Insight for the Journey

Many people feel a sense of futility about letting their life be their ministry in the workplace. They may say, “My work is a place where I can’t really make a difference. I really don’t have much influence.” But God wants to use you whatever you’re doing, wherever you’re at, to be a light.

Back on June 24 of this year we got a message from a couple that used to attend Grace but have moved out of state because of work. Their names are Jim & Denis Sherman. This illustrates what awesome things can happen when we let our light shine in the workplace. I asked their permission to share this story. It is written in their own words.

Hello there! My wife & I use to attend Grace before we came to Virginia. We live at Fort Belvior now, and still have our house in Round Lake for us when we return someday. Ok let me just say years ago a contractor named Bill Benson, who I did business with through a building supply company I work through, came up to me & said “Do you believe in Jesus?”. It made me feel weird to be questioned like that, you see I just met Bill that day & was trying to sell him siding, not bibles, so I was lost for words but said “yes I do.”

Well that answer was half hearted and Bill probably saw through it. He said “what are you doing this week after work?” Well my wife was in Iraq & I really didn’t have much going on so I said “nothing”. He said there was a “MALE BIBLE STUDY” and I should come as his guest. I was scared at this male bible study-thing, mainly because I had no clue what it was & really didn’t believe in having faith or God in my life, or at least I thought.

I went, it was different to me seeing guys coming together over studying the Bible and not a football game or something else that guys circle around like crazy fans hanging on each play or word. I sat & listened. Then, Sunday came around & I went to Sunday’s service & saw Rex & the band & many different people around me worshipping. That was different in a good way because I was feeling at ease and enjoying it all. That was really great news to my wife in Iraq when I told her over the phone. She always had faith and God in her life. She always prayed that I would give faith & God a chance. I never thought that way & wasn’t looking for it. But I found Grace Fellowship & kept going until my wife came home from Iraq. Then for the first time in our relationship we went to a Sunday service together. She loved the place, the band, the people, Rex, and the message. We kept going & during this time God blessed us with a beautiful baby boy named Devin. The first time we took him there he was only a few weeks old, we sat towards the back in the dark singing the songs with everyone, and it felt great.

Well shortly after this my wife was offered a position at headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. That was a blessing. We have been here one year and we often talk about home. But what has surprised me is really how much I miss Grace Fellowship and the message I got from you all. That there is a place for me, that worshipping God isn’t always what you think or heard about from others, and that if you just come has you are & let go of the “whatevers” that is holding you back from true happiness and let God into your life, then you will understand “TRUE HAPPINESS”. We miss Grace Fellowship a lot! That’s true! But we didn’t miss the message you sent us while we were there. We have faith & God in our family because of your message. I just wanted to say thank you to Bill Benson, Rex, Grace Fellowship, and God for giving us that. God Bless you all. Jim & Denis Sherman

Well, Bill, we call him “wild Bill”, wasn’t real subtle about his faith. He just kind of went for the jugular: “Do you know Jesus?”  And God honored that. Bill Benson, in his own way, was representing Jesus Christ in the work place. He was letting his life be his ministry.