6/3/22 - Our Daily Bread: Vicki Harris, ODB.org

Welcome to the, iWork4Him podcast. I'm Michael Miracle producer of the, iWork4Him radio program, the voice of the faith and work movement. Our mission is to transform the workplace of every Christian and do a mission field. What does that look like in your workplace? Let's find out right now.

Jim: This episode of iWork4Him was previously recorded for the Christian Leadership Alliances Outcomes Conference podcast, where leaders come to invest the best of what they know into other leaders.

Martha: Remember, if you have influence over just one person, you are a leader together. Let's listen to this podcast and learn more about leading God's way. Enjoy!

Jim: Martha and I are excited to host the Outcomes Conference podcast. Every podcast is dedicated to you. Our outcomes podcast conference listeners. How I did it again. It's okay though, because this is our Outcomes Conference podcast and you're our listener. We've got an incredible conversation coming up with Vicki Harris with Our Daily Bread ministries online at ODB.org. How would you like to say that all day long? Online at ODB.org. We'll be focusing on leadership, thriving and related outcomes. Vicki Harris, welcome to the Outcomes Conference podcast.

Vicki Harris: Thank you. I'm honored to be here with you.

Jim: You know, Vicki, before we get started talking about your leadership role and your perspective of what God is doing through you as you to lead a thriving environment at Our Daily Bread ministries at ODB.org. Tell us how you personally keep your faith strong on a daily basis and your leadership crisis.

Vicki Harris: Oh, yes. Thank you. And first of all, I'm so honored to be here and just so honored that I get to serve in a ministry. It's unique to be able to have my professional career aligned with my spiritual and work for a ministry.

One of the ways that I stay focused and centered as a leader is I'm an early riser. So I'm up at 5:00 AM, no matter what. And I start my day out with. And devotion is I work for a ministry that does devotion. So I do devotions every morning. Throughout the day when I have to make decisions, I make them based on biblical principles so that I know that I'm doing the right things and I pray and acknowledge God before I make those decisions. So it really helps to keep me centered.

Martha: That's so good. So I assume that you're reading devotionals at least sometimes from Our Daily Bread. Right? And we'll talk about that a little bit. So actually, why don't I do that right now for people that don't know what Our Daily Bread has to offer. And I'm sure that it's more than just this, but why don't you let the listeners know how they can even get a copy of Our Daily Bread if they're not currently getting one from anywhere?

Vicki Harris: Oh, sure. We offer quarterly Our Daily Breads and we offer annual Our Daily Bread, special editions, but you can check it out on the website, which is www. ODB.Org.

Jim: Yeah, I got you messed up ODB.org, ODB.org.

Martha: Excellent. Thank you for that. So what does thriving mean to you personally?

Vicki Harris: Well, I thriving means to me that's something that I always quote as an HR professional that we want to provide an environment where everybody's thriving. And so what I what I mean by that is I want to make sure that you're able to grow. Spiritually, you're able to grow professionally and personally, and that's for me too.

I love to learn new things. And so I make sure that I'm reading books, that I'm going to seminars that I'm, whether they're professional, spiritual, or natural, making sure that I continue to grow. And also making sure that I maintain balance this past year was easy to get out of balance and get focused on what was happening around. And I just always like to make sure that I maintain good balance between work home and church or ministry.

Jim: Okay, balanced Vicki, come on. Everybody's going: really? Impossible! There's no such thing as balanced, but there's an integrated life. Because work tugs hard on us and family tugs hard on us.

And then there's all the other stuff in the world. So really is it balance that you're seeking or what is it? Because people think, yeah, I can't find balance.

Vicki Harris: I have to make sure that I manage my own expectations of myself. And when I get out of balance is because I've placed too much expectations on what I can do as a person.

So personally, I make sure that I go to God and say, I need, I need more balance. I need to make sure that I correct some things cause I'm out of sync during this time and making sure that I don't have unrealistic expectations for myself. With oftentimes as what we do, as people, as professionals, as we put so many expectations on ourselves that we can feel like, so we can feel like we can do it all, but we can't.

Jim: It never happens to us that much. Must just be a Michigan thing.

Martha: Maybe that's what it is... no, no, you're exactly right. And now the sooner we come to grips with that, the better off we'll all be. Right? And leaning on God, like you said earlier, you know, just going to him and saying, what do I do? So let's talk about Our Daily Bread ministries.

How, how does Our Daily Bread ministries enable the people that you serve to thrive? So maybe the recipients of the, the daily bread .

Vicki Harris: One of the things while we do several things, I don't think I've ever worked for a or organization or a ministry that invest so much into the growth and development of their people.

We invest in them professionally. We have a professional leadership program for all of our 38 offices around the world. And we do that in partnership with some of our universities to present that, but some of our Christian universities as well, so that they're continuing to grow professionally.

And then also spiritually, we have a staff discipleship plan. That every office around the world globally, we're all praying and we're all studying the same thing. We all have the same topic every month that we're studying and the content stays the same, the discussion. Are pretty much the same, but people are able to really grow in terms of building a relationship with price, but also building their relationship with each other on a deeper level, you have a lot of small groups around, around the world that get together as employees and leaders just studying God's word.

And that's, that's an enriched way that we can help our employees.

Jim: How many employees you're talking about worldwide? You said 38 offices around the globe. How many employees?

Vicki Harris: We have about 700 employees all around the world and we have about 350 volunteers that work for us also.

Jim: So it's over a thousand people.

So I just find it fascinating that yes, you are a daily devotional ministry, but you're driving that all the way through the culture, to the, I mean, all throughout the culture of the company, which is unusual. In Christian organizations, that's, that's an effort because it just seems like, well, we're all Christians, so everybody's doing the demotion.

So let's just go about the work that we need to do, but you're actually making sure that everybody's on the same page studying and expanding their knowledge of God on a daily basis. I got to applaud you. That's fantastic. I'm super excited about that. When you faced COVID this last year, you know, it's been, it's been difficult.

What did you find? How did you adjust your formula for creating and sustaining a thriving culture during, I mean, what'd you find that made the greatest impact?

Vicki Harris: Good question. It was difficult at first when COVID first hit and, and of course it's a global pandemic that we've been in. So all of our offices were impacted by the global pandemic.

So all of our employees were sent home. For the us, it was. Took us probably about a week to adjust and to make that happen successfully so that we can continue to get Our Daily Bread booklets out. We became an essential employee employer, so we were able to get. The essential workers working so that they can continue to continue to ship, continue to receive, continue to do credits all of those things.

Now around the world, it was a little more difficult to do that because they didn't have the programs in place or the avenues to really make sure that banking still happened properly. That customer service still handle, handle things the way that they need. Technology wasn't there the way that it needed to be.

So it was a real challenge for us to be able to make it happen about it took us about three months around the world to do the, and some borders were closed. So we weren't able to have the access that we normally would to our missionaries that were over in Russia or in the CIS countries and Bella ruse.

So we had to really try to be creative on how to help them. The booklets over into the countries where people desperately desperately need a guy's word. And so we had to do some creative things to be able to make it happen. And we finally made it happen in about three months around the world.

Jim: That's not bad having to rebuild your entire company and processes in three months.

That's not too bad people, you know, it took Noah a hundred years to build a boat. So I think three months is pretty good. Hey, we're talking today with Vicki Harris. Our Daily Bread ministries, online ODB.org. We'll be right back with more on the Outcomes Conference podcast.

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Jim: And welcome back to the Outcomes Conference podcast. Today, we're talking with Vicki Harris from Our Daily Bread ministries online. I love saying this ODB.org ODB.org. If you've never checked out Our Daily Bread ministries and the daily devotional.

Literally, I got exposed to this as a, as an eight year old kid at church. I remember first time seeing it as an eight year old kid at church, man, my mom was reading this. Eventually my dad was reading this. This is an incredible daily devotional that really just get your mind going in the morning, over a cup of coffee.

I that's, that's what I can remember. My dad, when he finally became a believer drinking a cup of coffee and reading Our Daily Bread. It was fantastic.

Martha: Yeah, it really is. So Vicki, you were just sharing with us how, as an organization, you guys had a lot of adjustments to make in order to still be able to distribute your booklet.

And but I want to talk about you personally, as a leader and professionally, how did you make changes in your life, in your leadership so that you could still be on mission?

Vicki Harris: That's a great question. When the pandemic first hit, I began to really seek out about how to really go forward and be the professional that I've always been.

And he really spoke to my heart and, and had me to just be focused. And that was the word that I kept hearing. Just be focused, no matter what is going on around you be focused on me. Be focused on my. So, what I did is I joined a group and there was a discipleship group called Master Life. It was probably a seven month intense study and discipleship classes.

And that kept me really focused on God's word. So I was growing also and God's word, but also connecting with him on a deeper level.

