Jack and Pete Herschend knew from the start that they should be accountable to Christ in their business. Both men were in their twenties when they sat down on the log bench behind Silver Dollar City's Wilderness Church in 1960 and had what Pete called "a board meeting."

"We were baby Christians," Pete said, "but we decided we needed to look our Lord in the eye in terms of our business and do our best. That's where we coined the term, 'Making decisions with Christ in the room,'" he said.

Jack is quick to point out that they haven't always made the right decisions, yet they've made some good ones over four decades. The Herschends built a world-class entertainment enterprise, operating in three states, with more than 5,000 employees. The flagship properties are located in Branson, Missouri. Silver Dollar City shines the brightest—a theme park that attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. Nearby is the paddlewheel showboat, The Branson Belle, and Whitewater, a popular water park. Out-of-state theme parks include Dollywood in Tennessee, and Stone Mountain in Georgia. Last year, more than 8 million people visited a Silver Dollar City attraction.

The Herschends are blessed by news of people's lives being changed. This often happens after Young Christians Weekend. Pete says, "A youth leader called to report, 'I had five kids who accepted the Lord on the way home.' When you think about the opportunity—900 kids made a commitment to Christ during the weekend—that's awesome. That's what Silver Dollar City was built for."

The financial success of Silver Dollar City definitely turns heads in the business community, especially when other professionals learn the Herschends don't compromise their faith.

"You can put Jesus first and run a successful business," Pete said.