Meet Connie Chatham of J.O.Y Cleaning in Acworth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie Chatham.

Connie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It was December 21st, 2015. Suddenly, I found myself a single mom of two precious children. And not only a single mom, but a stay at home mom reeling from loss. Yes, I had a college degree, but what good was that really going to be after so many years out of the workforce? Bewildered and grieving, I cried out to the One who has always been there for me, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I cried, “Jesus, how will I provide for my 11 and 12-year-old children? How will I pay the mortgage? How will I put food on the table? My God had proved His faithfulness over the past 35 years of my life and through a supernatural faith, I KNEW He would do it again. I have always been a huge believer in praying specific prayers. The Bible tells us we have not because we ask not. So ask I did. Specifically. I asked for two things, enough money to cover the bills and flexibility to be able to be there for my kids whenever they needed me. With God’s help, I mustered up the strength to put on a smile for my kids to celebrate Christmas.

Once the holidays were over, I knew it was go time. I prayed my guts out. The in my closet floor, on my knees kind of praying. My friends and family were worried. They stood in awe however, as I did not share in their concerns. God gave me a faith that was indescribable at that most difficult time. I had a strong assurance that God would provide. You know what they say about the faith of a mustard seed? Well, as I prayed, a still, small voice reminded me of the lady I knew from church that owned a cleaning business. “Call her and ask if she needs help cleaning,” I perceived the voice inside my heart to say. So I did. Her response confused me. She said, “I do not have a job for you, but I have an opportunity.” “An opportunity?” I thought. “What is she going to do, try to rope me into a multi level marketing business. I had a mortgage to pay, kids to provide for!! Who has time for that?!” I thought. But with my interest peaked, I set an appointment for her to come over to my house and hear her out. That day came in early January of 2016. She sat in front of me, an angel with skin on. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “When you texted me about a cleaning job, I had just told my husband 20 minutes prior that I wanted to shut down the cleaning company. I want to focus on raising my two-year-old son.

We think God wants you to have my business”. Have the business??? What in the world is she talking about??? I’ve never owned a business. I know nothing about the cleaning industry. She already had four employees at the time. Where would I even start? But I knew this was God’s answer to my prayers. This is what He was preparing me for. So over the next week, I shadowed her, paying close attention to her every move, absorbing as much knowledge as I possible could. She was ready to hand the business over… right away. The phone rang. She told me to answer it. I answered it, “JOY Cleaning, how many I help you?”. When I hung up, she said something I will never forget. She said, “it is not JOY Cleaning. It’s J.O.Y Cleaning. It stands for Jesus first, others second, yourself last. Never take Jesus out of this business”. I walked out that day, notebook and phone in hand. J.O.Y Cleaning was mine, no, actually J.O.Y was God’s. He was the owner and I was merely the CEO…

Has it been a smooth road?
And so the journey began. There is nothing about a cleaning company that is smooth sailing. Service businesses are hard. But how worth it they are! Over the next few years, I dedicated myself to learning every aspect of my new business. Finding great employees is challenging. Growing a business and getting your name out in the area is challenging. But every time I’ve felt discouraged, I remember Who brought me this business. And I pray. And I remember never to leave Jesus out of His own business.

And every time, He’d come through. I’d pray before every interview. I’d pray for each customer. I’d pray for work to come in when the schedule was empty and my employees needed work to feed their families. And little by little, God has grown us. So much so that by 2017, it was apparent that I couldn’t handle the business alone and would need an office and an office staff. Once again, the Lord provided. As Jesus said, “He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.” – Luke 16:10. God has certainly honored the faith-filled prayers I cried out to Him in my closet that Christmas season of 2015.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Today, J.O.Y Cleaning is a thriving and well-known residential cleaning company. We have the great honor of serving hundreds of customers a year in Cobb, Paulding and Bartow counties. What sets us apart is that we TRULY care about each of our customers and each of our employees. We pray for them. We thank God for them. What am I proud of? “I do not boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Galatians 6:14. Oh, and I can pay my bills and I have been there for every single moment of my kid’s lives. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” – Ephesians 3:20.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
YES and YES!!!! The community we live in is a family-centered, close knit community that places a high value on small, locally owned businesses. We would not be where we are today if not for the wonderful and loyal people in and around our service area.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joycleaningcompany.com
• Phone: 770-272-3210
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/joycleaningcompany

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