Managing for the Times Ahead
One of my fondest memories of my childhood was receiving a large gift of money from a relative. When I was about 12 my Granddad gave me $100.00 and like any other typical boy of my age, I immediately began calculating how many model airplane kits I could buy. But my Granddad had his own calculations: the compound interest the money would earn in a savings account. Of course with hindsight, I see his wisdom, which was most likely forged by the Great Depression. Never-the-less I still made a large investment in airplanes-I guess some things never change.
While the country is in better shape that those dark days, we still are in the midst of what experts are calling the worst recession in the last 50 to 70 years. Some household names of companies and ministries are already history, and by the time you read this, others may be. Still, in the mist of this gloom, I feel very, very good about the Marketplace Champion brand and where we are headed.
Of course, no one knows the future, and I will be the first to tell you that no one in industry or ministry predicted the unusual way this financial crisis erupted last fall. But I can tell you with certainty The Marketplace Champion has and will continue to prepare for financial uncertainties. My Granddad knew that family finances would have their ups and downs, companies or ministries are no different. One of the tidbits of wisdom that Granddad gave me was always learn how to manage during the good times so that we can survive the bad times. And in business or ministry, bad times often come along-especially when you least expect them.
To meet unforeseen challenges, we as Marketplace Champions need to find areas where we can improve productivity and reduce our own discretionary spending so we can continue to provide more than enough resources for the ministries we support and those that will need our support in the coming seasons. Yes! Especially in these challenging times, we as Marketplace Champions must continue to invest in being a lender to God by helping the poor and underprivileged. This is a "must" in order to make our strong brand even stronger and bring Honor to our Almighty Father and Glory to His Son Jesus. My goal is that ministries and the people served by them both can continue to count on The Marketplace Champion being set apart from the rest of the world. We are continuing to position ourselves for the future by adding to our membership both expertise and resources that will help us accomplish our goals of establishing the Kingdom of God in our cities and regions.
This is a critical year for us, and now is the time for our planning to take shape and our destiny to start to come into view. One thing is sure: 2009-2010 will definitely keep us on our toes, and we must be ready to continue our growth in both numbers and territory along with additional resources.
I'm excited about the new website we are developing and the new relationships being formed with members and ministries, just this past few weeks The Poplar Bluff Marketplace Champion unit has joined together with a revival team and another ministry to establish a resource center to provide for the needs of those who are in bondage to poverty and as always providing for the needs of those ministries that have boots on the ground to unveil revival to the nations. We can overcome poverty in our regions-we just have to out-give it. That is what a Marketplace Champion does.
Without hesitation the Marketplace Champion will continue to press toward the mark of the most high calling "Establish His Kingdom Here, Now!"
The General-A Marketplace Champion
Jerry W. Murphy
573-429-4539
|
