Recently on the Kern Pastors Network blog Aaron Brockmeier reflected on his own foolishness. Moving from a very dark time in college to a saving encounter with the Gospel, there was still something missing:
When I heard the gospel of Jesus, it was like fresh water, reviving my soul. The campus ministry that shared Christ with me was a wonderfully refreshing light in an otherwise dark and difficult season of my life. Although this college ministry provided a solid foundation for me to learn God’s Word, I only heard about the great need for workers in the church and missions.
When he left college and became an engineer, this separation between his church and his daily work continued:
During this time of my life, I cannot recall a sermon, a book, or a meeting with a leader that challenged me to consider my work in engineering as a call from God to be lived out in faith. The biblical guidance I received, in terms of my faith at work, was limited to how to lead workplace Bible studies, or how I should save, give, and spend the salary from my job. Although I served with competency in my job, I never received a verbal affirmation for living out my faith like I did for my service at a local church.
Brockmeier later entered full-time church ministry, yet for a long time never thought that he needed to feed others with what he had missed being fed with himself.
I failed to intentionally develop a philosophy of ministry that integrated faith with one’s work. I had philosophies for marriage, family, church, missions, etc., but none for faith and work.
Now in his seventh year of full-time-church ministry, and after numerous experiences that have brought home the point on a personal level, Brockmeier has vowed to teach his congregation more about the Biblical integration of faith and work. What would you like to hear from him? How do you wish your church was more helpful to you in your everyday workplace struggles? Comment below….we’d love to hear from you. And be sure to hop over to KPN and read Brockmeier’s whole story. As a bonus, can you guess what famous Christian said this?
“Some persons have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live for God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible women…Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God.”
Image: “Faith” by Jay Williams, used under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In