As a Christian business owner, your faith-values have infused with the values and ethics that comprise your company. As a Christian, your faith and your work are integrated.
But, how do you incorporate a culture of faith that runs as a vein throughout your entire business? Rather than just being a Christian business in name, how do you create a missionally-minded workplace that stands apart?
This kind of gospel-focused heartbeat is born out of intentionality of leadership (that’s you) and a Biblically-based infrastructure.
How to Incorporate Faith in your Christian Business
- Corporate Prayer and Bible Study
To establish a presence of faith throughout your whole business, try to all be before the Lord, in prayer and in His word, together. If you’re serious about believing that your business is God’s business, then you know you need Him to be interwoven in what is happening at work. Take time to pray together as a staff. Pray over your business, your customers, big projects, but also over your staff’s experiences at work and outside of work.
Depending on your business, this could be achieved different ways. Maybe the first hour of every Monday your staff gathers to pray over pre-determined requests for the business, or a different staff member leads a study of a passage of scripture each week, or you all study the same book together and gather for lunch to discuss how it applies to your work.
I currently work with an organization that sets aside the first 45 minutes of every workday for corporate prayer and Bible Study. This organization has more than 150 employees that login to a skype call from all over the world to spend time before the Lord praying for their work. They know that is a costly investment of their staff’s time, but they also know that it is an invaluable piece of the puzzle that has created a perspective of dependence upon the Lord. It is far worth the investment.
- Invest in the Discipleship of your Employees
We are all so busy, aren’t we? It’s difficult to even find the time to meet with our employees regularly, much less invest in intentional discipleship. What is discipleship anyways? I’m so glad you asked.
As a leader, you have the unique opportunity to speak into the activities, roles, and lives of your employees. And as a small business owner, you have the opportunity to do so in a religious context.
Discipleship is a step beyond your “boss” role.
It is speaking encouragement where you see strengths, expressing the giftings you see the Lord has given them. It is taking a few extra minutes to coach them through their weaknesses and explain with depth why you believe this aspect of their work is important.
Teaching your employees new things, and sharing experiences that you have had that will be helpful in their careers. It is pointing your employees toward Christ, in the seemingly mundane things such as: praying for God to bring the right candidate in the hiring process, trusting the Lord will provide in a financial bind, reminding that we are to have peace not anxiety during busy or stressful seasons, or asking God for wisdom when making business decisions.
Discipleship means showing your employees that you value you them enough to invest in them.
For your employees that are Christians, this provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and allows them to be ministered to. For employees that are not believers, this is your mission field. This is your opportunity to fulfill the great commission in your business.
This is a difficult calling. It requires you also to seek the Lord daily, so that the overflow can pour into your employees. It also requires a prioritization of time, as you invest more deeply into discipleship. However, after your initial investment you will actually find yourself with more freedom. I believe the dividends of this investment will result in a richer work environment and employee growth that leads to better business.
- Biblical Conflict Resolution
Conflict is not always bad. It is simply a differing of ideas, which is unavoidable in work settings where collaboration and teamwork are necessary. However, when there is an absence of Biblical consideration and respect, that’s where things get messy.
Part of having a strong, Christ-centered business is recognizing that everything is not going to be rainbows and butterflies. You cannot expect to avoid difficulty or ignore conflict simply because you are following the Lord. Christ experienced a lot of conflict in His ministry. However, it is our approach that will be the difference.
Handling conflict Biblically also requires intentionality in work culture and is an aspect of your business where faith can absolutely be incorporated. If the culture of conflict in your business is marked with humility and grace, rather than hostility and frustration, then your workplace could be transformed. For more resources on Biblical Conflict, visit Peacemakers Ministries.
As we have discussed, each of these areas requires intentionality and strong Christian leadership. However, when we pursue faith in our business we are seeking work by God’s design. Take bite-sized pieces. This change won’t occur overnight, it will require time. Which idea could you explore first?
Share your thoughts for incorporating your faith in your Christian business below! We can’t wait to hear what the Lord does as a result!
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