Employers have the unique opportunity to use their position in the world to influence people for the gospel. It doesn't just have to be limited to playing Christian radio in the background. There are many ways that a company can create an atmosphere where Christ is known and proclaimed. Here are a few suggestions... 1. Share your company's mission, goals, and philosophy of business. As a Christian, your business isn't about making profits and bringing home a load of cash. A man of God knows that his calling in life is to serve God and his neighbor. His vocation is merely an extension of that. So be open about it and let people know it. Hold meetings and gather your employees to go over what you're ultimate reasons are for existing. Share with them how God is saved you and how you want this business to be done for him and his glory. Have handouts that state that your mission is to "Faithfully serve the Savior of men, Jesus Christ, by providing great widgets and customer service." You don't have to be long or "preachy" in your presentations. Lucid brevity can be quite powerful. You'll also have numerous opportunities if you take the long term approach. All in all, you want people in your company to be on board with your mission anyway. So why not use this opportunity as a public witness? 2. Meet with your employees individually & build a relationship with them. Yes, you are a busy. You have work to do too, we understand. But make efforts to connect with someone each week. Take them to lunch or have them into your office for a quick chat. During that time, you can encourage them and express your gratitude for having them. Most importantly, ask how they are doing, see if there's any needs that they have, and ask how you can be praying for them. And, of course, take a second to pray for them right there. You will be showing real care for them and, when they do have problems, they may seek you out. This can lead to greater opportunities to share the truth of Christ with them. 3. Bring your pastor in and introduce him to your employees As an entrepreneur you know the power of networking. As a pastor, I can say that it's difficult to get out and meet new people. Evangelism is tough because I'm typically interacting with Christians. The good news is that Christian businessmen can help build bridges between their employees and their church by having their pastor in from time to time. Introduce your pastor at a company meeting. Let him come to the company picnic. Every quarter or so, have him walk with you through the company and have a quick chat with your labor force. Connect him individually with those who are under your leadership. If you know that one certain person is having some problems (maybe in their marriage, children), tell them that your pastor can be of help. Have your pastor pray for them right there on the floor of the shop. Let them feel that they have a network of care and counsel at their disposal. 4. Provide Biblical counseling Want to have your employees get over their drug addiction? Why not offer them meetings with a biblical counselor? Are they consistently late? They likely have issues/habits with which a biblical counselor could help. Keep in mind too that Biblical counselors have as their first goal sharing the gospel with their counselees. If they are unbelievers, then the counselor will spend a great deal of time pointing out that this is their greatest need (and that their current problem is due to their failure to love and honor God). If there are fees, perhaps you can cover them. You may even be able to provide incentives for them to meet with those counselors too. The key is connecting your workforce with godly advisors. 5. Hold seminars and studies. Some companies have safety meetings, health seminars, or conferences on planning for retirement. Similar information could be given for parenting, marriage, addiction, or money management. All you need to do is consider the needs of your laborers. Maybe a 3 week study on depression would help several in your midst. Or how about some classes on anger? If your company isn't big enough to hold a seminar, no sweat. Let it be a small group Bible study. Or, if you really want to go all out, coordinate it with other businesses, involve churches, or invite the wider community. It could even be a function put on by your church, but held at your business location. 6. Take employees to Christian business functions Does your town have a Christian business leader group that meets for prayer or Bible study? Ask one of your workers to attend with you. Doing this will give them a chance to hear God's word or see the love and care Christians have. While at these meetings introduce your employees to the other members of the group. You can help them make good contact with the other mature men and women who attend. So, not only can they hear the message and witness the testimonies, they can begin to make meaningful connections with other solid Christian people. These are just a few effective ways to use your business and position as a means of introducing your personnel to Christ. The thing to remember is that God has placed you in a position of authority and that gives you special opportunities as a leader. ___________________________________________ Are there things that you've done that have influenced the workforce for the Lord? What have you done to disciple employees or connect your company to the church? Post your ideas below!
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Question 1 Who made you? A. God made me GENESIS 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. PSALM 139:13 You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. You may take your blocks and stack them up to make a tall tower. You may draw a picture with your markers and put it on your refrigerator door. These are your creations and they are wonderful things. But who made you? God did! You are one of his wonderful creations. Before the beginning of time, God planned to create you and all your family. Then, at just the right time, he made you. He made your body and gave you a soul that will live forever. Deep within your mommy’s tummy he fashioned you together and made you into the person you are today. I hope this catechism question helps you see how special you are! For the Lord didn’t make just anyone, he made you. He took special care to make you just the way you are. What’s more, there’s no one in the world like you. You are God’s unique creation. That makes you very special! Whenever you get sad, just remember this happy thought: God made me! Also remember that you belong to God. The tower you built with your blocks is yours. So is the picture you drew. You created it, and it belongs to you. In the same way, you belong to God. You are his special treasure. Don’t ever forget that he is your creator God, and you are his special creation. Things to discuss What are things that are unique about you? (Hint: personality traits, physical characteristics, certain looks you make or talents you have, clothes you wear, styles, games you like, etc.) Things to do With an ink pad or marker, color your children’s fingers. Have them put their finger prints on a sheet of paper. Talk about how are they different and how are they the same. Explain how God made each person’s print unique. Extra: Make each print into the head of a stick figure. Decorate it with your child’s specific features, i.e. hair, ears, eyes, etc. Things to sing God made me; God made me In my Bible book it says that God made me. -Cedermont Kids, Toddler Tunes The title says it all. You can read the blogs and buy the latest books, but leadership does not consist of any one particular gimmick or trick. It's about the multifaceted gem we commonly call character. Some will say that leadership is about the ability to motivate or communicate. These are certainly elements of a good leader, but at their base these are items which pertain to one's behavior. A good leader communicates well because he recognizes that it is a form of love towards his neighbor. He wants those on his team to thrive and be successful, so he is considerate of what things they need to know. He speaks clearly and calmly because it rises out of righteousness. He is a motivator because he expresses gratitude, humility, and loyalty. People will listen because they know he will not cheat them, burn them, or lead them somewhere he himself will not go. Leadership is about service, sacrifice, and wisdom. These are qualities that belong to Christ, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep (i.e. the leader, par excellence). To be sure, some people will not follow leaders, but leaders will lead nonetheless. That's because they are men of principle, not popularity. People will hate certain leaders. While that may be grieved, it will not dissuade a good leader from his work. For good leaders are seeking righteousness and not man's approval. Leaders build good teams because leaders understand love and relationships. Leaders get things done because they understand duty, diligence, and dignity. Leaders will reflect, rethink, and redo because they believe in the moral underpinnings of what they have before them. To be sure, leaders make mistakes too. They fail and they offend, but they know the importance of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This is why I have often said that leaders lead even in their errors. They will lead by means of confessing their mistake and their attempts to correct it. Whence comes this kind of leadership? It is born out of humility, honor, and the commitment to doing what is right. A man who breaks his commitments, lies, cheats, steals will never be a leader. Someone who cuts corners or puts in a halfsy job will not be promoted. A gossip will be abandoned, and those who seek self promotion will have trouble keeping people around him. But a man of integrity, he will move up. People will rally behind him. Hearts will become attached to the one whose heart is true. Thus, let it be heard: Leadership isn't about being witty, it is about wisdom. It is not about charisma; it is about character. Those who will be leaders will be those who love what is pure and do what is right. |
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