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People Matter Ministries

Our Vision Maximizing Your Fingerprint of Potential

Our Strategy Changing lives through writing, speaking and coaching

Why We Exist
We only get one life. What we do with it — as individuals, churches and organizations — matters for eternity. Too many well-meaning people live their lives without realizing their God-given potential. They may find a form of success, but it's an achievement that has little or no eternal significance.

Your life matters. Your church and organization matter too. A hurting world is desperately in need of men and women who are saying yes to a cause that is greater than themselves.

People Matter Ministries exists to help individuals and organizations define, discover, develop and deploy their God-given fingerprint of potential. We believe that, even today, you can discover joy as you find your unique calling. A life-changing and defining moment awaits you. Are you ready to seize it?

People Matter would consider it a privilege to partner with you.

People Matter Videos
	5-minute introduction to People Matter and Dr. Dan Erickson
	2-minute biography of Dr. Dan Erickson

 

Ministries of People Matter
Our History
Meet Dr. Dan and Cathy Erickson
What Others Say About People Matter

Ministries of People Matter

People Matter leads ministries to help all people define, discover, develop and deploy their full potential in Christ.

Writing Dr. Dan Erickson is the author of "Finding Your Greater Yes!" and, with Cathy Erickson, "God Loves Do-Overs." He and Cathy also collaborate on The People Matter Blog.

Conferences and seminars People Matter events are designed to help men, women, singles and couples see their God-given potential and begin to actualize it. Presentations are tailor-made for each audience and are packed with stories about real people who are living out their God-sized dreams. Learn more about options for conferences here.

Coaching People Matter helps men and women gain clarity of purpose, develop a life and ministry strategy and learn leadership and personal growth skills. People Matter also helps leaders in churches and ministries discover and hone their sense of purpose so that they can make the greatest possible impact. Coaching sessions address the keys to building a trusting environment, developing effective leadership and creating systems that will foster spiritual and numerical growth. Dan also offers consultation to help churches optimize their ministry to men.

Corporate Chaplaincy People Matter serves men and women in the workplace through corporate chaplains. Chaplains serve people of all faiths (and no faith at all) by helping to meet basic human needs. This program also benefits employers by improving workplace morale. Learn more here.

Our history

People Matter Ministries was founded in 2002 by ministry veterans Dan and Cathy Erickson. Dan, with nearly four decades of church and parachurch leadership experience, and his wife, Cathy, decided to pursue their dream of helping people realize and actualize their full potential in Christ. Based in Lee's Summit, Mo., Dan travels the nation sharing a visionary, biblical and application-oriented message that is awakening individuals, churches and organizations to God's unique calling on their lives. He is also a regular speaker at his home church, where he serves on the pastoral board, and in the ministry of Teaching God's Infinite Wisdom (TGIW).

Dr. Dan and Cathy Erickson

 

Dr. Dan and Cathy Erickson are the founders of People Matter Ministries. They speak, lead and live out of a life of personal experience forged by the Scriptures.

Dan has spent nearly four decades in ministry out of a conviction that people matter to God. He has a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree in ministry. Dan has nearly 40 years of leadership experience, including executive and pastoral positions in four dynamic churches. He has served as executive vice president of the Northwest Graduate School Doctor of Ministry program and as national director of denominational and parachurch relations with Promise Keepers.

Dan also served as executive director for the National Coalition of Men’s Ministries. In addition to his leadership of People Matter, Dan serves on the Board of Elders at Lee’s Summit Community Church in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He is the author of "Finding Your Greater Yes!" and, with Cathy Erickson, "God Loves Do-Overs."

Dan and Cathy have been married nearly four decades and have two children and seven grandchildren.

What Others Say About People Matter

“I strongly recommend Dan Erickson in character, competence and contribution. Dan was the relationship engineer who helped glue the National Coalition of Men’s Ministries together. And he is my friend.”

Patrick Morley, Author
"Man in the Mirror"

“Dan is a leader who can inspire and practically lead a person or a group to reach their goals and enjoy the process.”

Dr. Douglas Weiss, Executive Director
Heart to Heart Counseling

 

“People Matter Ministries has what it takes when and where it counts to help you and your organization reach your God-given potential.”

Marty Granger, President
Faith in the Family

“Few men have the capacity to know exactly what to look for, where to find it and understand with absolute clarity what needs to be done. Dan Erickson is one of those men.”

Chuck Stecker, President/Founder
A Chosen Generation

Words of praise from readers and conference attendees

Dan,

It was privilege to see you speak this past weekend in Maine. Your message was great and I find your intellect and approach for what God wants for us and our lives refreshing! I just wanted to say thank you for your ministry and for your commitment to others. God has blessed you with a gift that is rare. Your ability to engage the listener is beyond reproach.

I bought your books and haven't set them down yet. Great stuff. I was inspired by your words and your questions and can't wait to read the other book. Thank your wife for all her support. I have been blessed by her commitment to our God as well.
 
For God Is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name in that you have ministered to the saints" (Hebrews 6:10).
 
Thank you once again.
Sincerely In His service,
 
Aaron Parker
Calvary Bible Church
South Hiram, Maine

Dear Dan:

The Greater Yes Conference was a great encouragement in taking a step of faith. The Lord had laid upon my heart a burden for adolescent girls. Many times I tried to step out but the Lord was not ready. Although my heart burned to do what he called me to do, there was not a true peace and things went wrong. When I heard Mr. Erickson speak at my church, I knew I had to attend the conference.

Upon that first step through the doors I knew that something different was going to happen. After listening to Mr. Erickson, I knew that after 11 years it was time for me to step out of the ‘little yes’s’ and into my Greater Yes. Not knowing what was next, I sent to my full-time job my letter of resignation. That very next night, I received a phone call asking me to meet with the director of Teen Challenge, where I had been working part-time. That Monday afternoon I was asked to come on full-time, also a step of faith for this ministry. God had opened the doors and I had stepped through without knowing what was next. The path is still not clearly laid out, but I know that I am on the right path. I am at peace and my faith grows daily. I have known for 11 years what my Greater Yes was to be, but I had to be able to have patience and faith in God’s timing before it was to come about.

I can only say that when He calls, take the step. I heard many people say, ‘Wait until you have money in the bank or wait for insurance, stay with the security.’ My only reply is that today I am more at peace and the happiest I have ever been since I trusted His call in my Greater Yes.

Linda Staley

Dear Dan,

I have to tell you what a blessing “Finding Your Greater Yes!” has been. I am a free-lance curriculum writer and I often receive resources that my editors think might be helpful. Your book was a part of one of those boxes of resources. I started reading it and then began sharing portions of it with my wife. God used the book to speak to us in a powerful way. As a result, we started using it devotionally.

We read a section of a chapter each morning as part of our time together. It is amazing how God has put the words on the pages of your book that address our specific needs that day. I have since directed others to your book because I think God can use it To inspire and encourage those who are seeking to serve God through their lives.

As an educator, I see great potential in the biblical principles in your book. I have written Bible study curriculum for several high profile authors, but none of their books have spoken to me the way yours has. I have had the privilege of writing the study guides for John MacArthur’s new book, “A Tale of Two Sons”; Max Lucado’s “Facing Your Giants” and “3:16”; Billy Graham’s “The Journey” (all 48 lessons and the leadership materials), Patsy Clairmont’s “I Second that Emotion,” and others. I say that to let you know what a difference your book has made.

Thank you for letting God work through you to change the lives of me and my wife. May God richly bless you as you continue to be successful at what really matters in life!

Sincerely,
Terry Hadaway, Ph.D.
Tennessee