Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important for a Church to find its business leaders?
Knowing who the business leaders are in the Church provides an opportunity to engage more time, talent, vision, and resources in the Church. If there is one thing that you could do to identify benefactors who are hidden within your congregation, while at the same time increasing the spiritual maturity of your business people wouldn't you do it? Chances are you already have a few large givers. Wouldn't you like to identify more of them?
Why use a Church business directory?
A Church business directory is a perfect way to bring businesses together in one place. It is a great way for the Church to serve these leaders and provide opportunity for their growth. In addition, it provides an opportunity for your congregation to utilize the products and services provided by people they worship with. It also re-circulates money within the congregation.
What happens if disputes develop between congregation members and the business owners?
The purpose of the Business Directory is to provide the congregation with the opportunity to utilize the products and services provided by member businesses. All listed businesses have pledged to adhere to "Business with God", the biblical principles of running a business, including but not limited to, stewardship and a biblically based dispute resolution process. In the event you have a dispute with a vendor please contact Gdirect at info@gdirect.com.
Truth is, when commerce follows biblical principles, outcomes are better. We reserve the right to hold both the listed businesses and their customers to biblical principles of commerce. In the event a dispute occurs, the Church and Gdirect will promote resolution of the dispute using biblical principles outlined in "The Peacemaker’s Pledge" that was signed by the listed business.
How much time will this take from the staff of the church?
Gdirect has worked very hard to create a process that plugs in very easily to your church. Very limited resources are necessary from your staff. We ask that you highlight a Volunteer Champion and a few other volunteers to help in the coordination.
The business directory is published and printed for all of the families in your church as well as online at no cost to your church. Businesses listing in the directory pay a nominal listing fee to be included in the directory, and have the opportunity for a larger ad presence for an upgraded cost.
Would our Church be endorsing the businesses?
The Church and Gdirect do not directly or indirectly warrant, endorse, promote or will not be responsible for the performance, services, products, employees, sub-contractors and/or agents of the listed businesses. Click here to see the full Terms and Conditions that a business must agree to in order to participate in the directory.
How much does this grow the kingdom?
For example, Central Christian Church of the East Valley in Mesa, Arizona found the following kingdom-growth from their Business Directory:
- 462 businesses listed in the directory;
- 150 individuals pledged their membership to the church;
- 8 people were baptized;
- 121 people attended the "Business with God" seminars;
- 64 individuals joined the small group "Business by the Book";
- Over 12 businesses continue to be discipled by Tom Bradburn, one of the founders of Gdirect;
- 4 businesses conduct weekly corporate prayer with their employees;
- Dozens of business leaders have reached out for prayer and advice from Tom;
- An increased number of business leaders have been getting involved in the church and volunteer their talents;
- Many businesses have reported increased revenues resulting from the directory despite a down economy;
- A growing number of businesses are giving to the church;
- The congregation is raving about the high quality of service provided by the businesses located within the home church;
- All of this was accomplished with no disputes.
Gdirect has a passion for helping businesses grow utilizing principles found from God. The results of this are unbelievable, and provide a positive sense of working to build God's kingdom. At the end of the day, Gdirect is also a for-profit business that seeks to make a profit and utilize that profit to further fund God's work.
Terms and Conditions
In the purchasing of a listing and/or advertisement with Gdirect in the church's business directory, I ("Client") agree to the following terms and conditions:
The "Business with God" Pledge
- I pledge to serve the Lord with all my heart and soul
- I pledge to abide by integrity in business and to make my business a place of integrity
- I pledge to be honest and follow business according to God's word
- I pledge to promote honesty at all times
- I pledge to treat others as I would like to be treated
- I pledge superior quality in my business thorough the products and services I provide
- I pledge to act at all times as one who is Christ like to my employees, patrons, partners, clients and customers
- I pledge to act with compassion and patience with those who disagree with me and to seek Godly council for resolution before seeking legal counsel
- I pledge to respect one another's differences and opinions with dignity and kindness
- I pledge to treat my competitors with the same kindness and care I want from them, realizing it is better to become allies rather than enemies
- I pledge to never promote products, materials and/or services that advertise any illegal activities, pornographic or sexually suggestive content, gaming or contending faiths
Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. Advertiser agrees to pay advertising rates and service charges established at the time advertisement is created. Rates do not include sales tax. Sale tax will be added to final amount. Advertising rates are "All Inclusive Rates". Advertisements cannot be segregated, separated or bifurcated. And advertiser must pay the total package rate. If Advertiser chooses segment or bifurcate advertising package, Gdirect will not refund segregated funds.
