Navigating the Fog: How a Deer Stand Revelation Guided a Business Through the Pandemic

In the unpredictable landscape of business, especially during unprecedented times like the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders often find themselves grappling with uncertainty. For Craig Penland, President and CEO of Eurolink Fastener Supply Service, a moment of divine clarity in a deer stand provided the unconventional direction that not only saved his company but propelled it to new heights.

Eurolink FSS, a company specializing in hard-to-find metric fasteners, has a unique origin story rooted in faith. Craig, who didn't embrace faith until later in life, experienced a pivotal moment in 2009 during a period of intense business struggle. Hitting his knees in desperation, he asked God for guidance, and within two weeks, a former customer called, offering to buy all their stagnant inventory. This miraculous turnaround, a $40,000 sale that led to consistent growth, marked the beginning of Craig's journey to truly see his company as God's, with himself as a steward.

Stewardship Put to the Test: The COVID-19 Challenge

This stewardship was put to the ultimate test in 2020. As the world grappled with the pandemic, businesses everywhere faced immense pressure to cut costs, reduce staff, and hunker down. Eurolink FSS was not immune; while Q2 saw a surge in demand for medical equipment fasteners, Q3 was flat and Q4 brought a significant 27% downturn in sales. Despite this, Craig had steadfastly refused to reduce anyone's pay or hours, maintaining his commitment to his employees.

During his annual deer hunting trip between Christmas and New Year's, Craig found himself in a familiar place of prayer, seeking divine wisdom for the daunting challenges ahead. He knew that if the 27% decline continued, something drastic would have to change. It was in this quiet moment that God revealed a powerful, counter-intuitive strategy.

The NASCAR Vision: Divine Guidance to Accelerate

“All of a sudden, I had this picture of a wreck at a NASCAR race,” Craig recounts. Intrigued, he later researched NASCAR driving tactics. He learned that when a wreck causes a cloud of smoke that engulfs the track, spotters will often tell their drivers to “hit the gas harder and go straight through.”

Craig felt a profound peace as he began to understand the message: “If I'm hearing you correctly God, you're telling me to hit the gas harder and go straight through this smoke.” This was a direct contradiction to conventional business wisdom, which screamed caution and contraction. Yet, Craig felt an undeniable conviction.

Acting on this divine instruction, Craig returned to the office in January and, to the astonishment of his team, gave everyone a raise. He then embarked on an ambitious expansion plan. He contacted friends in the community, seeking a real estate agent and a trusted general contractor to help him build a new facility. He invested in health insurance for his employees, provided laptops for remote work capabilities, and pursued every improvement he had envisioned for the company's future.

“My staff, my wife, my friends, and family, they thought that I was absolutely crazy to move forward with that,” Craig admits. But he held firm, trusting the direction he believed God had given him. His wife, despite her initial reservations, supported him, saying, “If that’s what God is telling you, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Breakthrough and Blessing: Results of Radical Faith

The results were nothing short of miraculous. In 2021, sales rebounded significantly. By 2022, Eurolink FSS achieved its best sales year ever. This bold move laid a robust foundation, culminating in the company moving into its brand-new, larger facility in August 2023, with ample warehouse space to accommodate future growth. As of this writing in 2025, sales are up an astounding 55% over the previous year, a direct testament to the “hit the gas harder” strategy.

Craig's experience offers a profound lesson for Christian business leaders: true stewardship sometimes means embracing unconventional, faith-driven strategies that defy worldly logic. It requires a deep connection with God, a willingness to listen, and the courage to act on divine guidance, even when it seems counter-intuitive. His story is a powerful reminder that when God leads, the path through the smoke can lead to unprecedented growth and blessing.

Action Steps for Christian Business Leaders

• Prioritize Daily Time with God: Carve out dedicated time each morning for prayer and Bible reading. This direct connection is crucial for hearing God's voice and receiving specific guidance for your business.
• Embrace Biblical Principles in All Transactions: Lead with humility, integrity, grace, and love. Your employees and clients will observe how you handle challenges, and your Christian witness will either be strengthened or compromised.
• Seek Godly Counsel and Mentorship: Surround yourself with faithful men and women who can offer prayer, support, and wisdom. Also, be open to mentoring others, sharing your experiences and pointing them to biblical truths.
• Trust God's Unconventional Wisdom: Be prepared for God's directions to sometimes contradict conventional business advice. When you feel a clear leading from God, have the courage to step out in faith, even if it seems “crazy” to others.

Craig Penland's journey through the pandemic is a compelling narrative of faith in action, demonstrating that when we surrender our businesses to God and follow His leading, even in the midst of a global crisis, He can turn challenges into opportunities for extraordinary growth and glory.