WORK AND VOCATION
DEEPER LEARNING TRACK
“FAITH AT WORK: MADE TO FLOURISH”
DR. CONSTANTINE CAMPBELL, DR. GARY HOAG,
DR. DONALD GUTHRIE, AND REV. TOM NELSON
Overview: Three Parts
1.
Top Ten List: Faith and Work in the NT – Ten Christ-followers who
integrated their faith and work in the early church.
2.
Two Grant Opportunities: “Grants for learning” Knowledge Building
Grants (up to $5k) and “grants for doing” Church Implementation
Grants (up to $20k): go.efca.org/faithandwork
3.
Ten EFCA Examples – Hear how EFCA pastors / leaders are rallying
congregations and reaching communities (FWE).
Part #1 – Top Ten List: Faith and Work in the NT
Characteristics of these Christ-followers:
•
Their NT portrayal exhibits the integration of faith and work.
•
They reflect the range of occupations in the NT world.
•
Mentioned in history and correspondence of mission in the NT.
•
As they are “known” for their work, we can deduce they
discerned work had both intrinsic and instrumental value.
•
They align with Christ and help their churches / cities flourish.
•
These early church examples inspire people today!
#10 – Saul of Tarsus: Tentmaker
If God can transform a tentmaker named
Saul of Tarsus into the Apostle Paul (Acts
9), He can inspire any businessperson to
live and work on mission!
How is God calling you to serve in the
Kingdom, not by abandoning your skills by
living and working on mission?
#9 – Joe of Cyprus | Barnabas: the Landowner
Barnabas did more than sell a piece of land
(Acts 4:36-37), his “all-in” support
encouraged the saints and helped shape the
early church.
How might the Spirit be leading you to
deploy yourself and the assets you possess?
How might your encouraging service and
sacrificial giving make a difference?
#8 – Tabitha of Joppa
Dorcas: the Clothing Maker
Like Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42), those who
work with their hands, can do more than
make products. They can touch lives!
Do you manufacture something with
excellence? How might your work touch
lives and show God’s love to the world?
#7 – Simon of Joppa: the Tanner
Simon extended hospitality to Peter (Acts
9:43). “Hands-on” people like to engage with
mission so show them ways to do that.
How might your business intersect with
mission while providing important products
made with your hands?
#6 – Luke of Antioch: the Physician
Luke put his scientific education to work
(Luke-Acts) and used it to engage in
service while also making known the good
news.
Are you well-educated and equipped for
some aspect of missional service, such as
medical care, Bible translation, or some
other aspect of mission?
#5 – Lydia of Thyatira: High-end Fashion
Lydia was a seller of fine cloth (Acts 16:11-
15, 39-40) who traded where it was closed
to the gospel but open for business.
Do you work in high-end retail? Do you do
business in places where it is closed to the
gospel but open to business that could help
facilitate mission?
#4 – Tertius: the Publisher
Like Tertius the publisher (Romans
16:22), people with writing and
business skills can package the gospel
for the world to come to faith.
Erastus, Olympas, Rhodion,
Sosipater, Quartus and
Tertius in Menologion of
Basil II (c. 1000 AD)
How might your business skills, your
writing ability, or your speaking talents
help package the gospel for the world to
know the good news of Jesus Christ.
#3 – Zenas: the Lawyer
Zenas the Lawyer (Titus 3:12b-14) would
have been trained in matters of law,
argumentation, and rhetoric.
Do you have legal or technical skills for
helping your church and your community? Are
you positioned to use these talents alongside
ministry leaders and in the public square?
#2 – Erastus: the City Treasurer
Erastus the City Treasurer (Acts 19:22;
Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20), had
administrative skills that blessed the city
and were put to service to provide
strategic leadership for mission.
Has God given you administrative skills to
help your city flourish and help provide
administrative leadership for mission?
#1 – Priscilla and Aquila: the Tentmakers
They were expelled from Rome, met
Paul in Corinth, and agreed to serve in
Ephesus (Acts 18:2,18,26; Romans 16:3;
1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19).
They were flexible to move and serve on
mission.
Do you have skills that you can do
anywhere while engaging in God’s work?
Top Ten List
Part #2 - Two Grant Opportunities
Background – “Faith, Work, and Economics Initiatives” (FWE)
•
Modern day “Barnabas” – Bob Kern / Kern Family Foundation:
http://www.kffdn.org/programs/faith-work-and-economics
now branded as “Made to Flourish”: www.madetoflourish.org
•
May 2014 pilot group event – “TIU/EFCA Pastoral
Collaboration” 20 pastors/20 lay leaders explored FWE. Kern
announced pastors could apply for two grants:
go.efca.org/faithandwork
Knowledge Building Grants
(1)
Knowledge Building Grants “grants for learning” (up to
$5k)
Knowledge Building Grants empower church leadership
teams to learn about the integration of faith, work, and
economics (FWE) to produce human flourishing. This
learning takes place through a process you design with
guidance from our grant administrator.
Grants for LEARNING are for LEADERSHIP TEAMS.
Examples of KBG funded activities:
•
Attend a conference about faith, work, and economics
•
Study resources related to faith, work, and economics
together with your pastoral staff or congregation leaders
and discuss the implications for your church and
community on a retreat
•
Visit another church that is integrating faith, work, and
economics into its ministry
•
Preach a sermon series on God’s plan for work or the
economy
Writing a KBG proposal
Completed proposal = about 3-6 pages and answers 12
questions
1.
How did your church become interested in submitting a Faith,
Work, and Economics Grant?
2.
Who are the direct beneficiaries/participants of this project?
3.
