Giddings, Texas: A Marketplace Chapter Takes Root

Some of the strongest leaders in the Kingdom will never stand behind a pulpit. They run crews, meet payroll, close deals and carry the weight of every family that depends on their business. We believe those leaders are not on the edge of the church's mission. They are on the front line of it.

That conviction took us to Giddings, Texas, Oct. 2 through 4. Dr. Wayne Lee and I traveled to Giddings First Assembly of God, where Matt and Dawn Wagner and their church family welcomed us like family. Curt and Cindy Bezinque joined us too.

Moses told Israel, "Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:18). Business is not separate from worship. When a believer builds something with integrity, that business becomes a place where God is honored and people are served.

Here is what we keep hearing from business owners: Sunday and Monday feel like two different worlds. Many of them love their church but have never been shown how their work fits the mission, and many pastors want to equip them but are not sure where to start. That gap is why the Kingdom Commerce Coalition exists.

On Friday night we gathered in the fellowship hall, then met with the leadership team Matt has been building. These are people who already lead well. They simply needed a table, a framework and each other. On Sunday morning we worshiped together with the church.

If you lead a team, here is one practice we use in every KCC gathering. Go around the table and have each person share one win, one need and one question. Celebrate the wins out loud. Pray over every need by name. Write down the questions and make them the agenda for next time. It takes 20 minutes, and it turns a meeting into a community.

Giddings is now one of our pilot chapters, and its leaders have their own home in the Church Life network to stay connected between gatherings.

Would you like the KCC team to come to your church? Visit kingdomcommercecoalition.com and fill out the "Invite the Team" form.

When your request comes in, our team will reach out to learn about your church, your city and the business leaders God has already placed around you. From there we will plan a visit that fits your congregation, the same way we did in Giddings.