Malyon Workplace

Your Work Matters to God, But Does It Matter to the Church?

Gaye Clarke, a nurse, asks the tough question!? She concludes her article with this comment:

“What if the church came alongside the factory worker or teacher at a secular school and said, ?What can we do to help you offer your company a better product or help your students achieve better grades? In other words, how can we?the local church?help you make Christ?s blessings known far as the curse is found??

Read the full article here from the Gospel Coalition.

An ‘aha’moment! – a reflection from Sam Jackson

sam jackson.jpegSomething very simple had a profound impact on me recently. I had finished preaching about work ? about making good work ? about working as if you were working for Jesus (Colossians 3:23,24). And I asked everyone to stand and to face the place that they would be at that same time (10:57am) tomorrow. Literally 360 degrees ? all parts of our city ? were ?faced.? But it wasn?t that sight that impacted me most of all?

It was the realisation that these 250 people would encounter literally thousands of people in the next six days ? people who would NEVER set foot in a church building. People who have little to no understanding of Jesus and His gospel. People who don?t own bibles. People who don?t pray?or do pray, but to no one in particular. People in desperate situations. People without hope. Literally thousands of people. People who I hoped would come one of these Sundays?.wait a minute! [Read more…] about An ‘aha’moment! – a reflection from Sam Jackson

Discipleship in the marketplace – Edmund Chan

edmundchanEdmund Chan is coming to speak at the Queensland Baptist’s annual convention in April 2015. ?Great to see he is already well tuned into the missional opportunities in the marketplace as outlined in this article.

In summary, Chan identifies three?paradigm shifts that need to take place for the marketplace movement to flourish:

1. ?From marketplace to mission -??Where do the MAJORITY of men and women spend the MAJORITY of their time interacting with the MAJORITY of the lost world?” At church? NO. In the neighbourhood? No. It is in the workplace. It is the place where most Christians spend most of their time.?? [Read more…] about Discipleship in the marketplace – Edmund Chan

Making good work

This short YouTube video from Rightnow Ministries humorously but powerfully illustrates the importance of making good work as a precursor to effective evangelism. ?

“When to go public with faith at work”: Redeemer Centre for Faith and Work

Bethany Jenkins from the Redeemer Centre for Faith and Work posted this excellent reflection on the sharing faith in the marketplace. ?Following is a summary but you are encouraged to read the full article here.

How easy do you find it to let your colleagues know that you are a Christian let alone speak to them about Jesus? ?As Jenkins points out, for many of the people we work with, “…??believing in a God-man who was raised from the dead is tantamount in some people?s minds to believing in Santa?it maybe an innocent delusion for children, but it?s a foolish, or even dangerous, conviction for adults. Such a perspective often makes it hard for Christians in … to be open about their faith.”

Drawing on the experience of Israel and the exile to Babylon, Jenkins argues that we need to develop an ‘exilic mindset’ – citizens of Babylon, aliens and strangers rather than living in Jerusalem with all its comforts and familiarity. ?This means:

?Fruitfulness on the Frontline? ? a six week course for equipping whole-life disciples

Fruitfulness on the FrontlineOur friends at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity have done it again!

They have just released a resource package that will without doubt be an outstanding success and a critical resource in helping Christians to be fruitful on their frontlines – workplace or elsewhere.

Full details of the package can be found here but in summary: [Read more…] about ?Fruitfulness on the Frontline? ? a six week course for equipping whole-life disciples

When should I, can I, go public about my faith at work?

This question or similar ones come up frequently in some our Transforming Work sessions, e,g:

  • What does appropriate Christian witness look like in the workplace?
  • When should I tell people I am a Christian?
  • How can I tell them without putting them off or unnecessarily jeopardizing my position in the organisation?

Bethany Jenkins on the Gospel Coalition website offers some thoughtful biblical reflection and practical advice about making your faith public in the workplace. You can read the full article here.?

Her theological reflections take us back to my favorite public servant – Daniel in the context of what it means to be an exile (living in Babylon and not Jerusalem) and how we can ‘…seek the peace and prosperity of the city.’

I really appreciated what Jenkins calls “Five Guidelines for Balance: [Read more…] about When should I, can I, go public about my faith at work?

30 ways to bless your workplace

The following suggestions as to how you can bless your workplace come from this website.? It is interesting to notice how many of these very practical ideas for engaging people in the workplace involve food!

The workplace is an everyday?context where many people spend the majority of their time. It is important for us to know what it looks like to?bring gospel intentionality to our jobs. Hopefully this will help spark a few ideas for connecting with and blessing your coworkers.?

  1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.
  2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.
  3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.
  4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.
  5. Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.
  6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.
  7. Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.
  8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks.
  9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.
  10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.
  11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.
  12. Find others that live near you and create a car pool.
  13. Offer to throw a shower for a co-worker who is having a baby.
  14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.
  15. Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (don?t be selective on the invites).
  16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.
  17. Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a soda/coffee while you?re out.
  18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.
  19. Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.
  20. Visit coworkers when they are in the hospital.
  21. Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in your break room for coworkers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.
  22. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.
  23. Find out your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if?suitable for work).
  24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.
  25. Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.
  26. Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.
  27. Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.
  28. Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.
  29. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.
  30. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.