Walk the Talk #9: Spotlight on Kingdom Work

Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers to share about initiatives that they are involved in.

The unsung heroes of Jesus’ kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.

Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.”

Aristotle

Clyde Zimmerman will join us to represent SALT Microfinance, where he serves as part of the leadership team which is operating in 27 countries. The SALT program focuses on helping people discover sustainable ways to provide for their families while modeling and teaching a Biblical way of life. The program reaches out to people in material poverty through savings groups, Agri-Plus, microloans, and vocational training, and the Salt & Light financial course.

Clyde also works part time for Anabaptist Financial as a business advisor. As a former business owner, his most important focus is using our occupations to demonstrate Jesus as a way of life.

Stephen Stoltzfus will join us to represent Ur-BAM, which was inspired by five brothers and is currently a simple, loosely structured effort overseen by three men. It is not a formal organization, but a place for connection and inspiration built around a simple observation: struggling small towns and neglected urban neighborhoods often begin to change when hardworking, faithful families move in, live among the people, and invest their lives there.

Ur-BAM itself is not the goal. The goal is to cast a vision for families to move toward needy places and integrate their lives there—not heaping up treasure for ourselves, but rebuilding what has been broken and pointing people to Jesus through the ordinary rhythms of life and work.

Jeremy Horning will join us to represent Urban Sheds, a company built on a simple mission: to give homeowners something worth having and craftsmen work worth doing.

Since 2021, Jeremy has lived self-supported in Kampala, Uganda, with his wife and four children, and are a part of Followers of the Way. From here, he runs Urban Sheds remotely while remaining invested in the builders and communities his business serves.

Jeremy is passionate about the nuts and bolts of daily life that create a thriving urban community. In his words, “A service-based business is an ideal way to establish a real presence in a local community. If you want to know your neighbors and touch their lives in a meaningful way, start a service-based business.”

Merle Herr will join us to represent Anabaptist Brotherhood, which seeks to revitalize and simplify the historical practice of medical aid by combining medical cost sharing with alms support. They help members with the complex medical billing issues and financial structures necessary to support churches and member on the frontlines.

Merle is married to Amy, and they have five children. He is the cofounder of various non-profits including Anabaptist Financial/Foundation, Stewardship Resources, Open Hands, Anabaptist Savings and Loans International, and Anabaptist Brotherhood. He is also founder and partner in AgSalt Processing.