Welcome to the Northshore Member to Member Business Directory! We are glad to have you visit. Here is some information so we all understand what this Directory is about. This is a trial, so let’s all make it work.
The purpose of the Northshore Member-to-Member Business Directory is to make available the names and basic contact information of church members who own businesses. The intent is to create a friendly, community-building tool, linking Northshore members looking for goods and services with other members providing those goods and services.
You are probably here looking for someone in the Church to perform a service or for a place to purchase a product. Doing business with a family member or Christian? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? What are the dangers, pitfalls, and drawbacks? How does one approach finding a reliable contractor, positive performer, or a paying customer?
The cardinal principle in business for a Christian is: It’s about SERVING. It is not about making a living, buying low and selling high, getting by on as little as possible. It is about SERVING. It is not about using church relationships for making a living, but about SERVING others. It is not about using church relationships to get a job done as cheaply as possible, but about SERVING the person working for you. It is about being a blessing to those you work for and those who work for you.
When a person is a friend, a fellow-church member, and a person you hire for a job (or do a job for), there are multiple roles. Multiple roles bring multiple expectations and can be confusing, because you don’t know which “hat” the person is wearing at the moment.
To facilitate a better understanding of the dangers, pitfalls and drawbacks, please review the following
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CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES
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BUSINESSPERSON RESPONSIBILITIES
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· Get competitive bids and comparison-shop of several sources before making a commitment to a major purchase. Confirm all work on your own.
· Bless someone who does substantial work for you, by paying something anyway if you go elsewhere
· Go somewhere else? Let your businessperson know.
· If you feel your businessperson has not met your expectations, speak to him about it. “Make waves” per Matthew 18
· Treat your businessperson like you would Jesus
· Don’t think being Christian will compensate for less ability
· Don’t expect a discount
· Don’t expect Christian businesspeople will do top quality work, on time, and respond to written or unwritten expectations. They too are human.
· Don’t allow your differences with your businessperson to fester and invade the church family, creating disunity and disharmony
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· Write a bid outlining what and when you will perform work. Don’t assume your client knows your intent
· If you can’t submit a bid or perform work promptly, say so
· Provide bids cheerfully as a service, knowing the user may go elsewhere
· If your client doesn’t pay you on time, speak to him. “Make waves” per Matthew 18
· Treat your client like you would Jesus
· Recognize your client may not be Christian. Maintain a positive and loving witness
· Don’t use the church as a customer prospecting base
· Don’t think customers from church will be less demanding
· Do your regular high quality work, don’t offer special treatment
· Don’t expect Christians to automatically give their business to Christians, regardless of quality or price
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Some key verses:
· James 5—pay fairly or face the consequences
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JAS 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
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10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 1PE 3:11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 1PE 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:10-12)
· Colossians 3:23-24—Do your work for the Lord Jesus more than your client.
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Col. 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
· I Corinthians 6:1-8—take disputes to the elders, not to court
Business requirements to be listed:
· Business operators must meet minimum attendance and membership requirements.
· Business operators are prescreened for license and insurance requirements for their business.
· Business operations must be approved and consistent with Christian values.
· All Businesses listed are Independent Owner/Operators or Independent Contractors dependent on referral sources for income and are not employees of a larger listed company.
This Directory is organized and maintained by church members. The directory is not advertising. In no way does Northshore endorse or vet these businesses. Northshore will not be responsible for handling any business disputes that arise between church members and listed businesses.
If you would like to be listed in this Directory, please fill out the Application and Agreement and email to: plusonehm@gmail.com. An initial photo session will be held in January at which time the directory will go live on the church website.
“Northshore Christian Church or the Member to Member Business Directory Oversight Group neither endorse any listed business, guarantee or warranty performance of any listed business, nor is liable for the results of any business transaction between members. Should a dispute occur, it must be resolved solely between the parties of the transaction in a biblical manner. “