Partnering for Impact: WI+H Studio & Marquette University Companions in Ministry

Written By Jasmine Whiting

We just wrapped up a transformative WI+H Studio on November 10–11 at Marquette University in partnership with Companions in Ministry.  Leaders from across the region gathered to pray, learn, dream, and collaborate around God's heart for our communities.

Here are a few powerful lessons and takeaways that rose to the surface:

Spiritual Insights based on Jonah’s Story

  • Anger can keep us from stepping into what God wants us to do.

  • God cares deeply about the heart of the prophet just as much as the message they release.

Vision for Our Cities

Participants got to watch a video highlighting the ecosystem of economic change and development God has launched WI+H Founder, Walter Harvey into. This ecosystem was birthed out of his church and features a commercially shared kitchen serving food entreprenuers, a grocery store, a laundromat and a hydroponics program for youth. 

Participants shared that they felt : Motivated • Inspired • Encouraged • Convicted • Ready for action

Barriers to Community Transformation

Our group identified important challenges:

  • Lack of unity and difficulty seeing beyond ourselves

  • Paradigm shifts needed—especially to see business as justice

  • Low commitment and buyin from leaders

  • Questions around finances and capacity

Leadership Development Tools

We explored several practical frameworks:

  • TEC Model for selecting the right people Talent • Experience • Chemistry

  • Driver’s Seat Model (Vision, Resources, Ministry and Management)

  • Encouragement from Isaiah 54:2–3 — “Enlarge the place of your tent…”  a call to expand, stretch, and strengthen for the future.

We are grateful for every person who invested these two days with us. The hunger for unity, business as mission, and tangible community transformation is growing, God is moving.

WI+H Accelerator Fund: Support Business Launches

We’re excited to announce that several of our attendees plan to apply to the WI+H Accelerator Fund, created for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next step in building businesses within their communities as a tool of Biblical justice.

Through this fund, we will be awarding $500 in starting capital to several emerging businesses that align with Kingdom impact and address local pain points. This is an opportunity to turn vision into reality and strengthen the economic and spiritual fabric of our cities.

If you feel called to help launch and support justice-centered businesses across our city, we invite you to partner with us.

You can give to the Accelerator Fund here.
Together, we can empower more leaders to build sustainable businesses that bring hope, dignity, and transformation.

Jasmine Whiting