Integration of Faith in the Workplace 1

Gary Gugger
BUS493-OL01
Toccoa Falls College
May 2, 2020

Integration of Faith in the Workplace

In my work I don’t work with the traditional group of office staff Monday through
Friday. The colleagues I work with on a regular basis I see once or twice a month. Many of the
people I work with inside the company I communicate with them through e-mail or a telephone
call, many of them I will never meet face to face. The people I meet with for business I meet one
time and do not ever meet with them again, so it is an ever changing landscape of people I come
in contact with. This has helped me to understand I need to ensure I am abiding in the Holy Spirit
so if there is an opportunity to minister to someone I am aware of that opportunity, versus being
too involved in the business discussion at the moment or travel plans for the next appointment.
Taking time to meet people, get to know them, not just meet with them. Is one of the
ways I integrate my faith into my work, by taking the time to get to know the individual and
build a relationship with them. One of my strength themes from the Gallup Strengths-Based
Leadership Insight Report is Relationship Building, so I leverage this to connect with others.
Yes, business needs to be conducted, and I make sure it gets addressed, but building that
relationship with a supplier or vendor helps the company transact business, but also shows I care
about the individual.
I find many of the ordinary conversations we have throughout the day with co-workers,
customers, or supplier partners allow my faith to shine through the conversations. With co-
workers, many times the conversation moves from business to personal interests outside of
business, explaining my involvement with my local church or volunteering at the local homeless
shelter generally creates a conversation that involves my faith. With customers showing them the
enthusiasm and concern for them, apart from the business transaction, leads to conversations to
share my faith. When working with business partners having a highly ethical view of doing
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business combined with a true interest in the wellbeing of the person I am dealing with and their
company generally opens the doors to additional conversations revolving around my faith.
Many of my co-workers I will never meet in person, so the manner in which I
communicate needs to set me apart from everyone else. When I am reaching out to them by e-
mail or phone I tell them good morning/afternoon and ask how they are doing before jumping
into business. I am also courteous as I respond, even when the issue might be tense.
Christ has admonished us to treat others fairly through many passages such as Luke 6:31,
John 15:9, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 7:12; So, I also ensure people are treated fairly when they
work with me, I have seen many managers take advantage of employees because they know they
hold power over them. When I knew my employees were going to have a difficult time at work
because they were shorthanded or equipment was malfunctioning, I stayed with them through the
problems. I have mentored people into successful positions in companies from entry level
positions, because I recognized their ability and genuinely care for them. A person in a
leadership position must have integrity, no matter what level in the company’s hierarchy that
leader serves, they must have integrity and I have tried to exhibit my entire career.
I have also come to realize over the last several years at Toccoa Falls College through
courses where I read Marketplace Christianity and Why Business Matters to God, that my work
is my ministry, God has led me into the business world to be the salt and light to others. I have
always felt lead to work in the business field, I love making an organization profitable and
operate efficiently and I love working with people to help them develop their God given talents,
but many times, Christians are not viewed as serious Christians until they serve in full time
ministry as Robert Frazer points out in his book “Because, without ever saying so, most
Christians believe that a marketplace vocation and passion for Jesus are mutually exclusive.”
[ CITATION Rob04 \l 1033 ] However, I no longer feel a conflict between serving God and the work
I do, they
are one in the same. This has pushed me to do an even better job for the company and people I
work with. I have learned to pray for my co-workers and the leadership of the company, I have
learned that I need to take the time to talk with my co-workers and business associates, it is not
just all about taking care of business and moving on to the next project. I have even written a
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professional development plan with God as my mentor, how I can improve professionally
through Him.

Works Cited
Fraser, R. (2004). Marketplace Christianity. Overland Park: New Grid Publishing.