Responding to Change - Leading with Purpose in Business and Life – with Bristan Heaven – [Ep. 291]

Linda J. Hansen:  Thank you for tuning in today. My name is Linda J. Hansen, your host of the Prosperity 101® Podcast, where we seek to unleash the power of employers to reclaim and preserve America by Connecting Boardroom to Breakroom® and policy to paycheck. Employers educating employees about public policy issues that affect their jobs can lead to greater employee loyalty, engagement, and retention, and to an increased awareness of the blessings and responsibilities of living in a free society. 

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So with all of that being said, I will go into introducing our guest. Bristan Heaven is with me today, and Bristan is someone that I don't know well, but we've gotten to know each other better as I've asked him to be on this podcast.

It's really unique. Everyone has their individual story, and I love learning about people and how they choose to use their experiences and backgrounds to serve others, and especially when they're serving others in the business marketplace. And so Bristan, you have an incredible background in business, banking, finance, and you are now choosing to really help people become the leaders that they were meant to be, and helping them build their businesses so that they can flourish.

And this really was a redirection for you in a sense, but you are now leading the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, and it is part of the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce, and it's a growing organization of business leaders who are truly making a difference, not only in their regional area, but across the country and the world. 

So Bristan, welcome, and please tell the audience a little bit more about you, your background, and how you came to be leading the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, which you do to help businesses flourish.

Bristan Heaven: Linda, thank you so much. It's an honor. It's a delight. It's a joy to be on this call with you. 

Leading the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce is a matter of, yes. As a business banker, I served our clients, I served our clients well, I enjoyed it.

I told my wife I would like to invest another eight more years in my banking career, grew into a senior vice president, increased my income even more into the six-figure number, and I was just really pleased with doing that until the Lord said otherwise. Jesus said, my sheep, hear my voice, and when He speaks, we have a choice to make. And He didn't just speak once, He spoke more than once, and He brought confirmation after confirmation after confirmation.

The beauty about it is that I stepped into the role as a co-president with my wife, Latandra, who helped to build out the system and the team. She was working with Krystal Parker, who was prior the president of the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce. She's now the president of the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce. And so she worked hand-in-hand with Krystal. She knew the people. She knew the process.

And so when I stepped into the role, I asked the board, may I have my wife working alongside me because we've been working together for years, and they approved it. But after two years, after the team has grown to more than 40 volunteers and the system was in place, and she felt like the grace was leaving, and then she had some health issues, she felt like it was time for her to step down and for me to do what God has called me to in helping our leaders build a kingdom, build business, and build community. And so that's what we did.

And I'm so grateful for the team. I can focus on leading wisely. I can focus on managing courageously and communicating compassionately with our sponsors, members, partners, and donors in order to grow and help our members grow their business with the visibility, the clarity, and the kingdom impact that matters to them.

Linda J. Hansen: That is well said when you said the visibility and the clarity and the impact, the kingdom impact. And I think that that's one of the things, a lot of times people don't realize that business can be a ministry. I talk about it a lot on this podcast.

We talk about so many different issues on this podcast, whether it is the economic situation in our nation or immigration or school choice or so many different things, protecting kids in the data world or energy, how we use energy and great energy resources and things. I mean, there's so many different topics we cover, but I always like to include episodes that talk about having a kingdom impact in the marketplace. And so I love to find marketplace leaders who are really trying intentionally to use their God-given gifts to positively impact the marketplace.

And Jesus spoke most often in the marketplace and that's where we live and we work and we interact with people. So of course we would want to serve, as believers, we would want to serve and serve well. And when we can serve others well and with excellence and with authenticity, we not only honor God, but we build them up and then all these businesses can grow and families can flourish and businesses and families.

I mean, that's the bedrock of our society. And so without healthy families, without healthy businesses, we don't have a healthy government. We don't have healthy communities.

We don't have a healthy society. And so it's really important what we do to really build up the individuals, the leaders, help them to lead well, help them to have the processes and the systems and the business understanding to grow their businesses, but then also to have the unity where we're helping one another so each person can thrive in their own calling, in their own way. And we build one another up where a lot of drops of water will fill the ocean and the boats can rise.

So I think you're doing that so well.

