After years of working in a major city, a Christian man surnamed Kang (not full name for secrutiy seasons) has returned to the church to start a new phase of full-time ministry.
Leaving Full-Time Ministry to Enter the Workplace
In the early 21st century, Kang, born in the 1980s, came to the church and encountered the Christian faith. Seven years later, he studied theology and became a full-time staff member at a church that catered to highly educated individuals. Initially feeling inadequate due to his academic background—surrounded by many intellectuals—he committed to continuous learning, growing significantly in the process.
However, after more than three years of service, he recognized certain limitations in himself: lacking work experience and having limited social exposure. He also began to feel that as he lived in Christian circles for a long time, he became like a Pharisee, as though he alone were holy. He decided to challenge himself, leaving his role in ministry. He also partnered with others to start a business, returning to the secular workplace.
Back in the workplace, he found his faith becoming more genuine. Through his work, he encountered friends from various faith backgrounds: atheists, Buddhists, and those with no belief system at all. They openly discussed their views, and they treated each other with mutual respect, holding different perspectives.
Finding Belonging Amidst the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kang struggled with “virtual church gatherings,” gradually drifting from the church and feeling like a wanderer disconnected from his spiritual family.
Toward the end of the pandemic, he met a pastor through work who, upon learning of his long absence from church, invited him to his church. The pastor never pressured him to attend, nor did he rebuke him for missing church services; instead, he offered him full respect and freedom.
When he first visited the church, he immediately felt the warmth of a home. After only a few meetings, a Christian woman surnamed Ma from the church invited him to her home for meals, encouraging him to treat her house as his own. Believers showed him acceptance, never judging him for his prolonged absence. This unconditional love and acceptance deeply touched Kang.
The church members developed deep bonds, which Kang describes as a “family trust.” They visited each other’s homes, shared meals, and their children played together. When anyone had an emergency, they could confidently entrust their children to each other’s care.
“This is the home I longed for,” Kang shared.
Returning to Full-Time Ministry With a Heart of Love
In this way, Kang returned to the church. Despite his years in the professional world, he never forgot his roots in the church, regarding his work experience as God’s way of shaping him. His foundation remained in the church, which he knew was his true home.
Toward the end of 2023, he received a word from God: “Do not forsake your first love.” He became convinced that God was calling him back to serve as a full-time worker in the church.
However, full-time ministry presented a new test of faith, requiring him to provide for his family’s living expenses, rent, and child-rearing costs by himself. At his lowest point, he had only a few thousand yuan in his account. Yet, he testified, “God has never allowed me to lack anything, as long as I walk by faith.”
Learning from his pastor’s example, Kang saw firsthand how the pastor endured hardships by faith, frequently reminding the team: “Don’t do ministry if you want an easy life.”
Support Christians in the Workplace With Faith
Leading the youth fellowship, Kang helps Christians facing challenges in their professional lives, drawing upon the wisdom he gained from the workplace.
When asked about what Christians in the workplace need most, Kang responded without hesitation, “They need to learn how to testify to the gospel.”
What, then, is the gospel? Kang explained that if believers presented the Bible as a set of rules, they might become merely moralizing. Christians in the workplace often face real issues, such as whether they can ethically accept commissions or kickbacks. Many struggle with such questions because they are uncertain about who God truly is. God is love and does not treat us as our sins deserve; He accepts us regardless of our shortcomings. The key issue is not whether one takes a commission, but rather whether one has faith.
What, then, is our faith? He explained, “It’s not about whether it is right or wrong to take commissions; it’s about whether we can trust that God’s love is unwavering, which the Bible teaches. With such faith, we can do anything.” For example, he suggested that one could take a commission if he uses it to buy a gift for the boss, as he gives it back. This is one of the workplace insights he has gained. But the prerequisite is faith. One must understand that one is a child of God; whatever one does, God’s love remains constant. The essence of faith is confidence in God’s love, not just obedience to the law.
“Needing real love, believers require pastors to pay the price for them,” Kang added.
- Edited by Katherine Guo & translated by Abigail Wu
