At its core, the mission of Indiana Wesleyan University is to change the world for Jesus Christ by challenging and equipping our students to pour salt and shine light everywhere their lives take them. The concept of being world changers and developing world changers permeates everything we do at IWU. Whether you are a student, an employee, an alumnus, or a guest at IWU, we are striving to bring out the world changer in you.
To provide a focal point for this effort, IWU created the Society of World Changers in 2003 to recognize role models who have exemplified the concept of world changers and whose lives can serve as an inspiration to future generations. Each year a World Changers Convocation is held on IWU's Marion campus to induct a new member into the Society and celebrate his or her accomplishments.
A life-size bronze bust of each inductee is placed on permanent display in the Society of World Changers Hall of Honor located in the rotunda of the Jackson Library
Ranjy Thomas is an entrepreneur dedicated to guiding Christ-centered leaders through the startup stages of new ventures, leading them to successful IPOs or acquisitions.
Dr. Jerry Pattingale, IWU Professor and co-director and co-founder of the Lumen Institute, expressed the value this year’s SOWC nominee. “Ranjy Thomas’ fingerprints are on many of the world’s largest projects with positive implications for Kingdom values and message. They also are on the careers and friendships of a network of young influencers, from the music and entertainment world to the tech industry.”
Thomas is impacting the Kingdom of Christ through entertainment, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Names associated with his work in popular culture include The Chosen, YouVersion, K-LOVE, and Subsplash to name just a few. Over the past two decades, Ranjy Thomas has played a pivotal role in supporting seasoned C-suite executives within his portfolio companies.
Always committed to mentoring the next generation of Kingdom leaders, Thomas has become a guiding force in the industry. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Ranjy is a teaching pastor and elder at Mannahouse in Portland, Oregon, where he resides with his wife and two children. His commitment to both his professional endeavors and community service reflects the values upheld by Indiana Wesleyan University’s Society of World Changers.
Dr. Jon Kulaga, President of IWU, expressed his heartfelt enthusiasm for this year’s inductee, noting the spirit of partnership Thomas brings. Dr. Kulaga observed, “From the moment you meet Ranjy – you realize that this is a man who is not only a person of influence and character – but he will also become a partner. He will share his resources with you, but more than that, he will give of himself. Ranjy is not only helping to change the world for the better – he is also helping to change Indiana Wesleyan University for the better.”
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) formally inducted Dr. Michael Carmichael, a renowned thoracic surgeon, into the IWU Society of World Changers on September 30, 2022 during a special convocation on the IWU Marion campus. The event included music from the IWU Chorale and Wind Ensemble, the presentation of a life-size bust of Dr. Carmichael, and a speech by the honoree. IWU also honored him with a Presidential Citation.
Our mission at Indiana Wesleyan University is to be a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership,” said Dr. Jon Kulaga, president of IWU. “Each year, we search for individuals that have dedicated their lives to changing the world for the good while demonstrating living out Christlikeness through their personal and professional works. Dr. Carmichael has worked in China for over 20 years. He has leveraged his cardiovascular skills to save thousands and built relationships that have allowed him to share the love of Jesus with the Chinese people."
The convocation is an annual highlight for IWU’s student body of nearly 3,000. While on campus, Dr. Carmichael will join senior pre-med students and select faculty for breakfast and spend time in classrooms with students discussing his work. Carmichael will also be honored during a special IWU community luncheon.
Dr. Carmichael has a heart for missions. His life verse is 1 Corinthians 15:58, which reads: “Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” When on faculty at the University of the Florida School of Medicine, Dr. Carmichael was asked to Co-Chair an International Cardiovascular Surgery Conference in Beijing, China. He stated, “I learned that the number one cause of death of Chinese males was coronary artery disease and heart attacks. However, coronary artery bypass surgery (one of the most common operations performed in the US) was unavailable in China. In fact, open heart surgery generally has a 50% mortality in China. At that time, I felt called by the Lord to be involved in using heart surgery as an avenue to share the love of Jesus with the Chinese people.” Since 1992, Dr. Carmichael and his wife have traveled to China to practice “lifestyle evangelism.” In addition to their mission works overseas, they also welcome two teams of Chinese doctors, nurses, and administrators to come and live in their home annually. This allowed the Chinese opportunity to not only learn “western medicine” in the US but for Carmichael’s six children to be involved in the mission effort.
