The Faith and Entrepreneurship Conference
By M. Todd Manuel
FWIS Contributing Writer
A few weeks ago, Fort Wayne's New Covenant Worship Center hosted a business conference entitled "Faith and Entrepreneurship." Hundreds of people interested in creating and maintaining a successful business attended the meeting, which featured a live discussion panel and keynote speaker. The audience was made up of people of various professional backgrounds, including some current, previous, and aspiring business owners. Regardless of their experience, everyone was eager to learn insights from local business professionals with a long track record of success in Fort Wayne.
The morning started with a panel discussion, followed by the keynote speaker—Pastor Keion Henderson- a former resident, community leader, and pastor here in Fort Wayne. Pastor Henderson's return to his old hometown was appropriately referred to as a homecoming celebration as he now leads a congregation of over 15,000 congregants at The Lighthouse Church in Houston, Texas. He also teaches a tax business and a host of other successful private business ventures.
Preceding Pastor Keion's energy-filled message was a practical discussion about the challenges and obstacles of running a business. The discussion panel consisted of Mr. John and Patricia Hester of Crossroads Courier, Sherman Bell of restaurant Hideout 125, Larry White of Liberty Group Realty, James Khan of Baker Street Steakhouses, and Aaryn Eady of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. The first question that the moderators posed was what should aspiring business owners do and what they have done to become successful in their businesses. Other questions from the audience included staying committed to your dreams and obtaining bank funding and working capital.
Each panelist brought their own unique experiences and pieces of wisdom to the table. Still, each agreed that God was not an ingredient that could be left out or substituted in the recipe for success. Each panelist named a part of their business journey that relied heavily on faith in their higher power. For Mr. Khan, it was his first leap into the restaurant management business after having had plans to be an engineer. For Mr. Bell, it was his purchase of Hideout 125, where revenue projections were low in his beginning years. Mr. Bell stated that since its inception, his restaurant had made almost three times its initial projections, and he credits this to God. Mr. Sherman Bell also identifies hard work and knowing your, 'why' as the primary fuel for success: "If you have your health and you are strong...there have been 24-hour days, but the fruit that comes from hard work makes it all worth it," said Bell.
Elaborating on the hard work needed, Mr. Khan promotes the idea that putting others before yourself is necessary for success. James expanded this point by sharing his sacrifices during the pandemic, where he needed to ensure that the restaurant's vendors and employees were paid. Still, he, as the owner of the business, was not. In the same way, business owners will need to invest in their companies to ensure that the business entity is healthy. And not all investments require money.
Mr. Larry White, a well-known realtor in the area, dropped valuable insights on how to succeed as a business owner by employing faith in Christ and working towards your goals. Larry spoke briefly about his beginning stages as a young realtor and his leap to becoming a principal agent. "Too often we become too worried about the result and not the process...life is not about the result, it's about the journey," said White.
Focusing on the journey also helped Mr. John Hester realize that moving large furniture would not be a long-term goal for his company, Crossroads Courier. Mr. John and Patricia discussed how their pivot from moving large furniture to moving small packages was a significant and vital change for their organization. This change was initially very uncomfortable and came with great sacrifices. All the while, he and his wife worked as administrators—full-time—for other organizations. Through the process, however, the Hesters found their niche moving low-weight medical and legal documents for other companies.
Following the discussion panel, there was a brief intermission where at least five local businesses were selling goods and services alongside complimentary refreshments for the conference's attendees. The period was needed before the keynote speaker, Keion Henderson, was introduced and welcomed to the stage. The welcoming applause was enormous, and Pastor Keion's message matched that same energy. After sharing his gratitude to Pastor Luther Whitfield for hosting the event, he jumped right into the early afternoon's message.
One of the first points that Pastor Keion made was that to receive new information; one must adjust their mindset to accept it. That is, the information of the past may or may not be relevant in today's business atmosphere. For example, in most cases, home ownership is likely an asset; however, depending on the housing market and the area in which the home's location, ownership could also be a liability.
Pastor Keion also reiterated that the way to obtain wealth is through multiple streams of income and by having faith in God. Moreover, he identified the key to wealth as creating passive income, not just working a job. Because a job trades time for money, the amount of money earned is limited because it requires your time, a limited resource. In contrast, Pastor Keion highlights the defining difference between the person who owns a business and a worker: they have not yet used God's gift. Everyone has something within them that will allow them to be successful and wealthy.
Our managing editor Tabitha Ervin, along with two others from various media outlets, was able to interview Pastor Keion and gained these additional insights.
Tell me about your book Shift and the inspiration behind it.
Henderson: I was here at IPFW on a basketball scholarship and at the same time I was ministering and preaching at a local church as a pastor. I would do basketball, preach and go back to play basketball.
The coach told me I couldn’t do both because my teammates didn’t think I was working as hard as them so I had to pick. At the time it was easy to pick basketball or so I thought.
The day I made that decision I tore my ACL playing ball. The book is called the Shift because sometimes God has to shift what you depend on to get you to choose what He wants you to do. I named the book after the shifts that happen in your life to get to the purpose God has for you.
My life has been inundated with those shifts so I wrote the book to help people be more sensitive so that God doesn’t have to come in and push you.
Talk a little about Faith and entrepreneurship
Henderson: The Bible in Ecclesiastes 11 says money answers all things. Why do Christians think we have to be poor? Jesus was a king in Heaven, he wasn’t poor. Jesus became poor so we could become rich.
The church needs to teach entrepreneurship so they can work to solve the problems the government is trying to solve. God needs people wealthy in every sector and class of life so that He can be represented everywhere and we need to teach this specifically in the black community.
How do you feel being back in Fort Wayne?
Henderson: It feels nostalgic coming back. The things that are totally different yet the places that look exactly the same. It’s incumbent on you all to help make the change. They are not coming to save people. People must initiate change and then support will come!
Give us a Business/entrepreneurship gem:
Henderson: 1-It’s important for black business owners to realize you can charge premium dollar for your service. People who don’t pay, don’t pay attention. The physiology of a person says the more I pay for it the more valuable it is and we need to understand this.
2-Do things professionally in all ways. Sell yourself the same way as your service. Take responsibility as you represent all of us when you do business. It’s a big job to be a black entrepreneur.
Why is is so hard for black entrepreneurs?
Henderson: We aren’t taught these valuable skills while sometimes others learn them in their communities and even at home.
The CEO of Coke made 50 million but Warren Buffet invested and made so much more.
We have to start understanding venture capitalism and passive income-earning while we sleep. We’ll never be able to work more than the hours in a day but if we can make our money work for us, it can multiple while we are sleeping.
Do you have classes or programs that encourage and teach entrepreneurship at your church?
Henderson: I have the Maximize your business challenge and we are about to start another session.
We have a Business start up lab and half of church members are entrepreneurship and half of the staff are as well. If you don’t work for yourself you won’t understand why I’m pulling on you so hard.
Thank you Pastor Keion for these nuggets!