How Hobby Lobby Reflects God’s Character (w/ Mart Green)
Nov 13, 2024
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Mart Green, founder of Mardel Christian and Education and a key figure at Hobby Lobby, discusses the profound intersection of faith and business. He shares how the Green family integrates their Christian values into the corporate culture, highlighting their commitment to employee well-being and community support. The power of music in the workplace fosters a spiritually uplifting atmosphere, reinforcing the importance of love and generosity. Green also emphasizes practical steps for business leaders to nurture their faith within their organizations.
Mart Green highlights that integrating faith into business allows individuals to live out their spiritual values in a professional setting.
The family's decision to challenge the contraceptive mandate legally exemplifies how strong beliefs can drive ethical business practices even amidst adversity.
Deep dives
The Integration of Faith and Business
Mart Green emphasizes the importance of integrating faith into the business sector, drawing from his childhood experiences in a Christian home and the family business. His father was committed to prioritizing God and family over work, which shaped Mart's understanding of business as a platform for living out faith. This perspective helped him realize that pursuing a business career does not mean sacrificing one's spiritual values, dispelling the notion that serving God exclusively requires a pastoral role. Mart's upbringing instilled in him a sense of responsibility to demonstrate God's principles in all business dealings.
Lessons from Hardship
Mart recounts a pivotal moment in the mid-1980s when Hobby Lobby faced significant financial challenges that put the family's livelihood at risk. During this time, his father gathered the family to discuss the possibility of closing the business, feeling overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control. However, the family united around their faith, which reinforced the notion that their dependence was on God rather than on the business. This episode became a profound lesson for Mart as he witnessed his father's transformation from feeling like an owner to understanding himself as a steward of God's resources.
Bravery in Legal Battles
Mart shares the experience of Hobby Lobby's legal fight against the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate, which posed a moral conflict for the company. With a potential daily fine of $1.3 million at stake, the decision to challenge the law was daunting, yet rooted in their commitment to faith. The family recognized the religious implications of providing abortifacients to employees and collectively chose to pursue a lawsuit, driven by their belief that life begins at conception. Their victory in the Supreme Court became a pivotal moment, signaling the importance of standing firm in one's beliefs, even amid uncertainty and fear.
Cultivating a Christ-Centered Workplace
Hobby Lobby's unique culture fosters an environment where spiritual and emotional well-being are prioritized alongside business objectives. The company employs chaplains who provide support and guidance to staff, as well as offering practical benefits such as a medical clinic on-site. Additionally, Mart mentions conducting family gatherings and leadership meetings that incorporate discussions around faith, stewardship, and generosity. This holistic approach illustrates how a business can flourish while upholding Christian values, demonstrating that workplace culture can reflect God's character through everyday practices.
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
On this episode, Mart Green shares how he and the Green family aim to reflect God’s character and ways through the culture and operations of Hobby Lobby and Mardel.
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