In 2019, Dr. Carmichael received the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the highest honor the Chinese government gives to foreign experts. Dr. Carmichael is also an honored member of America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals and an honorary citizen of Nanjing, China. He has received numerous awards, including America’s Best Physicians, the Compassionate Doctor Award, and the Patient’s Choice Award. Dr. Carmichael joins past inductees, including Pat Gelsinger, Tamika Catchings, Ernie Johnson Jr., Dr. Benjamin Carson, Tony Dungy, and many more.
Pat Gelsinger is recognized as one of the most visible Christian leaders of a publicly-traded company today.
In February 2021, Pat Gelsinger became the Chief Executive Officer of Intel, returning to the company where his career began. During his initial 30 years with Intel, he became the first chief technology officer driving the creation of key industry technologies, including USB and Wi-Fi. As the architect of the original 80486 processor, Gelsinger also played a significant role in steering Intel to dominance in the microprocessor supplier market.
Previous to VMware, Gelsinger was president and chief operating officer of EMC’s Infrastructure and Products Group. There, he was responsible for all of EMC’s products – including storage, data analytics, security, management and data protection products, analytics, and the large majority of EMC’s revenue. Prior to his return to Intel, Gelsinger served as CEO of VMware for nearly a decade. This software company that powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure more than doubled in size under Gelsinger’s leadership. In 2018, Fortune Magazine named Gelsinger one of their top “Businesspersons of the Year”, and in 2019 Gelsinger earned the No. 1 spot on Glassdoor’s list of top US CEOs, with a 99% employee approval ranking.
In 2003, Gelsinger wrote a book entitled, “Balancing Family, Faith and Work”. A second edition titled, “The Juggling Act,” was released in 2008. He has authored more than 20 technical publications, including the foundational “Programming the 80386,” and holds eight patents in the areas of VLSI design, computer architecture, and communications.
In 1985, Gelsinger earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University followed by a master's degree from Santa Clara University in 1983, and an associate's degree from Lincoln Technical Institute in 1979 – all in electrical engineering. In 2008, he was named a Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and that same year awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from William Jessup University.
Gelsinger is involved with a range of Christian charities including, William Jessup University, Stadia, Luis Palau Association, Missions of Hope International, and Mercy Ships. He spearheaded the formation of TBC, “Transforming the Bay with Christ” www.tbc.city, serving the Bay Area in an effort to bring unity to the Christian community. He regularly preaches and teaches work-life balance in a variety of church, business, and international settings.
Raised in a Christian home, Tamika fully surrendered her life to the Lord during college. She has been a vibrant witness throughout her professional basketball career and into her executive management role within the Pacers Sports & Entertainment organization.
Her path to stardom was not easy. Born with a profound hearing disability, she would find that dedicating herself to the sport of basketball provided a way to overcome challenges as a youth. Impassioned to share this gift with others, Tamika founded the Catch the Stars Foundation whose mission is to empower youth to reach their dreams. Catch the Stars promotes fitness, literacy and youth development by holding camps, fitness clinics, back-to-school celebrations, mentoring programs, reading corners and scholarships in communities all over the USA.
Tamika’s accomplishments are vast. While making her mark as a starter on the women’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Elite Eight during her tenure, Tamika graduated from University of Tennessee with a degree in sports management and a minor in business in 2001. She went on to complete a master in sport’s studies, also from the University of Tennessee in 2005.
Drafted by the Indiana Fever immediately following college, Tamika would go on to win four Olympic gold medals and play an instrumental role in helping the Fever advance to the playoffs 13 times in 15 seasons, capturing the WNBA title in 2012 and being named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year five times.
