At least 1/3 of Jesus's disciples were fisherman. Not accountants (though there was at least one tax collector). Not religious leaders. Not the white-collar business leaders. Maybe they were entrepreneurs, building their businesses by the sweat of the brow and calloused hands. But they weren't really famous and they weren't really special. They were just regular guys, hanging out on the water, trying to feed their families. The kingdom is made of such as these.
I've spent the last 2 days with a group of young leaders in evangelism, talking about how business and mission interconnect. And much of our discussion centered around connecting with leaders in the business world, ministering to the 1%, reaching out to those who are movers and shakers in their worlds, trying to build a bridge between the church and those in business. These are important, essential things.
But this whole time I've had growing in my heart this sense of urgency about the regular people. The people who are in the workplace because they have to put food on the table. The people who may not have a ton of authority, but who have influence in their own place and in their own world. I believe that these are people who are poised to make a great difference for the kingdom. But they are largely ignored by the church, at least in reference to how faith is supposed to be affecting their life at work. And the potential for their ministry to the world is almost completely untapped.
So this is my commitment: The first thing I will do is listen--listen to the leadership at my church and listen to the people who are in the secular workplace who attend my church, and listen to the Spirit. And then I will go wherever the Spirit leads me from there.
And I must admit that I'm thrilled to have met some super-awesome people who are just as committed to walking similar paths in their own worlds.
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