Recent Events

25th March 2011 – Counter-Culture in a Coffee-cup

We were delighted to have Ian Meredith with us as speaker. Ian is “Head Bean” of his own business “Ethical Addictions” based in Gloucester www.eacoffee.co.uk. Ian is a lover of great tasting coffee but wanted his to be Fair Trade Ethical Coffee. This desire to be Ethical included a desire to also be “Just” in his business dealings.

As a result Ian set up his business and travels to trade directly with villagers in Africa and Brazil. He wants to help the village producers help themselves to improve the lives of their families. He realised he could maximise profit by paying less than what to him, would seem a “Just” price to the villagers while still paying more than double what they were currently getting. But to Ian this was still not a “Just” price. And so he paid even more than double what they were getting, knowing he could still make a good and just margin and in doing so really valuing the people he was doing business with. This way - a Counter-Cultural way - the villagers are blessed with more and Ian is blessed by knowing he is working in a way which helps to “Bring maximum glory to God in the marketplace”.

What else can you do which can help bring glory to God and bless other people? Contact us at Crosslink to let us know.

Crosslink Breakfast Event - 11 June 2010 – Another Record Turnout

We are pleased to say that we had another record attendance on Friday 11th June with several new businesses attending. Due to expansion we were for the first time, in the Orangery area which is a great setting beneath that magnificent window.

Frank Bennett of Crosslink spoke about the Kingdom of God which was mentioned over 60 times in the Gospels. As the Kingdom is of primary importance to Jesus it must be of primary importance to us. The Kingdom is not a geographic area but simply anywhere the influence of the King is experienced. Therefore our business can be a place where the influence of our King can be experienced by those we come into contact with.

We are very grateful to Ian Barrett, Chartered Accountant, for speaking about how he has grown and developed his business by using some counter-cultural principles. Ian has always tried to develop a real relationship with his customers by relating to them as individual people rather than seeing them as an “account”. This has allowed him to help some customers with some very real issues such as cancer. Ian said that he would know the company has grown too big when they lose the personal touch and don’t know a customer when they walk in.

In the future there will be a business seminar running after the initial 0930 finish. A list of speakers and topics will be published ahead of the next breakfast.

Crosslink Breakfast Event - 15 April 2010 – A Record Turnout

A record number of 37 people attended and it was great to see so many who want to make an impact for God in the business world.

A big thank you to our speaker Chris Murray of Pennywell Farm who spoke from real experience of trusting God for a major venture and of taking opportunities to promote the things of God, as well as not to miss a business opportunity.

This was the first event held at Wetherspoons, The Imperial, Exeter, and it was pleasing to welcome so many new people and businesses.

Terry Sanford of Crosslink spoke about wanting not to create a superficial network, but a real family of people who will care for and support each other at a personal level as well as at a business level.

Barrie Townsend gave an encouragement to ring at least 2 people in the network just to see how they are and to build relationships. Please do this as it is what family is all about.

Terry mentioned that Crosslink has set up a dedicated training and development arm called Crosslink Academy see www.crosslinkacademy.com – please have a look and mention to others

Barrie has developed an excellent Leadership training package called Destiny to Lead which is a two day package, although it can be tailored to need, and which is soundly biblically based.

We are really behind this programme as Barrie has personally used these principles to triple profits in his roles as a senior manager in the challenging motor-trade, whilst also increasing both customer and staff satisfaction. God’s principles do work in the marketplace and can work for you

4 February 2010

Christians Against Poverty

Our last Business Support Networking event was on Thursday 4th February and we were delighted to have Liz and Sue from Christians Against Poverty (CAP Exeter) as speakers.

CAP is working through the Network Church in Exeter and doing a great job in helping people to budget and manage their finances to try to overcome debt.

It was inspirational to hear how CAP was born out of the experiences of just one man who struggled through the difficulties and emotional pressures caused by debt and then set up CAP in order to help others.

From the experiences of just one man with vision, over 36,000 people have now been helped throughout the country, thus making CAP a truly remarkable Christian initiative.

At Crosslink we believe that when we seek God about the purposes He has for us and are prepared to step out in this by partnering with Him, life takes on a whole new dimension.

We also believe that God does provide a definite anointing for business and for Christians in business and therefore the market place is somewhere for which Christians are designed and equipped to make a real difference and help bring Maximum Glory to God.