David L. Black, Ph.D., D-ABFT, FAIC, is the Founder/Chairman/ CEO of Aegis Sciences Corporation. Aegis was formed as a Nashville-based small business in partnership with Vanderbilt University in 1990. It has grown into a full services laboratory sciences company with 1,000 team members. Four labs are headquartered in Nashville. Eighteen Ph.D.s, eight Pharm. D.s, and one M.D. are on staff. The company has 2,500 clients. Aegis offers drug-free workplace testing and crimes and forensic services. Its objective is to safeguard its clients’ organizations with the motto: “Trust, Verify, and Protect.” The leadership of Aegis Sciences Corporation exemplifies both internal and external missions initiatives.

Here are Dr. Black’s own words:

     As a Christian who came to faith late in life my perspective on walking with Christ is perhaps more intense. I believe it is essential that every follower of Christ live their life boldly and put their faith values to work in their everyday life. In my for-profit business the Christ call to compassion and fairness has always predominated our corporate policies. 

     Although we ask a great deal of our Team Members we have always been ready to help those in need. I suppose the secular description is “firmness with fairness” but we go beyond just simply “fair”; and our success has been shared with our community through dollars and volunteer hours: we support Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, many veterans support groups and programs that benefit children. In my nonprofit organization we promote Judeo-Christian values by educating Christians on how to spend and donate their money. Both my for-profit and nonprofit organizations are modeled after Living Sent Ministries’ mission of taking Sunday into Monday. In both we wish for employees or members to live their Christian faith and values every day. I believe it a great gift to have the ministry of Living Sent spreading this idea to business people everywhere. Through this ministry we also learn that there are many, many business leaders just needing a little affirmation that this is the right way to walk every day…….an affirmation that Living Sent provides by testimony and action daily. (D. Black, personal communication, December 15, 2015)

     As one can ascertain from Dr. Black’s story, he has a passion for living sent both inside his business [internal missions] and out in the community [external missions]. One of the things that Dr. Black does to honor God at Aegis is a daily e-mail alert to all 1,000 team members. In the alert, God’s Word is shared with team members (internal missions). Employees are encouraged to share their favorite scriptures through the alert. By sharing its success through dollars and volunteer hours, the organization is also operating with an external missions focus.

     2^nd Vote Patriots, Dr. Black’s nonprofit business, helps participants make the most use of their 2^nd Vote (www.2ndvote.com). We cast our first vote on Election Day and we cast our 2^nd Vote every day when we spend our dollars. Whether buying a product, eating at a restaurant, or supporting an organization, we are encouraging people and organizations that may or may not align with our Judeo-Christian values. The 2^nd Vote App scores companies based upon conservative values. 2^nd Vote Patriots is an example of a business intentionally created to make a kingdom difference in the world (external missions).