This is an interesting one because whereas a few years ago, and still, in some work places, there are no restrictions on sharing your faith, these days you could find yourself in trouble if you did so, albeit in good faith (no pun intended). So, how do you go about sharing your faith effectively without ending up before the Human Resources panel?

 

1. Don't use words. Now, I'm not saying you should never say anything about your faith in the workplace. What I mean is this; sometimes, people take in more, just by observing your actions. Let your daily life (at work) be the Gospel you preach. Sometimes you don’t even need to say anything. Some people have unfortunately had bad experiences with Christians or 'church' in the past, so ‘preaching’ to them may just cause them to run in the opposite direction. So, focus on doing your best and giving your best at work. Excel in everything you do. Be on time. Avoid gossip. Stand up for what is right. Always speak the truth. People will soon notice and hopefully ask you why you're the way you are. When this happens, there's your opportunity!

 

2. ​Get to know people. Spend time talking to them, learning about their personal lives. Take interest in them, genuinely. This might mean deciding to have lunch with your colleagues, even though you’d rather spend that time alone reading a book, or going out for drinks afterwards. But, be careful that you’re not doing any of this with a hidden agenda, i.e. solely to get them into the Kingdom. Our agenda should be first and foremost to love people, and gain their trust. God Himself does the work of convicting and saving people so don’t make that your main goal. Care for people and ask God for windows of opportunity and He will give them to you. I remember reading somewhere that people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. So, show people that you care about them.

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3. Don't force it. If someone says no, respect their decision and leave it at that. I’ve read and heard stories of people that got into trouble or even lost their jobs because they refused to take ‘no’ for an answer. Of course you’re telling them the Good News and you want them to go to Heaven. Of course they should be able to see that you’re saving them from eternal damnation. You may have all the best intentions but if you try to force the Gospel on someone, you could end up doing more harm than good. If someone doesn’t want prayer, accept that. You can continue praying for them in your own personal time anyway, but don’t push it. If in doubt, refer to number two above. Love people. But remember, no matter how much you love someone and want them to come to know Christ, He loves them even more, and is able to reach them when you can’t.

 

4. Be upfront with people. For example, if you decide you want to invite someone to church, don’t tell them you’re inviting them to a meeting with some friends and let them think it’s just some friends hanging out. Don't be sly about it. This is important especially if it’s someone that doesn’t usually go to church. Tell them what to expect, for example, that there’ll be music, a talk, and maybe prayers afterwards. If they say it’s not for them, no worries. Don’t sweat it. If they agree however, great! They know what they’re signing up for and you don’t have to worry that they’ll walk out halfway, annoyed that they’ve been deceived. Don’t try to trick people, because, when they find out, you may have lost them for good.

 

5. Don't forget to pray! With all our goodwill and effort, we must remember that it is God that does the conviction and saving, not us. We are only vessels that He uses. Pray, pray and pray some more. When you pray, God opens doors and gives you opportunities that you would never have come up with yourself. When you pray, God brings people your way that will be open and receptive to what you have to say. Don’t underestimate the importance of prayer.