On Thursday May 28th we had the pleasure of hearing from Curt Kruse, Regional President and EVP for Vantage Bank, about living out his faith in the marketplace. I have had the good pleasure of getting to know Curt over the last couple of years and love to see how he has persevered in faith through many difficult challenges over years, some of which continue to this day.
Curt's story and life reminds us that faith is a gift, but it is often forged in the difficult moments on our knees, when we have the weight of the world on us and have nowhere left to turn.
Whether navigating the pain of broken relationships, embracing a blended family, enduring health trials, or leading a large organization, Curt has learned that success is no longer measured by personal achievement or the scoreboard. Instead, it is measured by the flourishing of the people entrusted to his care.
He challenged us to lead with an inverted org chart—seeing leadership as service, not status. He reminded us that people don't need us to be perfect; they need us to be present, listen, love them well, extend grace when they fail, make charitable assumptions, and prioritize people over projects and profits. He calls it: “creating UNCOMMON and ATTRACTIVE care for others.”
He pointed to the benefit of having a Christian brother with you at your side in the workplace to radically live out your faith and to pray over employees, customers, and calendars.
Perhaps the most powerful lesson was this: God often does His deepest work through patience, suffering, and faithfulness over time. As Curt said, "God plays the long ball." When we remain faithful, even in difficulty, our lives become a witness that points others to Christ.
And our faith is attractive to people that don’t know Jesus. They can’t put their finger on what it is that we have and that is missing from their lives. We know. His name is Jesus.
Three Questions for Reflection
- Where am I still measuring success by my own performance rather than by the impact I have on others?
- Who has God entrusted to my care that needs more of my attention, encouragement, or sacrificial love?
- When facing difficulty, am I trusting God to work through the struggle, or am I only looking for a quick escape from it?
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