All throughout her basketball career, Tamika kept a watchful eye on the inner workings of the home office. Following her retirement as a full-time player, she was hired as Director of Player Programs and Franchise Development by the Pacer’s Sports & Entertainment Organization. She also began working as an Analyst for Women’s Basketball Games for ESPN’s SEC Network. Most recently, in March 2019, she was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Fever.
Being a tea-loving, entrepreneur at heart, Tamika purchased Tea’s Me Café, a premier tea bar and café located in Indianapolis in February 2017. It is not uncommon to find her in the store joyfully serving the teas she loves.
In 2016, Tamika married Parnell Smith, a former basketball player from the University of Buffalo (NY). In 2016, Tamika published a book entitled “Catch A Star: Shining Through Adversity to Become a Champion”.
Ernie Johnson, Jr. is one of sports’ most respected and loved personalities. He is a veteran sportscaster for Turner Sports. He is the host of Turner Sports NBA coverage and TNT’s Sports Emmy® Award-winning “Inside the NBA” studio show with analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. He is also studio host for Turner and CBS’ NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship coverage as well as play-by-play announcer for TBS’ exclusive coverage of Major League Baseball and the PGA Championship.
Previously, Johnson has covered the National Football League, the British Open, Wimbledon and the Olympics. He has also called the Atlanta Braves games on SportSouth from 1993-1996 with his dad, Ernie Johnson Sr., a former MLB pitcher and Braves play-by-play announcer.
Johnson is a graduate of Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and studied Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He was named Outstanding Young Alumnus in 1986. He and his wife Cheryl have six children, four of whom are adopted.
Already a successful sportscaster for Turner Sports, Johnson became a Christian in 1997 through the ministry of Kevin Myers—a 1982 IWU grad— at 12Stone Church. Since that time, Johnson has been and continues to be outspoken about his faith in both his personal life, as well as his very public and successful professional life.
Cheryl Bachelder is a passionate restaurant industry executive and former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. She is known for her strategic thinking, franchisee-focused approach, superior financial performance and the development of outstanding leaders and teams.
Bachelder joined Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen in November 2007, after serving as an active member of the Board for a year. She brought more than 35 years of experience in brand building, operations and public-company management at companies like Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company, and The Procter & Gamble Company.
“It [was] the most fun role of my lifetime, because it was God’s idea, not mine,” said Bachelder in a 2016 interview. “I think of it as a kind of redemption. This job has redeemed the early years of my career, when I was less focused on serving God in my work.”
Bachelder holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and Marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She has been married for over 35 years to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters.
Combining her Christian faith with her restaurant experience, Bachelder wrote and published a book titled “Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others.” The book chronicles the tenets of how Bachelder reformed the culture within the Popeye franchise by daring to serve the people in her organization well. She describes a ‘servant leader’ as someone who embodies Joshua 1:9 and Philippians 2:3.
In September 2015, Cheryl was awarded The Norman Brinker Award from Nation’s Restaurant News. She has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and was named by CNBC’s Jim Cramer as one of his “21 Bankable CEOs” for 2014. In 2012, she was recognized as “Leader of the Year” by the Women’s Foodservice Forum, and received the Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.
Richard Stearns’ life took an unexpected turn in 1998. At the time, he was the CEO of Lenox, Inc. where he was thriving and growing in his business career; however, he began to feel led to leave his position and serve those affected by poverty around the world.
Following God’s prompting, Stearns resigned from Lenox and accepted a new position as president of World Vision— a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Since becoming president in 1998, Stearns has been able to put his faith into action daily by working to improve the lives of the poor. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to visit more than 40 of the nearly 100 countries where World Vision works, and has a first-hand understanding of the issues that affect the poor.
“Ending systematic poverty is possible if individual Christians respond and if the whole church exercises its massive resources and voice," wrote Stearns in an article from 2012 titled “Christians Really Do Reduce Poverty”.