Publisher has established an "Open Enrollment" period as the time advertisers sign-up for advertisements in that year's to business directory. The actual "open Enrollment" dates will be published on the church business directory web site. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to sign-up for the advertising on the directory web site. In the event an advertising business does not complete their advertisement prior to the close of "Open Enrollment", the advertiser's printed advertisement will not be included in printed Directory. If a business chooses to advertise in the Directory after the "Open Enrollment" period closed, advertisement will occur in the on-line version. The annual price of advertisement, excluding any "one time premiums or charges" will be prorated based on number of days remaining until the next "Open Enrollment" period.
Gdirect will reject any and all business performing services, manufacturing for or promoting products for the following industries or affiliations:
- Any illegal activities
- Sexual or pornographic
- Terrorism
- Military Arms or Defense
- Non Christian Social Chats or Forums
- Governmental Agencies
- Gaming or Gambling
- Contending Faiths
Businesses that have purchased any Display Advertisement are eligible to purchase Business Advertisement for multiple industries.
Advertiser understands and agrees that prior to advertisement placement its content will be reviewed and approved by the church. Advertiser agrees and understands that the church may require Advertiser to modify its advertisement as a condition precedent to advertising in the business directory. Advertiser also agrees and understands that the church may require advertiser to participate in specific membership activities, including but not limited to, becoming a member of the church as a condition precedent to advertising in the business directory. Advertiser agrees to and will adhere to the conditions of the church.
Advertiser understands and agrees that priority placement in the printed business directory, with the exception of the placement of premium locations, is at the sole discretion of the Gdirect. Gdirect and the church reserve the right to refuse business to anyone.
Advertiser agrees to hold harmless Gdirect, its affiliates, the Church, their officers, directors, employees, agents', subcontractors and vendors for any and all actions or damages resulting from the performance of the agreement between Gdirect and Advertiser.
Advertiser agrees to hold harmless Gdirect, its affiliates, the Church, their officers, directors, employees, agents', subcontractors and vendors for any and all actions or damages resulting from the performance of the agreement between Advertiser and their customers and/or vendors.
Advertiser agrees that the Church and/or Gdirect has not directly or indirectly warranted, endorsed, promoted and are not responsible for the performance, services, products, employees, sub-contractors and/or agents of the advertiser.
Advertiser, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend Gdirect, its affiliates, the Church, their officers, directors, employees, agents' subcontractors and vendors from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, including attorneys' fees and expenses, resulting from the advertisement, its content; any violation of privacy rights and/or infringement of copyrights; any federal, state or local laws relating to the advertiser's performance and/or performance of the materials; any breach by Advertiser with the terms of this agreement.
Dispute Resolution. The Parties are fully committed to working with each other and agree to communicate with each other at all times so as to avoid or minimize disputes or disagreements. If disputes or disagreements do arise, Gdirect and Advertiser each commit to resolving such disputes or disagreements in an amicable, professional and expeditious manner so as to avoid unnecessary losses, delays and disruptions.
Gdirect and Advertiser each commit to adhere to the following biblical dispute resolution principals.
- Overlook an offense. Where an offense is minor, one person deliberately and unilaterally decides to forgive the wrong and walks away from the conflict.
- Dealing with an offense. Contact the parties involved directly. Personal offenses that are too serious to overlook should be resolved through confession or loving confrontation, leading to forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Resolution of an offense. Negotiations dealing with the issue of money, property, or other rights should be resolved by using first a non-sanction mediator to reach a mutually agreeable settlement through an exchange of promises that are fair and acceptable to all parties involved. The parties agree that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach which has not been resolved by a non-sanctioned mediator, shall be submitted to biblically-based binding arbitration administered in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries and the Federal Arbitration Act. Judgment upon any arbitration decision may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The Parties agree to waive their respective rights to trial by jury.
