Fintech Consultant at Thrivent Financial

Chris Melendez has been on an amazing journey with God. He grew up privileged to be a pastor’s kid, so he can’t remember a time he didn’t know the Lord. Married at 19 and with three kids by 23, Chris and his wife Julie learned early in life the need to be completely dependent on Christ while working diligently to make things happen. He discovered God feeds the birds . . . but He doesn’t drop the worm in the nest. 

Chris spent 10 years at American Express and then five years building a fintech startup. After selling the company, he was introduced to the folks at Thrivent Financial where he is currently building out a philosophy and system to help Christians steward their finances well. His three kids are all married and live in the Atlanta area. He has one grandchild and one on the way.

LINKS

• LinkedIn

• Lessons Learned From a Journey into Fintech

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR

At the end of every podcast, we like to ask our guests to share what God has been teaching them in this season of life. Jessica Kim shared what it was like coming out of a period of grief and being reminded that God had been with her the whole time.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 NIV

I know that in deep pain or suffering, that even when I feel like I ask and cry out and say, why is this happening, that as I was coming out of deep grief, I realized that God was carrying me through that. 

And so I want to use that as an encouragement. You know, there are probably many people listening right now that are in a deep part of pain or something that is going through, whether it’s a lost job or a loss of a family member. That’s it could be so easy for us to say why and where are you?

And I think it ties to actually my verse of just Isaiah 41:10 where, you know, it says, “Do not fear I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“ 

And I always think about that very well-known image of the single footsteps in the sand and how people say, Where are you? And he’s like, I have you in my righteous hand. I have been carrying you. And sometimes when you’re being carried, you don’t know who’s carrying you because you can’t see it. But he is. 

I hold on to that during any times of crisis or pain or suffering. And that’s the word of encouragement I give especially to the caregivers on our app and people in our community.

We continue to count down the Top 100 Books for Faith Driven Entrepreneurs with…

Start

by Jon Acuff

There are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging, because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The good news is Start gives readers practical, honest, actionable insights to be more awesome, more often.

It’s time to punch fear in the face, escape average, and do work that matters.

It’s time to Start.

Click on the book cover to check out the Reviews and Purchase at Amazon

Surveys often tell us that the current generation and the ones that follow it are less religious but perhaps more ’spiritual’. At face value, it comes off quite discouraging. Does that mean that our faith is no longer relevant? Quite the contrary. In workplaces especially, there is a resurgence of Chaplains and counselors as employees are seeking a more holistic solution — and even asking for them as part of their benefits packages. What an exciting time for entrepreneurs and other business leaders to meet them in their needs with a Christ-centered solution!”

Article originally posted here by The Atlantic

THEIR GRANDPARENTS MAY HAVE GONE TO CHURCH. BUT TODAY, MANY AMERICANS TURN ELSEWHERE TO MEET THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS

— by Wendy Cadge, Sociology professor at Brandeis University

The pandemic has thrown into sharp relief a shift in American religious life. Growing numbers of Americans, especially under the age of 30, are not religiously affiliated or involved with spiritual or religious organizations. They do not have local religious leaders to call in a crisis like their grandparents did. Instead, in moments of great need, many are turning to chaplains and spiritual-care providers.

Religious congregations have been slowly yet steadily declining over the past 20 years as the number of people engaging with chaplains and spiritual-care providers is on the rise. In a national survey conducted last year, 21 percent of Americans reported having contact with a chaplain in the previous two years, mostly through health-care organizations. Close to a quarter of theological schools have started degree programs for chaplains in the past two decades. And the number of people completing clinical training for chaplaincy positions is increasing.

In interviews I conducted with 65 chaplains across greater Boston, I discovered that the work they do around death is what most unifies them across sectors and distinguishes them from social workers and others they work alongside. It is not surprising, therefore, to read about chaplains running toward death rather than away from it in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Click here to read the full article!

——

[Image by SHUTTERSTOCK / THE ATLANTIC ]

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founder | Karisimbi Partners

Carter started his career as a marketer for technology companies. Inspired by employment at some of the most innovative companies in Seattle (Microsoft, Cranium, Starbucks), he launched his first venture, an online marketplace for wholesale vehicles. Carter has been passionate about starting noble ventures ever since, becoming a leading advocate for the social impact of enterprise. Always seeking to lead by example, his latest startup was Karisimbi Partners, the first world-class consulting firm advising business managers in Rwanda. After guiding ventures in more than 8 industries on three 3 continents, Carter now supports San Diego ventures pursuing something bigger than themselves.

Carter earned a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurial Ethics from Robert Gordon University in Scotland and completed his undergraduate degree at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA.

Carter and his wife recently moved ‘home’ to Carlsbad, CA, and have recently plugged into Restoration Abbey church, where Carter can be found following the worship leaders on his mandolin most Sundays. Carter plays soccer with others that used to be good at “the beautiful game” and always has his eyes open to identify birds he has never seen before while hiking or paddling in the great outdoors.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR

Director at Chick-fil-A Corporate & US Foods

Cheryl A. Bachelder is a passionate restaurant industry executive — currently Director at Chick-fil-A Corporate & US Foods and the former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Cheryl is known for her crisp strategic thinking, franchisee-focused approach, superior financial performance and the development of outstanding leaders and teams.

Cheryl joined Popeyes, Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., in November 2007, after serving as an active member of the Board for a year. She brought more than 35 years of experience in brand building, operations, and public-company management at companies like Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company, and The Procter & Gamble Company.

In September 2015, Cheryl was awarded The Norman Brinker Award from Nation’s Restaurant News. She has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and was named by CNBC’s Jim Cramer as one of his “21 Bankable CEOs” for 2014. In 2012, she was recognized as “Leader of the Year” by the Women’s Foodservice Forum, and received the Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.

She has been married for over 35 years to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters.

LINKS

• CherylBachelder.com

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR