{"id":27926,"date":"2025-12-01T13:28:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/?p=27926"},"modified":"2026-01-27T16:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T16:10:35","slug":"rooted-in-community-anchored-in-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/leadership\/rooted-in-community-anchored-in-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Rooted in Community, Anchored in Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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There was a time when I thought leadership meant holding everything together.<\/span><\/p>

The inbox. The meetings. The tough decisions. The people dilemmas. The long days that blur into late nights. I kept thinking that if I just worked harder, thought smarter, or carried a little more weight, then things would finally settle down.<\/span><\/p>

But they never did.<\/span><\/p>

Then one day, on the California coast, God met me in a way that changed everything.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Reminder from the Redwoods<\/strong><\/h3>

It was the last morning of a long-overdue vacation with my wife. We\u2019d spent the week driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, soaking in those stretches of ocean and shoreline that feel almost otherworldly in beauty.<\/span><\/p>

As we wound through the forest of redwoods toward Pfeiffer Falls, the morning mist caught the sunlight, creating a soft haze that hung over the canyon. When we stepped out onto the bridge overlooking the falls, I just stopped, speechless. It was one of those breathtaking moments that arrests your attention and silences every thought.<\/span><\/p>

And yet, even there, I felt my mind begin to drift back home. Tomorrow meant the return to reality, back into \u201cthe matrix\u201d of life. I felt the crushing weight of it all like Atlas trying to hold the world on my shoulders.<\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s when, in that stillness on the bridge, I sensed God whisper to my heart:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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I created all of this without your help. You are My child, not My consultant. I didn\u2019t ask you to solve or carry it all. Just walk with Me. Be My son. Take the next step. Trust Me.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It stopped me in my tracks.<\/span><\/p>

I realized I\u2019d been living like God\u2019s overworked contractor\u2014building, striving, performing\u2014when all He wanted was for me to abide as His son.<\/span><\/p>

That moment reshaped how I see leadership. I even hung a painting of that scene of the Big Sur, California, coast in my home to remind me: I\u2019m not Atlas. I don\u2019t have to hold the world together\u2014and neither do you.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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From Atlas to Abiding<\/strong><\/h3>

As a leader, you likely wrestle with the same tension, the pull between <\/span>trusting God and trying to do His job<\/b><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

We care deeply about our people, our families, and the outcomes entrusted to us. That\u2019s a good thing. But when our sense of worth or control hinges on performance, growth, or crisis management, we end up exhausted. Can you relate?<\/span><\/p>

The good news is, <\/span>you\u2019re not crazy, and you\u2019re not alone.<\/b><\/p>

In working with thousands of CEOs, I\u2019m constantly reminded that leadership was never meant to be a solo act. We were designed to be rooted in community, standing strong, together.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What the Redwoods Teach Us<\/strong><\/h3>

Redwoods are among the tallest and oldest trees on Earth. They can stand for thousands of years, weathering storms and surviving regular wildfires. The neat thing is, their strength doesn\u2019t come from how deep their roots go. It comes from how far they spread and how interwoven they are with adjacent titans of the forest.<\/span><\/p>

Beneath the surface, their roots intertwine with others, creating a living network that shares strength and stability. When one tree stands, it\u2019s because others are holding it up.<\/span><\/p>

You never see a solo redwood, and you rarely see one fall.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s how I see the C12 community: a forest of leaders, rooted in community, anchored in Christ, and intertwined by purpose. We\u2019re not here to stand taller than others. We\u2019re here to stand stronger <\/span>together<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Building What Lasts<\/strong><\/h3>

This past year, I\u2019ve watched God grow this \u201cforest\u201d in ways that still amaze me.<\/span><\/p>

From South Africa to Seattle, Kenya to Nebraska, C12 leaders are showing the world what happens when business becomes ministry, when profit and purpose no longer compete but unite for God\u2019s glory.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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We\u2019ve seen incredible momentum:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over 4,700 <\/span>members<\/b><\/a><\/span> gathering across 36 US states, 8 nations, and 5 continents<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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More than 245 <\/span>Chairs<\/b><\/a><\/span> walking alongside CEOs, business owners, and executives each month<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Countless <\/span>stories<\/b><\/a><\/span> of lives changed, companies redeemed, and cultures transformed by Christ-centered leadership<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Leaders are finding peace in surrender, joy in service, and greater purpose as they live out Business as a Ministry (BaaM). This<\/i> is what Kingdom fruit looks like.<\/b><\/p>

As we look toward 2026, I believe God is calling us to go deeper and further still\u2014to expand globally while remaining grounded locally, building businesses that leave an eternal impact.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Letting Go to Lead Well<\/strong><\/h3>

Perhaps this past year stretched you more than you thought it would. Maybe you\u2019re entering this next season tired, uncertain, or wondering if you have what it takes.<\/span><\/p>

If that\u2019s you, hear this:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Kingdom is not<\/em> at risk. You are not<\/em> holding the world together. He is.<\/strong><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You were never meant to bear that weight alone. <\/span>God is inviting you not to do more, but to abide more, experience more, and build more\u2014in Him, by Him, and with Him.<\/b><\/p>

When we lead from rest in our identity in Christ, surrendering control and trusting His sovereignty, we find the kind of freedom and courage that no business strategy can produce.<\/span><\/p>

Every day, around 1 million people go to work for companies served by C12, impacting nearly 40 million lives through their businesses. When we pursue BaaM, it transforms us and the world by the power of the gospel.<\/span><\/p>

So as you look ahead, let me invite you:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Build with purpose.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Root yourself in community.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Trust the God who already holds it all together.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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We\u2019re in this together\u2014building great businesses for a greater purpose, anchored in Christ, connected like redwoods, and confident in the One who makes it all grow.<\/p>

Keep pressing on.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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C12 Business Forums provides an architected environment for Christian business leaders that integrates work, life, and leadership transformation. To learn more about C12\u2019s approach to Christ-centered business leadership, <\/span><\/i>find a C12 Business Forum<\/i><\/a><\/strong><\/span> near you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was a time when I thought leadership meant holding everything together. The inbox. The meetings. The tough decisions. The people dilemmas. The long days that blur into late nights. I kept thinking that if I just worked harder, thought smarter, or carried a little more weight, then things would finally settle down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":27930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"yoast_head":"\nBuilding Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose Endure, Together<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"C12 CEO Mike Sharrow invites Christian business leaders to trade striving for surrender, building great businesses for a greater purpose\u2014rooted in community and anchored in Christ.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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Greater Purpose.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/#organization","name":"C12 Forums","url":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/C12-forums-logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/C12-forums-logo.svg","width":500,"height":225,"caption":"C12 Forums"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3f697ce894c25d49d1512b1b8c4f6375","name":"Mike Sharrow","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mike-sharrow-150x150.png","url":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mike-sharrow-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mike-sharrow-150x150.png","caption":"Mike Sharrow"},"description":"Mike Sharrow is the CEO of C12 Business Forums, the world\u2019s largest peer-learning organization for Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives. Under Mike's leadership, C12 has grown to serve more than 4,800 members worldwide, which is supported by a community of over 250 full-time Chairs. He leads the C12 headquarters team, championing the concept of BaaM (Business as a Ministry) for leaders building great businesses for a greater purpose. @mikesharrow","url":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/author\/mikesharrow\/"}]}},"fig_blocks":[{"blockName":null,"attrs":[],"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"Post\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>There was a time when I thought leadership meant holding everything together.<\/p><p>The inbox. The meetings. The tough decisions. The people dilemmas. The long days that blur into late nights. I kept thinking that if I just worked harder, thought smarter, or carried a little more weight, then things would finally settle down.<\/p><p>But they never did.<\/p><p>Then one day, on the California coast, God met me in a way that changed everything.<\/p>https:\/\/youtu.be\/_8XdWEXPK1w\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"712\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-712x1536.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-712x1536.png 712w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-139x300.png 139w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-474x1024.png 474w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317.png 762w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<h3><strong>A Reminder from the Redwoods<\/strong><\/h3><p>It was the last morning of a long-overdue vacation with my wife. We\u2019d spent the week driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, soaking in those stretches of ocean and shoreline that feel almost otherworldly in beauty.<\/p><p>As we wound through the forest of redwoods toward Pfeiffer Falls, the morning mist caught the sunlight, creating a soft haze that hung over the canyon. When we stepped out onto the bridge overlooking the falls, I just stopped, speechless. It was one of those breathtaking moments that arrests your attention and silences every thought.<\/p><p>And yet, even there, I felt my mind begin to drift back home. Tomorrow meant the return to reality, back into \u201cthe matrix\u201d of life. I felt the crushing weight of it all like Atlas trying to hold the world on my shoulders.<\/p><p>That\u2019s when, in that stillness on the bridge, I sensed God whisper to my heart:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><strong>I created all of this without your help. You are My child, not My consultant. I didn\u2019t ask you to solve or carry it all. Just walk with Me. Be My son. Take the next step. Trust Me.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4><p>It stopped me in my tracks.<\/p><p>I realized I\u2019d been living like God\u2019s overworked contractor\u2014building, striving, performing\u2014when all He wanted was for me to abide as His son.<\/p><p>That moment reshaped how I see leadership. I even hung a painting of that scene of the Big Sur, California, coast in my home to remind me: I\u2019m not Atlas. I don\u2019t have to hold the world together\u2014and neither do you.<\/p><h3><strong>From Atlas to Abiding<\/strong><\/h3><p>As a leader, you likely wrestle with the same tension, the pull between <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianpost.com\/voices\/cosmic-insubordination-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>trusting God and trying to do His job<\/b><\/a>.<\/p><p>We care deeply about our people, our families, and the outcomes entrusted to us. That\u2019s a good thing. But when our sense of worth or control hinges on performance, growth, or crisis management, we end up exhausted. Can you relate?<\/p><p>The good news is, <b>you\u2019re not crazy, and you\u2019re not alone.<\/b><\/p><p>In working with thousands of CEOs, I\u2019m constantly reminded that leadership was never meant to be a solo act. We were designed to be rooted in community, standing strong, together.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1536\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1536x529.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1536x529.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1024x353.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-768x264.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-2048x705.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<h3><strong>What the Redwoods Teach Us<\/strong><\/h3><p>Redwoods are among the tallest and oldest trees on Earth. They can stand for thousands of years, weathering storms and surviving regular wildfires. The neat thing is, their strength doesn\u2019t come from how deep their roots go. It comes from how far they spread and how interwoven they are with adjacent titans of the forest.<\/p><p>Beneath the surface, their roots intertwine with others, creating a living network that shares strength and stability. When one tree stands, it\u2019s because others are holding it up.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>You never see a solo redwood, and you rarely see one fall.<\/strong><\/p><p>That\u2019s how I see the C12 community: a forest of leaders, rooted in community, anchored in Christ, and intertwined by purpose. We\u2019re not here to stand taller than others. We\u2019re here to stand stronger <i>together<\/i>.<\/p><h3><strong>Building What Lasts<\/strong><\/h3><p>This past year, I\u2019ve watched God grow this \u201cforest\u201d in ways that still amaze me.<\/p><p>From South Africa to Seattle, Kenya to Nebraska, C12 leaders are showing the world what happens when business becomes ministry, when profit and purpose no longer compete but unite for God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1024x541.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1024x541.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1536x812.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-2048x1082.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>We\u2019ve seen incredible momentum:<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Over 4,700 <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>members<\/b><\/a> gathering across 36 US states, 8 nations, and 5 continents<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>More than 245 <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/lead-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Chairs<\/b><\/a> walking alongside CEOs, business owners, and executives each month<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Countless <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@C12BusinessForums\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>stories<\/b><\/a> of lives changed, companies redeemed, and cultures transformed by Christ-centered leadership<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1308\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-1024x456.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-768x342.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p><b>Leaders are finding peace in surrender, joy in service, and greater purpose as they live out Business as a Ministry (BaaM). <i>This<\/i> is what Kingdom fruit looks like.<\/b><\/p><p>As we look toward 2026, I believe God is calling us to go deeper and further still\u2014to expand globally while remaining grounded locally, building businesses that leave an eternal impact.<\/p><h3><strong>Letting Go to Lead Well<\/strong><\/h3><p>Perhaps this past year stretched you more than you thought it would. Maybe you\u2019re entering this next season tired, uncertain, or wondering if you have what it takes.<\/p><p>If that\u2019s you, hear this:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The Kingdom is <em>not<\/em> at risk. You are <em>not<\/em> holding the world together. He is.<\/strong><\/h4><p>You were never meant to bear that weight alone. <b>God is inviting you not to do more, but to abide more, experience more, and build more\u2014in Him, by Him, and with Him.<\/b><\/p><p>When we lead from rest in our identity in Christ, surrendering control and trusting His sovereignty, we find the kind of freedom and courage that no business strategy can produce.<\/p><p>Every day, around 1 million people go to work for companies served by C12, impacting nearly 40 million lives through their businesses. When we pursue BaaM, it transforms us and the world by the power of the gospel.<\/p><p>So as you look ahead, let me invite you:<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Build with purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Root yourself in community.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Trust the God who already holds it all together.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<p>We\u2019re in this together\u2014building great businesses for a greater purpose, anchored in Christ, connected like redwoods, and confident in the One who makes it all grow.<\/p><p>Keep pressing on.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind a C12 Forum Near You\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>C12 Business Forums provides an architected environment for Christian business leaders that integrates work, life, and leadership transformation. To learn more about C12\u2019s approach to Christ-centered business leadership, <\/i><strong><a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>find a C12 Business Forum<\/i><\/a><\/strong><i> near you.<\/i><\/p>","innerContent":["Post\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>There was a time when I thought leadership meant holding everything together.<\/p><p>The inbox. The meetings. The tough decisions. The people dilemmas. The long days that blur into late nights. I kept thinking that if I just worked harder, thought smarter, or carried a little more weight, then things would finally settle down.<\/p><p>But they never did.<\/p><p>Then one day, on the California coast, God met me in a way that changed everything.<\/p>https:\/\/youtu.be\/_8XdWEXPK1w\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"712\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-712x1536.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-712x1536.png 712w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-139x300.png 139w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317-474x1024.png 474w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.38.51-AM-e1763586518317.png 762w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<h3><strong>A Reminder from the Redwoods<\/strong><\/h3><p>It was the last morning of a long-overdue vacation with my wife. We\u2019d spent the week driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, soaking in those stretches of ocean and shoreline that feel almost otherworldly in beauty.<\/p><p>As we wound through the forest of redwoods toward Pfeiffer Falls, the morning mist caught the sunlight, creating a soft haze that hung over the canyon. When we stepped out onto the bridge overlooking the falls, I just stopped, speechless. It was one of those breathtaking moments that arrests your attention and silences every thought.<\/p><p>And yet, even there, I felt my mind begin to drift back home. Tomorrow meant the return to reality, back into \u201cthe matrix\u201d of life. I felt the crushing weight of it all like Atlas trying to hold the world on my shoulders.<\/p><p>That\u2019s when, in that stillness on the bridge, I sensed God whisper to my heart:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><strong>I created all of this without your help. You are My child, not My consultant. I didn\u2019t ask you to solve or carry it all. Just walk with Me. Be My son. Take the next step. Trust Me.<\/strong><\/em><\/h4><p>It stopped me in my tracks.<\/p><p>I realized I\u2019d been living like God\u2019s overworked contractor\u2014building, striving, performing\u2014when all He wanted was for me to abide as His son.<\/p><p>That moment reshaped how I see leadership. I even hung a painting of that scene of the Big Sur, California, coast in my home to remind me: I\u2019m not Atlas. I don\u2019t have to hold the world together\u2014and neither do you.<\/p><h3><strong>From Atlas to Abiding<\/strong><\/h3><p>As a leader, you likely wrestle with the same tension, the pull between <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianpost.com\/voices\/cosmic-insubordination-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>trusting God and trying to do His job<\/b><\/a>.<\/p><p>We care deeply about our people, our families, and the outcomes entrusted to us. That\u2019s a good thing. But when our sense of worth or control hinges on performance, growth, or crisis management, we end up exhausted. Can you relate?<\/p><p>The good news is, <b>you\u2019re not crazy, and you\u2019re not alone.<\/b><\/p><p>In working with thousands of CEOs, I\u2019m constantly reminded that leadership was never meant to be a solo act. We were designed to be rooted in community, standing strong, together.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1536\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1536x529.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1536x529.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-1024x353.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-768x264.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/john-towner-prd5CXMsD68-unsplash-scaled-e1761331963322-2048x705.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<h3><strong>What the Redwoods Teach Us<\/strong><\/h3><p>Redwoods are among the tallest and oldest trees on Earth. They can stand for thousands of years, weathering storms and surviving regular wildfires. The neat thing is, their strength doesn\u2019t come from how deep their roots go. It comes from how far they spread and how interwoven they are with adjacent titans of the forest.<\/p><p>Beneath the surface, their roots intertwine with others, creating a living network that shares strength and stability. When one tree stands, it\u2019s because others are holding it up.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>You never see a solo redwood, and you rarely see one fall.<\/strong><\/p><p>That\u2019s how I see the C12 community: a forest of leaders, rooted in community, anchored in Christ, and intertwined by purpose. We\u2019re not here to stand taller than others. We\u2019re here to stand stronger <i>together<\/i>.<\/p><h3><strong>Building What Lasts<\/strong><\/h3><p>This past year, I\u2019ve watched God grow this \u201cforest\u201d in ways that still amaze me.<\/p><p>From South Africa to Seattle, Kenya to Nebraska, C12 leaders are showing the world what happens when business becomes ministry, when profit and purpose no longer compete but unite for God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1024x541.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1024x541.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-1536x812.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Global-Map-Oct-2025-1-2048x1082.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p>We\u2019ve seen incredible momentum:<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Over 4,700 <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>members<\/b><\/a> gathering across 36 US states, 8 nations, and 5 continents<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>More than 245 <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/lead-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Chairs<\/b><\/a> walking alongside CEOs, business owners, and executives each month<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t<p>Countless <a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@C12BusinessForums\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>stories<\/b><\/a> of lives changed, companies redeemed, and cultures transformed by Christ-centered leadership<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1308\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2.jpg 1308w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-1024x456.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DecArticle2-768x342.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1308px) 100vw, 1308px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<p><b>Leaders are finding peace in surrender, joy in service, and greater purpose as they live out Business as a Ministry (BaaM). <i>This<\/i> is what Kingdom fruit looks like.<\/b><\/p><p>As we look toward 2026, I believe God is calling us to go deeper and further still\u2014to expand globally while remaining grounded locally, building businesses that leave an eternal impact.<\/p><h3><strong>Letting Go to Lead Well<\/strong><\/h3><p>Perhaps this past year stretched you more than you thought it would. Maybe you\u2019re entering this next season tired, uncertain, or wondering if you have what it takes.<\/p><p>If that\u2019s you, hear this:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The Kingdom is <em>not<\/em> at risk. You are <em>not<\/em> holding the world together. He is.<\/strong><\/h4><p>You were never meant to bear that weight alone. <b>God is inviting you not to do more, but to abide more, experience more, and build more\u2014in Him, by Him, and with Him.<\/b><\/p><p>When we lead from rest in our identity in Christ, surrendering control and trusting His sovereignty, we find the kind of freedom and courage that no business strategy can produce.<\/p><p>Every day, around 1 million people go to work for companies served by C12, impacting nearly 40 million lives through their businesses. When we pursue BaaM, it transforms us and the world by the power of the gospel.<\/p><p>So as you look ahead, let me invite you:<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Build with purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Root yourself in community.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Trust the God who already holds it all together.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<p>We\u2019re in this together\u2014building great businesses for a greater purpose, anchored in Christ, connected like redwoods, and confident in the One who makes it all grow.<\/p><p>Keep pressing on.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind a C12 Forum Near You\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>C12 Business Forums provides an architected environment for Christian business leaders that integrates work, life, and leadership transformation. To learn more about C12\u2019s approach to Christ-centered business leadership, <\/i><strong><a style=\"color: #e1b87f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/join-a-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>find a C12 Business Forum<\/i><\/a><\/strong><i> near you.<\/i><\/p>"]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27926\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joinc12.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}