Two industry executives answering higher calling
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, November 25, 2001
HICKORY, N.C. — After tending to the furniture industry for 15 years each, Bruce Schronce and Lynn Houston have found a higher calling.
Schronce, who has been manager of merchandising and product development for leather at Century since 1997, and Houston, an executive at components manufacturer Hickory Springs, are leaving the industry to enter the Baptist ministry.
Schronce will become minister of education and evangelism on Dec. 1 and Houston will become youth minister a month later at their local church, 700-member Lakeview Baptist.
Both ministers-to-be are in their late 30s, married and fathers to two sons. Both have been deacons at Lakeview.
In preparation for their ministerial duties, they will enroll at a nearby Baptist seminary and pursue master of divinity degrees, Houston with an emphasis on counseling and Schronce with an emphasis on education and evangelism. They will be ordained early next year.
The pair came to their decisions independently but later leaned on each other for support and encouragement.
"It wasn't planned," Houston said. "It just happened that way when we began talking two years ago.... The last two years it has been on my mind and in my heart. I have a real peace about it."
Houston, who is leaving his job as Hickory Springs' national product manager for motion hardware, is pragmatic about his new role: "Marketing is marketing," he said. "I'm just selling a better product now."
After 15 years in the industry, Schronce said, "It's hard to leave. This has been a very, very special business to me — so much of it revolved around the people here. The people are what I will remember most."
Houston agreed, citing his personal bonds with customers.
Schronce will still attend High Point furniture markets — to lead a morning prayer service in the Century showroom, something he began 18 months ago with Century President Bob Maricich's blessing.
"We think a lot of Bruce and certainly respect his decision to move to the ministry," said Maricich. "As we jokingly told him, that's one offer we couldn't counter. He'll be terrific there."
Houston also received support and good wishes from his boss, Dwayne Welch, director of metal sales and manufacturing at Hickory Springs.
In his new role, Schronce is responsible for "anything to do with education within the church. But the real conviction I have is to bring our faith into the community … being more evangelistic, without restricting God to Sundays."
Changing career paths is nothing new to Schronce. He worked in real estate before he was recruited by Jack Donahoe, president of Leathercraft. As only Donahoe can tell it, he was so impressed by Schronce's roofing skills in his zeal to sell him a house that Donahoe not only bought the house, he hired him!
Schronce spent seven years at Leathercraft before joining Century.
Donahoe said he feels proud, if somewhat downtrodden, that Century would hire first Schronce and now Phil Brown away from Leathercraft. Brown, who succeeded Schronce at Leathercraft, will now fill his spot at Century. Brown already has endured some ribbing about whether he will next follow Schronce into the ministry.
Hickory Springs has not yet filled Houston's post as national manager for motion hardware.
Houston and Schronce both said their wives should be commended for their personal commitment and sacrifice.
"It is going to be quite a lifestyle change," Houston said, "but the Lord works in their hearts too."
| Schronce |
| Houston |
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