Integration Of Faith and Learning:
Responsibility Assignment
1
Liberty University
Integration of Faith and Learning:
Responsibility Assignment-
School of Business, Liberty University
Jared Klevens
Integration of Faith and Learning: Responsibility Assignment
Marketing management can be overwhelming, intimidating, and sometimes scary for
people, especially if they are new to an industry or a marketing position. As we read in Joshua,
we can assume that is how he was feeling when God commanded him to lead “all these people,
get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them. (New International
Version, 2011, Joshua 1:2). As he was set to take the place of Moses, he felt as though he wasn’t
fully equipped, which caused him fear and a lack of faith. However, as Christians, we have
learned that when God commands or mandates us to follow his word and lead, our fear should
Integration Of Faith and Learning:
Responsibility Assignment
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subside and our faith should grow stronger. This is exemplified in Joshua 1:9, where God
commands Joshua to be courageous and strong, and not to be afraid or discouraged, for the
Lord your God is with you. As we venture into the world of marketing, we should heed God's
word and trust that He will not lead us astray.
In Joshua 1:9, God provides clear guidance and direction, reaffirming that he will be successful
wherever he goes when he walks with the Lord. We also aim to maintain this same affirmation
as we descend into the world of Marketing Management. As we have learned, marketing
management is all about innovation, segmentation, positioning, targeting, and building loyalty
(Academic and Business Research Institute, 2008). With this, we must remember that no task
or assignment is too big for us when we follow the path that God has set before us.
If you have ever stayed in a Marriott-branded hotel, you will have noticed there is a copy
of the bible and a copy of the Book of Mormon. This is due in part to the fact that in 2016,
Marriott purchased a smaller hotel brand named Starwood and hundreds of Bibles and the Book
of Mormon (Relevant, 2018). This was in part due to the owners of the Marriott brand being
members of the Church of Latter-day Saints and their desire to provide guests who are not
digitally connected with the ability to read and have these two books of faith available
(Relevant, 2018). They took a chance, knowing that many guests who frequent their properties
are not religious, but let their faith and belief in God guide their decision. This isn’t to say that all
of Marriott hotel brand carry a copy of the Bible or Book of Morman; there are some chains and
locations that the ownership does not require the property to place this material in the rooms;
this is due to the location and or due to “hundreds of decisions made about the look and feel of
the brand, and how a room will be outfitted with different amenities.” (Durban, 2021) The
decision to place religious reading materials at some of their properties and not at others allows
Integration Of Faith and Learning:
Responsibility Assignment
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them to meet the needs of all their customers. Which, from a marketing standpoint, is the
whole point.
It is unfortunate that Marriott must resort to legal protection to maintain the tradition of
placing religious materials in hotel rooms (Relevant, 2018). However, in marketing management,
there is always a challenge in deciding on how to prioritize the impacts of decisions on
customers. (Marshall & Johnston, 2023/Chun & Davis, 2006) It seems as though Marriott is
being like Joshua and not being discouraged or terrified, but instead following what God has
informed them to do, and with the protection that is afforded from the law, it makes the
decision to keep placing Bibles and the Book of Morman in hotel rooms an effortless choice;
continue to do so and trust in God.
References
Academic and Business Research Institute. (2008). Journal of management and marketing
research. Academic and Business Research Institute.
Durban, D.-A. (2021, April 21). Holy nights: New Marriott Rooms To Get Bible, book of
Mormon. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/a81def375dba4b7ebcbef2b5daff1d43
Marshall, G. W., & Johnston, M. W. (2023). Marketing management. McGraw-Hill Education,
pp. 7
Relevant. (2018, August 27). The Marriott is adding the Bible and The book of mormon to
300,000 new hotel rooms. RELEVANT.
https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/themarriott-is-adding-the-bible-and-the-book-of-
mormon-to-300000-new-hotel-rooms/
Rosa Chun and Gary Davies, “The Influence of Corporate Character on Customers and
Employees: Exploring Similarities and Differences,” Journal of the Academy of Marketing
Science 34, no. 2 (2006), pp. 138–47.
The Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.
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Responsibility Assignment
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