Many professionals spend more time at work each week than at home or at church, making it their prime mission field. Many companies, however, expect employees to leave their moral compass, faith, and values at the door when they are on the job. This challenges working Christian professionals to be true to the tenets of their faith, love of God, and love of neighbor, and bear the Spirit’s gifts (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23
We believe that one problem facing many American corporations today is that they try to draw a line in the sand regarding “separation of church and company”, much to their own detriment. While this separation is well-intentioned to create a neutral, inclusive work environment, it can and does often result in what can be considered harassment of employees who simply want to join together for prayer or Bible study. With many people now unchurched or not practicing any religion at all, Christians can sometimes turn into de-facto chaplains for their work teams when calamities or tragedies occur. It is not uncommon for the same managers who have actively sought to suppress faith expression in the workplace to rely on strong faith employees to support coworkers during difficult situations or desperate needs. FaithWorks USA, Inc. seeks to make sure these go-to employees are prepared for both when these situations occur and to live their faith in life’s day-to-day work routine.
Our services include:
- Encouraging Christian professionals happens through presence on-site at professional conferences and, by invitation, at in-person and virtual meetings in the workplace. FaithWorks USA missionaries will be present at trade shows and professional conferences, hosting prayer breakfasts and interacting with attendees at booths on the vendor floor. FaithWorks USA representatives are open to visit workplaces to encourage, support, and speak at workplace Bible studies and prayer groups when invited.
- Support for Christians to live out their faith at work is by providing tips and instruction via electronic media channels regularly. Follow us on LinkedIn for regular postings.
- Enabling Christians to live out their faith in the workplace by FaithWorks USA comes in the form of workplace-oriented Bible study materials and other resources. Currently, in development, more information will be coming on these resources soon.
From boardrooms to construction sites, FaithWorks USA missionaries go where called.
- Request an onsite visit from a FaithWorks USA missionary
- Speak at a corporate event,
- Encourage a prayer group or Bible study (in person or virtually),
- Lead a tailgate talk, or
- Speak at a corporate retreat or company picnic.
FaithWorks USA, Inc. encourages Christian Professionals to live out their faith in their workplace with 5 tips: Love, Piety, Network, Kindness, and Celebrate.
Tip #1: Love
Love God and love neighbor (see Matthew 22:37–39). Often in the workplace, the former is easier than the latter. Always and unwaveringly be true to who you are: a child of God. Work environments can be stressful places with stressed-out people. Workplaces can be anger-filled, joyless, and love-less if the people choose to allow it to be so. First and foremost, choose to love.
Resolve to treat others with the respect and courtesy that is deserving of someone Jesus would go to the cross for (because he did). Be known in the office as someone who treats others well and never gossips or goes behind someone’s back. When people are choosing to be bitter or angry, they choose not to participate. Choose love!
Tip #2: Piety
Live out your faith in such a way that others know you are a Christian. It is okay to bow your head and silently say grace before a meal in the lunchroom. It is okay to decline to participate in bar hopping or other forms of nightlife with your co-workers after hours or on work trips. Sure, the ‘party crowd’ may have a thing or two to say about you, but the positive consequences of piety will significantly outweigh the negative in the long run and overflow from your workplace to all facets of your life (See Titus 2:11–14). If a co-worker teases you that Jesus drank wine and partied with sinners, commend them on their biblical knowledge and ask them what Jesus said about repenting while eating with those same sinners! (See Luke 5:31-32.)
Tip #3: Network
Make friends and acquaintances with other Christians at work. If allowed, meet for prayer and/or study. Remember that Christianity is a team sport, and it is a lot easier when you are sitting on a full bench. Sure, there will be denominational differences between you and your Christian workmates, but these very differences can be a way to learn about each others’ traditions and grow. You may never know the importance of a network of fellow believers at work until you need each other.
Tip #4: Kindness
Colossians 3:12 says: “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (NIV).
In your workplace, express love with kind acts and words. However, do so in a way that you cannot be accused of flattery, bribery, or ‘brown nosing’. Become known at work for being that person who always remembers simple things like birthdays and Administrative Professionals Day. Be occasionally spontaneous with muffins and donuts. When a co-worker is in mourning, be the thoughtful person who has a few condolence cards in a desk drawer on stand-by for the team to all sign. Praise success in public and correct others in private. Few people have ever been professionally reprimanded for being too kind.
Tip #5: Celebrate
Traditional Christian holidays are when the Christian faith shines; celebrates properly. Many workplaces have observances of holidays, even if they now refer to them in vague and general terms. Respectfully participate in a way that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ within the bounds of what your work allows.
In some places, the annual celebrations can be crude or include traditions that do not reverently respect the spirit of the season. If you find yourself in a position where the ‘holiday party’ or gift exchange makes you uncomfortable, politely choose not to participate. If someone asks why you feel this way, be prepared with an honest and diplomatic answer such as “I find the presents people bring to the gift exchange a little offensive” or “those parties are a bit too wild for me”.
Try to avoid self-righteous answers such as “That’s not how I celebrate the birth of my savior!” Answers like that can be a stumbling block to witnessing. The objective here is, to be honest in a way that makes other people think and opens, not closes, doors to conversation.