Today, Stearns is known among both Christian and secular audiences as a trustworthy voice illuminating the critical issues that affect the world’s poor, and urging those who can to make a difference. He is also the author of two books: The Hole in Our Gospel and Unfinished. The books address the importance of living out the whole gospel and brining the good news to a hurting world.
Driven by his passion to raise awareness and support for poverty and justice issues, Stearns appears regularly as a commentator on some of the top issues of our day in outlets including Christianity Today, Relevant magazine, Fox News and Huffington Post. He speaks in churches regularly and in recent years has spoken at the Lausanne Conference, Willow Creek’s Global Leadership Summit, the Christian Leadership Alliance, Movement Day, Worship Together and dozens of other conferences.
Stearns’ greatest legacy will be his leadership in calling on the Church in America to respond to some of the greatest needs of our time, most notably the HIV/AIDS pandemic and now the global refugee crisis.
Stearns holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Stearns and his wife, Reneé, live in Bellevue, Washington, and have supported World Vision since 1984. They have five children of their own – plus millions more around the world.
July 4, 1976—the Bicentennial—is a day that John C. Maxwell will never forget. The then 29-year-old pastor was preaching a normal Sunday morning message when he felt something stirring inside of him. God was calling him to develop leaders.
“I had never even thought about that.” Maxwell said in a 2011 interview. “I wasn’t even preaching on the subject, then suddenly I realized my calling was to train leaders.”
As he pursued this calling through his vocation as a pastor, Maxwell took a leap of faith in 1985 when he founded INJOY, a company dedicated to creating leadership tools and materials for pastors and lay leaders. At the time, Maxwell was also the senior pastor of a church called Skyline Wesleyan Church located near San Diego, California. For fourteen years, Maxwell poured himself into pastoring the church, challenging the church body in the areas of leadership and laity involvement, and ultimately saw the church grow from an average of 1,100 to 3,000 members. Then, in 1995, God called him to step down as pastor and commit to working full time for INJOY.
In 1997, the Michigan native moved INJOY’s headquarters from San Diego to its current location of Atlanta, Georgia. Eventually, INJOY became The INJOY Group made up of three different companies—The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team and EQUIP—that are each committed to developing and training world-class leaders. To date, Maxwell has trained more than 5 million leaders in 188 countries across the globe.
Maxwell’s leadership philosophy is, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” With this in mind, he seeks to continually move forward in the career that the Lord has called him to. He has written over 70 books—nine of which are New York Times bestsellers. Some of his most popular titles include the following:
In 2005, Maxwell became one of 25 authors named to Amazon’s 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Other writers on the list included C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling and Dr. Seuss.
Every year, Maxwell speaks to more than 350,000 people about biblical leadership, success and the power of self-development. Not only is he teaching it, but he is also working to instill in himself the very essence of what he communicates to others.
“If anybody has ever heard me, they realize that I have been—for many, many years—on a mission to grow and to learn and to stretch myself and get out of my own comfort zone,” Maxwell said in a 2012 interview. “I’m as passionate about personal growth as I am about leadership. And when you really think about it, your personal growth is going to determine how well you lead.”
Maxwell’s passion for self-development goes hand-in-hand with his heart for others. He realizes the world is in desperate need of strong, biblical leaders and has dedicated his life to training and mentoring those who wish to receive it. Over the years, Maxwell has spoken to a wide variety of clients from organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, the National Football League, foreign governments, the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United Nations.
“The first thing I do every morning is I ask God to help me add value to people. And the last thing I do every night is ask God, ‘Did I add value to people?’” Maxwell said in a 2011 interview. “It keeps me intentional and focused.”
For both his local and global work he has been recognized by the American Management Association®, Business Insider and Inc. magazine. Yet, through it all, his aim remains clear.
“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts,” Maxwell has said. “It is about one life influencing another.”
A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole graduated with distinction from Duke University as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University.
