Dave Worland
Over the course of three decades guiding and overseeing organizations in the non-profit and charitable gifting arena, Dave Worland has rubbed shoulders with countless individuals motivated to impact the world through benevolence.
Mr. Worland’s journey led him into the board rooms of some of the country’s most powerful businessmen and leaders who had a passion to make a difference with their wealth and influence. One such encounter took place 15 years ago in Nashville, and little did he realize how that meeting would one day alter the course of his professional life.
While serving as the executive vice president of the Atlanta-based National Christian Foundation, Mr.
Worland helped launch satellite foundations in 28 cities as a component of NCF’s desire to cultivate a local presence. It was through this endeavor that he crossed paths with a successful business owner interested in bringing an affiliate to Nashville.
That was that the first time Mr. Worland met Bill Lee – now Tennessee’s governor - and neither could have dreamed how their lives would intersect again years later.
“I got to know him well when we put together a group of founders to start NCF’s presence in Nashville,” Mr. Worland said. “We had both a business and personal relationship that was good. I was impressed with who he was and the values he conveyed.”
After their initial encounter, Bill Lee continued to oversee and grow the HVAC, electrical and plumbing business founded by his grandfather into a 1,200-employee enterprise, the only place he worked after graduating from Auburn University in 1981.
Meanwhile, Mr. Worland departed NCF after 15 years in 2014 to assume the position of president and CEO of Leadership Ministries Worldwide, a Chattanooga non-profit focused on providing biblical resources to ministers in over 175 countries to help equip 1.5 million pastors to more effectively shepherd their flock.
Two years ago, Mr. Lee was hatching his plans for a gubernatorial run and reached out to Mr. Worland to gauge his feedback.
“My initial response was, ‘Why would you do that? You’ve got a great family, a great life and a successful company. You have the ability to travel and have whatever influence you want,’” Mr. Worland said. “He said, ‘I think the Lord has told me that I need to run.’”
Mr. Worland further queried Mr. Lee about what would happen if he lost, how the defeat might impact his future.
“He said, ‘I figure if I lose then the Lord will show me why he had me on this track.’ After hearing that, I was one of many who agreed he should pursue the office,” Mr. Worland said.
Mr. Worland initially supported the Lee campaign as someone encouraging others to consider him as a candidate.
“I introduced him to people I knew here in Chattanooga. I thought he’d be a great governor for Tennessee,” Mr. Worland said.
But Bill Lee wanted additional input from his trusted friend.
“His people contacted me a little over a year ago saying they were considering this faith-based Initiative and wanted me to help them put together a policy paper on it. Mr. Lee had been saying all along how faith is important to the people of Tennessee.”
Mr. Worland knew from his prior dealings with Mr. Lee that this was much more than lip-service or a campaign tactic.
“He found that as he traveled and met people from every county how important faith is in our state,” Mr. Worland said. “He never hid his faith in Christ, and, because of that, people were willing to come up and talk to him about it. So, he decided during his campaign to start a faith-based and community initiative. I thought it was a great idea.”
Mr. Worland was asked to serve on a committee to help steer the initiative toward reality earlier this year, but never dreamed he would be chosen as its director.
“It wasn’t something that was on my radar at all, so I had to pray about it,” Mr. Worland said. “I was excited about the position but it was not something I had ever really thought about for me. The governor is so well-connected and has so many high-profile friends in Nashville that I thought he’d tap somebody there to run it. After discussing it and praying with my wife, Sally, we both felt like it was the next place where God wanted us to be.”
While addressing Chattanooga’s Downtown Rotary Club in May, Governor Lee explained his desire for the faith-based initiative to strategically unite non-profit groups and volunteers to address the needs of Tennessee.
"I don't believe that government is the answer to the greatest challenges that we have today," Governor Lee said. "There are people out in our communities who can have the greatest impact on what happens. The governor's Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives will be a liaison between the non-profit community and the government to further enhance this idea and to give people an opportunity to be engaged in a more meaningful way."
The new office does not require any additional taxpayer money, but will be structured as a non-profit organization with donations raised from individuals.
“The people we’ve talked to are genuinely excited about the opportunity,” Mr. Worland said. “For years the church and non-profits have been excluded from coming to the table to solve problems. It’s not the goal to go recreate this at the bureaucratic level, but churches and non-profits are being invited to help find solutions to problems without becoming part of the bureaucracy, and they will have the governor’s ear.”
According to Mr. Worland, health reform, prison reform, education reform and the faith-based community initiative are the four pillars of the Lee agenda as spelled out in his State of the State address earlier this year. But the specifics on implementation will come only after canvassing the needs and solutions available in Tennessee.
“I’ve started a number of things, so I like being able to take a blank canvas or general concept and figure out how to make this work,” Mr. Worland said. “We are going on a discovery tour across the state to find out what all is going on out there. I want to conduct roundtable meetings to find out what is working well, what are the areas where they need help.
“Some of the help may come from the state, but some of it will come from within the communities. The listening tour is going to help us understand what is available so we can then begin to connect the dots.”
The organization will be steered by a board comprised of members across the state representing non-profits and all faiths, races and genders.
“We want a board that will give us insights into all communities statewide and to apprise them of opportunities that are available in Nashville they may not be aware of. We want to help them access resources to meet needs in their own community,” Mr. Worland said.
Mr. Worland, who also served seven years as president of the Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation between 1992-99, believes his past experience will enable him to deploy Governor Lee’s mission for the organization.
“The thing I do more than anything is help people discover what their calling is in life and encouraging them to accomplish what God is ultimately calling them to do,” Mr. Worland said. “I believe God is doing amazing things, and we believe that the majority of the problems that will be solved in this state won’t be solved by the bureaucrats in Nashville.
“Instead, we’re convinced those problems will be solved by citizens in the state, living out their passion actively involved in some non-profit work. If we can capture that same collective genius that’s taking place across the state of Tennessee among non-profits and faith-based organizations and integrate it with the needs that government is called to care for, then we will begin to see positive change in our communities.”
While Mr. Worland admits that he is a novice when it comes to the political arena, he is forthright when discussing his role within Governor Lee’s administration.
“When I started this job there’s two things I hoped for,” Mr. Worland said. “One, at the end of the day, I wanted to glorify the Lord through my service. The second thing is for non-profits and faith-based entities to be elevated so that people will begin to see their real faith lived out as a caring, compassionate group of people without having to compromise their beliefs.”
Mr. Worland is hoping his new endeavor will serve as a catalyst for positive change and foster a spirit of compassion in meeting the needs of Tennesseans.
“I’m not here to define what is right or wrong. What I am here to do is to say if faith means anything to you and if it’s going to be lived out in some way, then everything you do will be as a result of that faith. We are open to working with all people of faith and goodwill who have a desire to do something positive for the community, regardless if we share the same beliefs.”
Contact Paul Payne by email at paulpayne6249@gmail.com or on Twitter @Paul_A_Payne