Faith & Business

with Dr. Jamie Houser, Marr Eye Center

What is your business and what do you do?
I work at Marr Eye Center, where we specialize in complete eye care. I’m an optometrist, so I see patients for routine care, contact lenses, treat infections & glaucoma, and all other things dealing with the eyes. The owner and my colleague, Dr. Marr is a surgeon, so he does all those things, plus performs cataract surgery on many of our patients.

How would you advise someone new to the business world who is also a faithful Christian?
I consider it important to balance your beliefs and sensitivity of others’ beliefs; by that I don’t mean to compromise what you believe, but just to be sensitive that some of your clients/patients might believe something different. That’s definitely a difficult thing to do, and to balance out. I think just  stay true to what you believe and put that into how you run your business, as well.

One of the highest values of Christian faith is love. How do you show love to your co-workers, clients, and others in the community?
I try to show love by showing respect to each patient that walks in the door. I try to be sensitive to their eye-care needs, because that’s my God-given ability, but to also respect and value them as a person, and as an individual.

What principles should distinguish a Christian business?
I believe the way you treat people [should distinguish a Christian business]. As Christians, we’re aware that we are all equal created in God’s image and equal in value to Him.

How do you keep God at the center of your heart?
I am very involved in my church, which just helps keep me focused in the right way on God. Being with other believers, surrounding myself with other Christian people who have the same beliefs really helps. Then, I just try my best to stay in His word, remember His teachings, and trying to apply those in my everyday life.

What do you do in your spare time outside of work?
I have two small boys and a husband, so I stay really busy with my family. We are involved in our church at Central Baptist and the Parents of Preschoolers Class. All of that keeps us busy, but we do enjoy spending time with friends, being outside, and just playing with our little boys!

Do you feel it is important to tithe the money businesses and yourself earn?
Yes, I do consider tithing to be important, because the things that we earn, the things that we’re given, are not truly ours, so I do think it’s important to give back. The percentage and the place is a personal decision between you and God, but I do think that’s a very important role with business, but also personally.

Any great causes you like to give to personally outside of church?
We have a son, our oldest, who has Down Syndrome. We are very involved financially and physically in the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley.

Find Dr. Houser and Dr. Marr at Marr Eye Center. To make an appointment or find out more information visit marreyecenter.com online.