I received a recent question asking for my thoughts about joining a local church.  “We can’t seem to find a church to meet our needs.  Every time we start attending, something comes up and we believe we need to find another church.  Any thoughts on how to find a good church?” While this question is not related to business, a business-like approach is helpful. 

Every year Americans donate millions of dollars in year-end giving to churches and ministries. For many ministries this is a critical time for funding.

Business practices often recommend that you ask your best people to fix the biggest problems.  However, if you want big rewards over filling roles, I advise people to place their best people in the roles that offer the best opportunities for the future.

The issues may be different in churches, but the same principle applies:  place your strongest leaders in ministry opportunities that offer the biggest growth potential.

Storm clouds brought by the problems at Enron and Arthur Andersen, other SEC investigations, and severe conflicts of interest by some stock analysts have cast a dark shadow on the American business landscape. These tribulations were caused by a failure to follow basic biblical teachings about honesty, integrity, and avoiding conflicts of interest. As our society has drifted away from its adherence to absolute principles—in our classrooms, the halls of government, and our places of business—is it any wonder that corruption is the result? We’ve become a bit like Israel in the period of the judges, about which the Bible says, “In those days . . . everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 NASB).

Amid the bad news, sharing the gospel is the only solution that will bring light back into the marketplace and the world. As Christians, we all have a responsibility to share our faith. Just as Paul instructed Timothy, we are to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5 NASB) and thereby fulfill our mandate from Jesus to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15 NASB). Successful marketplace discipleship encompasses four key steps: diligence, prayer, caring, and sharing.

Diligence

First, our work must be excellent in every aspect. When Daniel was challenged, his accusers “could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him” (Daniel 6:4 NASB). Likewise, when the queen of Sheba came to examine King Solomon, she marveled at his wisdom and success (see 1 Kings 10:1-9). When our colleagues see the quality of our work, our effectiveness on the job will earn us the right to share our faith. Poor performance will negate our witness.

You likely do not know the name, Al Braca.

Al walked with the Lord 23 years and was married to Jeannie, the father of four children, each also loved the Lord. He served  as an elder at a Calvary Chapel and a led a small group ministry.  Over the years his home was open to many as he and his wife shred the Gospel. 

Al took his faith to work. He would share Christ with co-workers, and received disdain in return at times. Still, he persevered. He thought about leaving his corporate job to enter full time ministry, but he believed the Lord wanted him to minister where he was, in the marketplace.