Torch, Spring 1991

A Businessman Earning ABearing D aryle Doden grew up in the home of a pastor who understood that his family was his first parish. As a young boy he received Christ as his personal Savior as a result of the witness of his older sister. As a young man, he entered the business world and immediately jumped on the "fast– track." Smart, an initiator, personable, a leader, by the age of 26 Doden was president of Ambassador Steel. "I was successful as a Christian professional very quickly," he admits. "I must confess that I developed an element of pride. I began to think that all a Christian businessman had to do was A, B, and C, and God would bless. It is with embarrassment, now, that I recall some of my testimonies at meet– ings of Christian businessmen. "One of the things that is hard for business types to come to grips with is that no matter how big a pebble we become on the beach, God's beach is much bigger. We are just one pebble. He determines how significant all our efforts will be in life." Doden relates that God dealt with his pride through the mental, emo– tional , and spiritual torture of deep depression. Although he never wants to suffer this pain again, he describes it as the best experience of his life. During his recovery he learned lessons that would become keys to his subsequent attempts to share his faith in Christ. "As a child, I placed a high value on obedience," he says. "So for me, to witness for God was a matter of obedi– ence. But this is not the best motivation. During the six to seven months of my illness, I questioned and found answers for my faith. I discovered that lost people really are without a personal relationship with God. And as a result, my sensitivity level to people who are hurting increased dramatically." Doden believes that business people are the hardest to witness to when they are in their 20's and 30 's. 'They have not experienced many of the hurts of life such as broken dreams , career derailments, health problems, marriage struggles, and difficulties with the kids. The typical business person is self-made and extremely focused. As he or she aims for advancement, all energies are focused on the corporate climb. "Reli– gion" is just not relevant to getting ahead. "I saw this cartoon of a businessman eagerly climbing the corporate ladder, stepping on coworkers ' heads as he went up. Then he got to the top rung only to discover that the ladder was up against the wrong wall. People begin to look at life more realistically in their forties and fifties. They question whether all their efforts are for what 's really important. It seems to me it's at this stage that they are more open to the Gospel." Another key to witnessing, Doden found, was the value of listening. "When I was down emotionally, it was therapeutic for me to talk to someone," he recall s. "Some Christians think they have to have all the answers ready when an unsaved person seeks for advice. Not at all. " He tells of an occasion when a person called him for counsel. "She was hurting over some marriage struggles. I was launching into what I thought were the answers to her difficulties when she said, 'I didn 't call you for answers, only for your prayers.' That taught me an important lesson. Listening earns you the right to be heard." The corporate culture at Ambassador Steel starts with four requirements of management: no smoking in the office; no foul language; no social drinking in conjunction with the job; no separation in ethics between professional and private life. While not all the employees are born-again Christians, all subscribe to a Christian value system. "We are very interested in their spiritual lives, but we do not dictate what they must believe," states Doden . "Management meetings include prayer and devotionals." The company 's Christian orientation is clearly identified in its introductory business con·espondence. "We describe Ambassador Steel and share that we believe God is our Senior Partner. While this does not make us better than anyone else, it does hold us to a higher accountability. We share some things about what we have learned of the business of life, and this includes material based on the four spiritual laws." Doden adds that the organiza– tion 's check statements include a Christian message. He believes that there is a fine line between being professional and being flaky . "Secular people are sensitive to Christians who think they are superior," he says. It is not surprising, then , to hear Doden 's suggested character qualities for an effective witness as a business– person: humility, genuineness, consis– tency, and integrity. "All relationships are built on respect, and these traits build the necessary foundation for such." He adds, "A little boldness helps , too." Doden lists one more key to witness– ing in a corporate context. "We must understand that it is God 's job to lead people to accept Christ, not ours. We just have to be faithful to share our faith out of a consistent, though not necessar– ily perfect, life." Daryle Doden, above left, is owner and president of Ambassador Steel in Auburn , Indiana.