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This article was originally published here by The Bible Project

— by The Bible Project and Jon Collins

Conversations about racial injustice continue to rage across the country, and as so many are doing, we’re trying our best to listen, to learn, and to help initiate progress toward a more equal and just society. That’s why we want to share this video from the team at The Bible Project. We recently had Jon Collins on the podcast, and they’re doing incredible work to make the Bible easier to understand and access. This video is just one timely example of that.

Founder and VP | Kaleo

Evan is Vice President, Product Development. He is a co-founder of Intelliject and is co-inventor of Intelliject’s technology platforms. He manages all areas of the invention and design process, including the company’s intellectual property portfolio. Evan has been recognized among his peers for his expertise and work in human factors engineering (HFE) and he is actively involved with the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES) and serves on the Medical Devices for Injection and Human Factors Committees for the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

Evan is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Systems Engineering with a concentration on HFE.

LINKS

• Kaleo

• LinkedIn

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR

Co-Founder and CEO | Phlow

Dr. Edwards was previously co-founder of Kaléo, Inc. a pharmaceutical company in Richmond, VA, USA. He is the co-inventor of multiple marketed products, including AUVI-Q, epinephrine for the treatment of allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). Dr. Edwards is named on over 215 issued and pending patent applications and is a published author on numerous scientific publications. During his 16 years at Kaléo, he held several executive management positions including Chief Science Officer where he was responsible for overall scientific strategy and all pharmaceutical development programs, Chief Medical Officer responsible for developing a medical affairs team and capability while operationalizing the Company’s clinical program strategy, as well as Vice President – Innovation, overseeing Kaleo’s innovative, research and development pipeline and overall product strategy for the Company. After leaving Kaleo, Dr. Edwards began working with Dr. Frank Gupton on the challenges associated with drug shortages and drug pricing in the United States. Together, alongside with their strategic partners, they have built a world-class team focused on solving these challenging problems, including the over-reliance on foreign manufacturers for our Nation’s most essential generic medicines. Dr. Edwards obtained his B.S. in Biology, Ph.D. in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Doctor of Medicine degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University / Medical College of Virginia.

LINKS

• Phlow

• Kaleo

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR

This article was originally published here by Convene

— by Greg Leith

The story goes like this. In the days of the Holocaust, on a Sunday morning, a train filled past overflowing with Jewish prisoners was headed to a Nazi prison camp where the captive men, women and children would surely be put to death. The train broke down in the countryside as it passed by a small, beautiful church. The screams for help from the train could be heard by the people who were singing hymns in the church. To drown out the screams for help, the pastor directed the choir to just “sing a little louder” to drown out the screams of the Jewish prisoners. You can watch a short video depiction of this story here.

Today at the beginning of the summer of 2020, the story goes like this. A sandwich shop employee called the police to report that a 46-year-old black man named George Floyd purchased items from the store with a counterfeit $20 bill. Police officers came to the scene and arrested George who was soon restrained and pinned down by a white police officer. The force applied to his neck ended his life. The store later said George may not even have known he had passed a counterfeit bill. Sadly, this story comes in the wake of far too many similar stories of the wrongful deaths of black citizens. 

George Floyd was in fact a Christ-follower working on becoming the best disciple of Jesus he could be as he worked to leave his past behind him. Christian rap artist Corey Paul, who helped start a church in Houston, says that Floyd “took the younger guys under his wing and put them in basketball tournaments… when we did community outreach in the hood he was a person of peace”. When George left Houston for Minnesota, he was there as part of a Christian discipleship process that was going to help him get his licensing and certification so that he could drive 18 wheelers.

In his final moments, George begged for his life. Today, his last words are being chanted across the world in protest: “I can’t breathe”. George’s words to his friends before that fateful day were, “If you’re about God’s business, you’re about my business. So, whatever you need, I got you.”

There’s another person in history that could not breathe as he died by a horrible death process called crucifixion. Jesus died to bring hope and life to all people. Jesus Christ delivered many talks about his ideas to live lives that are full of justice and love. God reminds us in Psalms that “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14).

Yet again, in the broad brushstroke of history, the issues of race, injustice, oppression and inequality have come to the front of everyone’s mind. As a Christian leader, a follower of Jesus, you have an influential voice in the company you lead and the community in which you serve to speak out against racial injustice. Now is an important time to use it.

Yes, these issues have been around since Genesis chapter 3 in God’s word when sin entered the Garden of Eden, yet they are staring us down right now. People young and old are painting signs and protesting racism and injustice. Your church may or may not be responding, but you as a leader have your team members under your care 40 hours per week. You can respond in the sphere of influence God has given you. 

What’s your role in this as a Christian leader? You’re called to seek, live out justice. “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless…” (Isaiah 1:17).

What can you do other than sing a little louder to drown out the sounds of tears in the black community today? As a follower of Jesus, you must care and decide what you might do to create change in your workplace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). 

1. Are you seeing people of color on your team as God sees them, created in His image?

2. Gather your leadership and think through how you might contribute to community change in your area. Give special consideration to any racial injustice in your area of influence.

3. Is your company still holding on to any customs, beliefs, policies or practices that lead to racism or inequities? Ask God to show you the deeper truths that may not be easily seen on the surface.

4. Are you listening? Gather your team members and listen to how they are feeling. Talk about how you can get better as a firm.

   1. Is there something you could start doing to honor them at work?

   2. Is there something you should stop doing at work that is dishonoring or marginalizing?

5. If you have not shared a meal with a person of color in years, set a date to do so soon and ask questions and listen. Be sure to talk less than 20% of the mealtime. Don’t talk about how YOU see history.

6. Watch a short video on God’s definition of Justice by Tim Mackie at The Bible Project

7. Read books you might normally pass up:

   1. White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

   2. Renaissance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark the Time by Os Guinness

   3. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

   4. The Sin of White Supremacy by Jeannine Hill Fletcher

   5. The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

   6. Letters To A Birmingham Jail by Piper, Perkins, Chandler

   7. Listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

8. Consider that there may be some form of prejudice in you. Ask God to show you where you may need to do some work to change.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change”.

When God sets up his kingdom, there will finally be real justice given out by a holy God. Until then, as Christian leaders, we must not simply sing a little louder. We must get to work and ensure that we are doing all we can Monday to Friday to bring the justice and love of God to the people and workplaces we lead.

If you enjoyed this, check out another hub that identifies Pressing Questions, that sources all our content by category.

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[ Photo by Giulia Pugliese on Unsplash ]

Bio

I’m Bill Pence—married to my best friend for 39 years, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, formerly served as a manager at a Fortune 50 company, a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary, and in leadership at my local church. I enjoy speaking about calling, vocation and work. I am a life-long learner and have a passion to help people develop to their fullest potential and to utilize their strengths more fully. I am an INTJ on Myers-Briggs, 3 on the Enneagram, my top five Strengthsfinders themes are: Belief, Responsibility, Learner, Harmony and Achiever, and my two StandOut strengths roles are Creator and Equalizer. My favorite book is the Bible, with Romans my favorite book and Colossians 3:23 my favorite verse. Some of my other favorite books are Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, The Prodigal Son (originally titled A Tale of Two Sons) by John MacArthur and Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I enjoy Christian hip-hop/rap music, with Lecrae, Trip Lee and Andy Mineo being some of favorite artists.

LINKS

• Coram Deo (blog)

• Book Review: “Work” by Daniel M. Doriani