The Mission Field

When someone mentions the mission field, what is the first thing that pops into your head? I'll bet it's something like Africa or the Amazon. I will also bet that most will not say, "My workplace!" However, our workplace may be the most fertile mission field.

Check out this cool article about a guy named Chester Cook who serves the passengers and employees of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. He is a chaplain there and some could say he has the largest church in the US with over 56,000 employees and 250,000 passengers visiting daily.

The interesting thing about this article is that nothing is mentioned about Chester's credentials or training. He appears to be an ordinary guy with a big heart. What you see is someone who takes the time to listen and then to do what he can to meet the needs of those he comes into contact with.

Isn't that something all of us can do, even in our workplace? Imagine the impact you could have right where you are by doing some of these things.

You may say, "But Jim, I don't want to do that. I don't want to offend anyone. I don't know enough..." As we can see by what Chester does in the airport, you don't need a great deal of knowledge, you just need a willing heart. Besides, God will give you what you need.

This is what Ed Silvoso said about Christians in the workplace in his book, Anointed for Business:

"It is imperative that they realize that not only is it OK to do ministry in the marketplace, but God has explicitly called them and anointed them for it. By “anointed” I mean that they have been chosen and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a divinely sanctioned assignment. By “ministry” I mean that they can do more than just witness; they can bring transformation to their jobs and then to their cities—as happened in the first century."

So now you know. You are called and given an anointing to do ministry in the marketplace!

To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father--to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 1:5b-6