Ministry Today commends a different group of kingdom-minded people or organizations each year in our MT21 issue. In 2014, when we launched MT21, we honored churches and ministries that were influencing the 21st-century church.
In 2015, we highlighted 21 congregations that were "culturally diverse on purpose." This year, however, we're taking a different approach and naming 21 businesses whose leaders are a witness for Christ in some way through their professional platforms. From cupcake makers to insurance agency owners to roofers, we have covered a wide range of businesses in this year's MT21 feature.
Today, we are highlighting Trinity Mortgage Co. trinitymortgagecompany.com
Working in a high-stress business affords Jack Gritter of Trinity Mortgage Co. the opportunity to minister calm and comfort to his clients.
"The mortgage business can be pretty high-stress because a lot of money is involved, and a home purchase is often emotional," Gritter says. "I am not hesitant to counsel people to trust God, and I offer to pray for them if they are stressed."
Gritter—who at 36 started following Christ after being raised in a Christian home and attending church and a Christian school—seeks to live out his faith through his business.
"Over the years, I have been able to erase the lines between church life, home life and business life," he says. "As a result, my interactions with clients, staff and vendors naturally include discussions of mission trips, church activities and offers for prayer."
Before starting his own business, Gritter had become discontent working for another owner.
"One irritation was the owner's unwillingness to play Christian hold music on the telephone system, despite being a church-going Christian," he says. "I felt we should be bold about a faith and not succumb to 'cultural correctness.' The business also had a dog-eat-dog environment with a heavy focus on production. Although my associates were great people and very helpful, it was clear that generating income was the primary focus."
Through the years, Gritter had gained experience as a commercial real estate appraiser and mortgage loan originator, so he and Chip Gregory decided to start Trinity Mortgage in 2004. Operating a "Christ-centered and client-focused" company, Gritter is grateful he can provide such an environment for his employees and has found it beneficial to his wider ministry to have control of his own business.
"To begin with, I was able to choose the name 'Trinity Mortgage Company' as a public pronouncement that Christ is our CEO and my business partner, and I simply manage His firm," he says. "I am free to speak openly about my faith and pray with clients and associates during stressful transactions. I unabashedly encourage my clients to pray for God's grace in their loan process. Within the office, we occasionally turn off the phones and convene for group prayer in the conference room when faced with particularly challenging circumstances."
Gritter finds it beneficial to his ministry not to be bound by a vacation schedule. He puts his time into volunteering in student ministries, serving on his church advisory council and leading church short-term mission trips. He also leads mission trips for IsleGo Missions and serves on the organization's board. 
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