Martha: Mm that's so good. You know, we, we can always be growing and learning. How good that you stepped back for just a moment and said, God, what, what should I be doing? You know, I never thought about the extra pressure or special pressure you probably had as an HR professional, you know, really trying to figure out how to navigate all that this last year and a half or so has brought to us.

Jim: You had to navigate Michigan. You had to navigate the United States. Then you had to navigate 37 other countries or whatever. How many over, how many countries are you in? You said 38. So 38 total. So you got to navigate the rules and regulations of 38 countries. That was no small task. I love the fact that you just got on your knees. So what do you think has been the greatest challenge to you and your leadership in the last 12 to 18 months?

Vicki Harris: Yeah. I think for me as an HR professional, it's been really tough to keep up with all of our changing regulations from our state. Michigan has been hit real hard with COVID just like many other states, but our state is the number one in terms of COVID cases.

And so trying to maintain a sense of stability. Trying to maintain a sense of resilience and just w just making sure that God's word. And my faith was strong was a challenge at times, because you were faced with ever constant changing regulation. Constant changing people were being impacted. Families were being impacted.

There were so many changes and so many things happening at one time. And also we were having social justice issues even in, in our country that you had to also pay attention to. And so it was hard to maintain balance and hard to maintain. But I kept going back to God and acknowledging him and asking for his wisdom.

Every time I got weak, I went back to God and asked him for direction and for clarity and for peace so that I could demonstrate that same thing for our employees.

Martha: Hmm. So while you were doing that, you know, asking God for those things, was there something in particular that you could share with us that was a major breakthrough for you or something that you got to experience during the same time?

Vicki Harris: I think I, I began to learn how to balance what I was doing personally, like for myself, making sure that I made time for me because in HR, you can give, give, give out to everyone else, but if you're not. Restored and poured into, then you, you don't have anything to give. So I made sure that I created a schedule that I made sure that I had my me-time for my own self replenishment and that I, I began to exercise on a daily basis, something I wasn't doing before, but boy did it really help me with my stress and helped me to maintain good eating habits.

And so that was a breakthrough for me because it was something that was. I did it every now and then, but it wasn't a regular discipline. It became a regular discipline for me to even maintain my, my schedule to be able to exercise was a huge breakthrough.

Jim: Well, I love that. You're dealing with COVID, as you said, the social justice issues and Michigan had, you know, that there was a lot of it was across the country. It wasn't just one, but you were dealing a lot of issues there in Michigan, 38 countries where they're dealing with same things and you decided to change your eating habits and add exercise on a daily basis.

I, you deserve like five stars on a smiley face. I mean, I I'm, I'm, I'm personally impressed and inspired. I'm like, okay, I, if Vicki can do it and she's influencing 38 countries and a thousand people. I can do it too. Thank you. Thank for sharing that. When we come back, I really want to talk about your Mastering You virtual leadership event.

I really want to talk about that because I was curious about it. I'd like for you to tell people more about it, but I really want to encourage everybody Vicki to check out Our Daily Bread online at ODB.org. And just as you have said, that you've got your entire organization across 38 countries and 1,000 people based on your numbers all doing daily devotions all the same, same conversations, no matter where they, where they are in the globe, on the globe. And that's what everybody listening to this podcast today should be doing with all of their offices, because it's gotta be Christ centered prayers, gotta be at the center of this.

And you're a great example of that. Thank you for doing that. We'll be right back with more with Vicki Harris from Our Daily Bread ministries online at ODB.org. You're listening to the Outcomes Conference podcast with your hosts Jim and Martha Brangenberg.

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Hey, welcome back to the Outcomes Conference podcast. We're talking to Vicki Harris. She's in charge of global HR for Our Daily Bread ministries, 38 countries over a thousand people. ODB.org.

Martha: So Vicki I just love this conversation because you, you just really are setting such a great example for each and every one of us of what you can do when you ask God, you know, what to do in a time of that's hard and leaning into that.

So why don't you share Jim just was saying before the last section that we wanted to hear about this virtual leadership event, Mastering You. Tell us about it.

Vicki Harris: The virtual leadership event is centered around equipping, motivating and inspiring leaders. And one of the topics that we chose was Mastering You, making sure that every area of your life, especially as it relates to your goals, your habits, your emotions, your health and wellbeing, your body, that all of those things that you have put some systems and processes in place to master.

We talk about mastering goals. We talked to, we developed a system and a process that helps you to reach, to achieve them and small chunks. A lot of times people don't achieve their goals because they're too massive and they haven't learned a good system to break them down into small chunks. If it's just one thing a day or a week to really master that thing and you grow from there, mastering your head.

