In ‘Iron Forums,’ Two Black Women CEOs Find a Faith Community

December 8, 2025

Iron Forums is a faith-based peer community established in 2003 that brings together Christian business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives who seek fellowship while navigating the challenges of leadership. The organization, named after a biblical proverb about mutual strengthening, provides a supportive space where members can integrate their Christian faith with their professional roles without apology. Leaders like Chrissy Thornton, CEO of Associated Black Charities in Baltimore, and Dr. Frances "Toni" Draper, CEO of AFRO News, have found the organization transformative in helping them balance their spiritual beliefs with business responsibilities.

Who is affected

Christian business owners, entrepreneurs, and "solo-preneurs"
C-suite executives and organizational leaders who are people of faith
Black leaders, particularly Black women in leadership positions
Chrissy Thornton, CEO of Associated Black Charities in Baltimore
Dr. Frances "Toni" Draper, CEO and publisher of AFRO News
Members of the newly formed Baltimore Women's Forum
Women entrepreneurs participating in Baltimore chapter meetings
Associated Black Charities and its coalition of grassroots humanitarian organizations

What action is being taken

Iron Forums is facilitating peer community meetings for Christian business leaders
The organization is forming new groups, with thriving groups in Atlanta and more forming elsewhere
Chrissy Thornton is serving as facilitator of the newly formed Baltimore chapter
The Baltimore session is conducting meetings using Iron Forums curriculum and "snapshots" self-assessment processes
Dr. Toni Draper is advising the newly launched Baltimore Women's Forum
Ben Abell is facilitating Iron Forums groups as a retired pastor and business executive

Why it matters

Leadership roles often create isolation, particularly for individuals who face additional barriers such as racial minorities in predominantly white executive spaces. Iron Forums addresses a critical gap by providing a supportive community where faith-driven leaders can authentically integrate their spiritual beliefs with their professional responsibilities without compartmentalizing these essential aspects of their identity. For leaders like Thornton, who had historically kept faith separate from work, the organization offers transformative opportunities to reconsider how religious values can inform and strengthen leadership practices. The emphasis on supporting the "whole woman—mind, body, spirit, family, and business" recognizes that effective leadership requires balance across all life dimensions, not just business acumen.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle