2024

December Edition

Welcome to the December edition of A Few Good Things.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As we approach the end of 2024 and have the opportunity for new beginnings in 2025, we at The Good Place Institute have so much to be thankful for. God continues to move in and through GPI to multiply Good Place organizations. We thank you for joining us and many others on this Kingdom journey in the organizations where we lead and work. We are excited to continue to journey together in 2025 in this marketplace movement!

May God continue to build up hearts of love and lives of shalom! Thank you!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.

—      Isaiah 9:6-7

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, we are reminded not only of His role as our Savior but also as a King who ushered in a Kingdom unlike any other—one rooted in His glory, love, and our shalom. He taught us to pray that this Kingdom would come and that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). We are given a picture of Jesus as the Messiah-King and descriptions and characteristics of His Kingdom throughout the Bible.

So, what does this mean for you, the leader of an organization?

In short, it means that we are to be disciples of Jesus in every way. In our leadership roles, we are to lead like Him. But it does not stop there. We are also to co-labor with Him and others to bring about His Kingdom in the places where we live, move, and have our being. In our organizations, we are called to model the Kingdom with how we build, lead, and steward our work.

In our leadership this coming year, may we model the King, and our organizations model His Kingdom!

For the people who spend the majority of their waking hours at work in the organizations we are called to steward and serve, may more and more people experience characteristics of the Kingdom and, therefore, the King Himself!

Merry Christmas!

As we end 2024, we want to celebrate what God has done and continues to do through GPI. We had the opportunity to engage and build relationships with awesome people who are also on this journey of building God’s holistic and integrated Kingdom in and through organizations in the marketplace!

We are thankful for many things, including:

• Significant growth in the number of clients served and leaders equipped and empowered to build and steward Good Place organizations!

• Exponential increase in marketplace awareness of GPI through multiple speaking, podcasting, radio, and other media engagement opportunities!

• Growth in awareness and interest through book sales and distribution!

• Expansion of our GPI team, adding Business Development and Community Partners (soon to be called Good Place Ambassadors)!

• Growth of our product and service offerings to better equip leaders!

As you may know, our purpose for GPI is simple: multiply Good Place organizations. Our vision for 2025 is to continue equipping and empowering leaders to build and steward Good Place organizations. Through their organizations, we want to see those leaders provide their people the opportunity and encouragement to grow to their full potential, build up Good Places in their communities, and be economically regenerative.

We will continue to fulfill this purpose through training, consulting, coaching, speaking, etc., on the why, what, and how of Good Place and the Good Place Operating System (GPOS). These ongoing efforts are supported by a growing community of wonderful clients, employees, ambassadors, certified partners, and complementary organizations.

Our five major areas of focus for 2025:

1. Increase awareness in the marketplace through speaking engagements, guest podcasting, conferences, etc.

2. Grow leaders and client engagement, multiplying more Good Place organizations.

3. Increase our capacity to deliver consulting and coaching through cohort programs.

4. Improve product development to provide more opportunities for equipping.

5. Continue training, education, and development for GPI internal staff and community.

We praise God for what He is doing, continues to do, and will do in 2025, and for allowing us to be on this journey with Him!

GPI continues to build the team. We are thankful to welcome our newest member, John Harris!

John will serve as Client Development. One of the primary purposes of this position is to generate awareness, interest, and engagement in The Good Place Institute through identifying and understanding client needs, developing trusted relationships, and journeying with clients as we equip and empower leaders to build and steward Good Place organizations.

John began working with GPI as a Community Partner in August 2024. We are excited to have him join our team in the Client Development position. John has over thirty years of executive management experience and a shepherd’s heart for encouraging, coaching, and mentoring leaders to use their skills and talents for the Kingdom. We’re grateful to have him as a new part of our GPI staff.

Thank you for checking out our newsletter. Our purpose at The Good Place Institute is to help leaders multiply Good Place organizations! We are thankful for you and your leadership of organizations to reflect God’s Kingdom!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chris Young

President

The Good Place Institute