About My Father’s Business: Taking Your Faith to Work by Regi Campbell. Multnomah. 178 pages. 2009
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I’ve read many books about integrating our faith and work. This book offers a different perspective on being a “workplace minister”. The author tells us that he has found no greater calling than to make his workplace his mission field.
In this book, the author provides a strategic method for sharing Jesus Christ in your workplace, a clear vision for your calling to be about our Father’s business at work. He provides a step-by-step plan for how you can begin the work of ministry right where you are, a strategy for assessing your workplace, identifying your opportunities, neutralizing the primary obstacles, and boldly enjoying the mission God gives you.
The book is based around the author’s intentionality map (or IMAP for short), a simple tool that that he developed to help him figure out where people in his workplace are spiritually. The word “intentionality” was added to remind him that he needed to be intentional in everything that he did in these relationships, with the overarching goal of helping them move one step at a time toward an excelling relationship with Christ. He tells us that the IMAP is a starting point, a “best guess” as to where a coworker is spiritually. It simply suggests that everyone falls into one of five categories or spiritual profiles. He helpfully provides a link for readers to create their own IMAP.
The IMAP is really a first impression, a quick assessment based on conversations that you’ve had, behaviors that you’ve observed, and things you’ve heard people you work with say. Here are the categories on the IMAP:
- Apathetic A’s are people who don’t know and don’t care about Christianity. The author tells us that until we know better, we should treat everyone as if they are Apathetic A’s.
- B’s are actively searching, looking for answers, interested in spiritual things, but not calling themselves Christians.
- C’s can often be sincere in their faith, but are more comfortable keeping personal things personal. The factor that distinguishes Confessing C’s from other Christians is that their lives lack outward evidence of growth.
- Developing D’s are disciples—learners and followers of Christ. They aren’t silent or secretive about their faith.
- E’s are Excelling Christians have welded their life purpose to their work purpose. They are fully integrated. While they do their secular jobs (and do them well), they have a spiritual purpose every day. They are on a mission from God, and it’s all wrapped in with what they do for a living.
The author goes into detail on each category of person, with helpful suggestions on how to move them to the next category of the IMAP. He tells us that the beauty of the IMAP process is that you are meeting people exactly where they are, and you’re focused only on helping them move one step closer.
The author points out some of the “land mines” for us as workplace ministers. You should be aware of the specific guidelines in your specific work environment, especially if you are in a leadership position, where issues of discrimination and harassment can come into play. He tells us to be sure that you understand what is, and is not, off-limits as you go about our Father’s business.
The book is full of stories from the author’s life that helpfully illustrate his points. Also included is a “Study Guide” that you can use individually or with a small group.