WORKPLACE EVANGELISM AND THE GREAT COMMISSION
In 2019 the the global executive director / CEO of the Lausanne Movement, Michael Oh, stated that within the universal church, only one percent are in professional ministry. He explained that the other ninety-nine per cent do not exist to help those in professional ministry fulfill the Great Commission, but rather that those church and ministry leaders are there to help them in their everyday environment in taking the Gospel to others.
"Most Christians in the workplace are hesitant to acknowledge and fulfill their noble call to evangelism. The idea of discussing faith in their workplace is unsettling, as the vast majority feel they do not have the gift of evangelism.[1]
Many feel unprepared to answer questions they fear coworkers will ask. Others feel unqualified because they have not lived an exemplary life. And some worry that they might cause rifts with colleagues, create conflict with bosses, or even lose their job. Yet many of their concerns and obstacles stem from a skewed perception of evangelism.
What if the 99 percent understood that playing a part in someone’s journey to faith in Jesus could begin with something as simple as having a cup of coffee with a colleague, encouraging someone who had a rough week, or offering a helping hand to a boss or coworker under stress? What if they understood that doing good work can turn on the light for coworkers ‘so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’ (Matt 5:16)?"
