Every Christian is a minister and labor is worship! – Ed Silvoso

“whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Today is Labor Day, a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

On August 27-28, I went to Virginia Beach for a “Workplace Ministry Leaders Roundtable” co-sponsored by Regent University and the International Coalition of Workplace Ministries (ICWM). During one of his outstanding presentations, Os Hillman, the Executive Director for the ICWM, shared a powerful video testimony of Fred Hartley [http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/pages.asp?pageid=9303], a pastor from Atlanta Georgia.

Pastor Fred said “During the last module of the College of Prayer, I was convicted as Vanessa Battle was teaching on marketplace ministry about my lack of prayer support for our marketplace leaders.” As a result, Fred asked people from his church congregation to write their names on a piece of paper along with their employers, boss’s names, and CEO’s of their companies so he could pray for them. Many people came forward to be commissioned as marketplace ministers and to be prayed for. The response was overwhelming.

Little did I know, God would bless me with a similar first-hand experience within a week. On August 31, I sent an email to Matt Gregory, my pastor, with a link to Fred’s video testimony. Pastor Matt had already planned to share a message on this Labor Day weekend titled “Work is Worship.”

Near the end of yesterday’s Sunday worship service, Matt asked each person to write down his job title, employer, and boss’ name so he could pray for those in authority over us as well as our marketplace. He then invited workers to come to the front of the auditorium to be commissioned as marketplace ministers and to be prayed for. Many people responded. I was very touched. Something magnificent happened in the spiritual realm.

Has your pastor ever commissioned the people in your church to be marketplace ministers?
If not, would it help to forward this email along with a brief personal note from you?

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for gift of work. Thank You for my boss, employer, and co-workers. Bless them. Remind me daily that my primary occupation is ambassador for Jesus and that it is You I am working for. Help me to keep my commitment to pray for my co-workers and boss, to do my work as worship, and to openly and publically bring Jesus to work with me. Open the eyes of pastors to understand the importance of commissioning their marketplace leaders and praying for those in authority over them. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Regent University [www.regent.edu]

Blessings to fulfill your role as a minister!

Other sites of interest: International Coalition of Work Place Ministries [www.icwm.net]