Management as Ministry

Versión en Español → Spanish

by Jeff Finley

Dan Sigler recently became an ordained Free Methodist elder, a rank typically held by pastors, but he’s not behind a pulpit most Sunday mornings.

Sigler has another title: sales manager for a publishing company. The former church planter with a master’s degree in social work admitted he seems like an unlikely person to supervise sales.

“The funny thing is I’ve never sold a thing in my life,” he said.

Nevertheless, Sigler excels in the position, which he transitioned to after joining the company as its social worker. Why would a business need a social worker?

The company’s owners give Boise, Idaho, residents the opportunity for employment despite backgrounds of incarceration, probation and drug use that often make it hard to find work and rebuild their lives. Methamphetamine use is a common problem in the area, and a stable job is an important factor to find housing, overcome addiction and avoid criminal behavior.
Sigler led the company’s unique blend of parenting and relationship classes, recovery groups and counseling. As the business helped meet employees’ personal needs, its bottom line improved.

“Retention got way better. Attrition and turnover slowed way down. The overall workforce got more stable,” he said. “That turned into the company being more successful. As a result, we were able to expand and add more positions.”

The company now employs more than 300 people, about half of whom have recovered from drug addiction or have been on probation or parole. A spiritual rebirth accompanies the turnaround in many employees’ lives.

“A lot of them are believers now and are plugged into churches,” Sigler said. “We’ve tried to stay tied in with a number of churches in the community and invited their participation.”

Sigler helped the company develop a management style that differs from those in employees’ past experiences. He explained that employees with a prison background know a leadership model that emphasizes power above everything else.

“The opposite of that is Christ’s model of leadership, which is to be a servant and to have humility and put others before yourself,” he said. “We have this sense of common vision throughout the company of everyone fulfilling different roles that fit with their gifts and abilities.”

Some Christians use phrases like “full-time ministry” and “secular work,” but for Sigler, the distinctions are not as clear.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m thinking through business-related things or interacting with a person; ultimately, I view Christ in all those interactions,” he said.

Kenji Nitta works with Sigler at the publishing company and also worships with him at New Heights Christian Fellowship.

“He uses his smarts to serve others, and he does it well. He can move adeptly from counseling a rape victim to restructuring a company with well over 300 employees for healthier performance management and less systems waste,” Nitta said. “There is no hint of selfish ambition in any of his endeavors. His concern to honor Jesus in all he does motivates how careful he is in thought, deed and charity toward others.”

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