by Clem Boyd, Communication Content Manager
God's ways are often surprising, sometimes perplexing, regularly amazing, and always inspiring. Dr. Daryl Smith, Associate Professor of Management, knows that full well. As Daryl has discovered, our joy in the Lord should permeate all of life, especially our careers, where a great number of our waking hours are spent.
Before his career at Cedarville, Daryl met friend and brother-in-Christ, Chuck Proudfit, who lives out this theme. Proudfit's career in corporate America included big-name multinational players such as Procter & Gamble and LensCrafters. At the beginning of his career, after graduating from Harvard, Chuck realized his work life was not enough to fill his life with meaning. This began a search that eventually led him to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
As a student of the Bible, and in particular the New Testament book of Acts, Proudfit saw how God changed the world through normal everyday people who lived out their faith in every aspect of life. He wanted to see this in his own life and formed a small group of about a dozen like-minded Christian professionals.
That band of disciples quickly grew beyond 300 members and has become At Work on Purpose (AWOP), a decentralized organic network of spiritual influence for Chris. Cedarville and AWOP share the goal of helping Christians live out their convictions in a winsome and transformational way on the job. Because of this like-minded spirit, AWOP members are eligible for a 15% discount on most classes offered through The Graduate School at Cedarville, including the fully online MBA.
“What moves me the most is to see that one Christian who is so committed to faith at work that they consistently integrate rather than isolate their faith at work,” Chuck shares during the podcast. “And when you find just one working Christian who lives and works like that, you’re inspired. I dream of the day when every working Christian works like that.”
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More to the Story
Before working at Cedarville, Daryl Smith was a member of the U.S. Air Force and a professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He spoke during this year's Veterans Day chapel.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Bachelor of Science in management program, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.