don’t give up the habit of meeting together
“BUT how can we meet?”, I hear you say, “when we’re told to work from home, when we’re self-isolating or social distancing…?”
Quite easily thanks to technology, whether that’s Facebook, WhatsApp, Emails, Intranet systems like yammer, bluebird, zoom calls, skype for business or let's face it good old-fashioned phone calls… although did you know you can set up three way calls on smartphones? Isn’t technology great?
Once you've established the means of 'virtual' connection, the question is – logically how does one ‘meet’? Below are some ideas to help you… but above all – listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit who ultimately is our teacher!
Each month ask a different member of the group to briefly share their testimony. Encourage the member whose turn it is to
Once a month send out a message on the WhatsApp group
Once a month highlight a topic / issue for prayer regarding your workplace.
Focus on what you're celebrating as an organisation.
Taking a 30 minutes break to pray with colleagues is so beneficial and makes very good business sense for your organisation. Make sure everyone has access to the relevant technology and the dial in / internet links. Make sure the Chair of the meeting introduces who is online, if a small group, and give space for each other to say a quick hi at the start. When you meet online simply ask these two questions;
What is going well in your work / department / organisation?
It could be that people share answered prayers from the week before.
What are the main issues you / your department / organisation is facing at work at the moment?
Don't be afraid to keep on sharing the same issues and keep praying and seeking the Lord for his answers / strategy of way forward.
A. and B. are your praise and prayer pointers.
Once a week set aside 15-30 minutes to put together a short action email for the members of your group. Write an email and ask that your colleagues to pray over the words as they read them. In this way you are facilitating workplace prayer for staff at their work desks. It is powerful to think that 5 or 100 people (depending on the size of your Christian Workplace Group) are corporately praying over the same issue or person. It is exciting to think change will happen as a result! Here is an example.
Hi Christian Colleagues, Whilst at your desk, would you like to join me to stop for a few minutes and pray for e.g., David Jones, CEO of Ultimate Consultancy. Father, we lift David Jones to you today and ask for your protection on him, his wife and children. Thank you that he has been willing to take up this post and we pray you give him wisdom and discernment as he leads this organisation. We pray that you, through his leadership would prosper this organisation in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. God Bless you in your work for Him today. Lucy Smith Christian Workplace Group Leader
Our Father in Heaven, As a Christian Staff Network Group we seek your protection on our colleagues and those they love, that they will not be infected with covid 19. That our Christian colleagues will rest in the shadow of the Almighty so that his outstretched wings will protect them and fend off the disease that prowls in darkness. That God will stop harm getting through the door into their homes. For discernment in knowing what is safe to do, where to go and where is unsafe. That Christians will bring God's light and reassurance into their workplace. Wisdom for those in authority that they may minimise the impact. That Christians will be filled with God's peace, show serenity and help others to be calm. Endurance and energy for medical staff. Thank you for our jobs and we choose to trust in You and your hand of protection on your people at this time. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen. 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A Christmas Message For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We did it - 20 years Come and join us on Saturday 30th September, 1:30-4:30pm on the site of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer. Coleshill, Midlands. Meet Paul Bulkeley, the Architect of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer So many great stories from Paul in this interview. God totally led him from his studies to his career to winning the competition to be the architect for this amazing God ordained project. Jesus To Be Revealed For Advent 2023 we will have 3 x 45 min early evening zoom prayer meetings spread out during the week beginning 27 November. Celebrate the 20 Year Journey of Transform Work Come and join us on Saturday 30th September, 1:30-4:30pm on the site of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer. Coleshill, Midlands. Get Your Very Own Transform Work T Shirt! This is a great opportunity to get conversations started simply by wearing your T shirt to work or church. Our Ambassadors have already reported that people have asked them about the T shirt when they are wearing it. Declaration of Shared Christian Mission in the Workplace As leaders of Christian workplace mission organisations we unite to serve our Heavenly Father in the workplaces of the United Kingdom and the nations. Transform Work at No. 10 A word from the Chair of the Board of Transform Work who was able to join the Working Party. Going Deeper Delegates from pharma, education, health, local government and business went to Ffald Y Brenin for a weekend of prayer and worship. Read on to see what happened. Welcome Meetings Periodically have open meetings where the format and content is designed for people who are new to the group, Faith Friendly Workplaces On Monday 16th January 2023, faith representatives from Thames Water, OVO Energy, Rolls-Royce met at the University of Derby Multi-Faith Centre (MFC). Faith Literacy Launch We had such a great time at the Faith Literacy launch day last week. What an opportunity for Christians to engage with their HR departments and run a course to explain the Christian faith for all staff. Human Rights At Work Please take the survey Deadline is extended to April 13th! Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the survey and please also send to the members of your groups. By My Spirit Happy New Year from all of us Transform Work. Feeling tired or anxious about the work that lies ahead? Read on for some New Year encouragement. I Will Give You Rest It's the season to be jolly, but for many of us that will be quite a challenge. The last two years have been draining and the pandemic has left a lot of people physically and mentally exhausted. Annual Celebration and General Meeting If you missed our AGM don't worry, here's some catch up videos with all the details. Jesus To Be Revealed Come and join us for a day of prayer and fasting in person or online on 23rd November as we enter the season of advent. Our Collaboration With Thy Kingdom Come Have a read of Thy Kingdom Comes annual report, Transform Work is featured on page 16. Faith Friendly Workplaces Faith networks are often badly supported or missing completely from an organisation's Diversity policy! Here's our response... Become an Ambassador with Transform Work If you have a passion to support Christians on the front line of mission -why not join our Ambassador Team. Here's Andrew on why he joined and stayed! Wisdom 4 Work Introduction An introduction to Wisdom 4 Work by Pastor Femi Idowu. If you want to act and pray effectively at work, step 1 is knowing what to do by receiving insights from the Word of God. Join Femi on this journey of growing in Wisdom For Work. Resilience and new shoots! What we have seen in Transform Work both with the individual workplace groups and the sector groups has been an incredible God-given resilience Yearly Round Up So how has your group gone this year? The highs the lows, why don't you have one last group chat and share. It is a great practice to stop and reflect. Below is a short report one group from the Oxfordshire County Council Christian Network Group: Disruption, Time Away from Family and Making the Most of a Bad Situation Our prayer for each and every one of you is that we could continue to be a counter-cultural light in an increasingly gloomy working climate where we hold firmly to the word of life (Phil 2:15-16). The best time to shine is when it’s dark! 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Our Father in Heaven, As a Christian Staff Network Group we seek your protection on our colleagues and those they love, that they will not be infected with covid 19. That our Christian colleagues will rest in the shadow of the Almighty so that his outstretched wings will protect them and fend off the disease that prowls in darkness. That God will stop harm getting through the door into their homes. For discernment in knowing what is safe to do, where to go and where is unsafe. That Christians will bring God's light and reassurance into their workplace. Wisdom for those in authority that they may minimise the impact. That Christians will be filled with God's peace, show serenity and help others to be calm. Endurance and energy for medical staff. Thank you for our jobs and we choose to trust in You and your hand of protection on your people at this time. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.