Successful local men’s conference remodels and rebrands

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

A powerful new conference is taking men to a whole new level of faith. Souly Business replaces the Build-Up conference, which often sold out in the five years it ran.

“I saw there was a better way of connecting men to their Heavenly Father and to one another,” explains conference organizer Stephen Rolston, in response to why he changed the event.

Souly Business brings in successful business and ministry leaders to share how their faith impacted their careers, families, and lives.

“The humility of some of these business people is something that has to be experienced,” Rolston says, adding that the new format enables direct interaction with the speakers. “When you have lunch or dinner with the guy who just gave the presentation, it’s so disarming. You get to spend more time and know their hearts—men of industry who are world changers.”

One significant change from Build-Up is that Souly Business primarily aims to disciple men who are already walking with God.

“I heard very clearly, ‘What part of being crucified with Me did you think wouldn’t hurt?’”

“Build-Up was much more of an evangelistic event. Souly Business has more of a discipleship model. We try to create an environment where men can explore their faith with fellow business people and marketplace people.”

Doug Sprunt, the former owner of Salem Storehouse, says he was deeply impacted when he attended Souly Business, in early 2015. It was only a week before Salem closed and that weight was looming over him.

“We had paid off at least $300,000 in debt and still owed about $15,000 or $20,000. We had no way of paying it,” he says. “I was so perplexed thinking, ‘Why is God leaving me stuck here. He paid all this off, but why not the last bit?’ I was not angry at God, I was just trying to figure out His logic.”

Sprunt was profoundly impacted when one of the conference speakers challenged the men to go out and ask God questions that were on their hearts. Sitting by a pond, Sprunt just said, ‘Jesus, I don’t understand.’

“I heard two things very clearly. One was, ‘What part of being crucified with Me did you think wouldn’t hurt?’ I realized I had adopted a Western mentality that says I shouldn’t have to suffer. The Holy Spirit really nailed me with that and I realized He is welcome to do whatever He wants with my life.

“I literally felt like I was at a sun-rise service on Easter morning. I felt like I had been resurrected from a period of death.” Photo by Gordon Weima.

“The second thing I heard Him say to me is, ‘If it winds up costing you money to close the store, is that okay with you?’ I still choke up,” Sprunt says. “If I say everything I am and have is His, it’s not costing me money. It’s His money, not mine.”

Right at that moment, Sprunt says he saw the sun break out all around him.

“I literally felt like I was at a sun-rise service on Easter morning. I felt like I had been resurrected from a period of death.”

A week later, he had brought in almost enough to cover the debt. That weekend, as he closed the store, a woman anonymously donated the exact amount of money still outstanding.

“I will never forget that. I can absolutely trust God completely and Souly Business was part of that.”

Gordon Weima attended the conference at the same time. Even after years of active involvement in his church, he says Souly Business took his understanding of the cross much deeper.

“I have a fairly strong background in the church. I’ve been an elder twice and I’m the men’s ministry leader. I have tons of head knowledge, but the real transition for me was more a heart understanding of what Christ did. I’ve been to a lot of men’s ministry retreats, but nothing like this.”

Souly Business runs from September 9 to 11. It is being hosted at Camp Iawah, in Godfrey, Ontario.