“It only takes three-to-five percent of a leadership operating at the tops of cultural mountains to shift those mountains,” says Os Hillman, founder of Marketplace Leaders. “This is what the same gender community has done by dominating Arts and Entertainment and Media. They have totally shifted the public’s view of this issue. Christians need to learn from those who are affecting sweeping changes. We are often seen as right-wing reactionaries pushing our own agenda instead of problem solvers who have something positive to offer.”
Marketplace Leaders is having an impact in this regard by equipping men and women to fulfill God’s calling through their work life and by raising up change agents to influence the culture for Christ. As its president, Os has encouraged thousands to seek God’s calling through his 14 books and daily email devotional, TGIF (Today God Is First), with more than 200,000 subscribers worldwide.
The former owner of an advertising agency, Os developed and teaches the Change Agent Intensive training sessions and also gives leadership to The Change Agent Network. He’s been featured in national media like CNBC, NBC, the LA Times and New York Times as a spokesperson on faith at work. He’s also president of Aslan, Inc. an online Christian bookstore serving the faith-at-work movement.
Marketplace Leaders has forged a strong relationship with Pinnacle Forum. “I was introduced to Pinnacle Forum by Ralph Palmen,” Os recalls. ‘He asked me to speak on the 7 Cultural Mountains, an idea that originally came from Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham. These seven mountains are business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, the family and religion.
“Last year Steve Fedyski, Pinnacle’s CEO, and I formed a collaborative Partnership to launch Pinnacle Forum in Georgia and Alabama. We started a Chapter here in Atlanta with a dozen men and we’ve seen exciting things begin to happen”.
“I believe this Partnership is great for the Kingdom of God and the state of Georgia,” Steve says. “Os has been a frequent contributor to our national conferences and Forums. I’m delighted we can Partner to raise up change agents.”
“One thing that attracts me to the Pinnacle approach is the opportunity for leaders to meet privately to discern what we can do to impact our cities and communities,” Os explains. “We need the prayer, encouragement and support of our peers. Too many leaders are isolated islands, especially in the church. We often don’t work together because of turf wars or donor issues. But we have to cooperate to gain greater leverage and influence. We must take seriously the words of Jesus in John 17-23,
“I in them and you in me–so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Why should a leader add being a Pinnacle Partner to an already overbooked schedule? Os summarizes three excellent reasons: “First, we need to grow and be affirmed in our marketplace calling by our peers. Second, we must leverage relational resources among Partners to solve problems. Solving problems leads to greater Influence. Third, it’s lonely at the top. Leaders need other leaders; we can’t survive alone.”
For information about Pinnacle Forum Georgia, contact Executive Director Danny Ives at 770. 598.4472.
