BY KRISTI RECTOR
Kumiko is a 33-year-old divorced mother of three. She married young and now struggles with not having the skills for a job that will support her family. Theres never enough money or time. She thinks lifes given her the short end of the stick, and she doesnt understand why God would let these things happen to her if He really cares.
Jean, a 46-year-old company vice president, has been married for 20 years. They have everything they could wantbig house, new SUVplus, they often vacation in Europe. Jean thinks that, with everything shes accomplished on her own, why would she need religion?
Melissa is twentysomething and works for a high-tech company. Though shes doing well now, she wonders what the future holds. She and her husband of two years dont trust easily and are wary of people who claim to have the answer.
Kumiko, Jean and Melissa represent just a few of an increasing number of women in the civilian labor force; 60 percent of North American women have jobs, double the number from 50 years ago. The pervasiveness of full- or part-time work has changed womens attitudes and lifestyles, and the ways we share the gospel with them must be sensitive to their way of thinking.
The good news is that women are increasingly more open to talking about faith at work, says Lois Flowers, author of Women, Faith, and Work (Thomas Nelson, 2001). Allyson Hodgins, one of the women Flowers interviewed for her book, says that because its a time of change in the business world, people are more open to talking about real-life issues and how those issues relate to faith.
Kumiko struggles with bitterness because she feels she gave up her dreams to marry her husband. Now that theyre divorced, her future seems bleak. Theres no one to share the duties of home and family, much less having time for friends. Why should God care that she lives her life in a fog of exhaustion, and the checkbook balance is too small to count?
On mission message for Kumiko: While you cant physically see Him, God is present and can fill the void you feel inside. He tells us in the Bible that He cares for our every need, no matter how small, and He invites us to bring our concerns to Him.
He offers love, comfort, peace, rest and strength for every situation we face. People will always let us down, but God is the One we can rely on and lean on. Give your heart to Him, and Hell be there for you.
Jean has an above-average life. Shes enjoyed a great deal of professional success, a wide circle of friends and a large house filled with everything a woman could want. Shes done so well for herself that she doesnt see a need for God in her lifeshe thinks Hes just a crutch that weaker people need. What can you say to Jean?
On mission message: If everything you have and everything youve worked for were suddenly taken away from you, what would your life be like? Would you have peace? Would there be any meaning left in your life?
Once you accept Christ and have a relationship with Him, nothing can take Him away from you. And He can give you peace and happiness more satisfying than driving a luxury car or living in a mansion or having a powerful job. Hes bigger and greater and more wonderful than anything you could imagine wanting or achieving on your own.
Melissa isnt sure what to believe, like many young postmoderns. There doesnt seem to be just one truth in any situation to her, and shes skeptical of people who claim that there is. Every religion seems to have good and bad points, so why should she choose Christianity?
People like Melissa need to hear about your personal experiences with God. Tell them about situations when Hes helped you, when youve vividly felt His presence in your life, and what believing in Him means specifically for you. Show them what its been like to put your faith in God, and let them see your relationship with Him.
On mission message: God wants to have a relationship with you, but its okay if you have trouble simply accepting that because Im telling you. Try it for yourself. Put faith to the test and find out through your own experience that you can trust Him. Ask Him to show you how much He cares for you.
The vital statsSo who are modern working women? They want to excel as wives, mothers, daughters and sisters, as employees and managers, and as friends, neighbors and citizens, says Flowers.
Given the busyness of todays lifestyles, the need for balance is a huge issue for working women. They need help figuring out ways to juggle everything without sacrificing their physical or mental health.
Womens relational nature leads them to desire friendships at work. They also need respect for their ideas, plus encouragement and feedback from colleagues or associates with whom they work. They get personal satisfaction from their jobs, but they also want recognition for their contributions.
Todays working women need to know that what they are doing is significant, and, more important, that they are significant. In a time of tremendous change and uncertainty, they are looking for something that will give their lives meaning and stability, says Flowers.
That desire for genuineness and significance means that we need to develop authentic relationships with them that will lead to opportunities to share Christ. We have to show His extravagant love to them through our own lives.
Walk the talkWomen pay attention to how others around them behave. Here are 13 practical ways to demonstrate your faith as part of your on mission influence on the women you know at work. Many of these ideas can be modified and used with your working neighbors if youre not in the workforce yourself.
Get to know her as a person. Women are relational creatures, and theyll be more open to your story of faith if youve established a friendship with them first. Show you care about them even if they dont want to accept Christ.
