There is a storehouse of experience and wisdom in the MEDA membership just waiting to be shared.

Business people all face difficult decisions and ethical dilemmas and sometimes a little outside wisdom can make a difference. In my travels, I hear of many of the challenges that MEDA members in the business community face. People will confide in me and share their most private struggles and difficulties.

Sometimes just being a good listener is my only response. It’s a delicate thing and I am careful to respect the confidentiality of information. Maybe it’s because I’m usually visiting “from out of town” that people find it safe to share with me.

Occasionally, I have been able to facilitate MEDA members connecting with one another to seek business help or advice. Usually this has been on special request from the person needing the advice. The response has been amazing!

These connections have been rewarding for both parties. Some of the comments from mentors have been:

“I’m happy to be asked and will do what I can to help.”

“This is a great idea, I wish I had thought of asking MEDA for a business connection years ago when I was growing my company.”

“I could have used some help in those years I was struggling to get my business off the ground.”

“This is a great fit for MEDA to be there, and to provide this outlet for business people.”

A recipient of mentoring is quoted as saying, “MEDA is such a unique organization in having access to Christian business people with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, it just seems natural that members should be able to support one another.”

These responses demonstrate the heart of the MEDA community – a group of people who care.

The process for connecting members is informal and without a lot of red tape. If I’m asked to make a connection and I’m able to come up with a suitable match from the MEDA membership, I personally make the contacts to get permission from both parties before a meeting takes place.

Once the meeting is planned, I stay out of the loop and the members take things from there. It is rewarding to know that this connection can make a positive difference for our business people who face difficult challenges and questions.

This is the MEDA community coming together. We all like to share our wisdom and we’d like to encourage this to happen in the MEDA community. If you have a question about mentorship, give John Pauls or me a call at 1-800-665-7026. Or email bkroeker@meda.org or jpauls@meda.org.

You just never know what might happen.