As a business owner with the desire to carry my faith into the workplace, I often wonder how I can best do that. I have read stories and heard speakers talk about this subject but they usually stay at a 50,000 foot level. Rarely do they give me any real solid insight into what I can do to make the rubber meet the road. I suppose that ultimately this is based upon individual giftedness and calling. There probably is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to workplace ministry.

Just the same, as I seek God's leading in this area of my life, below are some of the things I have learned.

Revere And Relish It. The workplace is the greatest mission field available to most Christians in America. We have a huge opportunity literally in our laps. It is not to be taken lightly. It can be easy to look at those in professional ministry and think they are playing a greater Kingdom role than the rest of us ... but our ability to have a life-changing impact on others is every bit as great as it is for those in professional ministry. And we have the added benefit of being able to approach others on a very personal non-clerical basis that can be more conducive to being received with an open ear and an open mind.

Live It. If you want to bring your faith into the workplace, you must present the life of an authentic Christ-follower. You must be filled with the Holy Spirit in a way which affects all of your words and actions. You truly must Walk The Talk if you're going to be an effective workplace minister.

Expect It. Others in the workplace are not always going to understand you. The workplace is often corrupt with greed and ego. When the workplace sees leadership that does not those things, it sometimes does not know what to do. Jesus' principles of compassion, love, and grace do not coincide with greed and ego. Ultimately, God is the One who creates transformation; all we can do is plant seeds. Expect disappointments. Some folks are not yet ripe to "get it." You have to be prepared to move on, knowing that ultimately it is all in God's hands and that the experiences of workplace ministry are part of your journey of spiritual formation as well.

Share It. This goes without saying. God will present you all sorts of opportunities for sharing. Opportunities to share your story, opportunities to share your time, and opportunities to share your blessings and resources. Hop to it. Don't be shy. If God gives you an opportunity to share, and you know He is calling you to it, do not ignore it. That opportunity will never come again.

Never Give Up On It. Yes, there will be times to cut your losses but you do so without looking back. Discipleship is a journey. Your greatest opportunities always lie ahead of you. There will be struggles and challenges. Defining moments for you to prove your muster. There may be times when you think to yourself that it would be so much easier to follow the ways of today's marketplace instead of the ways of Jesus. But you mustn't. Whatever happens, never never never never never never give up

Look At It. Step back occasionally and look at what you've done. Celebrate successes. It's good for the heart, providing tremendous inspiration and encouragement for the future. When you lead an organization, no one else is there to affirm that you have done a good job. It's good to occasionally step back and take a look at how richly God has blessed you and your ministry.