Florida Businessman Says Deaths of Colleagues Led to 'Economic Meltdown' Study Group

A Central Florida entrepreneur -- who says financial problems caused four of his colleagues to take their own lives in the last 15 months -- has started a local study group to help businessmen grow both personally and spiritually during America's economic meltdown.

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, one of Central Florida's largest retail leasing and management firms, was already leading a men's Bible study when he made the decision to begin using the book How to Survive the Economic Meltdown.

Written by Dr. Patrick Morley, How to Survive the Economic Meltdown offers 35 spiritual and practical strategies to survive and grow during this recession. The book offers ideas not only for those who are struggling but also for those who want to avoid going off track financially. Morley is also author of the critically acclaimed book The Man in the Mirror, which was named in "100 Christian Books that Changed the 20th Century."

"I have been involved in men's Bible studies for close to 20 years, and I have never seen anything like this," Crossman explains. "We had about 7-8 guys in our group. Then we sent out a simple e-mail announcing that we were starting a Meltdown study, and we had over 30 men sign up."

Some who attend Crossman's study are navigating successfully through the financial meltdown. For them, the group provides both personal, spiritual encouragement and a way to support others.

For example, noted restaurateur Kim Lopdrup, President of Red Lobster, with $2.8 billion in sales, has encouraged four friends to attend. Lopdrup explains, "I knew several people who had lost jobs or were experiencing other challenges, who I thought would benefit from participating."

With bleak economic news arriving every week, some experts are now suggesting that it may be years before we see an end to the meltdown. Crossman says that he will continue his group ... in any economy.

"The economic situation is just the beginning," he concludes. "Men are struggling with their marriages, health, relationships, and their view of God. We want them to know that we can help them, and this book was a great entry point into their lives."

ABOUT DR. PATRICK MORLEY

In the 1980s, Patrick Morley was one of Florida's top real estate developers. Then came the economic meltdown of 1986 -- Morley would spend the next seven years of his life successfully fighting off a multi-million dollar bankruptcy. He went on to become the best-selling author of The Man in the Mirror, with more than three million copies distributed around the world, and head of an international ministry to men and their families, also called Man in the Mirror. This ministry has directly affected the lives of nearly 10 million men worldwide.