Has God ever called you to serve in a place that didn’t make sense?

That’s the way I felt when I was invited to teach at the prison in Lansing, Kansas. It didn’t seem to fit Integrity Resource Center’s purpose of building integrity and faith into the workplace. But after several people urged me, including a prisoner, I finally agreed.

As I began teaching on God’s calling and purpose I was stunned to see a business owner in the front row from my church who I had counseled in the past. I also discovered that the room was full of entrepreneurs scheduled to be released soon.

These inmates needed hope and God’s wisdom for business!

We arranged a business symposium for those interested in help with their business plans. About ten business owners invested time and mentored these prisoners. The result was changed lives.

Although the prisoners were impacted and encouraged I was most surprised by the impact this experience had on the mentors. Listen to what one of them wrote. “During the panel discussion, as I looked around the room and looked into the eyes of these men and listened to their words of gratefulness, humility, perseverance and hope I did NOT see prisoners but I saw men of God that were filled with the Holy Spirit and who are passionate about making significant changes in their lives. The room was filled with inspiration and hope…”

How can you use your gifts and abilities to impact others?