Episode 74: How to Multiply Workplace Missionaries in Your Small Church

Do you remember what it’s like to have a job that wasn’t being a pastor?

If you’re a full-time vocational pastor, it might have been awhile since you punched the clock in a secular work environment. For the bi-vocational and house pastors out there, you know well the struggles that face people putting in long hours, and how hard it is to see a redemptive quality in often-times monotonous work.

I worked at a bank before I got my foot in the ministry door with Jeff, and I remember how difficult it was to find purpose in my work. I believed the lie that church work is spiritual and everything else is not.

The reality is, all work is important to the Kingdom.

On this episode of the podcast, John Pletcher, the lead pastor of Manor Church in Lancaster, PA walks us through some of the key points of his book, Henry's Glory: A Story for Discovering Lasting Significance in Your Daily Work, and provides us with some guidance about how we as pastors can encourage and affirm the men and women in our churches who are part of the workforce.

There is an unhealthy division in the church between what is done for God and the practical aspects of life. John talks about a guy from his church who saw Sunday as his “God” time and Monday through Saturday as his “real” time.

What is really convicting about that story is that, in many cases, it’s pastors who are responsible for making people feel as though their work is disconnected from the Kingdom activities they participate in at church.

As 200church pastors, we have unique opportunities to really encourage our people on a personal level and affirm them and the work that they’re doing week in and week out.

We can visit our people at the office.

Buy them lunch and learn about their jobs.

We can genuinely show them that we know what they’re doing at work is important to the Kingdom of God.

This week, how can you encourage someone in your church and demonstrate to them that their work is valuable? How can you help someone see the Kingdom impact they’re having - Every. Single. Day?

Don’t miss out on listening to this podcast and the information that John shares. It truly can have a big impact on the way you think about your church people, and their "secular" work!



You can find John Pletcher on Twitter at @JohnEPletcher and online at www.JohnEltonPletcher.com. You can find his book, Henry's Glory: A Story for Discovering Lasting Significance in Your Daily Work right here!

Check out this quick video from our trip to Wichita!

The video image above is the real opulent and luxurious office of our District Superintendent. Oh yeah. We recorded a great podcast episode for small church pastors in this office - soon to be released!