Her resume includes six years as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, and two years as Assistant to President Reagan for Public Liaison. In 1983, she became the first woman to be appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation, serving five years. She later served as U.S. Secretary of Labor where top priorities included workplace safety and initiatives to help youth-at-risk.
“My most rewarding times in public service career were in classrooms, listening to at-risk youth and teen mothers who were turning their lives around; in fields, meeting with migrant workers who were seeking a voice on their behalf; deep in a coal mine, meeting with miners concerned about their safety; and in far flung corners of the world, witnessing the great humanitarian power of people helping strangers at their most desperate hour,” said Dole.
Elizabeth Dole was only the second woman to serve as president since Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. She totally restructured the world’s largest humanitarian organization during her eight years as president, serving as a volunteer in her first year. She led a massive transformation of the way the Red Cross collects, tests and distributes one-half of the nation’s blood supply.
Following the Red Cross, she sought the Republican presidential nomination, becoming the first viable female candidate from a major political party. Elected in 2002, Senator Dole became the first woman to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate. In 2012, she founded Caring for Military Families: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation to raise awareness and support for over one million caregivers of our nation’s wounded warriors.
She has been married to her husband, Senator Bob Dole, since 1975 and resides in Washington, D.C. and North Carolina.
David Green has never forgotten what his mother used to say to him back when he was just starting out in the retail business, at a five and dime store chain called TG&Y.
"I can recall back when I was the youngest TG&Y manager," Green said in a 2009 interview, "going home and saying, 'Hey Mom, I'm the youngest TG&Y manager,' She said, 'Oh yeah, what are you doing for the Lord?' I would make district manager. I would be the youngest district manager and I would say, 'Hey Mom, I'm the youngest district manager, I've got 30 stores.' Whatever. 'Yeah David, but what are you doing for the
Lord?' "
That's part of the reason that Green has worked so hard to give back out of the blessings God has showered upon him as founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby. David Green believes that life holds nothing of lasting value unless he places God at the center of every part of his life.
Green, 71, founded Hobby Lobby in 1970 as Greco Products, a miniature picture frames company he started in his garage with a $600 loan. Today, Hobby Lobby has more than 500 stores across the United States, offering more than 65,000 products.
Green's witness has reached the highest levels of the world's financial community. He has appeared multiple times on the Forbes 400 list of the world's wealthiest people, most recently in 2012 with an estimated net worth of $4 billion. Green's Christian witness is evident to all: in 2006, Forbes wrote that Green "lives to spread the word."
But what matters most to David Green, just as his mother taught him, is answering that question: "what are you doing for the Lord?"
God has given him the chance to set an example for the retail industry in generosity toward his employees. He sets minimum wage for both full- and part-time employees at far above the legal standard ($13 and $9 per hour, respectively). Green also demonstrates caring for his employees by limiting store operations to 66 hours per week and closing completely on Sunday.
"We feel like we are responsible for those people God put in our charge," Green said, "We have four full-time chaplains who are out visiting the stores, talking to our managers…we want to care about our people."
Closing on Sunday was an especially hard decision for Green. It was the most profitable day of the week for the craft store chain, but it was also the Lord's Day, and Green believes God has blessed the company since they made the decision to shut down all stores on that day: they are actually doing better financially than they were before.
In 2010 he signed The Giving Pledge, an agreement among many of the world's wealthiest people to give away more than half of their fortune before they die. Hobby Lobby's website lists a number of ministry partners, from Wycliffe Bible Translators to Every Home for Christ. Green holds an honorary doctorate from IWU.
God has used Green's interest in ancient history and the roots of the Bible to give a gift to scholars and laypeople from around the world. The Green Collection, which CNN calls "one of the world's largest private collection[s] of biblical texts and artifacts." The collection has become a great public service through the traveling exhibit Passages, giving many people the unprecedented chance to come into closer touch with our spiritual heritage. They are making plans for a permanent Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
The Kansas-born Green spent some time feeling like the black sheep of his family. His mother and father were both ministers, and all five of his brothers and sisters followed their example into full-time vocational ministry, either as pastors or pastor's wives.
