Don said a quick prayer and walked into the local junior high school. Stepping through the doors Don thought about this familiar journey he had taken often throughout his life. As a student he walked through these doors to learn and mature into adulthood. As a youth minister he walked through these doors to minister to students. Now he walked through these doors with a different purpose in mind. Don's goal is to work with schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses to bring in the funds they need for the vision they have.

After working as a minister for 15 years, Don could not have imagined himself in the world of Internet marketing, helping a friend grow his business. The business world, however, is exactly where he found himself. Don Lamoureux is the fundraising coordinator and an authorized independent dealer for Ominex, a company that provides more than 100,000 office products for homes, businesses, churches, schools, and non-profit organizations.

"It has been in our hearts from the beginning of this venture to build something that would help churches, schools, and para-church organizations bring in much needed funds for ministry," Don says. These organizations have two things in common. They and their supporters and members use office products and they depend on donations to help them carry out their mission. This business can help them ease that common budget stress because when people get their office supplies through Ominex, the company donates seven percent of that purchase back to the organization.

Coming to Faith

Don was raised in a Christian home and attended church throughout his childhood. At age 16 he dedicated his life to Christ and made a commitment to serve him forever. After high school Don got a job and attended a local junior college. At the age of 19 he enrolled at Pacific Christian College, now Hope International University, planning to go into full-time ministry. Don believes that no matter where we go in our careers, God can use us to impact people for him.

Sharing Faith and Helping People

Working with people in business has given Don many opportunities to share his faith. He meets people every day who do not have a relationship with Christ and his example is even more accentuated now than it was working in the church. Don knows that whatever he says or does reflects his beliefs. He also realizes convictions that were readily accepted while working for a church are questioned in the world. This fact gives Don numerous opportunities to make a difference.

When business associates ask about Don's background and learn he was in ministry prior to working with Ominex, they often ask him for advice. He uses those opportunities to help them make important decisions. "God has put me in a place where I can be a calming force in a troubled world. For the first time in my life, the majority of the people in my network are people who have very little desire for church and for religion in general, so the opportunities are endless."

While opportunities abound, Don also faces challenges to his faith, as does any Christian who works in the business world. It can be difficult to stay focused on God when business gets frantic. Working with people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds also has its challenges. Don works with people all over the United States and in dozens of foreign countries. When others find out about his faith, the questions start coming. Using business as a common goal often leads to spiritual topics. "People struggle and I find myself in a place to help them."

A Vision for the Church

Although Don no longer is in the vocational ministry, his heart still belongs to the church. He believes his work gives churches an opportunity to advance their vision financially. "I was always told that workers and money flow toward vision. My vision is that churches and Christian organizations everywhere would be linked through the Ominex experience and bring in additional funds so they can build that new building, hire that new staff member, or start an outreach program they so desperately need."

In addition to helping churches, Don continues to counsel people and conduct weddings and funerals. He knows that even though he is not on a church staff and paid as a minister, his ministry continues and he will continue to do God's will.  

Don, his wife Amberlyn, and their sons Ky and Conner live in Utah. To learn more about Don's work, go to www.lifechangeproject.com.

Susanne Dacus graduated from Pacific Christian College with a degree in Christian Education. She and her husband Brad work with Pacific Justice Institute in Citrus Heights, California. Brad and Susanne reside in Sacramento, California with their two children.

OTHER COLUMNS:
June 15, 2008 - A time saver who knows the soul saver
May 18, 2008 - Working by faith 24/7
April 20, 2008 - Motown, music, and ministry
March 23, 2008 - Be One Sportswear
February 24, 2008 - Fighting for the faith
January 27, 2008 - Healing for the Healer
December 30, 2007 - Parenting faithfully
December 2, 2007 - Building physical and spiritual strength
November 4, 2007 - Taking Christ into the classroom
October 7, 2007 - Changing lives through music
August 12, 2007 - Strategies for business and life
June 17, 2007 - Finding fulfilling work
May 20, 2007 - Faithful to his calling
April 22, 2007 - An unstoppable witness
March 25, 2007 - The perfect plan
February 25, 2007 - Teaching with faith
January 28, 2007 - Changing a community—one event at a time
December 24, 2006 - Business by the book
November 26, 2006 - Growing through life’s storms
October 29, 2006 - Giving God his best