The Center For Sharing was birthed out of Broetje Orchards, a large for profit apple company, in 1986. Through its collaboration with Broetje orchards over the years, we have developed a clear, practical understanding and method of practical application for the principles of servant leadership to be lived out in the marketplace.
The basic principles and values of servant leadership have become core to creating a servant led culture in each new entity. Over the years several new for profit organizations have been birthed out of Broetje Orchards.
Some of the for profit organizations where we have helped implement servant leadership include:
- First Fruits Marketing in Yakima, Washington
- CASA in Pasco, Washington
- Snake River Housing in Prescott, Washington
- His Produce, in Pasco, Washington
The majority of Christians in the U.S say they see no connection between their faith and their work. Less than 3% surveyed say they have ever been intentionally trained for marketplace ministry. At the same time, in surveys taken by the Wall Street Journal, the dissatisfaction rate of U.S employees with their jobs is 80% in the general population, and 50% amongst Christians. This parallels surveys taken in 29 other countries, with about the same percentage points. This low-spirited approach to life and work results in a loss of meaning, connection and purpose, as well as a decline in productivity and profitability.
The Center For Sharing believes that we can act as a bridge between the Church and the marketplaces of society, by offering individuals and organizations opportunities to learn about and practice traditional spiritual values and characteristics such as trust, integrity, respect for all people, mutuality, service, compassion, community building, awareness, listening . We attribute much of our capacity to do this work to the fact that we have closely collaborated with Broetje Orchards, a for-profit apple growing, packing, shipping, marketing company which strives to be a kingdom building business through “bearing fruit, fruit that will last” since the founding of CFS in 1986.
Today, we network with a growing number of other organizations who also feel called to live out their beliefs in the marketplace, for the betterment of society. That is where most people spend 60-70% of their waking hours today. Hence, the marketplace has become a primary opportunity for kingdom building at this time of history. Get involved in the movement and join a servant leadership class today!
