Mocha Market: Business Directory

Anthony T. Williams

         

MM: For those who may not know you, tell them a bit about yourself (from college through your work experience).

ATW:  I received my BS degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from The University of Alabama.  I spent 12 years working for a leading IT Services company primarily as an IT consultant and project manager.  I also started my own IT services company before accepting a calling into full-time ministry in 2005.  I married my college sweetheart and will celebrate 16 years of marriage in September 2011.  We also have 3 beautiful children – 2 boys and 1 girl.  In addition to serving as Founder and CEO of EverythingMinistry.com, I also serve as the Pastor of Life Groups at Faith Community Fellowship in Trussville, AL and as a ministry consultant specializing in coaching and growth strategies for business and ministry. 

MM: So when did the entrepreneurial bug bite you?

ATW: Honestly, it’s always been there.  It just took a while for me to exercise the faith to “truly” walk in it. 

I grew up in a single parent home where my mother often worked two and three jobs to make ends meet.  I saw how hard she worked and wanted to do my part to help.  As a child, I was always coming up with ways to “make money”.  Be it cutting grass, parking cars at the local triple A baseball park, recycling cans, selling freeze cups… you name it and I’ve probably tried it.  I’ve always seen myself as a business man.

After graduating from college I started an IT consulting firm while working for a leading IT services company.  Although I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur, I found it difficult to walk away from the relative comfort and “security” that came with the corporate job.  Yet with every year that passed, the desire to step away grew stronger and stronger.  In fact, the more I began to seek God, the more confident and certain I became.  My transition to full time ministry really prepared me for life as an entrepreneur and what that would mean for me.  For me it meant putting aside my dreams and passions to pursue God’s purpose for my life.  God’s Word reminds us that He allows us to join Him in what He has purposed for our lives.  He already knows how our story will end.  It’s our job to seek and embrace His will for our life and to confidently walk in it! 

MM: So what's the story behind EverythingMinistry.com? When was it started?

ATW:  EverythingMinistry.com was conceived in January 2010 as I was driving from Birmingham, AL to Huntsville, AL.  My wife and I were in the middle of a 21-day fast and were specifically praying for God reveal His will and what He wanted us to do as we were preparing to enter another phase of our lives.  During that 1 ½ hour drive, God shared the entire vision for EverythingMinistry.com which included the name.  As I drove north on I-65 I literally wrote bits and pieces of this manifestation on the back of business cards, CD sleeves, and scraps of paper - whatever I could find in the car.  It was an incredible moment to say the least primarily because of how clear the revelation was.  At one point, I pulled the car over and all I could do was worship and pray as I wept before God because God had just answered our prayers and did so with incredible clarity.  That was January 25^, 2010.    We formed the company on February 1, 2010 and on March 1^st EverythingMinistry.com became a reality.

MM: What makes EverythingMinistry.com different from the many other Christian internet bookstores?

ATW:  A few things… first, our prices are extremely competitive.  Our goal is to be a low cost leader in the Online Christian Resources industry.  Secondly, our product selection is quite extensive.  We currently have over 170,000 products housed in three warehouses in Nevada, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.  Our fulfillment and distribution channels enable us to quickly process orders with an average delivery time of 1 to 3 business days in the contiguous United States.  Customer feedback has been especially positive in this area as we often hear how much it meant that our customers received the products they ordered before they expected it.  Third, would be our programs that are designed to engage local communities.  We do this by reaching out to authors and artist who have published works but are unable to market their titles to an international audience.  EverythingMinistry.com partners with these authors and artist to promote their products through our website and other marketing and social commerce tools.  We also partner with churches and other ministries across the country to serve as their online bookstore through our Affiliate program.  This program enables churches or ministries to meet the needs of its congregation by providing access to everyday Christian resources such as books, bibles, devotionals, music, etc.  Members now have the satisfaction of knowing that a portion of each purchase they make is returned to the church enabling the church to do more ministry – all at no cost to the church.   

MM: Name a few books that you've read lately that you think others may enjoy reading as well (any genre)?

ATW:  I am currently reading Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love”.  What an amazing book about God’s love for us and what it means to be “lukewarm” for God.  I like it because the author is very direct and unapologetic about our responsibility when it comes to the Kingdom.  I can’t wait to finish it!  I also recently read “Next Generation Leader” by Andy Stanley – another great book and “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren for the second time.  I’m a huge fan of John Maxwell and Max Lucado and enjoy reading just about anything that’s going to stretch me mentally and spiritually and develop me as a man of God, husband and father. 

MM: So what are you listening to in your car?  What's in your Top 5 play list (any genre)?

ATW:  WOW…  It would be really difficult for me to name a top five.  It really depends on my mood.  I am a music lover and listen to just about anything from Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, and Byron Cage to Kathryn Scott, Casting Crowns and Hillsong United.  I also like LeCrae, Canton Jones and tobyMac.  I’m also a huge fan of Peter White, Candy Dulfur, Alex Bugnon and Wayman Tisdale.  You will definitely find a little Lalah Hathaway, Carl Thomas and L.L. in rotation as well.  Man I could go on for days…

MM: What's next for Anthony T Williams?  New projects, events, etc,

ATW:  In a word, “Growth”.  We spent the majority of 2010 laying the foundation for EverythingMinistry.com.  2011 will undoubtedly be a season of growth and tremendous opportunities.  We will expand our national brand and appeal beyond its Southern roots through partnerships and aggressive marketing campaigns.  We will continue to reach out to new authors and artist and ministries interested in our Affiliate programs.  We will expand our publisher and distributor relationships and most importantly continue to minister to our customers through the products and services we offer.  It’s going to be a great year!

MM: If you could give one piece of advice to someone that's thinking about starting their own business, what would it be?

ATW:  Follow the voice of God and make sure it is His will for your life.  Find at least one other person who will commit it to prayer for a period of time.  Finally, remember what Jesus told the blind man after restoring his sight in Matthew 9:29 – “…become what you believe! (MSG)”