When the Dallas Cowboys ran on the field Monday night for their nationally televised matchup with the Washington Redskins, the Cowboy’s Chaplain John Tolson had already prepared the team for the battle.

Today, hundreds of companies from one end of the country to the other use the same type of support and encouragement, workplace chaplains provided by Dallas-based Marketplace Chaplains USA, to provide help, hope and care.

While every NFL team has a team chaplain which helps the players prepare for their weekly game, more cutting edge businesses are using the strategic innovation of Marketplace Chaplains in their regular workplace battles.

“We just didn’t want to support those (employees) with our voice, we wanted to put feet to that commitment. That’s what our chaplains do,” said North Dallas Bank CEO Mike Shipman.

In today’s tough economic times, Shipman said the bank is looking at every part of their benefit program to cut down on expenses, but the chaplain program is a vital part of caring for their people.

“We look at it as a long-term investment for our people. Any employee can excel in a healthy environment and chaplains help us achieve that healthy environment.”

Today, more than 2,500 Marketplace Chaplains serve in more than 2,400 client locations in 43 states and 4 foreign countries, providing help, hope, love and care to those in the workplace.

Marketplace Chaplains President and COO Dick De Witt underscores Mike Shipman’s words.  “Today’s businessmen and women are finding it just makes good business sense to take care of their most valuable investment, their employees and their family members.

“One of the reasons we have seen such a great growth in companies asking about our services is that life, just like the NFL, is a daily battle, and while piling on is illegal in football, it happens all too often in life. That’s what Marketplace Chaplains are for, to be there for others.”