In time, he began to understand that ministry wasn't just a pastor's job.
"I felt like God passed me up," Green recalls, "in that I was not called to preach like my brothers and sisters. So I really felt like I was the black sheep. It took me some time after God had talked to me about doing something, and then I saw it all come together. Then I said, 'I think he could use a businessman as well.' But I also think he can use every one of us, no matter where we are."
Kirk Cameron may be best known as an actor, but it is the totality of his life and work - his unashamed passion for Christ and the gospel, his dedication to his family, his extensive work with multiple humanitarian causes - which makes him a strong example of Christian commitment. IWU has chosen Cameron as the 2012 inductee into the Indiana Wesleyan University Society of World Changers. Cameron has lived in the spotlight since he was 14, when he won the role of Mike Seaver on the sitcom "Growing Pains." He later became known for his starring roles in the films "Left Behind" and "Fireproof." Now 41, Cameron has impressed many with his dedication to living out his love for Christ in his public and personal lives. He has demonstrated a keen commitment to sharing his faith, in one-on-one encounters and with a wide audience. In addition, he has been involved with organizations providing rest and recreation for seriously ill children, offering advice to married couples, and raising awareness of human rights abuses in Southeast Asia.
Cameron was one of the biggest teen idols of the 1980s, collecting 10,000 fan letters per week and staring out from millions of magazine covers, posters and pillowcases. Even though he had everything he could want, he started asking fundamental questions about his place and purpose in the world. Spurred on by the father of a friend, he visited Pastor Chuck Swindoll's California church and read a book by apologist Josh McDowell. He started to rethink the atheism he'd held onto for most of his life.
"God knew the core of me - the totality of every thought, emotion and action - and cared about the real me," Cameron wrote in his 2008 autobiography "Still Growing." "Surrounded by a world of superficiality, this was a new and humbling concept." Since then, Cameron has used his celebrity as a platform to speak plainly and directly about Christ's work in his life, in the Hollywood community where he still lives and to myriad audiences around the world.
He has found many ways to live out a Christian example. Since 1989 he and his wife, Chelsea, have personally run the Firefly Foundation. They invite seriously ill children and their families to spend a week at a Georgia summer camp, to rest and make friends with people going through similar situations.
The inspiration for Camp Firefly came from Cameron's work with sick children while on "Growing Pains," through groups like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Most camps of that sort focused only on the children, but Cameron had seen the toll disease could take on an entire family: "I felt something more needed to be done for these exhausted, strapped, stressed families," Cameron wrote.
Cameron has donated his time and talent to other causes. In 2009 he volunteered to host a documentary, "The Karen: Forgotten but Not Forsaken," about human rights abuses perpetrated against Christians belonging to ethnic minorities in Burma/Myanmar. "The Karen" was released in 2011.
Cameron's faith has influenced his career choices as well. He has starred in a number of Christian films, most notably a trilogy adapted from the best-selling "Left Behind" novels, as well as the church-produced film "Fireproof" (which became 2008's highest-grossing independent film). His latest film, "Monumental," premiered in limited release in March 2012.
After starring in the marriage-themed "Fireproof," Cameron has toured America to speak at the "Love Worth Fighting For" marriage conferences. For several years he has assisted evangelist Ray Comfort's ministry "The Way of The Master," which produces a wide variety of evangelistic materials, including a television program hosted by Cameron and Comfort broadcast on media outlets all over the world. Cameron has been married to Chelsea Noble, his on-screen girlfriend from "Growing Pains," for more than 20 years. Kirk and Chelsea live in Southern California with their six children.
"Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else - our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return."
"Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People" by S. Truett Cathy, published 2002
In 1967, Cathy founded and opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta's Greenbriar Shopping Center. Today, Chick-fil-A is the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States based on annual sales. At the beginning of 2011, there were more than 1,500 Chick-fil-A restaurants in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Cathy's approach is largely driven by personal satisfaction and a sense of obligation to the community and its young people. His WinShape Foundation, founded in 1984, grew from his desire to "shape winners" by helping young people succeed in life through scholarships and other youth-support programs.
