New Venture Lab: Equipping Christian Entrepreneurs

I was blessed to participate as a sponsor and speaker at the recent Christian Family Entrepreneurship conference in Wichita where over 300 attendees learned more about entrepreneurship and building God-honoring businesses.  I really enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Keith and Sherri Hayden family and visiting with all the wonderful families that attended.  I also enjoyed taking my daughter Julia along as my personal assistant (read more about working with children here.)

One of the highlights for me was to see how the Keith and Sherri Hayden family worked together on the conference.  The idea for the conference was first hatched several months ago when the Haydens spent a weekend in our home and it was suggested that perhaps a few men in their church would like to gather together and discuss entrepreneurship.  We came up with the creative idea that the conference itself should be an entrepreneurial affair with the Hayden's coordinating the conference in exchange for a share of the revenue.  With that humble beginning, the Haydens flew into action and the success of the conference was a testament to God's grace, the Hayden family's creativity and the warm friendly cooperation of many Wichita-area families.

I really enjoyed the fact that the entire Hayden family participated in the coordination and production of the event -- presenting a clear example of the blessing of a family working, learning and earning together.

Keith, the father, led by example and opened up the event with prayer with his oldest son Caleb...



...and by filling in at the Hayden family book and tape table in the vendor area.



Caleb Hayden was the master of ceremonies and did a wonderful job of leading the event.  Caleb, an accountant, also served as the business manager for the event.  He set up accounts, paid vendors, signed contracts, and provided detailed financial reports and an after action report.



Lydia Hayden, the Hayden's oldest daughter (shown here serving lunch with her mother Sherri) took on the task of public relations for the event, landing a pre-event newspaper article and a radio interview regarding the conference on the local Christian radio station.



Josh Hayden was the IT support for the conference.  He managed the sound, video, recording and computer support.  He also built the conference website complete with online registration to facilitate the sale of tickets.



Susanna Hayden (shown here serving lunch with pal Elizabeth Serven) spent hours preparing the meal for the Hayden guests the night before and baking loads of baked treats which the Hayden family sold during the event at their treat table.



Sherri Hayden was everywhere at once, encouraging, supporting and smiling.  She helped serve lunch (the preparation and sale of the lunch itself was yet another entrepeneurial effort) and participated in the drawings with sons Caleb and Nathan.



And finally the youngest Hayden, Nathan, also pitched in by working the tables, helping with the drawings, and providing some of the beautiful music during the breaks (shown here with sister Susanna and friend Olivia Smisor)



Other Wichita area families generously pitched in to assist and many also participated in the vendor area.  Shown here, is local entrepreneur Caleb Cook exhibiting his services as an expert trapper, taxidermist, tanner and skinner.



My many thanks the Keith and Caleb Hayden and their leadership and their sweet family for this wonderful event.  I hope that it was a true blessing to all attendees and that the entire conference was indeed glorifying to God.