Author and counselor Gary Chapman challenged suppliers and retailers yesterday during Daily Devotions at Advance 2007 to build relationships in their workplace.

He shared liberally from the teachings of his best-selling The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate and The Five Languages of Apology: How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships, released in 2006 from Moody Publishers' Northfield imprint.

“I hope you haven't forgotten that when sales are down, where is life found?” Chapman asked the audience. “I believe it's in relationships with God and (others).”

He then shared what he called the essentials to long-term relationships: people in relationships need to feel loved, and we must learn to deal with our failure in relationships.

“Imagine what could happen in the workplace if we would speak each other's love language and language of apology,” Chapman said.

Jim Whitaker, chairman-elect of CBA, tried to apply the principles immediately after Chapman concluded his 20-minute devotional message.

“CBA loves you, and we care about you,” Whitaker, owner of New Life Christian Stores in Lynchburg, Va., told convention attendees gathered for the second day of Daily Devotions. “As suppliers and retailers, if there's anything we've done to offend you, please let us know so we can make it right.”

Mike Goff, a manager at Prestonwood Bookstore, located at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, said Chapman's message was “right on.”

“Chances are the people you work with, those above you and those below you, don't know how much you appreciate them unless you tell them,” Goff said. “That's something that won't cost me any time or any money to start today.

“I've read parts of both books he talked about this morning,” he added. “I'm more inclined to read the rest of the books now.”

• Prev
• Next