Souly Business

	From the Chairman

	I hope this letter finds you well and, as we transition into summer, you are able to slow down a little and “allow your soul to catch up with your body.” This past January, it was my humble honor to assume the role of Chairman of the Souly Business Board of Directors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Goff for his dedicated and effective leadership as past Chairman. Bill remains on our board and is charged with the responsibility of evaluating opportunities for growth outside of the U.S. At our annual retreat, we welcomed Bob Lewis to the board and we thanked treasurer Chris Williams for his leadership and contributions as he transitioned off the board. Our main topic of discussion at the retreat was goals and strategies for ministry growth. As Souly Business continues to grow, we must continue to develop “bench strength” for leadership within the organization. It has been gratifying to see men naturally assume positions of leadership and use their gifts and talents to develop their own “ministry within a ministry.” Some examples include Bartee Lamar as “head chef”; Brian Purcell as our audio-visual technician; and Lane Tucker as “pig-cooker extraordinaire”. At this time, we need to train apprentices in these (and other) roles. Please pray about how God may be leading you to utilize your gifts to serve His ministry. Contact Kevin Latty with any thoughts or questions. For the remainder of 2007, Souly Business AM (the first and third Friday each month) will break for July and August. We will reconvene after Labor Day with some new and engaging content. Our two fall retreats in Georgia are on the calendar for September 28-30 and November 16-18 (click here for details). Additionally, we will be hosting our second retreat in Johnson City, TN on November 9-11. If you have never given yourself the gift of serving on a Souly Business Host Team, perhaps this fall is the time. The September team is at capacity; however there are currently openings for team members for the November 16-18 retreat. You can register to serve from the website at www.soulybusiness.org. Also, please give prayerful consideration to men you’d like to invite and refer them to the website for registration as well. In the meantime, I pray for you a safe and relaxing summer! In His Service, Sonny Newton, Chairman PS- If you are not subscribed to the new Souly Business Daily Devotional, you can sign up for your free subscription on the homepage of our website. It’s a great way to start your day!

	Souly Business - My Story By Bryan Davidson

	As I pondered the idea of going to Souly Business, I have to admit that I wasn’t too keen on anything resembling a “camp.” When I think of camps, I think of dirt and games—two things that are not in my desire box. So the thought of going was not particularly appealing. However, I was convinced to attend and now, I’m another one of those “this is the best retreat I have ever experienced” guys. In fact, I have yet to meet a person who did not experience something unique at a Souly Business weekend. Coincidentally, on the way to the retreat, I stopped by to see a friend in Gainesville who shared some thoughts about the church in a post-modern culture. He believes that events and programs are the way of the past when it comes to spiritual growth and life change. He believes the church must learn and embrace a new model- something he calls “transformational communities.” Little did I know, I was on the way to experiencing my first transformational community. Souly Business opened my eyes. At most events, I feel ambitious. I sense a few new pointers and ideas. But Souly Business created a way to help leaders connect with leaders. They facilitated hands-on conversation. It’s an open and safe environment- to connect, to question, to dialogue, and to learn. At Souly Business, I felt safe to let go, to dive in, to express my innermost longings, and to simply listen to God and his servants. When I left Souly Business, I felt rejuvenated, uplifted, encouraged, connected, cleansed, and rested. As I reflect on the weekend, I find it extra meaningful to know that I now have over 50 new brothers. Not just any kind of brothers, but faith-full, grace-full, spirit-ual, dependable ones. Today, I feel like I am riding in a bigger boat, with better men and a stronger faith as we navigate the high tides of life. Now, it’s my goal for all of my friends to attend a Souly Business retreat. I have no doubt – if they do, our relationships will go to a new and deeper level. I believe this is the perfect environment to shape ethos and I honestly don’t know of anything else that actually accomplishes such a thing. I’m filled with gratitude for- Brian Cork and his gracious invitation that made it impossible for me to say “no”, Kevin for his initiative and humble leadership, and Larry for his compassion and heart. It is evident that the Spirit of the living God is facilitating this community. I’m touched by the leaders and speakers, who focus their attention on what the Spirit desires to do. Their focus is not on an agenda or a desired outcome. Their focus is to facilitate what God wants to do- seeing and experiencing that blew me away.

	Souly Business in Johnson City, TN - By Dave McAuley

	Some of the greatest opportunities for ministry are found in our daily interactions in the marketplace. I was first introduced to Souly Business through a friend in Johnson City. After attending a retreat, he shared how the Souly Business experience was so relevant to the issues he faced in his daily professional life. His enthusiasm for the ministry and its impact inspired me to register for an upcoming retreat. The retreat came at a perfect time in my life. I was rethinking how I might be more effective in serving others in the marketplace. In a sense, I came with expectations of learning some “how to” strategies for my “to do” list. What I experienced, however, was a reminder of who I am in Christ and that life isn’t so much about “to do” as it is “to be”. The principles regarding integration of faith and work, priorities, our identity in Christ, character, servant leadership, and standards of excellence inspired my thinking like never before. Over the course of the weekend, God revealed to me the need for sharing these key principles with businessmen in our Northeast Tennessee community. After taking dozens of businessmen from our region to Souly Business retreats in Georgia, we determined that God was calling us to host our own Souly Business retreat in Tennessee. Our first retreat this past November was a huge success (with lots of help and encouragement from our Georgia brothers) and we have decided to make this an annual event. We are currently planning our second retreat which is scheduled for this fall. I believe Souly Business retreats have a powerful impact because of the prayer support, humility of leadership, and commitment to the truths of Scripture. Souly Business retreats serve as an instrument in the Master’s hands to stir hearts and to prepare those He has divinely called to ministry in the marketplace. Dave McAuley Summit Leadership Foundation



	Connecting men in the workplace with our Heavenly Father... and one another
	Upcoming Retreats North Georgia Men September 28-30, 2007 November 16-18, 2007 Johnson City, TN Men November 9-11, 2007 ------------------------------ Souly Business for Men REGISTER today ------------------------------ Testimonials "...nevertheless, it's extremely hard for me to put into words what this weekend meant to me, and the level of impact it has had on my life." -Jared "I learned that I share my faith at work by serving others, by doing my job with excellence, by displaying Christ-like character, and by working for an audience of One." -Brian