Pauline’s Notebook

As women in today’s society, we’ve been given the opportunities to study and to work. But, as Christian women, we must remember that we do not live for academic achievements nor for career opportunities. Instead, we should see our environment whether it be campus or workplace as our mission field and not our home.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13 that we “are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Our workplace is our mission field and we are to ’salt’ our environment. In other words, our presence should bring about an obvious difference amongst our friends/colleagues. In my first job, I was working with a young man about my age, and at one particular time, he was rather upset because he heard that his mother was very ill. I offered him my sympathies but what I also did was offer to pray for him and his mother. I can still remember a sense of wonder on his face. This offer of prayer to our Lord was a little bit of salt shaken onto his life. I can personally testify that trying to live as ’salt’ in my various work places, has led me to numerous opportunities in sharing the gospel to people. I have been invited out to lunch by individuals just to talk about the faith that I have in Christ. I honestly did not initiate any of these lunches. I will change their names for privacy sake but I remember Lara being one at my first consulting firm, Robina at the financial firm, then there was Miriam and Arthur at my current workplace. Their common question to me on these separate lunch occasion was this, ‘I can see that what you believe shapes your life in every way. Why is that?’ We need to believe that in Christ, we can ’salt’ our workplaces and they should be able to taste and see the goodness of Christ through us. The passage also warns us that if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Have you become un-salty? Do others see you as being different in a good and nourishing way?

In our workplace, we also need to be like them to win them over to Christ. In 1 Cor 9:19-23 the apostle Paul tells us of his approach to winning over the unbelievers. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” One thing we must make clear from this passage - the gospel and its blessings are our main priority and we should not be like our unbelieving friends if it causes us to compromise our share in the blessings of the gospel. I remember one time at a work function, my boss in his drunken state asked me ‘If your God told you to lie, would you do it?’. Well, of course the answer to that would be NO because my God is a holy God and He hates sin. So then, what does it mean to be like our friends so that they may be won over? I believe it’s the sharing of common values but the difference being that we do not make those values our idols. One of my work friends values family life. She knows by my personal sharing that I value my family very much. She also knows by my personal sharing that I value my relationship with my Heavenly Father more than my family. I share other similar values with my friend and that is what makes our friendship true. Being like them makes it easier for them to be won over by the gospel.

Then again, we should also not be like them (for they live for themselves). Instead, we are to live a life of such good deeds towards them, that God may be glorified. Another work colleague of mine who was initially very antagonistic towards my Christian faith has since mellowed in his comments. Infact, in the past 10 years of knowing him, he now holds my character to such a high degree that he keeps telling me to run for mayor in the local council (I find this amusing yet I also give all glory to God). Unbelievers should see our Christian character as described in 1 Peter 2:11,12. Here, Peter the apostle urges us in this manner, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Sadly, I have known of a Christian friend of mine who is faithful and loves teaching the bible in church but in her work environment, faced many conflicts with a particular work colleague of hers and they could not work together. The challenge for my friend was to live a life of goodness towards this work mate so that he may see her good deeds and glorify God for it. Unbelievers are not turned off by our professing faith in Christ but by our character. Our behaviour towards them speaks a thousand words if we want to share the gospel of Jesus to them. We need to live such good lives that they may glorify God when He visits.

Finally, we must also remember to persevere in the face of ridicules or indifference to our faith. In 2 Cor 2:15,16 we are told that “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” If we are ridiculed or they are indifferent to our faith, remember that the message of Christ is like the smell of death to them. Our response to ridicules and indifference should be to continue to do good deeds to them, to be like them to win them, and to keep praying for them. And we need to continue to hope for the Holy Spirit to change their lives by God’s sovereign grace.

In conclusion, we should expect to be ridiculed and feel alienated because of our faith. Remember to forgive for they are dead to the faith and speak only out of ignorance. Yet, their negative comments should NOT be directed towards our character because the Holy Scriptures tells us to live good lives, ’salt’ our workplace and do such good deeds to those around us, that they may be won over. Our workplace is not our home. It is our mission field. As our mission field, we need to offer our non-believing friends the hope that we have in Christ our Lord. Amen.

I recently started a bible reading group in my home. We gather together (a few women) once a  month and I usually print out 3-4 chapters of a book and we read through it together. Printing out the chapters are a good way as I get to highlight sections and make notes on the side. After we read the passage, we share things that has struck us from the passage and we ask questions. Then we pray together.

