Integritybusinessreferrals.com was founded in April, 2010 by Lew Frye, after more than 3 years as the Secretary-Treasurer and co-founder of a Marketplace Ministry in Lakeland, Florida known as “Kingdom Business Network." Lew still supports that ministry today.
Lew’s story, and why he is active in Christian ministry today, is below:
Is this all there is?Is this what success is supposed to feel like? Is there more? Our barns were full (using biblical language) but our hearts were emptyIn 1977, I founded a construction business in Brandon, FL and began building duplexes and homes in that area and prospered greatly. My wife, Marleen and I bought a beautiful lot in the mountains for a retreat to be built later, and began planning for our new custom home (our dream home) in Brandon. On a Friday night in early 1979, Marleen and I went to dinner at one of our favorite steakhouses in Tampa called “Brewmasters”. Well you can guess from the name. There was free beer, wine and peanuts while waiting for our table. I usually had too much! On this particular night, it was different. When we were seated, we had a great meal and when finished we just looked across the table at one another, with our new “dream home” in the planning stages, a new car, vacation property in North Carolina, plenty of money in the bank and more coming in. As we sat there that night, we said to each other, “Is this it?”
Is this what happens when people are successful and is this what success is supposed to feel like?
Our barns were full (using biblical language) but our hearts were empty. Even though we had each other and loved each other, there was something missing and we didn’t have a clue what that was. So we began to search in psychic books, movies, and mainstream literature.
Everything but the bible....
Then it happened!
We were invited to a Saturday night dinner party at the home of good friends, Dr. Geoffrey Weihe(our dentist) and his wife, Mary. We had no clue what we were in for when we went to that party, but it was a total setup by the “Holy Spirit”. We knew something was up when they actually prayed before we ate. Marleen & I thought that was a little strange. It just wasn’t what was usually done within our circle of friends. The Holy Spirit was all over us, conviction came heavily upon us and it wasn’t really a salvation message, just a testimony by Dr. Peter O Knight, a noted cardiologist in Tampa.
We wept all night after going home and went to church that very next day and every Sunday after that. We wept every Sunday at church for the next two months. Everyone at church could see that something was going on inside us. Those that were “born again” knew. Some, sadly, didn’t have a clue and probably didn’t want to ask. The born again Christians gathered around us quickly and a whole new life began, right there at “Immanuel Lutheran Church” in Brandon, FL..
Since that life changing night in 1979, our Christian walk led us to move to Lakeland, FL and to spend eighteen wonderful years at “Carpenters Home Church” under Pastor Karl Strader where we received the greatest training that any Christian could hope for. For the last 6 years we have been blessed at Abundant Life Church of God in Lakeland, FL where we serve as Altar Workers and I serve as “coordinator” of the “Abundant Business Network”, the marketplace ministry within our church.
I have been married to my wife, Marleen, since 1967. We have 2 great children and 3 wonderful grandchildren. I am a general contractor in Lakeland, Florida and have been licensed for over 31 years. I am active in business and love the opportunities to minister.
In mid 2009, God revealed to me a vision to connect Christian business owners, entrepreneurs, self employed and marketplace leaders together to prosper their businesses. This would be necessary to fulfill the mandate we have as Christians business people to fund the ministries necessary to bring in and disciple the wave of new believers that are coming according to every prophetic voice I have heard in the last few years. God showed me in Genesis 11:6 the great authority and power that is available to people who are “one people” and speak the “same language” (in other words, are like minded and communicate well with each other).
It is my vision that Christians from all denominations that are truly “born again”, “members of a body of believers”, “tithers” and “have a good reputation” will join together with us. Our common purpose is to fulfill Deut 8:18 and the devil won’t be able to stop us!