Workplace visit Archives - Malyon Workplace

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Supporting people with disabilities

Welcome again to?Wednesday Workout. ?This week, we are pleased to welcome a new blogger to Malyon Workplace – Jennifer Cavanough. Jennifer is excited about the prospect of talking to different people about how their faith works out in their occupation. ?In her first Wednesday Workout, Jennifer had a chat with Sue, a consultant working in the challenging area of disability support.

I interviewed Sue (a pseudonym) who works as an education consultant in the area of disability support, helping teachers meet the needs of students with disabilities in the regular classroom. Her work covers a broad range of students including those with severe and multiple disabilities through to students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, autism etc.? Sue is part of a support team that works in schools in response to requests from Principals.

7 things pastors should teach those on the marketplace

In this article.?from the 9Marks blog, Lukas Naugle comments that pastors who:

‘… seek to teach biblically about marketplace dynamics [will find] it is helpful … to deepen …?[their]?empathy and broaden?[their]?understanding of the vocations represented in [their] congregation.”

So with that in mind, he suggest seven guidelines for pastors who want to teach those who are called to the marketplace:

Teach them how Scripture informs their work
Teach them to fear the Lord
Teach them to pray
Teach them that their ultimate worth isn’t found in their performance
Teach them they are more than ‘useful’ to their local church
Teach them that they’re not inferior to pastors and missionaries
Teach them to love what they do, and to do it well.

You can read the full article here.

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Fruitfulness in the workplace as a lactation consultant

Welcome to our third Wednesday Workout.? In this series, we are listening to Christians in different occupations/professions describe a little of how they work out what is means to life out their faith on their workplace frontline.

For this post, I interviewed Mary (a pseudonym) who works in a major provincial hospital as a lactation consultant.? Mary?s role requires her to have regular interaction with new mothers and a range of medical professionals.

Murray: ?So Mary, there must be many times in your job where you experience significant satisfaction. ?When do you get the deepest sense of satisfaction and joy from the work that you do?

Mary: ?Knowing that you have a real and positive impact on someone else?s life gives me the greatest satisfaction.? It may not be just solving a physical issue associated with breast feeding but a fuller intervention.? What I mean by that is, I try to acknowledge and reassure the person all the time.? For many women, particularly when they are feeling quite vulnerable having just had a child and being unsure if they are ?doing it right?, a hospital and the whole medical experience can be quite intimidating.? [Read more…] about WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Fruitfulness in the workplace as a lactation consultant

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Following God’s Design as an Environmental Scientist

This is the second in our new series of posts –?Wednesday Workout.? In this series, we are investigating how Christians in different occupations/professions work out how their faith and work integrate ? what it means to be a whole-life-disciple for Jesus on their workplace frontline.

In this second post, I interviewed Nat Parker, an environmental scientist working for an NGO described as, ?? a community-based, not-for-profit organisation helping to build a sustainable community that cares for and values the natural resources and biodiversity of [the local region], and that recognises the impact of personal and collective actions on the environment.?

Murray: ?????Nat, tell me a bit about your role and the times when you feel most fulfilled in your work.? When do you get the deepest sense of satisfaction and joy from the work that you do?

Nat:?????Well, I work in environmental management where I support people to make changes to land management practices with the goal of improving environmental conditions.? Being responsible for funding projects from government grants means equity and fairness is important and, while there are rules that must be followed, I enjoy working with people individually and taking into account their personal circumstances when developing projects.? [Read more…] about WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Following God’s Design as an Environmental Scientist

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Following God’s Design as a Mechanical Engineer

We?re starting a new series of posts this week entitled Wednesday Workout.? In this series, we are investigating how Christians in different occupations/professions work out how their faith and work integrate ? what it means to be a whole-life-disciple for Jesus on their workplace frontline.

For this first post, I interviewed “John”, a mechanical engineer working for a company developing high end solutions for the global mining industry.

Murray: ???? John, tell me about the times when you feel most fulfilled in your work.? When do you get the deepest sense of satisfaction and joy from the work that you do?

John:???????? I lead a team of about five engineers in developing new products and finding innovative solutions to problems that our customers bring to us.? When my team is in the middle of an exciting project and we are in the design phase, that?s when I really enjoy my work. [Read more…] about WEDNESDAY WORKOUT: Following God’s Design as a Mechanical Engineer

Six Ideas on How to Lead Congregations to Integrate Work and Discipleship

“Most Christians do not have a theological framework that accommodates the integration of faith and vocation. Many are even hostile to the idea. They are more comfortable with a life that is not integrated, compartmentalizing work and discipleship. Any attempts at integration feel like intrusions into their private lives. Worship is viewed as an escape from ?secular? concerns. And let?s face it, if we really pursue integration, we will discover uncomfortable things about our lives.”?

Michael Kruse shares six ideas for pastors who want to help their congregations integrate their faith and their work more effectively – to be whole-life disciples:?

Confess your insecurities and be open to learn
Get curious – as theological questions
Go to work – start with five members of the congregation and join them in their workplaces
Preach with awareness – use workplace stories as sermon illustrations
Foster a movement – start work/faith conversations in your faith community
Institutionalize?? find ways to incorporate work and discipleship into the life of the congregation.? [Read more…] about Six Ideas on How to Lead Congregations to Integrate Work and Discipleship

God@School – Language Arts

John Van Stolen often preaches about the workplace and specific vocations.

If you are, or know someone who is, a language arts (English) teacher, you might like to pass this link on to them – make sure you have a listen yourself first! It will give new and encouraging perspective on teaching grammar, writing and communication.

I wasn’t ‘expecting’ that! – a visit to an ante-natal clinic

I visited my friend Helen (name changed to protect the innocent!) in her workplace recently ? the ante-natal clinic at the local hospital where she is a team manager and patient consultant.

I was there to drop off some resources for her home group including the DVD, Life on the Frontline – and what a frontline she has!

I was thinking that I would pop in, find out where Helen?s office was, sit down and have a cuppa and a quiet chat about the joys of working in an ante-natal clinic for half an hour or so.

But that was not what happened!? As I rounded the corner (being careful not to head left to the gynecological clinic), I was confronted with expectant women and bemused husbands on all sides.? [Read more…] about I wasn’t ‘expecting’ that! – a visit to an ante-natal clinic