I started this bible reading group for two reasons - I was inspired and challenged. I was inspired because for the past 9 years I have attended a bible reading group at work. I don’t always get to attend as I work part-time and I often work from home, but I go whenever I am in the office and the group meets every fortnight. In the past year, a work colleague of mine joined the bible reading group and he was a non believer to begin with! I was inspired to know that the bible alone is attractive to non believers! Secondly, I was challenged. The past few years, I have become very close friends with another work colleague. I’ve mentioned her before, we talk about our families and we even hang out socially. When I first met her, she was antagonistic towards my Christian faith, a snide comment here and there was never far from her lips about my church activities. Then, a few months ago, as a conversation usually ended up on the area of my ‘faith’, she said to me ‘Pauline, the reason why I don’t get Christianity is because I just can’t understand the relevance of the bible to my life.’ Wow! I mean WOW! Here is a good friend of mine finally cutting through the veneer of her snide comments to bear her honest reason - she just could not understand how the bible is relevant to her life! I so dearly wanted her to see just how relevant the bible is in everything its busting me up!

So, by the inspiration and challenge of two non believing work friends, I was compelled to read the bible and have as many people come and join me. If the bible can be so attractive to a non believer and is the path to saving all non believers, how much more can we benefit from reading the bible as a believer!

Here are some more reasons http://www.theresurgence.com/the_studying_christian

Having a baby does not have to mean we have to stop the things we are passionate about. For me, I have always wanted to serve people to continue in their walk with the Lord and for reaching out to people. I would like to share some things I have done while with 2 young pre-school kids. This is to encourage those who are expecting a child or have young children that starting a family can also bring about many forms of outreach to others.

Start/Attend a Church run Mother’s Group

Meeting every fortnight at my place. We had a regular attendance of 4-5 mums. I had a helper come to look after the kiddies. We did various things - covering a book on Christian parenting, guest speaker, bible readings, craft events (book binding) and topicals where each mum took turns preparing one topic. Everyone brought a plate of morning tea to share. Our time slot was 10-12pm which suited the varied age ranges of babies/toddlers. We did not do lunch afterwards. I personally met up with the kids helper for 1-1 discipleship after the mums left. The other mums seemed to have other things to do - so ending at 12pm was good for everyone.

1-1 discipleship with a younger female.

I have been meeting up with one particular woman in 1-1 discipleship for many years now. We have covered many books, bible studies, laughter, tears and prayers together. It has been such a fruitful time for both of us. You might ask - how did you give your child attention during that time? Aha! Be creative, I used to do 1-1 in a playground, praying with this young lady while swinging my child. Anything is possible!

Start/Attend a Church run Playgroup.

Help start a church run playgroup if a venue is suitable. I helped start a Friday Playgroup along with a partnering church - it still exists today and draws in many carers and children in the local area. This was the best avenue to reach out to the local mums. In fact, it was how I could introduce a mum to our Mother’s group which exposed her to many Christian workshops/talks/fellowship.

1-1 discipleship with another mum.

Can be tricky especially when both our kids need constant attention. I tried this with another mum for a short period. Despite the trick-ness I still thank God for the opportunities we had. Even a chance to pray together and study the bible together is a rewarding time spent!

Join the Public School P&C
I had good intentions to reach out to mums this way. However, I found that I spent most of the time really working on fund raising events like BBQ, canteen, fairs, etc. Very little impact on building deeper relationships with individual mums. I did however, have the opportunity to ask one or two mums I got to know better to evangelistic events and church.

Prayer Group

This quickly morphed to a Christianity Explained Group (below). During its 3 months life span, it was a great time to build my relationship with another Christian mum and prayers of reaching out to the local mums were quickly answered.

Christianity Explained Group

Spent an enjoyable year doing a Christianity Course to local mums from my child’s school. Somehow, one mum asked another mum and their friends joined. It was a very memorable time and hopefully seeds were sown. In this particular case, because I was leading it, I did have to engage a helper to take care of my little one. I did find that if there are other kids around of similar age, my child was happily occupied and I did not need a helper.

Working Part-time

Doing part-time work has so far given me the most exposure to reaching out to the 21st Century DINKs. I am able to spend all my lunch breaks going for lunch walks and talking to the working parents about my family values, church life etc. Compared to all the other forms of outreach, this one has been the most fruitful. I have made a much more deeper impact making friendships from work because I am with them 3 days a week, 8 hours a day. They have even come over on weekends with their kids and joined us in a family prayer and meal.

Conclusion: All forms of outreach are good. Whatever stage of life, remain faithful to
God’s command and reaching out. God will have His way and call upon those He has mercy. We are just to remain faithful and be a salt and light to the world no matter what we do.