How to become a “Workplace Friendly” Church 

Adapted from  an article by Os Hillman 

Things a pastor and local church can do to mobilize men and women to see their work as a calling and ministry from God. 

Here are some ideas and strategies on how to become a workplace ministry-friendly church: 

1. Establish a team of intercessors to pray for workplace believers, businesses, and pray for God to raise up a strategy of ministry to workplace believers in your church. 

2. Present examples of workplace transformation to your church to inspire personal application in different types of workplace environments. 

3. Preach sermons related to workplace applications. Form a team of workplace believers from different vocations to give input on the type of sermons that should be preached to address the felt needs of those in the workplace. 

4. Start an on-going workplace ministry/outreach that mobilizes your entire congregation into the workplace. 

5. Preach a series of messages on the priesthood of all believers in the context of work. Preach on the five-fold ministry in Ephesians 6:5-9, study it and preach out of its pure context. 

6. Reinforce that each person’s call is equal in the site of God. (This does not mean church leaders are not the spiritual leaders and shepherds.) Affirm workplace believers that their call is equal to vocational ministries. Understand the problem that often separates workplace believers from church leaders. 

7. Avoid addressing or favoring only those “in business” or those with influence. Equip and train the whole work force for ministry in the workplace. Be inclusive of the entire congregation including mothers, students, executives, construction workers and professionals. We often isolate the masses by this emphasis and our language. 

8. Affirm workplace believers through church commissioning services focused on the church recognizing and confirming their calling (vocation) in a formal way. 

9. Provide discipleship opportunities for your people. Several workplace ministries offer online devotions.  

10. Read the most important books on the movement and make them available through your church bookstore. Click here for a list of the top books (insert hotlink here).  

11. Begin a small group ministry in the workplace. 

12. Establish a team of intercessors from your church who are willing to go into businesses and pray for the leaders of those businesses. Their role is to go into different businesses to help discern issues in the business that may be hindering God’s blessing upon the business. 

13. Place a workplace emphasis on your missions or outreach giving budget in order to focus your church in this area. You can also support workplace ministries of your choice that equip men and women in the workplace. 

14. Begin to teach and equip your people to see their work as a ministry through preaching, teaching and equipping.  

15. Invite guest speakers on Sunday or mid-week to address the faith and work issues, to introduce them to the movement and their unique calling to their vocations. 

16. Once a week spend a few hours with one member in his place of work. Get a feel for the struggles and opportunities the workplace provides.   

17. Teach a theology of work to your young people so they do not have to relearn God’s view of work. 

18. Allow one or two people each month to stand up and share a brief testimony on how they experienced God’s presence in their workplace. 

Contact TCAW today to train and equip your church for the ministry MOST CHRISTIANS don't even know they have.

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