Describe the project(s) you would like to pursue (Take as many
pages as you need to answer this question.)
4.
What are the deliverables you hope to produce (materials:
action items, strategic plan, mp3 audio, reflection paper, etc.)?
Writing a KBG proposal cont’d
5.
In what ways is your proposal biblically and theologically
grounded?
6.
What long-term impact do you anticipate this project having?
7.
Why do you believe this project will have long-term impact
and/or sustainability?
8.
How does the proposal reflect an interest in integrating FWE in
church ministry for the purpose of human flourishing?
9.
Does the proposal articulate a vision for local and/or regional
collaboration? (Optional)
Writing a KBG proposal cont’d
10.
What leaders are involved in the process of developing
your proposal, and who/how will they be involved in the
project execution?
11.
Are you committed to satisfying the foundation’s
requirements for accountability by providing timely
program and financial reports?
12.
Outline the budget for this project and note how much will
be supported by the foundation.
Church Implementation Grants
(2) Church Implementation Grants “grants for doing” (up
to $20k)
Church Implementation Grants empower church leadership
teams to put what they know about faith, work, and
economics to work in their churches and communities. These
grants are an investment in church leadership teams with
creative ideas focused on human flourishing.
Grants for DOING are for CONGREGATIONS.
Examples of CIG funded activities:
•
Host events where professionals in your church mentor
teenagers and young adults entering the workforce
•
Organize a job fair to help unemployed or underemployed
individuals connect with potential employers
•
Tap the work skills of your congregation to help launch or
grow businesses in your community
•
Redesign your church’s food or clothing ministry from a
focus on relief to a focus on relief and personal
development
What’s in a CIG proposal?
12 KBG questions + 3 more and an Executive Summary (1
page)
1.
Tell us what you hope to be the outputs of this project.
2.
Tell us – as succinctly as you can - what you expect your project
to achieve. These are meant to be outcomes of your activities.
3.
What objective outcome measures will be used to determine
the degree to which your project was successful and at what
point(s) do you anticipate evaluating the results? When will
you report these results to us? How will you establish a
baseline for use in measuring progress?
Part #3 - Ten EFCA Examples
Hear how EFCA pastors / leaders are rallying congregations
and reaching communities (FWE). Consider these examples:
1.
Jim Thulson, Cañon City (CO) – KBG. “For the Life of the
World” videos, Toxic Charity (Lupton). Group to Christian
Community Development Conference. Prison
town/unemployment issues.
2.
Randy Discher, Constance (MN) – KBG. Integration of
FWE in sports.
Work Matters (Nelson), Inside Out
Coaching (Erhmann).
Ten Testimonies: EFCA (cont’d)
3.
Kurt Trucksess, CrossWinds (IA) – KBG. “Close the Gap”
Study Work Matters (Nelson); focus on FW language (“Call
to ministry is applauded…Call to the workplace is notably
absent.”)
4.
Bob Nienhuis, Liberty Bible (IN) – KBG. Twelve
Foursomes = 48 (12 Pastoral Staff + 12 Lay People) + (12
Elders + 12 Lay People) Three Books: Vision of Vocation
(Garber), Work: The Meaning of your Life (DeKoster), Work
Matters (Nelson). Retreat.
Ten Testimonies: EFCA (cont’d)
5.
Steve Mathewson, CrossLife (IL) – KBG. Suburban
church / blue collar and white collar. Interview (starting
theology). Read Every Good Endeavor (Keller), Work
Matters (Nelson). Meals for discussion and Lake Geneva
leadership retreat for planning.
6.
Steve Ratliff, Faith EFC (KS) – KBG. College town – 12
pairs of mentors and mentees. Read Every Good Endeavor
(Keller) Work Matters (Nelson), and RightPath (Path4 and
Path6) Profiles.
Ten Testimonies: EFCA (cont’d)
7.
8.
Steve Mathewson, CrossLife (IL) – KBG. Suburban church / blue
collar and white collar. Interview (starting theology). Read Every Good
Endeavor (Keller), Work Matters (Nelson). Meals for discussion and
Lake Geneva leadePeter Fiorello (FWE Pastor’s Conference - Camp
Spofford, NH) CIG. Two retreats: (8/31-9/2 and 11/2-4) Read Every
Good Endeavor (Keller), Work Matters (Nelson), The Pastor’s Guide to
Fruitful Work & Wisdom (the Kern Foundation). No cost, application
discussions, and EFCA teaching and coaching.
Ray Chang (Regenerant Network, CA) 2 CIG – Church planters.
Retreats. Every Good Endeavor (Keller), Work Matters (Nelson),
Visions of Vocation (Garber), Kingdom Calling (Sherman).
Ten Testimonies: EFCA (cont’d)
9.
10.
Rick Thompson (Great Lakes District) KBG. GLD preconference seminar and conference workshop
“Discipleship as Vocation” coaching pastors on integrating
FWE as a pathway for disciplemaking. Resource: Every
Good Endeavor (Keller).
Alejandro Mandes (Hispanic Initiatives, TX) CIG.
Convene Hispanic American ministry leaders from around
USA. Survey and explore available resources. Read Work
Matters (Nelson), The Pastor’s Guide (the Kern
Foundation). TIU facilitator.
Where to go from here?
1.
Preach: Highlight the faith and work of NT Christ-followers
2.
Visit: go.efca.org/faithandwork
3.
Start: the KBG/CIG proposal process (submit online form)
Pathway for engaging people with the EFCA Vision:
We are praying that God will raise up one million disciplemakers,
impacting millions with the gospel and transforming entire cities and
regions globally.
Questions: gary.hoag@efca.org