Advertiser agrees to incorporate the above Dispute Resolution process and contract language into their agreements with their clients, customers and vendors.
In the event, Advertiser has violated the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement; Gdirect will promptly notify Advisor by the issuance of a written Failure to Perform notice. Advertiser has 48 hours from receipt of "Failure to Perform" notice to correct violation. If Advertiser fails to correct violation within the stipulated time, Gdirect may cancel this agreement within 14 days and remove the Advertiser from the directory.
The Peacemaker's Pledge
A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution
As a person reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I believe that I am called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict.¹ I also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ.² Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on His grace, I commit myself to respond to conflict according to the following principles:
- Serve the Lord with all my heart and soul.
- Abide by integrity in business and to make my business a place of integrity
- Be honest and follow business according to God's word
- Promote honesty at all times
- Treat others as I would like to be treated
- Create superior quality in my business thorough the products and services I provide
- Never promote products, materials and/or services that advertise any illegal activities, pornographic or sexually suggestive content, gaming or contending faiths
- Act with compassion and patience with those who disagree with me and to seek Godly council for resolution before seeking legal counsel
- Respect one another's differences and opinions with dignity and kindness
- Treat my competitors with the same kindness and care I want from them, realizing it is better to become allies than enemies
- Act at all times as one who is Christ-like to my employees, patrons, partners, clients and customers
I Also Commit To:
- Glorify God. Instead of focusing on my own desires or dwelling on what others may do, I will seek to please and honor God by; depending on His wisdom, power, and love; by faithfully obeying His commands; and by seeking to maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.3
- Get the log out of my own eye. Instead of attacking others or dwelling on their wrongs, I will take responsibility for my own contribution to conflicts, confessing my sins, asking God to help me change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm I have caused.4
- Gently Restore. Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, I will choose to overlook minor offenses, or I will talk directly and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook. When a conflict with another Christian cannot be resolved in private, I will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.5
- Go and be reconciled. Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, I will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences.6
- Dispute Resolution I fully commit to working with others and agree to communicate with others at all times so as to avoid or minimize disputes or disagreements. If disputes or disagreements do arise, I commit to resolving such disputes or disagreements in an amicable, professional and expeditious manner so as to avoid unnecessary losses, delays and disruptions. I commit to adhere to the following biblical dispute resolution principals:
- Overlook an offense. Where an offense is minor, one person deliberately and unilaterally decides to forgive the wrong and walks away from the conflict.
- Dealing with an offense. Contact the parties involved directly. Personal offenses that are too serious to overlook should be resolved through confession or loving confrontation, leading to forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Resolution of an offense. Negotiations dealing with the issue of money, property, or other rights should be resolved by using first a non-sanctioned mediator to reach a mutually agreeable settlement through an exchange of promises that are fair and acceptable to all parties involved. I agree that any claim, dispute or controversy which has not been resolved by a non-sanctioned mediator, shall first be submitted to non-binding mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Any claim, dispute, or controversy which has not been resolved by mediation shall be submitted to binding arbitration administered by the AAA.
I agree to incorporate the above Dispute Resolution process and contract language into agreements I have with my clients, customers and vendors.
By God's grace, I will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an opportunity, not an accident. I will remember that success, in God's eyes, is not a matter of specific results but of faithful, dependent obedience. And I will pray that my service as a peacemaker brings praise to our Lord and leads others to know His infinite love.7
- 1 Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26; Matt. 5:9
- 2 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; Rom. 8:28-29; James 1:2-4
- 3 1 Cor. 10:31; James 4:1-3; Psalm 37:1-6; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:12; John 14:15; James 3:17-18; Rom. 12:17-21; Mark 11:25
- 4 Matt. 7:3-5; 1 John 1:8-9; Prov 28:13; Col. 3:5-14; Luke 19:8
- 5 Matt. 18:15-20; James 5:9; Prov. 19:11; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; 1 Cor. 6:1-8
- 6 Matt. 5:23-24; Matt. 6:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Matt. 7:12; Phil. 2:3-4
- 7 Matt. 25:14-21; 1 Peter 2:19, 4:19; Rom. 12:18; John 13:34-35
- Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande (1997).