The Gospel at the Workplace

Matt is a big-shot accountant for the Government, his designation made him dreaded by all, one day a random stranger walked into his office and said to him “Follow me”. Matt thought to himself “Who could this be?” “Follow you where?”. To everyone’s surprise he followed this stranger.

Pete, Drew, Jim, and JJ were work buddies. They worked in the same business and were always on the 7pm – 5am shifts, for a while now, business was unusually slow, targets were not met, causing them to be discouraged and on the verge of quitting when the same stranger approached them saying “You now have new targets”. This man doesn’t know what’s happening they taught to themselves but they obliged him thinking “we are doomed anyways”

These two stories will make sense, stay with me.

In the 21st Century, sharing the gospel has become increasingly unpopular, those who are bold enough to defy this popular social construct are said to be “invading people’s privacy and constituting nuisance”. Corporate environments are not exempted, it is an unspoken rule in many work environments that your faith is a private affair never to be aired.

The stories above are my idea of what Jesus calling Matthew, Peter, Andrew, James, and John will look like today. He met them at work. This is all the proof we need to know that sharing the gospel at work is right and can be effective; in fact, we are positioned in our workplaces by God’s supernatural wisdom and plan as gifts.

Our response to the strategic positioning that God orchestrates should always be kingdom-aligned. Our desire to move up the corporate ladder, should not be for self-aggrandizement. Our fulfilment cannot stem from secular achievements. We must seek to be kingdom influencers and agents of salvation.

Should the gospel be preached in the workplace?
Absolutely! Knowing that work environments have policies that may not encourage sharing the gospel by traditional means. The God who has given us this mandate is also able to supply us the wisdom, strategy and creativity required to achieve our aim without being non-compliant.

How then can it be done?
Before you say the first word, let your light shine, the willingness to share the gospel also brings the responsibility of being an example of the message. Our work must be outstanding in excellence. Although professional excellence is not exactly the gospel that we preach, success and excellence are attractive, and they come with some influence which can be a leverage for the gospel. In our conduct and speech there must be grace, integrity and love. We are not allowed to be shoddy about our work or character.

Furthermore, it is important to sow seeds of prayer; we must intentionally pray for specific people that we’d like to see won over for Jesus. Your workplace may stop you from being publicly vocal but they cannot stop you from praying for the people without needing to let them know.

Finally, we must be vigilant for opportunities and openings, creatively taking advantage of them. It could be a lunch hour discussion, an opportunity to invite someone out, a subtle message that you can include in your presentation, a chance to help a colleague even outside the office premises. We must be on the look out and ever ready with the message of the gospel.

Generally, the workplace is usually deemed a secular space often left to activities towards earning a living, we must think differently; We must be conscious of the need to spread gospel because

“The best gift you can give to any person is to secure their place in heaven; secure their destiny in eternity.” – Pastor Emmanuel Iren.

There are so many people to be reached and God supplies the required boldness and strategy once we decide to rely on him.