What in the World is God Doing?
September 22, 2008
By Kent Humphreys, Worldwide ambassador for the Fellowship of Companies for Christ International. Kent was a member of the Business as Mission Issue Group at the Lausanne 2004 Forum for World Evangelization. Read the Business as Mission Lausanne Occasional Paper (.pdf).
Kent Humphreys Today the church of Jesus Christ is facing perhaps its greatest challenge since Christ’s resurrection. And unfortunately, the only institution that can seem slower to change than the government is the church. On a given Sunday only 17% of the population attends church in the United States, closely following the pattern of Europe. Yet, the Spirit of God is creative and constantly doing new things among us in Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere. So the question is: “What in the world is God doing today, and what does he want us as leaders to do?”
I want to look at briefly at just one area where God is obviously at work in our day - The Workplace.
For the last twenty or thirty years we have seen God moving among his followers in the workplace, just as the church in many countries appeared to become more institutional. While many churches invited the “lost” to come in, many also seemed to keep members “inside and busy with programs,” except for occasional activities out in the community or around the globe. Although mission trips are more common than ever, many churchgoers continue to compartmentalize their lives into “the sacred and the secular”. The “priesthood of the believer” is preached but not always practiced. When Christians get really “spiritual” it’s sometimes assumed they’ll give up their regular job (and in some cases their relationships with the lost) and go on the staff of a church or para-church organization.
As marketplace organizations attract, train, and release workers back into the workplace to model Christ and live out their faith in their professions, some have found resistance from churches. What’s missing is a sense of trust between the church and workplace organizations, that efforts to equip Christians for marketplace ministry would actually give leaders back to the church, increase giving, produce more leaders, and open the doors to those who do not know Christ.
Will God have to bring a spiritual earthquake to get our attention?
While hundreds of workplace organizations have sprung up in the U.S. alone, until recently many of those organizations didn’t dialogue with the local church. I’m encouraged by the growing, healthy conversation that I see happening around the world between the church and workplace organizations. These conversations among leaders are allowing them to learn from each other and listen to each other, leading both groups to lay their control issues on the altar before God. My book (Shepherding Horses) encourages workplace leaders to build these bridges with their pastors and work together to reach their cities. I believe that when we get leaders out of their “silos” into the areas of the marketplace, education, government, arts, media, and the church, coming together in Kingdom unity, emphasizing relationships and community, then we will see transformation in our cities.
In a recent survey in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas, USA it was estimated that the average church budget costs US$25,000 per conversion, while the average workplace chaplain costs just US$1,700 per conversion. It has also been calculated that the average full-time workplace chaplain leads twenty-eight people to Christ per year, while sadly some churches do not lead one adult to Christ in a year. One part-time workplace chaplain led 750 people to Christ over fifteen years – what an amazing impact! Perhaps every church should consider turning a third of their staff into workplace chaplains, providing them free to the organizations in their community.
Jesus always went to the temple and we know the importance he places on the body of Christ, but we must also remember that he spent most of his time in the marketplace, with some rugged workplace leaders and hurting people. My prayer is that leaders in the Body of Christ will come together and turn the focus of our churches outward toward the lost in our cities, and begin to reap a harvest in the greatest mission field in this century – the marketplace.
Equipping believers to share Christ in their sphere of influence at the workplace offers a great opportunity to have a daily impact on those who do not know Christ and on the community as a whole. May we as leaders become equippers and encouragers of believers as they invade their workplaces with the Gospel of Christ.
The Greatest Commandment by Boe Parrish
June 30, 2008
Lord I love you today and pledge my devotion,
And do as you ask to put love in motion.
Show me a need and connect me to others
Who requires a touch from one of the brothers.
Whose hands are clean and heart is pure,
Accepts inconvenience and delivers the cure.
He knows the call and accepts the task,
To model discipleship and do what you ask.
Come along side and love and to teach,
So our new-born believer will soon go to reach,
Another like him whose need is so great,
He must not tarry as time is getting late.