As part of its WinShape Homes program, eight foster care homes have been started in Georgia, two in Tennessee and one in Alabama that are operated by Cathy and the WinShape Foundation.
WinShape Camps were founded in 1985 as residential, two-week summer camps to impact young people and families through experiences that enhance their Christian faith, character and relationships. More than 2,000 campers from throughout the country and abroad attend these camps each year.
Cathy, who was born March 14, 1921, in Georgia, built his life and business based on hard work, humility and biblical principles. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia, where he has taught the same Sunday school class for more than 50 years. Based on these principles, all of Chick-fil-A's restaurants operate with a "Closed-on-Sunday" policy, without exception. Company sales figures have consistently proven that Chick-fil-A restaurants often generate more business per square foot in six days than many other quick-service restaurants produce in seven.
"The Gaithers are to Christian music what the Beatles are to pop music." That's how Bill and Gloria Gaither were introduced when the American Society of Composers, Artists and Publishers (ASCAP) named them "Songwriters of the Century."
Unquestionably, Christian music falls into two categories: Before Gaithers (B.G.) and After Gaithers (A.G.).
At a time when the music of the church leaned toward traditional gospel songs and lyrics composed in religious language, the Gaithers brought to the concert stage an upbeat, contemporary sound featuring real-life lyrics that grew out of their everyday lives as full-time school teachers.
In the years since, Bill and Gloria have partnered to write more than 700 songs, many of which are sung in churches today, including "Because He Lives," "Let's Just Praise the Lord," "He Touched Me," "Something Beautiful" and "The King is Coming," to name just a few of the favorites.
Sharing their stage with countless up-and-coming artists, the Gaithers mentored performers such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Sandi Patty, influencing entire generations of artists.
Bill and Gloria have performed in concert around the world, shooting music videos in Ireland, England, South Africa and Israel. Ken Abraham, who co-authored Bill's memoir, "It's More Than the Music," recalls hiking through Jamaica with his brothers and coming upon a makeshift church building where the congregation was singing "He Touched Me."
In the 1970s, the Gaithers recorded a musical, "Alleluia! A Praise Gathering for Believers," which was written with the idea that local congregations and choirs could do their own productions. In fact, it was performed in churches and communities around the world including countries such as Romania and China. "Alleluia!" became the first certified gold record in Christian music and virtually transformed the world of church music.
Releasing hundreds of recordings, the Gaithers have won eight Grammy Awards and two dozen Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association, earning GMA's "Songwriter of the Year" recognition eight times.
In his book "It's More Than the Music," Bill Gaither tells the story of the professor who sent a copy of the Gaither album "Alleluia!" to Richard Nixon after his resignation from office during the Watergate investigation. According to the professor, he later received a call from Nixon's personal secretary informing him that the former president wanted to speak with him. When Nixon took the phone, he told the professor that during his entire political career he had never been so moved by a gift and that, in fact, he had worn out track number eight. Track number eight on the "Alleluia!" album is the song, "Because He Lives."
Bill was once cited by Entrepreneur magazine for his successful business conglomerate, which includes a record company, concert booking, television production, copyright management, a recording studio, a telemarketing department and the couple's retail store, Gaither Family Resources. Several years ago, out of his desire to bring hopeful music to a heartbroken world, Bill formed the Gaither Vocal Band, a group that has released nearly 30 recordings, including a DVD in 2009 that went to No. 1 on Billboard's music video chart.
A compulsive journal keeper and a true bibliophile, Gloria has written a shelf of books - more than 40 at last count. A student of literature, she has contributed papers and reviews, in various academic settings, on the work of American author John Steinbeck. An advocate of Christian higher education, she has served on the board of directors for both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the United Christian College Fund. She has received honorary doctorates from six universities, including one from IWU in 2002.
Although the Gaithers have traversed the globe for four decades singing the gospel, they always return home to Alexandria, Indiana, so they can stay involved in town life and the lives of family and friends.
