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A Promise to Pray

How a CEO and his staff are making the balance of work and family a priority
By Mark Earley | Outcomes, Jul/Aug 2007

When Mark Earley became president and CEO of PFM (Prison Fellowship and Breakpoint Ministries) in 2002, he brought with him a clear and well-practiced commitment to his wife, Cynthia, and six children (ages 10-23).

"We had set boundaries early on in our marriage. We decided work would not overwhelm married life or family life." 

He developed the principle years earlier as a practicing lawyer, and later as he served in the Virginia state senate and as the state's Attorney General. "The only time it didn't work well was when I was running for Governor." 

Mark admits he didn't always quite make the mark. "I've gotten myself overbooked and overscheduled." Aware that politics and full-time ministry present similar pressures, demands and expectations, he was quick to encourage his new PFM staff to talk about them.

"I told our employees there were three things I'd be praying for, and that I wanted them to pray for:

1. Make setting aside time with Jesus in the Word and prayer a priority.
   
   
2. Never allow work to eclipse family life.
   
   
3. Don't be fearful; fear is a great antagonist to the work of the Holy Spirit."

Today, he reminds the PFM staff there's little difference between the church and the general population when it comes to divorce and other family issues: "We need to make sure what we say is a priority really is a priority in how we allocate our time. Neglecting the relationships in our lives is always a bad decision."

His advice to his staff:

1. When the day is over, it's over. Go home.
   
   
2. Do not bring work home.
   
   
3. Don't work on weekends unless absolutely necessary.
   
   
4. Make it a point to spend family time with an open Bible and in prayer.
   
   
5. Take your family with you to work so they can see what you do.

"Some leaders think travel is a badge of importance," says Mark, "but for me, the more I travel, the more it shows my stupidity. You really have to be ruthless (and say 'No'). You have to be the guardian of your gate."