From the Executive Director
Dear Friends:

I hope this finds you well....living joyfully and abundantly in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Souly Business, it has been another year in which lives have been transformed by the love of our Heavenly Father. In 2009, we intentionally narrowed our focus to that which we do best- hosting catalytic and transformational weekend retreats- and relied on churches, ministry partnerships, and the Body of Christ for sustaining the spiritual fires ignited at a Souly Business retreat.

With retreat attendance up significantly in 2009 and challenging the limitations of our current facility at Strong Rock Retreat, we are very excited about hosting our spring 2010 retreat at Young Life’s Sharp Top Cove in the beautiful mountains near Jasper, GA. This retreat will be different from past retreats in that we are expecting 300-400 participants and will be serving men together with their existing community groups. It will be a great opportunity for men in small groups to grow individually and together in their relationship with our Heavenly Father and one another. If you are involved with a small group oriented church or ministry, please help spread the word and invite men to sign up. We will need about 130-150 men for the host team alone, so if it’s been awhile since you’ve served on a retreat, this would be a great opportunity to re-engage with what God is doing through Souly Business. The dates are April 30-May 2 and you can register at the website.

Due to the recession’s impact on donations, along with dramatically increased requests for registration fee waivers, a big challenge this year has been one of funding our budget. For our October retreat, one out of every six participants was granted a registration fee waiver. With that in mind, I am humbly asking if you would include Souly Business in your year-end giving. Souly Business is a qualified non-profit ministry and your donation is tax-deductible. Contributions can be mailed to Souly Business | 1080 Holcomb Bridge Rd | Bldg 200 | Ste 140 | Roswell GA 30076 or by clicking on the Donations tab at www.soulybusiness.org.

On behalf of our entire board, thank you so much for your participation, prayers, and financial support. We appreciate your generosity as God continues to use this ministry to touch the lives of others and wish for you a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Your Friend in Christ,

Kevin Latty, Executive Director

 
Souly Business -My Story By Pat Moore

On December 29, 2006, the company in which I invested a decade of my life closed its doors. I lost a job earning a comfortable income, my senior title, a corner office, and a position of respect and influence among my peers.
In essence, I lost my identity.

Over the course of the next couple years, I pursued a new identity with a career in an entirely different industry. Although I experienced some success, it was a joyless recovery with little professional or personal growth. I tried to fill this void by being a more dutiful Christian- taking my family to church on a regular basis, giving more money and time, and even joining a men’s group. In short, I was pursuing God’s favor rather than having a trusting and loving relationship with Christ. Ultimately, instead of knowing the joy and peace that comes only from that relationship, I was beginning to feel angry and bitter, especially in the face of some personal hardships.

A turning point came for me when I attended Souly Business in October 2009. I had received separate invitations from two friends and, though hesitant to go, felt God tugging at me and figured I had nothing to lose. Words cannot express the indelible mark that weekend left on my soul and the overwhelming joy I felt through fellowship with other Christian men. It was remarkable to share in the tragedies of other men and to see how the love of Christ had enabled them to overcome hardships and had restored peace to them and their families.

The Souly Business experience helped move the knowledge of God’s love and sacrifice upon the cross from my mind to my heart. God revealed to me that weekend that I need only be focused on Him and He would take care of the rest, including a joyful family life. By re-identifying in Christ, I gained a peace that had been eluding me for a very long time. In addition, I gained the desire to serve Him by serving others, to rest in Him in times of struggle, and to worship Him with all my heart. Lastly, I found a network of Godly men who know what it means to be broken and to whom I can turn when needed. I am thankful to all the men involved, including the men who cared enough to invite me, as well as the servants and ministry leaders for answering God’s call to reach out to men in the marketplace. Through Souly Business, God has restored me to His purpose and has had a profound impact on both my personal and professional life. I’m looking forward to serving at a retreat in 2010 and I’m excited about what God has in store!


Other comments from 2009 retreats…
“It is 8:17 Monday morning...and it still seems too good to be true – the fact that I can face today without the fear I had on Friday. I have a greater trust in Him than ever before – the “giants” are still around me but I am better prepared to face them. I am actively looking at the world around me to identify every opportunity to serve, to invest in people, to do His will. I am sure folks have offered their gratitude in far more profound and in articulate ways than I can. Consequently, let me keep it simple. Thank You....from the bottom, top, and all of my heart. When a neighbor asked me how it went yesterday, I thought I would spew a long response about how great it was and how much they need to go. However, all I could do was smile and say “it was life-changing and life-saving and when you are ready I would love to talk to you about it.”
****
“I have never experienced the fullness of God's love through fellowship with other believers like last weekend! It was a blessing to share in the tragedies of other men and to see how the power of Christ can overcome all circumstances. Although my story may be far less compelling, I came to the realization that living a lukewarm Christian life is, nonetheless, tragic. I now have a truer, fuller understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
*****
“Sometimes words can't match feeling and that's the way I feel this morning. I truly believe that this past weekend changed my life. Thank you and everyone who served us this weekend. With Christ now in my heart and not my head, Souly Business has given me a foundation that will change my life.”
*****
“Many times what is anticipated and what God delivers are quite different…such was true in my case.
I anticipated good food, tranquil surroundings, and interesting, thought provoking presentations, all of which occurred. However, God melted my heart, renewed my mind and spirit and deepened my love of the brethren.
I anticipated gaining some clarity; however what God revealed to me was a deeper understanding of the hearts of men, the mind of Christ and the love of the spirit. The biblical principal of Servant Leadership was demonstrated daily by the Souly Business team. The weekend changed my view of life, business, and the man I can become.”
*****
“Mere words cannot express my feelings after attending this weekend’s Souly Business retreat. The authenticity and love shown by the leaders, speakers, servers, and Brothers was unbelievable! I have been shown true servant leadership and look forward to utilizing this in the real estate venue. I have been blessed beyond measure and my expectations were exceeded. I also look forward to inviting many friends to future retreats.”
*****
“Thank you for your authenticity, honesty, and unconditional acceptance. You have touched me in a way that both inspires and encourages me to seek a more intimate relationship with God. For that, I am truly eternally grateful. It brings joy and strength to my heart knowing that the journey back home to Him is not as lonely as it has been up to this point in my life. Thank you for offering your heart, your truth, your strength and your love. It is comforting to be able to walk with men who desire to drop their masks and risk being real.”
*****
“The Souly Business apron is the most comfortable garment I have ever worn.”
Connecting men in the workplace with our Heavenly Father... and one another


Upcoming Retreats

Feb 19-21
Strong Rock Retreat-Cleveland, GA

April 30- May 2
Sharp Top Cove, Jasper, GA

 

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Souly Business
for Men

REGISTER today

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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