SUBSCRIBE NOW

SIGHT

Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

THE INTERVIEW: SCOTT SHUFORD, CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEUR

Scott Shuford

KRIS BATHER talks to US-based Christian entrepreneur Scott Shuford about how God uses him as a ‘dot connector’ and his role within the Christian Comics Arts Society…

Scott Shuford is in the business of connecting people. In 2002, after many successful years of working in the media Mr Shuford launched Frontgate Media as a conduit between businesses and Christian audiences. He has most recently joined the board of the Christian Comics Arts Society as well as founding apparel company, Extra Mile Merchandise. With his interests running the gamut from art to technology to advertising, Mr Shuford is in the unique position of knowing not only how to reach Christian target audiences, but also how to reach them effectively, all the while serving to promote greater awareness and communication between companies with faith-based products or who want to appeal to faith-based consumers. He spoke with KRIS BATHER… 

Scott Shuford

NEW FRIENDS: Scott Shuford and one of his comic book friends.

 

“I haven’t had many things from God be as clear as the fact that when I finished college I would be doing the 3 M’s: Music, Marketing and Ministry to youth.”

FrontGate Media offers a rather unique service. Was there a lot of uncertainty and scepticism initially?
“None at all. To most companies and ministries, we look just like a media publisher, but we’re not. We sound like we’re an ad agency, but we’re not. We started with only Christian Musician Magazine, iTickets.com and Women of Faith’s conferences. We found new and fun ways to create impact through them. Now we are 15 media vehicles, all leaders in reaching the people they reach.
     “I knew how to build something from nothing from my GoFishNet.com days. When I joined that startup in 1997, we had zero subscribers and zero traffic. One year later, we had 80,000 subscribers and were one of the top internet destinations for Christian music fans before we sold to Crosswalk.com. I had the pleasure of designing and building the very first artist web sites for many of the biggest artists in the industry through what is now EMI CMG, Word Label Group and Provident Music Group. I remember sitting in front of the computer watching pre-orders come in for whatever Amy Grant CD and cassette was just about to come out. We kept hitting “refresh” on the keyboard to watch the number of orders go up. It was fun, and it was effective. 
     “Our biggest challenge has been to show how we are different. Over the last seven years, we’ve made that case one by one to show how we can serve any organisation by becoming their intern. We’re the most experienced interns anyone has ever had. We know how to help them reach their target audience through our media group with content promotions, advertorial, and advertising, and more recently with new services including social networking, public relations, and our sister company Extra Mile Merchandise which specialises in merchandising strategy, design and screen printing. FrontGate Media has grown into the largest internet and event group in the Christian market.” 

Was it always your aim to use your gifts in the business world?
“Absolutely. I haven’t had many things from God be as clear as the fact that when I finished college I would be doing the 3 M’s: Music, Marketing and Ministry to youth. It’s kind of a funny story in that I was given the Alpha Al Sirat Award in 1989 by the School of Business at San Jose State University. Each year, the award is given to one outstanding male and one outstanding female graduate from the School of Business. I bet I was the only recipient to ever receive that award and then do temp jobs for the next six months. My peers went off to the big electronics and tech companies in Silicon Valley, California while I stuffed envelopes and answered phones for six months. 
     “In hindsight, God validated my schooling with the award, and then he wanted to school me in the church. From graduation in 1989 until I took a job working for Frontline Records; in 1991, I temped, then worked for Wells Fargo Bank in the mornings and managed the music department for a Berean Christian Store until closing. It was easy work for me, and it gave me time to really pour into the Bible, into fellowship and into serving through the Jr. High Ministry at South Hills Community church. His mission for me has grown from that time to expand beyond music and beyond youth, and now we serve just about every major organisation with a desire to reach the Christian consumer, but as I headed toward the completion of my Business Marketing degree, and prayed for how God wanted to use my skills, I just couldn’t imagine doing something only for the salary; something that didn’t involve passion.”

