A pastor from a grassroots church shared insights on how to minister to workplace Christians with an emphasis on their spirituality and guide them through challenges.
The Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, conducted an interview with Enya (pseudonym), a pastor from East China who has corporate experience of over a decade and has been serving workplace believers for ten years.
In her ministry to the workplace community, Enya emphasized understanding their roles and needs. She began by breaking down biblical principles and instructing them on how to apply these principles to different workplace issues. Enya firmly believed that living a victorious Christian life could lead to a victorious family life and eventually help overcome obstacles in the workplace.
In the past, her guidance for the workplace community focused primarily on providing solutions and sharing experiences. For instance, employed individuals face challenges related to personal and corporate financial management as well as relationships with superiors or subordinates. On the other hand, business owners grapple with issues concerning corporate culture, team building, and development. Enya shared, "Due to my experience and insights in these areas, I provide practical advice and assistance. However, it shouldn't end there; they also need to be guided into the deeper waters of faith."
Enya recounted a specific example, "There was a female Christian who came to our church when her family was on the verge of breaking apart due to a business failure and the burden of high-interest debt. At that time, my focus was not solely on comforting her. Instead, I helped her experience God's grace during worship and encouraged her to confess and recognize the traps she had fallen into. Through reflection, she realized that the root of her problem was not just external debt but her internal rebellion and greed. Subsequently, I prayed for her. Despite owing substantial debts, she transformed from fear and avoidance to a willingness to take responsibility. Finally, we began to pray for the restoration of her crumbling marriage. As she recognized the areas she needed to change, she embraced humility and submission, resulting in reconciliation with her husband."
"With faithfulness, this female believer diligently worked in her business and not only cleared all her debts but also became a significant shareholder in the company. What's even more commendable is that she attends Sunday service at our church even during business trips," added Enya.
This female pastor emphasized, "When guiding someone facing a crisis at work, we must recognize that they encounter numerous 'enemies.' These adversaries may take the form of deceptive tactics and strategies that compromise conscience and principles in the workplace, or they may manifest as personal sins. Sometimes individuals may feel compelled to go with the flow, believing there is no other way forward. In such moments, a pastor's role is to help them experience God's presence. Furthermore, pastors should establish a prayer team to intercede for them and fight battles alongside them in prayer."
In conclusion, Enya asserted, "To deeply minister to workplace Christians, a pastor should prioritize their spirituality over pastoral approach. A spiritual awakening is evident when believers in the workplace instinctively turn to Jesus when facing any situation. Being a child of God through prayer is more foundational than adhering to workplace rules. They can learn to navigate difficult workplace situations by relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the church just adopts a ministry-oriented approach to shepherding, it is difficult to bring about transformation in believers. People need to cultivate a personal relationship with God to gain the courage and authority to face their battles."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
