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Seeking Enlightenment outside of Success and Jewish Background

by Kevin Miller

Profile on: Karen Faith Heller, Co-owner of CogMotion, a software technology firm.(scroll down for a detailed bio)

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Having grown up in a traditional Jewish family with several relatives who had suffered “in the name of Jesus” during the Holocaust, it’s no surprise that Karen Faith Heller wasn’t too keen on Christianity.

“Jesus is okay for everybody else, but we have God,” was the familiar family refrain. As an adult, however, Karen Faith strayed from her orthodox Jewish roots, steeping herself in Siddha Yoga, Buddhism, and other Eastern traditions. She was searching for the things that united all religions—all religions except Christianity, that is.

Karen Faith’s path toward enlightenment took a bit of a detour about twelve years ago when she met a woman named Anne Holland. Despite Anne’s outspokenness about her Christian faith, they soon became friends. Anne also served as a mentor to Karen Faith, helping to guide her career.

About two years ago, Anne invited Karen Faith to an executive outreach event, this time at a baseball game in Phoenix. Of all the people Anne invited, Karen Faith counted herself as the least likely to accept Christ. And yet, she couldn’t help but be impressed by the Christian business people she met there.

“They are people you want to be like and hang around. They really seemed to walk the talk.”

When they returned home, Anne invited Karen Faith to attend a Bible study at her church. She agreed to go, along with her business partner Raoul Garcia. After a few weeks, Raoul confronted Karen Faith about her poor attitude toward Christ.

“He turned to me one day and said, ‘You are so open-minded about everything in your life, but you are so closed-minded about Jesus!’ I was insulted,” says Karen Faith, “but then I realized he was right!”

She pledged to change her attitude, and it wasn’t long before she was getting a lot out of the Bible studies and diving into the truth of Jesus Christ.

Later that year, Anne invited Karen Faith to travel to New Zealand to do a business planning session. (By this time, Anne was on the Board of CogMotion, a software technology firm Karen Faith and Raoul owned.) Karen Faith liked the idea so, together with some of their business associates, they took off.

About three days into the trip, Anne wanted to go to church, so she found one nearby that they could attend. At the close of the sermon, the pastor asked the congregation to close their eyes. Then he invited anyone who wanted to accept Christ to raise his or her hand. It was at this point that Karen Faith finally decided to give Christianity a try. Still not entirely sure what she was getting into, she was brought up to the front and congratulated by the entire congregation for her decision.

Not content to merely make a statement of faith, Karen Faith also wanted to get baptized. She and Anne arranged to have it done in the hot tub at the bed and breakfast in which they were staying. When Karen Faith came out of the water, the first thing she saw was Anne crying.

“I remember thinking, ‘Anne really buys into this, but I don’t feel it.’ I was just stepping out in faith,” says Karen Faith.

It wasn’t until Karen Faith got back to Dallas that the guilt hit. By accepting Christ, she felt she had betrayed her family, her faith, and her heritage. In her heart, she believed she had done the right thing, but her conscience wouldn’t leave her alone. Then Karen Faith met a woman whose father was a Messianic Jew. Perhaps he could help, she said.

“Messianic Jew? What’s that?” Karen Faith asked.

The woman offered to send her some books that could answer her many questions.

When Karen Faith received the books in the mail, she devoured them immediately.

“As I read them, the light bulb went on,” says Karen Faith. “The message of the gospel was for the Jews, but our eyes were blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles (non-Jews) could come in. I finally got it! ”

Eager to learn more, Karen Faith got in contact with a local Messianic Temple. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the people dressed in traditional Jewish clothing and singing praise songs to Yeshua (Jesus). Finally, the gap between her Jewish heritage and her newfound faith in Christ had been bridged.

Karen Faith has not looked back since. Jesus is front and center in everything she does, including the way she and Raoul run their businesses. (In addition to CogMotion, they also own WayCoolPeople, Inc. an executive search firm.)