Bristan Heaven: Well, thanks, Linda. And it's always a joy to have you with us. I know you have to travel some miles, but it's always good to have you in the room and I hope each time you felt welcome.

Linda J. Hansen: Absolutely. Absolutely. And sometimes I've joined virtually as well.

And I think you and really so many of the Christian Chamber coalition members are just doing so many great things across the nation. Not only is the U.S. Christian Chamber growing rapidly and becoming more widespread and all the time, but in each state, the growth in each state. And I think you have been a really great example.

The Central Florida Christian Chamber was kind of like the tip of the spear and has been such a great example. And for those listening and thinking, well, what's the difference between a Christian Chamber of Commerce and a regular Chamber of Commerce? I mean, there's a huge difference.

I know it. I've been part of both and I often do things with both. But I will say the more that I've done in the Christian business marketplace, there's just a different tone.

There's so much more building each other up. It isn't a, me first in jockeying, jockeying to get the best spot or jockeying to get notoriety or something. It's more like serving one another so everyone can flourish.

And that, I think, is just something that speaks to the world, but also really does help everyone.

Bristan Heaven: Service first.

Linda J. Hansen: Yes.

Bristan Heaven: And the sales will take care of themselves. Exactly.

Linda J. Hansen: So tell us a little more about your background and where the country of Jamaica fits in for you.

Bristan Heaven: Yes, yes, yes. So I'm grateful to the Lord that for the humble beginning, yes, my great-grandfather was a successful farmer and my grandfather had his welding business. My mom actually worked for my great-grandfather and grandfather because they had the business in the community and they were known.

And so that's how my mom met my dad, was working for my great-grandfather and for my grandfather. So growing up, my mom had her business.

Linda J. Hansen: And where did you grow up?

Bristan Heaven: So I grew up in Jamaica, in the parish of Petersville. So just a humble beginning, watching my family work hard. And I remember one day my grandfather built a fruit stand and said, hey, here's fruit, sell it to the neighbors who are passing by.

That was my introduction into sales, learning how to say hi and how are you and would you like to try this fruit? And oh, by the way, now that you've tried it, here is a bunch for you to purchase. And that gave me my footing and just watching my grandfather, watching my mom and learning the importance of a good work ethic, the importance of listening to your customers, the importance of putting your customers first was all there.

So when I was in seminary, my wife came on a mission trip. I was on campus and we had students who were from Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Alabama. And I met my wife.

She was a part of the team. And so after two and a half years, we realized that, wait a minute, God has a call on both of our lives and especially for discipleship. And so I moved to the U.S. just to get married and return to Jamaica. I had a job there in Jamaica that was waiting for me, for my internship. I wanted to be a pastor. At that time, I wasn't thinking business.

I was making plans to serve as an associate pastor. And my wife, we'd already spoken with the dean of the seminary I was at for her to come and work at the seminary. And so that was the plan.

And when we were here, I had a dream and it was clear that the Lord was changing direction. And so I went to our senior pastor and I said, hey, here is the dream that we have. And he confirmed that the Lord is changing direction.

You're not going to return to Jamaica this time. So then I was like, OK, Lord, if you are telling me to. 

I grew up in a home where my stepfather is an immigration officer. You obey the law of the land. So I was like, Lord, I need your help, need your help. And I remember crying out to the Lord and my wife said, hey, my former employer asks if I'm still in the US. And I told her, yes, it looks like we're going to stay.

And she said, hey, can you come back and work for us? We love having you. And then my wife said and my uncle said, hey, are you still here? And I said, yes. And he said, well, here is the money to get his paperwork done so that he can get his green card. 

I was like, Lord, you do. You spoke. Not only have you spoken, but you're making a way for me to be here and go through the process of becoming a citizen. There is such an appreciation because we had to learn the history of this nation. And I resolve in my heart, Linda, I remember the day when I became a citizen, that Lord, you have given me the opportunity to be a citizen in this nation. So help me to serve others in such a way that you will be pleased and this land will be pleased that I am a citizen here in this nation. 

And so I just resolved to do that, not knowing that one day I would serve as a president of the Christian Chamber and help in communities, not knowing that I just wanted to make sure that this gift of citizenship was used for God's glory and for the good of others.