What has been your most valuable lesson as an entrepreneur?
“Have an idea. Wait to have it again. If it still seems like a good idea, try it. Don’t have it all figured out. Don’t wait to perfect it. Make a plan and do it. If it serves an audience well, if it generally makes sense, DO IT.”

Do you believe Christians are generally using emerging technologies well?
“The Christian market is generally years behind any emerging technology, though there are always a few people that God has early on any scene and moving forward in any particular area. Generally though, Christians are not early adopters.” 

How has God surprised you the most in your business ventures?
“Amazing partnerships and initiatives with organisations I’ve never heard of before. When we first started in 2002, I would never have imagined being the number one Emedia Partner for World Vision. Whether it is on the campaign side or the media vehicle side, I am consistently reminded that I don’t know everyone there is to know. Right now I’m particularly excited about microfinance through OPtINnow.org, comix from Dust Comics, and Family Research Council’s Stem Cell Initiative. I’ve only gotten to know these folks in the last four months or so.” 

“A few years back I felt God calling me to serve in a couple of areas: film/tv and comics. That was funny because I have a background in neither one. Now I have the privilege of serving on the advisory board for the Biola Media Conference, and more recently with Christian Comic Arts Society.”

What’s your role within the Christian Comic Arts Society and what do you hope to bring?
“I’m excited to have been asked to join the governing board. I served previously in 2007-2008 on the marketing committee. In 2007, I was the panels director for the massive Comic-Con International San Diego. God did an amazing thing there at the Comic-Con. I had two panels to set up: one on ‘Spirituality in Comics’ and another on ‘Christian Comics’. I went in thinking that the spirituality panel would be the lesser of the two panels. I felt like it was something we had to do in order to keep doing the “big” Christian panel. I had it all wrong. God led an amazing discussion between Holly Golightly, a witch; Miriam Libicki, a comics creator with an Israeli background; Christine Kerrick a mainstream Christian comics creator and Doug TenNapel, a very “out of the box” Christian creating various comics and television properties. It was another lesson in God’s agenda.
     “I’m a dot connector. That’s my gifting. I hear about what one person or organisation is doing and I am able to find or already know three other people or organizations they should connect with. A few years back I felt God calling me to serve in a couple of areas: film/tv and comics. That was funny because I have a background in neither one. Now I have the privilege of serving on the advisory board for the Biola Media Conference, and more recently with Christian Comic Arts Society. 
     “I see a real potential for growth in fellowship and output for Christians with an interest in comics, both for professionals working in the comics industry and for fans. People involved with comics have passion. I am passionate about passion. I want to see those people get connected and then see what God can draw out of them (pun intended!) Comics is not a massive money maker for most people, but their impact has bled over into film and television in the last several years, and meanwhile graphic novels have increased significantly in sales here in the U.S. while they are already a mainstay in other parts of the world. I am learning so much about the potential in this area. God has amazing people doing amazing things that I am finding out about through the CCAS Network. Much of the world is better able to receive the Gospel message in the visual format of comics than in either a traditional Bible or through a preacher. I think God is only just getting started in this area. We’ve already seen the CCAS network fellowship grow to over 400 members, many from outside the US. There are new things brewing. It’s going to be an exciting next couple of years watching what God puts together. I hope to be able to catch His wave and enjoy the ride.” 

~ FrontGate Media: www.frontgatemedia.com
~ Christian Comic Arts Society Social Network: http://christiancomicart.ning.com

 

Donate



sight plus logo

Sight+ is a new benefits program we’ve launched to reward people who have supported us with annual donations of $26 or more. To find out more about Sight+ and how you can support the work of Sight, head to our Sight+ page.

Musings

TAKE PART IN THE SIGHT READER SURVEY!

We’re interested to find out more about you, our readers, as we improve and expand our coverage and so we’re asking all of our readers to take this survey (it’ll only take a couple of minutes).

To take part in the survey, simply follow this link…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.