This post was created by Workplace Ministries, Inc., in collaboration with ChatGPT. For information on Workplace Ministries, Inc., and additional resources, see the information in the bio at the end of this post.
Casting a Vision for Marketplace Ministry in Your Congregation
Many ministries focus on discipleship within the church but neglect to see the workplace as a mission field full of followers waiting to be activated in their faith. We began this blog series by encouraging church leaders to start marketplace ministries in their local congregations. However, the call to integrate faith and work should expand beyond an isolated marketplace ministry with just a few members of this the church. A church-wide marketplace ministry equips all members of your church to see their careers as opportunities for ministry.
Why Church-Wide Marketplace Ministry Matters
Fulfills the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 instructs Christ-followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (NIV). The marketplace is an ideal location for evangelism as believers spend most of their time at work, often building close relationships with their coworkers and supervisors. If someone at work is new to the faith or needs to have their faith reignited, believers are uniquely positioned to plead the cause of Christ in those spaces.
Influences Workplace Culture with Kingdom Culture
Workplace culture can be toxic and chaotic. Egos, politics, and policies can pollute the environment, and no one is exempt from being impacted by these negative influences. In a church-wide marketplace ministry, believers are prepared to navigate these issues to transform their workplace to usher in kingdom influence and culture through intentional action.
Equips Believers to Honor God in Their Careers
Widespread acceptance of the marketplace ministry model among a congregation helps members to recognize that their professions are an extension of their faith in God. Realizing that their work is honorable to God makes it easy to fulfill the directive mentioned in Colossians 3:23 — to “work heartily, as for the Lord” (ESV).
Key Components of a Marketplace Ministry Vision
Christ-followers are not unfamiliar with the concept of faith at work, due to the rise in usage of terms such as “marketplace ministry,” but believers may need encouragement to bridge the Sunday-to-Monday gap. Church leaders can serve their members by regularly incorporating workplace ministry in their mission. Below are key aspects of a thriving church-wide marketplace ministry that aids in this service.
- Teachings on Faith and Work – Sermon series that discuss work as worship can shift perspectives among the body of believers.
- Encourage Workplace Evangelism – Members of your local body will learn to embrace their workplace as a mission field when they are equipped to authentically share their faith at work.
- Marketplace Ministry Launch Event(s) – Invite guest speakers and even have other church members share their testimony of how faith at work has changed their lives. This will help to solidify the idea of marketplace ministry as a concept with tangible results.
- Small Group Studies – Similar to faith and work book clubs, believers build more intimate communities through being split into smaller teams and diving deeper into the biblical purpose of work.
- Support for Business Owners – Networking, mentorship, and ethics training is beneficial for this unique subset of Christ-followers. Even if an individual is not a business owner but a leader in their industry, they can benefit from the topics addressed.
A church-wide marketplace ministry can radically impact how your church members approach work. Further, efforts such as business fellowship groups and marketplace ministry mentorship programs support this mandate. Could this be the missing piece in your charge to make disciples everywhere?
Featured photo by Memento Media on Unsplash; in-text photo by Israel Torres on Pexels