Breaking bad habits was something I, and I had to do not exercising, not eating properly. And then replace that with some good habits, with some positive long-term habits that are going to help you with your overall wellbeing and then mastering your emotions, developing strategies. To help your emotions to be in alignment with your values and principles, making sure that during the difficult times that your emotions stayed the same, that they were in alignment with God's word, that you were steadfast and that you knew that your faith was strong in him and nothing could change.

And then making sure it's your body, your overall health and wellness, making sure that you're exercising and doing all of those things, to make sure that over a long period of time, you can be effective as a leader.

Jim: That's what that's an incredible list. Is this like a week long virtual event? Cause I'm thinking I was overwhelmed by the list and you just got started. How long is the event?

Vicki Harris: It's actually three, three full days. So it's a good, almost 32 hours 24, 32 hours as what we usually kind of plan on. Sometimes we've done it just once a month so that we can really deal with one topic over a longer period of time. It just really depends on the timing and the audience of what their, where their needs are.

Jim: Is it just for Our Daily Bread ministries employees, or is this for everyone?

Vicki Harris: Well, we started it as just an internal program for our leaders, for Our Daily Bread globally, worldwide, and it's grown. People in our community have wanted to be a part of it. So we've extended it out to our community and those that want to be a part of it. One great positive thing that has happened from the pandenucm it's kind of broken down the walls because we all use Zoom. So there are no barriers to wherever you're located. So we've extended it and it's all going to be on zoom. So you don't have to necessarily be in our Grand Rapids community.

Martha: That's excellent. Well, it sounds like God has really inspired the the conversation, the topics and, and what you're really drilling into. So thank you for doing that.

And

Jim: it sounds like you're listening to what you're teaching because you did all that stuff.

Martha: Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Wow. She's the poster child for it. Righ?.

Jim: And you are the poster child for Mastering You. Love that. That's great.

Martha: So Vickie, before we end the podcast, I just want to talk about this.

So Christian Leadership Alliance is a place where leaders come to invest the best of what they know and helping other leaders to grow within with a certain leadership idea or a way of thinking. What is something that you can share today as an investment into the listeners of this podcast?

Vicki Harris: Thank you. One of the things that I just wholeheartedly believe in is is that every leader, or if you're aspiring to be a leader, is that you focus on building your character as that you set that foundation doesn't matter if it takes a month or years, make sure that you build a great foundation on your character, because that is the thing that's going to sustain you when there's difficult times.

And also that you are building your faith. And so as a leader, I can't do this without God. I can't do this without his help and his strength. And so I tell leaders to make sure that you are getting your daily replenishment and the word of God and worship and in prayer, making sure that you are truly becoming the person that he wants you to be.

Not necessarily who other people want you to be, or what society says you should be or what they say you should look like, but truly working on becoming who God has called you to be.

Jim: Wow, Vicki Harris. I'd like a job at the Our Daily Bread ministries. Who wouldn't want to work alongside somebody like you? Thank you so much for being so transparent today on the podcast. We're just so grateful, vicki Harris, that you joined us today from Our Daily Bread ministries online at ODB.org. Thanks for joining us on the Outcomes Conference podcast.

Vicki Harris: Thank you for having me.

It's so awesome. Thank you so much doing it. Listening to you, our Outcomes Conference podcast listeners. Thanks for joining us today. We pray that this podcast inspired you. I have no doubt that it did, and that it inspired you to higher thinking and deeper thinking and thinking about driving and what you could do to help them. For a greater kingdom impact within your organization

Martha: be sure to visit ChristianLeadershipAlliance.org, where you can stay up to date by subscribing to the outcomes online newsletter and the CLA higher thinking blogs.

Jim: And if you're not already a member of the Christian Leadership Alliance, what, what, what are you waiting for? Join the Alliance today. Christian Leadership Alliance.org, Christian Leadership Alliance.org

And

Martha: remember the wisdom in this podcast came to you on its way to someone else. So if you loved it, say so and share it with a friend.

Jim: I'm Jim.

Martha: I'm Martha.

Jim: We'll see you again for the next episode of the Outcomes Conference.

Outro: Did you know that God has a calling on your life? It's true. He's called you to bring Jesus to the world. For some that may look like a pulpit or a foreign mission field, but for most of us, it looks like a construction site, the cubicle, a hospital, or a classroom, wherever it is that you work with volunteer and invest.

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