We want our work to matter. We want to make a difference. We want to work hard. And God wants us to, too. “Faith & Work,” is an exploration of the intrinsic value of work in our city through the professions of these six men and women.
BRYAN KAMMERER
While working for a construction company, Bryan Kammerer of Walnut Creek Johnston understood the truth of the Gospel. He was 26. Newly married. Baby on the way. “I quickly went from being the life of the party to the punchline of all the jokes," Bryan said. “That was humbling, but I knew it was right.”
After the company he worked for went under, Bryan landed a gig at another site. “As I started to grow in my faith, I realized I would not do well as a Christian in that toxic environment. I started thinking about things I could potentially do.”
Going down the list of contacts he had made with property managers and land developers, Bryan found a handful of people willing to take a chance on him. With the help of those first clients, Bryan has owned and operated Advantage Lawn Care for the last 15 years.
With literally hundreds of lawn care companies in the Des Moines area, Bryan knows the services he offers aren’t unique. However, the quality of his work and his faithful employees make the greatest difference and have gained him favor in the community.
“I’ve realized clients don’t necessarily want friends. They want to hire someone who’s trustworthy,” Bryan said. “Any work is a great sign of your character by how hard you’re willing to complete tasks, not cut corners, still maintain that high work expectancy. It’s a good opportunity to witness to people through your life and example.”
It’s a good opportunity to witness to people through your life and example.
With his wife Lindsay, their five children, and foster children at home, Bryan’s attitude toward work has changed from his earlier construction days as a single guy. Success is no longer his ultimate goal.
“The harder I worked, the more I would get promoted, get more raises. When I started this company I still had that same mentality: I need to work a lot of hours. I need to work hard,” said Bryan. “Now it’s more important to me to display good character while I’m working, but then be done and home as soon as possible. It’s valuable to do a good job, but it’s not valuable to be there all the time.”
Bryan’s work extends beyond mere lawn care. His business is relational. Through his friendship with a site manager at a retirement property, Bryan’s Community Group was able to serve breakfast, give a Gospel presentation, sing songs, and help clean the facility one Sunday morning.
Over the years, multiple clients have even offered Bryan new job opportunities within their companies. Though he has turned them down, Bryan is thankful for every offer because through them God has shown him the fruit of his labor.
“Lawn mowing is a skill that a lot of people have, a lot of people are able to do it. It’s not the most glamorous job,” Bryan said. “But they are obviously not wanting to hire me because of my lawn mowing ability. They’re hiring me for how I’ve dealt with them and the character that they think I have.”
ABBY UNRATH
Design is in Abby Unrath’s blood. As a little girl she would dream of colors and furniture in spaces, but as she got older, Abby fought against the designer inside.
“When I thought about doing design as a profession, in the back of my head I felt, ‘This is superficial. This is shallow. It’s temporal. None of this matters,’” Abby said. “When I started to see that people really do have a connection with the space around them, how it makes them feel and how it creates life, I saw I really could improve people’s lives.”
Those seeds of design grew while Abby was attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At Baylor she met Jon, and in 2008 the two were married. As Jon continued in the construction business, and Abby worked for a design firm, they soon realized combining their talents and efforts was inevitable.
“There’s a time to reap and a time to sow. We have sowed and sowed and sowed into other people’s businesses, and finally we’re reaping,” Abby said. “Now we’re able to do what we love as a team.”
Combining their 25 years of experience, Abby and Jon launched Heirloom Design and Build in 2014. Together they specialize in full-service residential renovations, remodeling, new construction, and interior design. The name is a mission statement within one word.
“What we do is a labor of love, and we wanted it to be meaningful. We’re creating something that will last and improve people’s lives. It’s a beautiful thing to know you're crafting more than just four walls for somebody,” Abby said.
Their work moves beyond surface level remodeling. Abby has seen how emotional it is for people as they open up their spaces. Their work is personal as they invade people’s homes and see everything exposed.
“You can’t hire us to do what we do without having a relationship, without trust,” Abby said. “I do have an eye for what I do but beyond that it’s about people and putting that labor of love into something for them because they’re entrusting us with their most valuable possession.”
Every day is a balancing act as Jon works on site and Abby tries to meet with clients while also taking care of their three daughters and running between soccer practices and ballet classes. The girls come to consultation visits and wear construction hats when they go on site with dad.
“When you hire us, you’re hiring all of us. That’s just our business,” Abby said. “We want our business to grow, but we don’t want to lose sight of what we’re really after. We think of it as our secondary calling. Our first calling is our family, our children.”
We think of it as our secondary calling. Our first calling is our family, our children.
As Abby has brought out the talent in Jon and Jon done the same for her, God has affirmed her passion for design. He has replaced the lies of believing her work is shallow and pointless with truth. God is the great designer, and she knows He made her this way for a reason. He didn’t make a mistake.
“This does have a purpose. This does bear fruit,” Abby said. “Any creative using their talents for Him, He’s going to fuel that, He’s going to help you. It needs to be our confidence in Him.”
GREG BAKER
Greg Baker is on a 99 county tour across the state of Iowa, for both business and interest. Iowa has over 5,200 churches. Greg wants to talk to each one.