“We’ve changed from focusing on basic business to focusing on Kingdom Business,” Karen Faith says. “God is our Chairman. He directs everything we do, and the change has been dramatic.”

Has your Jewish heritage hindered you from accepting Jesus? Perhaps it’s time you reconsidered his claims in light of your tradition. If you would like to accept Jesus as your Messiah, we encourage you to pray the following:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person you want me to be.

Is it the desire of your heart to make this prayer yours?

If yes, pray now and according to his promise, Jesus Christ will come into your life.

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about this article or about the Christian faith.

Bio of Karen Faith Heller

Karen Faith Heller is the Co-Founder, and CEO of CogMotion, Inc. (www.CogMotion.com), a leading-edge software technology startup, founded in Y2001, developing "Virtual Librarians" for the effective use, management and collaboration of real-time information.  CogMotion's applications span Patent Management, Customer Support, Human Resources, Research, and Marketing.  Her 20 years of experience in corporations, entrepreneurial ventures, technology and telecom sales and management, strategic planning, marketing communications, training, human capital and organizational development enable her to bring enthusiasm, vision and value to this fast-growth venture.  Ms. Heller utilizes her corporate experience from IBM, ARC, and GTE/Verizon, and combines that with startup experience in her own entrepreneurial ventures, WayCoolPeople, Inc. and Creative Marketing Strategies.  Her client and industry expertise spans technology, telecom, retail, healthcare, legal, and energy.

Ms. Heller founded WayCoolPeople, Inc., (www.WayCoolPeople.com), a Strategic Resource Planning, Executive Placement and Executive Coaching enterprise specializing in the High Tech and Telecom arenas in Y1999.  Her background in sales, marketing, and organizational development enabled her to establish WayCoolPeople as a strategic “talent” consultant to emerging-growth companies.  WayCoolPeople has placed entire “teams at a time” into fast-growth companies to facilitate immediate productivity.  Ms. Heller works in partnership with client executives to create strategic resource plans and identify ideally targeted Executives that bring high value to their enterprises.  Ms. Heller founded her WayCoolPeople business as a “leap of faith” and through her success encourages other entrepreneurs and individuals to achieve their dreams by identifying and following their business and career “passion."  WayCoolPeople's “Lead the Millennium” program teaches executives skill sets in connected leadership to enable them to gain a competitive advantage. 

Ms. Heller learned corporate strategic planning skills early in her 12-year career with IBM.  During her career with IBM, she served IBM Headquarters to launch IBM’s Telecommunication’s division; managed, advised and instructed IBM's marketing education classes, managed the Technical Marketing Communications activities for IBM’s Scientific and Technical Computing Center and was successful early on in sales and marketing for the Texaco Account team and the Process Industry.  Ms. Heller developed the Las Colinas territory for Alternative Resources Corporation from 1994-1997, closing the largest worldwide technical project implementation deal in ARC's history.  GTE/Verizon hired Ms. Heller to create a sales and marketing strategy for their National Accounts Program during their CLEC launch, managed several National Accounts, and assisted the CLEC President of Strategic Accounts by managing the creation and implementation of the National Healthcare Program rollout with Premier, Inc.

Ms. Heller is active in several professional, networking, and charitable organizations and sits on the Board of the Executive Council of Thompson DBM Corporation.  She holds five IBM “100% Club” awards, IBM Executive awards, two ARC “Super Pro-Club” Awards, Las Colinas BPW “Young Careerist” award, and ABI's "Woman of the Year" award in Y2002.  She graduated from Leadership America's Class of 2001 and Leadership Texas' Class of 2000 and is listed in Who’s Who of International Entrepreneurs and Who’s Who in International Executives and Professionals Y2000-Y2005.  Ms. Heller was highlighted in Today’s Dallas Woman Magazine and the World Business Review for her bright spirit, entrepreneurial talent, and boundless energy.  Ms. Heller is currently in the process of launching "WayCoolAngels" a charitable organization focused on bringing technology and services to start-up ministries.

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