Linda J. Hansen: That is so encouraging and how we wish that every immigrant would have that same viewpoint. I know you told me when we have talked other times how much you appreciated all that America had to offer versus what Jamaica had to offer. And you said something about really wishing that every American could understand the contrast, because so many American citizens, especially native born American citizens, take this freedom, take our prosperity for granted and they don't protect it.

And I think that when we can hear these immigrant voices, it doesn't even have to be about policy or laws or things like that. These immigrant voices that say this freedom is precious.What you have here in America is precious.

Don't waste it. Don't squander it. That is so critical because right now there's so many immigrants who are here, some with ill intent. Some have been sent here from those with ill intent. There's cartels, there's traffickers, there's criminals. But there are also a lot of illegal immigrants here.

And I was just talking about illegals there. But then there's a lot of illegal immigrants here that aren't here with ill intent. They were likely misled.

Maybe they were trafficked and thought that they were doing the right thing. Maybe they just had the wrong advice and they realized, oh, now I'm in the country illegally. And so, we can really show compassion for the immigrants.

But also, you had such a desire to follow the rule of law. And that's fantastic. And I think America has shown we've always been welcoming to immigrants.

But there is a rule of law. And right now there's a lot of criticism, I think, against Christians or anybody who says, there needs to be deportations or anything. And, it's like, well, don't you love, you know, Jesus taught you to love.

Well, I always tell people to love without justice isn't true love. Love without boundaries isn't true love. That is based in almost a selfishness that says, I don't want to take any negative in return.

We don't, if we truly love our children, when we're raising them, we put boundaries around them to protect them. If we truly love them, we have rules to protect them and to guide them. And so if we truly love immigrants and we truly love our citizens and we truly love the future for this nation, we will abide by appropriate immigration laws.

And you are such a perfect example of someone who came and decided to be a blessing, to be a great citizen, to add value. And whether we go to another country or immigrants come here, or we're native born citizens, I think that's the main thing is that we should be really striving to serve and add value and build up those around us, whether they're business leaders or just our neighbor down the street, or of course our family members. But, that's what it's about.

It's about serving the Lord and serving others. And just your story is so inspirational because you see the value of what we have here in America and how you want to use your gifts to serve here.

Bristan Heaven: Linda, thank you. And if there is someone in the audience who's listening or watching who may be at the crossroad there at a defining moment in making a decision, we serve a God who hears, we serve a God who answers prayer. What if I didn't pray?

For me, the clock was ticking. I had a visa that says I have a certain time to stay. And so when I realized that the Lord wanted me to stay, I cried out to Him.

I said, Lord, make a way. Please make a way so that what you're saying to me is confirmed. I didn't know where the answer was going to come, Linda.

I just didn't. But it was interesting that the answer came after I cried out to the God who hears, to the God who cares, to the God who wrote your story, Linda, to the God who wrote the story of those who are listening or watching. He cares.

He cares. And if we will cry out to Him, He hears and He answers. And so I just want to encourage whoever is listening right now that there is a God in heaven who knows you by name and He cares about you.

And if you will reach out to Him, He will answer you at your point of need.

Linda J. Hansen: So true. And so for anyone listening, if you have never done that, you've never really reached out and said, Lord Jesus, I need to know you now is a great time. You can see Bristan's story, like he said, what if he hadn't prayed?

So often we reach these crossroads in life and we don't really know what to do. And I can't say, some Christians will say, oh, your business will boom and everything will be fine. You'll never get sick.

You know, your children will never talk back and everything will be rosy. Well, that's not really the way life is. But the beauty of knowing the Lord is that there is still that guidance and that presence and we can grow in wisdom and all things work together for good that for them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

So just like the Lord used your background and all these things together for good to get you to where you are today, He can do that for the listeners right now. And so many people don't think about combining really their faith in the marketplace, but also being able to educate employees about their faith and about policy issues that will allow them to keep their freedom. And I know you and I talked about that.

Like my passion is so much to really help business leaders educate employees about the policy issues that affect their jobs. And really it's about their freedom. And you know, I have this Employers Unleashed™ community where we meet once a month with these webinars to go through the seven mountains of culture, which for anybody listening who isn't familiar with that, we have business, we have family, we have education, arts and entertainment, media, government, military, and religion.