With passion for caring now graphed inside,
He looks and he searches and watches their eyes,
For hurt and for hunger so long been the norm,
The Word placed within to calm every storm.
Living our life and now looking above,
Longing for purpose and distributing love,
Realizing so many need only a touch,
From a compassionate friend that could unleash so much.
Help me remember as we pass through our days,
It’s not about me, and having my way.
But investing our lives in those walking beside us,
With hurt in their eyes, their hope is inside us.
Getting it out and sharing with all,
Is what He requires its part of our call,
Of living and caring and listening to God,
Following his precepts and being a servant to all.
Boe Parrish
Crossing Over into the Market Place
April 28, 2008
Crossing Over into the Market Place
Effective ministry where most people spend the majority of their time
By Boe Parrish
Today is like most days as we all prepare for another day at the office. Planning, thinking, executing, meetings, reports, deadlines, stress, pressures, bosses, co-workers, overtime, etc…Does Jesus really desire to have a meaningful presence in the midst of all of this? Can he breakthrough the corporate veil and touch lives in this setting? Do individuals check their souls at the door when they enter the marketplace? What kind of people would God select to use if he desired to manifest his presence in the middle of our business world? Would the servant in the marketplace wear robes, priest collars, suits, or other religious garb to set themselves apart from others working in the rank and file? Would the preachers that fill our churches be received by today’s work force? Would they be effective in their efforts to bring compassion into the boardroom? There are so many questions concerning the opportunities available in today’s marketplace.
Since we all have everything totally together at home there is no need to have any advice or assistance for marriage relationships, children, finances, health issues, mental or emotional bumps in the road, aging parents, or wayward teenagers, right? There are so many things employees face day in and day out which require wisdom and counsel. So much encouragement could be utilized if we could somehow bring the compassionate presence of our God into our second home…our office. Most of us continue to bottle up the “life issues” we deal with everyday and think I really must get some help with this when I can find a little time to sort everything out. Problem is, that day seems to never come unless there is a crisis which forces us to have to face our giants. We are all very similar in that if it isn’t broken…don’t fix it right? Wrong. If it’s not broken let’s break it and then we can put things back together the right way in a proactive manner verses a reactive manner.
I am always amazed at how many issues we deal with every day. Most of the time we do an admirable job, but what about the few times in life when nothing we do seems to make any difference, and the weight of all the pressures comes pressing in on us? What do we do then? Who can we turn to? Do we visit with our employer? Should we visit with our boss? Should I visit with a co-worker? The ideal person would be someone with years of practical life experience, deep business experience, comprehensive and wise understanding, compassionate heart, listening ears, and faithful hands. Where would we ever find someone with these attributes? The answer may surprise you when you look closely enough. It would be a person just like YOU! You are uniquely qualified to offer encouragement, counsel, guidance, options, and answers to life’s everyday challenges. How, you may ask would I be qualified? Many times you have already walked through the challenges which many of your co-workers are currently facing both personally and professionally. You have survived and even thrived through it all. By taking your life’s experiences and sharing them as the Lord leads you.
God is calling countless thousands back into the very marketplace we have vacated to venture into “full time” professional ministry. I am not knocking that if that is what God is calling you into, but for many professionals turning away from the culture and the people God has around you currently, and moving into a sphere of influence you have never worked or prepared for, can lead to some serious culture shock. Church business is very different from business in the marketplace, as you can only imagine. I realize many professionals are being tapped by the hand of God to work inside the walls of the church…but at the same time there is a huge need of God to have many thousands of individuals remain in the marketplace where the need is so great as well. I have been a minister inside the church walls, and I have served as a corporate chaplain for almost twenty years as well. It is equally rewarding in either role, when we are allowing God to use our gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives of others around us.
