I was surprised when Levi Davenport, President of C3Leaders, told me of my nomination for the C3 Leaders 2023 Ralph Palmen High Ground Award.

 

C3 Leaders is a ministry organization offering a growing number of Jesus-centered, business-focused, peer-led small group “Forums,” in the Greater Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and other Eastside cities. In these Forums, business and professional leaders equip, support, and inspire one another in their personal and professional lives. A number of years ago, though not a businessman in the truest sense, I was invited to lead a C3 Leader Forum.

 

This is the eighth time the Ralph Palmen High Ground has been given. Bob Nuber, Chairman Emeritus at Clark Nuber PS, describes the Award as recognition of  “a person or an organization that has ascended one of the High Grounds of culture (Family, Education, Religion, Business, Media, Arts & Entertainment, Government) bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to that strategic position. The purpose of the award is to encourage C3 and other believing leaders to use their gifts of leadership and influence for His purposes at home and in the marketplace.”

He goes on to say, “Many of us at C3 are business leaders. As such we like good returns on our investment of resources. Doing the work God has given us to do will, I’m sure, realize higher returns if we carry out our assignments from the high ground. I encourage you to give some thought and prayer about how you’ve been gifted as a leader and how you are currently using or how you can more effectively use your gifts to help shine the light of Jesus from one of the high grounds of our culture.”

To Levi, Bob, the Board, and each of my C3 ministry colleagues, I am humbled and deeply honored to receive this Award, named after an inspiring Christian business leader and personal friend to many of us; one who embodies what we each encourage, pray for, and support in our Forums.

Thank you, friends. Blessings to you all.

May Jesus keep us close.

To view the Ralph Palmen High Ground video in which Ward shares with business and professional leaders how “planting the seed is the most important thing we do here,” visit www.wardtanneberg.com.