Ministry @ Work
Jose Zeilstra grew up in a church that focused on sending people oversees to share the gospel. "The feeling was if you're a true Christian, you go into full-time ministry; the business world wasn't a place for real believers," she says. Jose admits she rebelled against this mindset, eventually reaching the position of vice president at J.P. Morgan Chase. But it wasn't until she read Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner, a book in which Briner argues that Christians should be salt and light in all arenas of life, that she finally realized her career was a legitimate calling from God. "The first time I spoke publicly about my faith was for Fortune magazine," she says. "In the business world, it doesn't get more public than that." She connects her two worlds by attending and speaking at Bible studies and workplace seminars in Manhattan, as well as meeting regularly with a Christian mentor and a group of spiritually like-minded CEOs.
Angie Tracey's revelation came at a women's event. "I'd seen the value of the National Prayer Breakfast and other prayer gatherings when I worked in Washington, D.C. So when I started working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, I felt strongly that our agency could benefit from having similar meetings. I immediately started praying God would bring someone to lead them." Then, while at a women's conference, the Holy Spirit told Angie she was that leader.
"I was going to send an e-mail inviting our employees to a breakfast or lunch," says Angie. "I thought maybe I'd have 10 or 15 people respond, 20 if I was truly blessed." She quickly discovered that to use the CDC's e-mail system for this kind of solicitation, she had to establish an employee association. So Angie tackled the detailed forms and the bureaucratic layers typical of an agency with nearly 10,000 employees in 10 states. She prayed every step of the way, and to her amazement, what should have taken a year took two weeks start to finish. The first ever official Christian employee association in the federal government was born.
Within hours of approval, Angie received more than 200 e-mails and phone calls. Six days later, planes crashed into the World Trade Center. She believes God was preparing the agency to handle the extra stress from 9/11 and the war on terror. The first meeting attracted 225 employees; now the CDC Christian Fellowship Group has more than 500 members.
Jose and Angie would be the first to say they're not doing anything special. They've realized they don't have to separate their faith from their vocation; they're missionaries right where they are.
Everything Old Is New Again
Bringing God to work is often referred to as workplace or worklife ministry. Os Hillman, director of the International Coalition of Workplace Ministries, defines it as "an intentional focus on equipping men and women in all spheres of work and society to understand and experience their work and life as a holy calling from God." Os points out that Jesus spent the majority of his life as a carpenter, not as a preacher; 122 of Jesus' 132 public appearances were in the marketplace, and 45 of the 52 parables are set in a work environment.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2007, July/August, Vol. 29, Issue 4, Page 54
Related Topics:
Co-Workers, Ministry, Outreach, Prayer, Work
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Judy
I might be only twelve but that gave me a whole new look at wat Im going to do when I get older and move from my parents home
C.D.
Great article Penny. If we aren't living our faith from morning to night--every day, we aren't where we need to be. I own a construction company in Dallas and as my husband and I drive to our jobs we listen to Christian talk shows and enjoy great discussions. If we are installing a granite kitchen or remodeling a bathroom, we listen to the same stations. Our clients often comment on what we are listening to -- this opens doors for us to share our faith. If you do your work unto the Lord then you care enough to do the best job and believe me your clients, boss, coworkers notice. But best of all Christ knows. We never lack for work and make the best friend every where we go.
Randy
It's a little tiring to keep hearing Christians say that we need to witness without beating people over their heads with the bible. The fact is the gospels contain many more examples of Jesus sharing the word of God with people as a witness than it does of Him acting in a way that might make them realize He was God's witness. You are sadly mistaken if you think that people are just going to start asking you about Jesus and how to be saved because your life is such a shining example of goodness. This is not to say that you and I cannot be more and more Christlike as we continue to love, trust, and obey Him throughout our days on this earth. However, witnesses overwhelmingly speak the Word to other people (Peter on the day of Pentecost, Paul in Athens, etc.) because this focuses people on Jesus instead of them and the flaws that they will inevitably see in us if they look hard enough. In Jesus, there are no flaws! Ministry inevitably includes words and actions that lead others to Him.
Mira
Thank you for sharing your life journey Penny. I can relate so well with your experience.. and with the article. I run a business and my daily activities are to promote the business and the products to other people or to potential business partners. There were times when non business people and Christian friends thought that I was too materialistic - most of them still believe that money/business/profit & christianity can't live hand in hand. But I believe in work/business ministry. Truett Cathy of Chick Fil A is one of the example. I'm confidence that God has used my business as His instrument to touch more people out there and to Glorify His Kingdom. Those people that I met through business are the ones that have developed themselves to become Christian Leaders. Giselle - business world is awesome. My Christian Leader friend - who's a business women too said - involve God in your business decisions - negotiation, transaction etc.. you will not go wrong, bcoz God is right.
Kim
I am a nurse and many times have soooo many demands on me that I lose sight of Jesus in the midst of all the chaos! I am working on figuring out how to keep Him first and foremost in my mind so I can maintain peace while I am working a million miles a minute trying to meet everyones needs at once. I don't want to keep letting the devil suck the joy out of me! I plan on taking scripture cards with me to keep handy at all times- not just for me but to share with patients and co-workers. Any more suggestions?
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