I grew up during a season of time where individuals who were preparing for a ministry position and in fact entered a full time church ministry position, were thought less of if they ever ventured outside of that role. Today is so different because there are some very exciting ministry opportunities existing outside the walls of the church. Corporate chaplaincy happens to be one of those positions. If you have a call of God on your life, and are finding it hard to face another church position roll, then a position in corporate chaplaincy might just be perfect for you.
God is invading the marketplace today and finding thousands of individuals hungry for knowledge about God, but may never find their way into the walls of a church setting. Ministry is so much more than sitting inside the walls of a church building and hanging a shingle out on the street. God wants us to go into all the world and preach, teach and baptize in his name. I have discovered a wonderful sense of acceptance and openness among the professionals in the marketplace for the Lord.
Most people enjoy conversations about God, heaven, and the Bible…they just do not want to be judged or condemned by some religious person who has some hidden motive. People love to engage in thought-provoking discussions and expanding their knowledge about the Creator of the universe. Building relationships with people long before any crisis occurs, opens the door of opportunity during the crises of life. Relationship positions us for being at the right place at the right time for people when they need us later. Remember there are two times in life when people need you…when they need you, and when they need you. We must be there when people need us.
Is it possible that maybe the Lord is calling you to a ministry outside the walls of the church, and into the confines of the boardroom? Search your heart and listen to the still small voice of God. You will not go wrong if for some strange reason God begins a movement of caring for the masses right where they work everyday. Is he calling you to a fulfilling ministry career in the marketplace? Only you and God know for sure.
The Aroma
February 21, 2008
The Aroma
By Boe Parrish
Recently I returned from a life-changing ten day trip to
The businessmen in
Through the Holy Spirit Paul tells us in II Corinthians 2:14,15 (NIV), “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
Equally, if I go into a business in
In serving, if I leave the aroma of Christ, then wonderful and fruitful results will occur. By building quality relationships with those around me, I have a much better opportunity to speak about my faith, than if I do so without an invitation or if I am pushy.
How is your fragrance? What aroma do you leave behind? Do you leave the aroma of Christ or some other smell? In II Corinthians
Our goal is to spread the fragrance of life everywhere we go and to every person we meet.
Boe Parrish
Facing Life’s Challenges
February 11, 2008
By Boe Parrish
Nancy, my bride of thirty years as of August 28th, 2007, recently went through one of the most challenging times of her life. I watched as one month the doctors gently shared that they were pretty sure she had ovarian cancer, and the next month where all tests indicated the total opposite probability.
The emotional roller coaster she and I were on was one I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Three months later, once again test results were very discouraging and not giving us much hope. But we hoped against hope and quietly trusted God for whatever outcome he decided was best.
She made comments throughout the ordeal I thought were amazing for someone facing everything she was facing. Comments like, “I somehow hope God can receive some glory through this season,” and “This just can’t be about me because so many others are facing challenges of their own,” and “I just don’t want to make a fuss over this.”
I decided to jot down a few of her thoughts and comments during that season and share them with all of you. You see, none of us are without challenges in our lives. You may not be facing any at the moment, but different seasons of life bring different challenges to learn from.
We decided early on we were not going to ask why, but why not us, why not now, and what do you want to teach us through this? These are much better questions to ask God, and I think he enjoys teaching us wonderful things we would never learn if not for the trials in our lives. In James 1:2-4 it says, “2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)
We received the best possible news after surgery, with all the pathology reports coming back cancer free. But we would’ve been just as okay if they hadn’t, because God had given us great peace throughout the ordeal. I was so proud of the strength and grace Nancy displayed as she walked one of life’s toughest challenges and passed the test!
I gathered many of her thoughts and comments and put them together in a poem which I gave to her before she entered the hospital for her surgery. I wanted to share what I wrote and named as Nancy’s Prayer. It is also posted here on my blog.
This prayer was truly the heart of my bride as she walked through a very low valley last year and with God’s help, sparkled all the way through it. We consider it the highest honor to walk through life with each of you who enjoy this site.