As the Executive Director of the Ambassador Network for The Family Leader, Greg harnesses his passion for politics to help local churches understand the political process. “We want to engage people and train them to use that interest for the Great Commission, how to be involved with the purpose of furthering the Gospel as well as use their interest for eternity,” Greg said. “The other group I work with is the church. We try to engage specifically the pastor and help them understand their role.”
Greg’s knowledge of legislation grew while an undergrad and unbeliever at the University of Iowa. He served as a leader for the College Republicans and also interned with George Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004. “I’ve always been good at being a grassroots activist. Before I used it to benefit a political party, a particular candidate with a certain letter behind his name,” Greg said.
After graduation Greg moved to Des Moines and accepted a job working for Bob Vander Plaat’s governor campaign. Through the campaign Greg met Terry Amann and Ashley Baker, who later became his wife. As Greg heard the truths of the Bible, God shifted his world.
“After I got saved, I really wasn’t sure what I knew politically anymore. I didn’t come from a biblical worldview. I left politics for two years,” Greg said.
During this time Bob Vander Plaats took a job at The Family Leader and encouraged Greg to join as well. Greg turned him down multiple times, swearing off politics. “It used to be very easy for me to get into the 'us versus them' but that’s a waste of time,” Greg said.
As Greg sought counsel and prayed about what to do, God challenged him with a question: Can your passion for politics be used for my glory? Greg told the Lord he was willing to try.
“God’s used me to channel my skills into organizing the church of Jesus to advocate for holy ideals, the righteous ideals,” Greg said. “I’ve been way more fruitful the last two years in this position than I ever was in anything prior.”
Now Greg leads the Iowa Capitol Project, which is part of his 99 county tour. The project brings pastors from across the state to the Iowa Capitol. On a daily basis, Greg helps groups of 20 to 40 pastors initiate relationships with the legislature.
“Our work is in helping to revive the church and encourage them to stand on the Word of God, to be a witness,” Greg said. “We’re helping to equip the pastors in Iowa to do that.”
Our work is in helping to revive the church and encourage them to stand on the Word of God, to be a witness.
In his one-year Bible reading plan, Greg has felt affirmed by the Lord in both his position and the way his heart has changed.
“I did not seek this job at the Family Leader, and I didn’t seek leading at the Church Network. But the Lord put me here," Greg said. “He’s given me the curriculum and biblical context I needed to know from His scripture to do this job well."
TAMI KREYKES
When the economy crash hit Iowa, Tami Kreykes lost her job as a math teacher at East High School. Switching gears, Tami began a one-year position with Habitat For Humanity. That one year turned into five. “Honestly I love it, and I probably wouldn’t ever go back to teaching. It’s definitely where I feel like I’m supposed to be,” said Tami, of Walnut Creek South.
As a construction manager for Habitat, Tami’s daily life resembles a classroom. Each construction site is an opportunity to learn new skills, solve problems, and teach volunteers. Even do a little math, too.
“I love that every day looks different. I appreciate getting to learn more all the time," Tami said. "Some tasks I like more than others. Sometimes I do have to sit at a desk."
In 2015, Habitat For Humanity built 27 houses in Polk County. Working daily on multiple sites, Tami sees people’s deep needs. “In my job especially I really get to serve people and families, which is awesome,” Tami said. “God is the one that created us to work and to work hard. That’s who we’re working for."
God is the one that created us to work and to work hard. That’s who we’re working for.
In the construction business, each work day requires effort and skill. Snow, mud, rain, cold, or sunshine, Tami is on site. “When you find something you enjoy doing it’s easier to go to work,” Tami said. “At the end of the day you can see your progress. Just being able to see what you have done is definitely a sense of accomplishment.”
As a construction manager, Tami works with multiple people everyday whether they are contractors, companies, volunteers, or suppliers. Each conversation offers an opportunity to be bold in sharing her faith and remember who she is ultimately serving. “I see hundreds of people in a short amount of time,” Tami said. “I try to go into work thinking this is a day I get to serve the Lord, not just ‘I have to go to work because that’s what I do from 8 to 5.’ But to go with a mindset of I’m really working for the Lord, not for man, my boss, or for someone else.”
During her first year at Habitat Tami saw God weaving together the way He made her with the job at hand, giving her characteristics that fit really well with the culture of Habitat. Her reliability, organizational habits, and hard work were all part of Tami being offered the job to stay on staff.
“Work in general a lot of people think of as a drag, something they have to do. I think of work as a privilege that God has given us the ability,” Tami said. “God’s created us to have different characteristics that allow us to work. There are a lot of good things that can be gained working a job, skills and opportunities we can sometimes overlook because we’re set in a work mindset.”
Being one of two female staff members, Tami says sometimes people she meets for the first time can be skeptical. But after a conversation or two, they see women are capable of doing construction, too. “All of us work. There’s a reason we all do it,” Tami said. “We’re created to work for God.”
BRAD MEYER
Professor Brad Meyer encourages people to ask themselves: “What if no one was doing what I’m doing?” For Brad, work is a service. Work is important. And all work matters.
“It’s good for people to understand that work in and of itself is an opportunity to serve others. Don’t think that doing the work itself isn’t also something valuable,” Brad said. “You have to stop and think about it. Work is the way to serve the world that you’re in. You’re actually helping a person. You’re solving their problems. You’re serving basic needs.”
Work is the way to serve the world that you’re in.
For the last 26 years, Brad has worn multiple hats at Drake University. He teaches in the area of operations management and serves as a Department Chair for the Department of Information Management and Business Analytics. Brad is also a director of the new data analytics program.
One of Brad’s favorite aspects about his job is the ability to think and ponder over new ideas, ways to better communicate, and changing aspects of the business field. While in graduate school, Brad spent a lot of time thinking about the variety of spiritual gifts that God uses to place people in different roles and positions. God used that time to help Brad understand the intersection of his faith and his work.
“Sometimes there’s this tension between thinking that my goal is to promote the kingdom of God and then thinking it seems worldly to just be talking about how a business can be more efficient,” Brad said. “People shouldn’t have to feel that way. Whatever you’re doing, whenever you’re working, that is spiritual.”
In the development of the data analytics program Brad talked to numerous area business owners to see what they are looking for when they hire. The team wants to equip students to track new technologies and develop an innovative program that will benefit their careers. When teaching both undergraduate and graduate classes, Brad wants to help his students get ahead.
“I am happy to be here although there are days when I think, ‘I wish I was just teaching the Bible full time rather than teaching operations management,’” Brad said. “There’s days when maybe I wish I could say something in biblical realms because I ponder a lot of those things, too.”
In working with students, Brad challenges himself to move past the material to invest in their lives. He wants to teach the subject matter but also communicate effectively so his students can understand where he’s coming from.
“I’ve had to learn to care about people because I’m really more of a content and idea person than I am a people person. I try to ask questions and be interested in people besides just ‘Do you know this concept?’” Brad said.
The same is true in his interactions with fellow professors and staff. In the university setting, Brad sees how having a Christ-like mindset makes all the difference.
“To be honest, when you’re doing administration, there are issues that come up. Friction,” Brad said. “Having a biblical sense of what character is. Being willing to admit your mistakes. Forgiving people. You can diffuse a lot of friction by being gracious and working through things kindly.”
BECKY HIU
Becky Hiu, of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, has over 18,500 followers on StockTwits. She geeks out over stock research and investment planning. And for good reason. For the last six years, Becky has been studying the financial industry.
“A lot of things in life are stationary. It feels like you’re working in a stationary environment. In finance, especially investments and stock trading, they move quickly,” Becky said. “The market goes up and down. Money never sleeps. It’s always fascinating.”
That interest has turned into a full-time career as a financial analyst, directing clients to what makes most sense for them and ensuring their financial sanity. Becky transferred to Drake University from her home country of Malaysia to initially study actuarial science. “I came to school thinking I would advance my career and be a Wall Street banker. Make the big bucks,” Becky said. “I was very self centered. A time for me to advance myself, my purposes, and my kingdom.”
During Becky’s first semester, she heard the Gospel, and God quickly gripped her life. She switched her major to finance and quantitative economics and has since completed a masters degree in financial management as well.
“Finance gives me a thought about eternity. You’re a baby, you grow up, you go to school, you go to college, you live life, get a good job, advance your career, settle down and marry someone, then retire,” Becky said. “Then what? What do you do? That timeline keeps going by. It’s a sobering thought: what do you do with your life?”
It’s a sobering thought: what do you do with your life?
In their small firm, Becky handles the behind-the-scenes trading, reports, and followups, working to maximize what their clients invest. She watches stocks carefully to monitor which ones are worth further research. She has built a following on Twitter Finance, adding commentary to the established community of analysts worldwide.
In the finance world, emotions run high especially when investments don’t go as planned. Becky daily sees biblical principles play out in people’s reactions to the market’s fluctuations. “Everything can be answered through the Bible. You can see why people react the way that they do. It’s fascinating. Greed. Fear. You can see all that in the markets,” Becky said.
Becky leans heavily on the Book of Proverbs to help keep an eternal perspective, including Proverbs 23:4-5, “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.”
“There are temptations in every good thing. Temptation to build on to what you have.But wealth is fleeting,” Becky said. “People are clinging on because their hope is in the market, their hope is in temporal things. I see beyond that because you know, it doesn’t matter eventually.”
Becky say she wants to work hard and excel at her job but not at the cost of her life. “Finance is one part of life, but it can govern a lot of people’s lives. Money can be an idol. Being there and doing what I do on a daily grind, I have to remember that,” Becky said. “Sometimes I can be tempted to do well and get sidetracked because I want to be a perfectionist. I need to be make sure who I’m looking at.”
One of the many benefits of her job has been the ability to be generous, both in her financial knowledge and monetarily. Whether helping friends understand their taxes or renting out her house to students in need, Becky is thankful for the current position God has given her.
“I think God has given me the education, skills, and talents to help other people. I am very blessed by the Lord to be generous to other people,” Becky said. “There’s not one day I’m lacking anything.”