Meet her practical needs. Offer baby-sitting services, give a home-cooked meal, or mow the lawn for a single working mom like Kumiko. Take a co-worker like Jean out to lunch when shes under stress at the office, or offer to be her exercise buddy.
Be there in times of need. When things go wrong, offer to fix a meal or run errands when she cant. Offer a listening ear, and let her know youll be praying for her. Send encouraging cards or notes. Bonnie Wurzbacher, a corporate vice president with The Coca-Cola Co., gave birth to premature twin babies who only lived a few hours. Now, if someone she knows is going through a difficult time, she shares her story to encourage her. I believe that one of our responsibilities is to share our griefhow God got us through it with other people when theyre facing similar circumstances, she says.
Show her your faith through your office dcor. Place a small plaque of a Bible verse or inspirational poem on your desk or wall. Display photos of you and your family in a church activity. These items can help start discussions about your beliefs with co-workers .
Begin a lunchtime book club. Allow each woman to choose a book for the group to read, and when its your turn, pick out a Christian novel. As the fictional characters grapple with faith issues, youll be able to discuss them with your co-workers in a non-threatening way.
Pray for working women around you. Pray for their daily needs as well as for opportunities to share your faith with them. Then be prepared when the opportunities arisenot with a five-point sermon, but with an honest story of how God has changed your life. Women like twenty-something Melissa will be much more open to hearing your story.
Practice servant leadership. Karen Covell, a Hollywood producer, says one way she does this is by voluntarily cleaning the coffee cups in the office kitchen even though she doesnt drink coffee. Its a small thing, but Karen says, Theres power in serving. Non-believers will notice.
Do unto her. . . Treat your co-workers with respect, whether theyre your boss, your subordinates or your peers. Value their input, keep your word, and dont place unreasonable demands on them. Realize that theyre human and have lives outside of the workplace.
Hold your tongue. Some women tend to gossip. If you refuse to participate in office gossip sessions and grumbling matches, youll be making a quiet statement of how God can change a persons heart and attitude. Other women may then seek you out when they have concerns, because theyll see that you wont tell others what theyve told you.
Respond with grace. We all blow it sometimes. Be the first one to go to your co-worker and apologize for your words or actions that hurt her. Be willing to offer forgiveness too. Say you do this as a follower of Christ.
Give her a gift. Women are touched by small, thoughtful acts. Remember her birthday, or encourage her during a difficult time with an inspirational book or music CD. Or give her something for no reason just because you care and are forming an on mission relationship.
Make an invitation. Invite a fellow female co-worker to a pageant, concert or picnic at church. A social church event will help break the ice and allow you to talk more personally away from the workplace about your relationship with Jesus.
Do your job well. Remember Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. When you represent yourself as a Christian and do your work with excellence, those around you will take notice of Whom you follow. Remember, you must show the gospel with your actions as well as your speech.
Kristi Rector is a writer living in Loveland, Colorado.
Books to help you share your faith at work
Building Blocks for Your Life@Work (Thomas Nelson / W) by Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington
The Christian Working Woman (Baker / Revell) by Mary Welchel
Christianity 9 to 5: Living Your Faith at Work (Beacon Hill Press) by Michael Zigarelli
Church on Sunday, Work on Monday (Jossey-Bass) by Laura Nash and Scotty McLennan
Communication @ Work: How to Get Along with Anyone at Church and in the Workplace by H. Norman Wright
Faith in Leadership: How Leaders Live out their Faith in their Work and why it Matters (John Wiley & Sons) Edited by Robert Banks & Kimberly Powell
The Fourth Frontier (Thomas Nelson / W) by Stephen Graves, Thomas Addington
Freedom from Fear (North American Mission Board) by Cheryl Reccord and Linda Ebert
How To Take the Bible to Work (Back To The Bible) by Woodrow Kroll
The Life@Work Book (Word) by the editors of The Life@Work Journal
Loving Monday (InterVarsity Press) by John Beckett
Quiet Moments for Working Women (Servant Publications) by Mary Welchel
Reality Check by Verla Gillmor (Horizon Books)
Roaring Lambs (Zondervan) by Bob Briner
Spirituality@work: 10 ways to balance your life on-the-job (Loyola Press) by Gregory Pierce
Transforming Your Workplace for Christ (Broadman & Holman) by William Nix
Women, Faith, and Work (Thomas Nelson) by Lois Flowers