These are really mountains of culture, societal influence that really we have sort of surrendered as conservatives or as believers, and we can take that back and we can make a positive difference through what we do in our businesses. It doesn't have to be underneath the steeple of a church. We need to go out into the marketplace.

Jesus spoke most in the marketplace than anywhere. And that's where we will speak with friends, employees, colleagues, competitors, vendors, but everybody is a person with a need and everybody is a person who needs to understand how to protect their own freedom and how to be their own best advocate. Whether it be in their relationship with Jesus Christ, like being authentic in their relationship with Jesus Christ, or whether it be learning how to understand how policy affects them.

There's just so many simple things that we can do to help them reach their fullest potential. And I think that when we can help people reach their fullest potential and understand that others care and want to help them grow, I mean, that just creates an incredible healing balm in our nation. You know, right now there is such division, and this is really intentional.

Those who want to destroy America want division. You know, there's so much division in families, division in races. You know, we're really, I don't think most people are that racist. You know, there are those that are, but if you listen to the media, it's like we're absolutely divided. And that's not really true. You can go anywhere and it's just not true.

People love people so often. And for those who don't, why not? Maybe they've been really hurt and we just need to love on them.

Not that that's the only answer. Like I said before, we need to have strong boundaries and the rule of law as well. But sometimes that's the love we show by letting them have the consequences of their actions.

Bristan Heaven: You know, Linda, as I listen to you, I'm reminded of the way the world, when God created this earth, it looks so much different from what it is now. We've got to remember that God never intended for us to be in pain. God never intended for there to be a divide.

God never intended for us to see hatred. And He created us for good. He created us so that we would be like Him, who is good.

And so the world that we're in today, we have to be cognizant that it's not just what meets the eye. The worldview, yes, that we have is shaped by our upbringing. But we've got to remember that there is a realm of the spirit that does influence the lives in the natural.

And just as there is a God, there is a devil. Just as there is good, there is evil. And the battle between the two is not, is that, oh, God is up here and Satan is right here.

No, no, no, no, no, no. Satan is a created being. However, as you said, Linda, we've made decisions.

We have made decisions that have not always been for the good of others, have not always been for our growth, and have not always been for God's glory. And so, but the beautiful thing is this, is that in the midst of our poor choices, in the midst of our sin, in the midst of the chaos, there is a God who is sitting and waiting to say, hey, if you call out to Me, I will be gracious to you. I think it's in Isaiah, chapter 13, I think it may be verse 18, that says that He actually waits to be gracious to us.

So even though there is evil and even though there is darkness, there is a God who's saying, I can turn it around. Your darkest night, your worst pain, your greatest trouble, if you will look to me, if you'll call out to me, I will help you. And our leaders need that.

Our government, right now with all that's happening in the world, we need to pray for our government. We need to pray for our leaders. They need God's help.

They need God's wisdom and understanding and knowing how to make decisions that will help the nation. They need to know how to make decisions that will help us to live godly and peaceful lives. So again, God is waiting for the church to say, hey, Father, help us, help the nations to look to You, because when we get Your help, it makes a difference in our world.

But if we live apart from God's help, then we're going on the path that is destructive, because God is light, and there's no darkness. If we turn away from light, we're turning to darkness.

Linda J. Hansen: Absolutely. And just for those who might not be familiar with the term, if we have people who really don't know Christ and might be listening or really have never thought about bringing any type of faith or anything into the marketplace or even talking about it in business. But you mentioned the church, when the church brings something to it.

I want to clarify that we're not meaning a church building. I've often said on podcasts so many times, I've quoted Keith Green, a famous musician from years past. He's since passed away.

But I just remember when he was alive, he said, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger. And so I just love that. And I've quoted it often because it can be religion, but Christianity is a relationship.

And we take that relationship that we have with Jesus and that love for others and things. It doesn't mean like we're out just constantly talking about Jesus, like we walk everywhere with our Bible in our hands or something. It means like we love, we love, we love and we serve and we care about, if we're talking about caring about our employees, we care about the whole person.

We care about the whole person. We care about their family. We care about what's going on with them, their health, their needs, their emotions.

You know, it doesn't mean we end up being their pastor or that the workplace becomes this feel good type of environment. But it means that there's someone there who actually cares about this person and is willing to share information or provide opportunities for flourishing. And that's what's so important.