Working just minutes south of the IWU campus, the Gaithers are living proof that, sometimes, world changers live just down the road.
Thank you, Bill and Gloria Gaither, for giving the world a song - well, many, many, many songs!
Joni Eareckson Tada was just 17 when a diving accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair. But "paralyzed" hardly describes a woman who, since her accident, has written 35 books, accepted a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability, spoken in more than 45 countries, established a disability ministry that reaches around the world and produced paintings with a brush between her teeth.
Joni's best-selling biography, "Joni," chronicled her struggle to accept her paralysis as part of a divine plan. Translated into 40 languages, "Joni" was also made into a movie with Joni starring as herself. A full-time disability advocate, she founded Joni and Friends, an organization dedicated to serving the worldwide community of the disabled and their families.
The Joni and Friends International Disability Center, based in Southern California and headquarters for her ministry, operates five flagship programs:
When Joni accepted a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability, she helped draft the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law in 1990. In 2005, she was appointed to advise Condoleezza Rice on policy and programs that affect the disabled in the State Department and around the world.
While recovering from her accident, Joni learned to paint and draw. Today her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are sought after by collectors. She is the author of a memoir, "The God I Love"; "A Christmas Longing," which includes her Christmas paintings; and "A Lifetime of Wisdom: Embracing the Way God Heals You."
We salute Joni Eareckson Tada for giving inspiration and independence to individuals with disabilities.
Dungy has worked with a variety of charitable organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs and All Pro Dad. His book "Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance" debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times best-seller list. Another of his books, "Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices & Priorities of a Winning Life," spent 30 weeks on that list.
Benjamin S. Carson Sr., M.D., overcame a childhood of dire poverty to become director of pediatric neurosurgery and professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. In 1987, he and his team became the first physicians in history to separate conjoined twins successfully.
In 2001, Carson was named one of the nation's 20 foremost physicians and scientists by CNN and Time magazine. In June 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Ben and his wife, Candy, are founders of the Carson Scholars Fund, which rewards students with college scholarships and aspires to name a Carson Scholar in every school in the U.S.
Family advocate Dr. James C. Dobson is founder and chairman emeritus of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization that produces his internationally syndicated radio programs, heard on over 3,000 radio facilities in North America and in 27 languages in approximately 4,130 additional facilities in over 160 other countries. Dobson's commentaries are heard by more than 220 million people by way of radio every day.
Dobson's first book for parents and teachers, "Dare to Discipline," has sold more than 4.5 million copies and was selected as one of 50 books to be re-bound and placed in the White House Library.
Dobson has consulted several presidential administrations on family issues.
When he was a youngster in Seattle, Frank Peretti liked to inspire the neighborhood kids with his storytelling. As a Christian suspense novelist, he has inspired millions of readers with titles such as "This Present Darkness," "Piercing the Darkness," "The Oath," "The Wounded Spirit," and "House" (co-authored with Ted Dekker).
"This Present Darkness," credited with reviving an interest in spiritual warfare, appeared on Bookstore Journal's best-seller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti still inspires kids with books from "The Cooper Kids Adventure Series" and a best-selling audio series, "Wild and Wacky and Totally True Bible Stories."
Despite his fame, the best-selling author lives a simple life of carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking.
Before his death in 1999, Bob Briner was an award-winning TV producer, sports executive and author. He brought television and sponsor dollars to tennis as an executive of World Championship Tennis and as executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals players' union. He was instrumental in opening major international tournaments such as Wimbledon and the French Open to professionals.
Briner was author of "Lambs Among Wolves," "The Management Methods of Jesus," and "Business Basics from the Bible." In "Roaring Lambs," he wrote, "It's time for believers to confidently carry their faith with them into the marketplace so that our very culture feels the difference."
It was Briner's work in "Roaring Lambs" that inspired the 2003 creation of the Indiana Wesleyan University Society of World Changers.
