sins? …and the 2×2?
On the whiteboard in Peter’s office, we scribbled out a bunch of chapter ideas about how open-handed faith-based nonprofit leaders operated in contrast to close-fisted leaders: Covet vs. Celebrate, Hero vs. Humility, Enemies vs. Allies, etc. As these ideas germinated, we discovered our somewhat arbitrary list tightly mapped to a more time-tested list: the seven deadly sins. An early iteration of this concept, circa March 2017, shows a snapshot of the progression of the chapter outline.
The version of the 2×2 we included in the book emerged from the brilliance of Madi Burke. Madi, then a college student interning with us in Lancaster, suggested we consider Augustine’s categorization of sin as deficient love, excessive love, or misdirected love. These categories proved enormously helpful in organizing a 2×2 that was at that point still very much a work-in-progress (an earlier draft also included here, just for fun). Those two organizing frameworks helped to make sense of the book’s main ideas.
Are you doing anything fun to launch this book?
Yes! A group of 180 friends, family, and co-workers signed up to help us launch the book (THANK YOU!). With the tutelage and hosting of our colleague, Blake Mankin, we are producing a six-episode Rooting for Rivals podcast series. We interviewed a few of our heroes and can’t wait for you to hear directly from them. We also have a series of videos forthcoming where we’re not promoting the book but practicing it—actually rooting for our rivals. Be on the lookout.
What do your kids think about Rooting for Rivals?
My kids—ages 7, 3, and 1—are absolutely pumped about it. Apart from our oldest, all they know about the book is that the only pictures are tiny author headshots. Still, when I first saw the final product, they expressed their enthusiasm in their own unique ways:
Many other friends—some of you are reading this very post—volunteered to help launch Rooting for Rivals. Thank you, thank you.
I began 2017 with a confession about 2016: I was a grump that year. And, I entered 2017 committed to being less consumed by the scandal du jour and more consumed by the people and places closest to me. And, I’m happy to report 2017 was a much better year. Though 2017 was difficult, of course, it was filled with untold joys, adventures, new places, and books. It was replete with making new memories with people I love and shaped by new habits and routines.
Here are a few of my favorites from the past year: Best new book: Tech-Wise Familyby Andy Crouch. No book shaped our family more this year. Crouch helped us “put technology in its proper place.” We haven’t torched our phones and laptops, but we have established much better boundaries. Because of this book, we watch far less television, keep our phones in their “parking spots” when we are at home and are much more cognizant of technology’s insidiousness. Best not new book:The Chronicles of Narnia. We read this series aloud to our kids before bed. And, we all loved it. Eustace, Reepicheep, and Jill Pole captivated our imaginations and pointed us to the big story unfolding all around us. Best articles: In 2018 and beyond, parental advisory warnings may need to preface news broadcasts. Vulgarity dominated 2017. From politicians to celebrities, each day brought new ugliness about men abusing their power. These stories create an environment for Christians to reimagine how we might practice our faith and serve our neighbors. Two articles I read in early 2017 framed the moment. The first, a New Yorker profile on Russell Moore by Kelefah Sanneh, painted the opportunity for the church to embrace the posture of a prophetic minority. The second, an essay written by Wesley Hill in Comment, offered a challenging invitation for Christians to rediscover our call to hospitality. Best new habit: I read Deep Work this year with my coworkers. And, Newport’s research struck just the right tone for our modern work environment. He names the ways our always-available work culture drives us toward shallow and unfulfilling hamster wheeling and away from deep, meaningful work. Because of the book, my team has instituted “deep work Fridays” where email, instant messaging, meetings, and social media are strongly discouraged, allowing us the space to think and work deeply. Best movie: Hidden Figures hit all the right notes. It beautifully wove together themes of vocation, race, virtue, and faith. And, it featured a killer soundtrack. The character who made me laugh hardest this year was the affable narcissist, Batman (Will Arnett), who starred in Lego Batman. Best story you haven’t heard: One of the best parts of my job is reading the annual “Thurman Award” nominees. These stories–submitted by our staff from the 900,000+ men and women we serve across the world–remind me of all the things that are going right in the world. This year’s winner, Savera, is one of those heroes who won’t make news headlines but should. Formerly homeless, Savera now employs 50 people in farming, construction, and real estate businesses. With her success, she’s adopted eight orphans, she pays for her vulnerable neighbors’ school fees, and has built clean water wells for her neighbors.
