Thu, March 28, 2024

Faith Friday: Like a Good (Thy) Neighbor: One Insurer Ensures Purpose Before Profit

Eddie Bussey can tell you, he’s heard God’s voice. In 2001, Eddie Bussey – State Farm, was a fledgling enterprise. It was a low point in his personal life as well. He says he belted an anguished cry. Almost as instantly as in the biblical story of the Saul-to-Paul conversion, he made a promise to God.

“I was under so much pressure and the momentum was not what I wanted or to be for the business,” he said. “I found myself praying out loud by myself in the office late one night. In that prayer, I yielded this business to God and I told Him that I was relinquishing to Him what was rightfully His from the beginning. At that moment, almost instantly, I felt a burden lifted. I told Him that I would only be his instrument for Him in His business from that day forward.”

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He hasn’t looked back.

As the Damascus Road experience propelled the Apostle Paul to do God’s will, Bussey says he began to provide the products and services offered by State Farm with purpose – not profit – in mind.

(Courtesy www.christianity.com)

He took his prior decade of experience as a claims representative and also claims team manager, and combined that with his dreams of entrepreneurship.  While he struggled for the first six months after starting his own agency, things shifted when he took matters out of his hands and placed them in God’s.

“I started my business because I wanted to help people protect themselves from everyday risks. We put our clients first and make sure their needs are met to the best of our ability so they are educated. We try to ensure an insurance experience of excellence. I tell those close to me and my team that even though my name is on the sign, the true owner of this business is God.  He has created it and provided for it every single day since its inception.”

This billboard on Gordon Highway is one of three Eddie leases in the CSRA. Photo by Monique Williams

The native Augustan, who’s married with two teenage daughters, says he saw God’s provision even more during the pandemic. That global crisis catapulted his services that include: Auto, Home, Life, Disability; Business Insurance; banking products, and more. It was a game-changer not only financially for the agency owner, but also spiritually for his clients.

“Over Covid, I personally saw a 20% life insurance sales increase during the most intense of Covid years of 2019-2021. I attribute the increase to people feeling like they needed to be ready for a worst-case scenario. Having their spiritual and financial needs in place. There was a deeper examination of their eternal placement in life and coming in alignment with their ultimate place,” he recalls.

It’s that kind of long-lasting impact Bussey says he wants to be his legacy. So much so, he’s not ashamed to share his faith with clients, believing that illustrates his belief and reliance upon Christ as his savior. He calls it ‘winning souls’ for Jesus, a message that spans generations.

Every team member received a bouquet for Valentine’s Day as a token of appreciation.

“We are now serving the grandchildren of some of my early clients and it is such an unexpectedly awesome experience. I treat my team members like family. We are creating a legacy right in our local community, continuing to be one of the longest-tenured and one of the largest minority-owned American businesses in the CSRA.”

Eddie Bussey – State Farm Agent is located at 2613 Tobacco Rd., Hephzibah, GA. The business services the Peach State and the Palmetto State. You can learn more by calling (706) 772-9800 or visiting eddiebussey.com.

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