Sometimes it's the smallest thing. It's the smallest thing that an employer can do that tells an employee they care. And I think that's really a first step.

So do you have any closing comments? And then we need to make sure people know how to contact you.

Bristan Heaven: Well, thanks. Thanks, Linda. I love how you address your audience.

Just in case someone is listening who is not religious, someone who's listening who has never put their faith in Jesus Christ, but they matter. They're made in the image of God. They have needs, they have desires, they have dreams, and they want to live a meaningful life, a life of purpose.

They want to live out their days to the fullest. And I would speak to that person right now. And I would say to that individual that if you're in a place where you feel as if, you know what, even though I'm amassing, I'm going after, I'm accumulating, but still there is that longing. There's something on the inside that says there's more. There's more. 

I would encourage you don't deny that feeling, that nudge. One of the best things that Jesus did was when He said this, I will ask the Father to send you a helper, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been sent to come alongside you in order to convict of sin.

And nothing is wrong in being convicted of sin. I was so happy, Linda, the day my great-grandfather by my mother's side shared with me the good news of Jesus Christ. And I said, oh, really? I am a sinner. I do need Jesus. Okay?

I open up my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to do that work in me to let me realize that I need Jesus. And I would say to you also that don't allow Him to convict you of righteousness. Jesus came to help us to have a right standing with the Father.

It is so good when we have a right standing with God. I was talking about when I got my citizenship. The law is for me. It's not against me. I pray for the police. I pray for our government because it's there to protect me.

So in the same way, when you have that right standing with God, it's like you're walking into that court and saying, Father, Father. And He responds. You move from a sinner to a son or daughter.

What a blessing. And last but not least, I would say this, that if He's in a conviction in your heart of judgment, know that the evil that you see in this world, the god of this world, he has been judged. He's an outlaw.

You don't have to be afraid of him. When God is your father and Jesus is your brother and the Holy Spirit is your son, you can face business, you can face family, you can face challenges, you can even face death. If you're at the place where you are transitioning from life to death, you can face it with helper of the Holy Spirit.

Whatever you're going through, just know that you have a friend. He's the Holy Spirit. He was sent to be your helper, and He is God.

He wants to be your best friend.

Linda J. Hansen: Absolutely. And I appreciate that you share that, and that's what you wanted to have as your last thing. A lot of people would say, oh, pick my business. Come join my organization. Go to my website and do this and that. And you chose to point them to Jesus.

And I think He was the master of storytelling, of discipleship, and I would say sales. I always tell people, you might have a small sales team, but Jesus only had 12. So it worked out for Him.

But really, we can look to Him for our example in so many parts of life, and He can guide us. And so help us grow our businesses, to help us be a light in the communities. Right now, our nation really needs that unity, that love, that servanthood.

We need that desperately. And so I appreciate what you are bringing to the marketplace, that authenticity and that love for others, but also making sure they grow their businesses, they become successful entrepreneurs, they become competent business leaders, because that's really what fuels the nation. It helps families flourish, and that makes all the difference in the world.

So thank you, Bristan. How can people contact you?

Bristan Heaven: Great, great. So I'm on LinkedIn. So feel free to go send me LinkedIn requests.

You'll see Bristan Heaven. And also, if you can also reach out to me through the chamber at info@cfchristianchamber.com. That's info@cfchristianchamber.com.

And if you're someone who say, you know what, I want to align my business according to God's unique design, God's unique blueprint, in order to clarify my message, engage ready clients, and grow steady revenue, you can send me an email directly at bristan@kingdomreachleadership.com. That's bristan@kingdomreachleadership.com. 

Linda, thank you for having me.

Linda J. Hansen: Well, thank you. And I look forward to continued growth and engagement with the Christian Chamber of Commerce and really all these businesses that you are helping to grow and expand. So thank you.

Bristan Heaven: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Linda J. Hansen: Thank you again for tuning in to this episode of the Prosperity 101® podcast. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please, subscribe, share, and give us a great review. Don’t forget to visit Prosperity101.com to sign our Employers Unleashed™ pledge, to access our entire podcast library, or to discover resources for use in your workplace. Let us know how we can serve you. Contact us today at Prosperity101.com.