All opinions expressed are those of the writer.
A common misconception among American Christians is that in order to do ministry in the place you work, it must be in the job description. The truth is, ministry is not a specific vocation or a position. It is a lifestyle that God wants to develop in you. According to a website dedicated to aiding Christians in closing the gap between their faith and their work, “ALL work matters to God. He created mankind in His image to ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it’ (Genesis 1:28). This is God’s mandate to work and create – in short, to do all kinds of work.”
As a young Christian entering the workplace, you can find purpose and excitement in this: you have been given your passions and skills for a specific ministry in one of the world’s largest mission fields – the modern workplace.
This prompts a common question among young, working Christians: “How do I make my workplace my mission field when it is nowhere in the job description?”
Here are 5 practical ways to make your workplace a mission field:
1. Where everyone is looking to get ahead, look to serve instead.
In the professional world, service is not often glamorous, but it is always Christ-like. In Mark 10, we are told that Christ did not come to be served, but to serve those around him.
2. Build intentional relationships with your co-workers.
See your co-workers for who they are: made in the image of God. Get to know their stories and lives. Invest in them as individuals. Jesus was always busy listening to and loving people before anything else.
3. Focus on the good you can do, instead of the bad you cannot do.
Christian are often known by all the things we do not do, but a more powerful testimony is being known for the evidence of something different in you. Dan King, author and editor of the workplace blog, The High Calling, shares his story, “People noticed my attitude being guided by things like love, joy, peace, and patience.” He goes on to say that this opened a conversation to lead one of his co-workers to Christ.
4. Pray over your company and co-workers.
Never underestimate the power of praying over your place of work. Pray for salvation, but also for a Christian community to join you in this place of ministry.
5. Prioritize eternal prizes over earthy titles.
Lastly, do not lose sight of eternity. Your job is temporary, but what you do there can be eternal. The workplace is an urgent mission field that desperately needs young Christian professionals making a difference. At the end of your life you will not hear, “Well done my good and faithful, CEO, boss, executive, manager, or president.” but, “…Well done my good and faithful SERVANT…” (Matt 25:23).
At Passages, our hope is that the college students who complete our program by learning about the roots of their faith, traveling to Israel, and continuing to engage with us upon their return home, would be better equipped for what God has called them to do vocationally.
If you’re a Passages alum and are interested in connecting with the alumni community—hard-working, talented leaders such as yourself—we’d like to invite you to join the Passages Leaders Network, a place where you can learn, connect, and grow spiritually and professionally with like-minded people.
Learn more about ministry in the workplace:
“Your Workplace Is A Mission Field,” by Catherine Gates, Workmatters. https://workmatters.org/your-workplace-is-a-mission-field/
“What If Your Workplace IS Your Mission Field?” by Dan King, The High Calling. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thehighcalling/2015/04/what-if-your-workplace-is-your-mission-field/