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XL Summit: Better Together: How Workplace Ministry Contributes to the
Flourishing of a City Continued from Front Page
work life ministry in and through the local
Representing the United States, Proudfit was one church, AWOP executive team member Bobbie
of 850 global leaders from 110 countries at the by Sparks interviewed leaders and changemakers to
see how they find success in working with local
-invitation gathering.
congregations and ministry networks.
Another key part of the discussion at the summit
focused on unlocking the power of purposeful
employment.
“We’re facing an epidemic in our country: Three
out of four working Americans are disengaged at
work—they don’t enjoy being there, and they
don’t feel fulfilled in their work,” explained John
McCarthy, president of AGI Hospitality Recruit-
ing and AWOP executive team member. “How
do we expect to see salt and light in the market-
place if most Christians don’t even enjoy being at
work?”
The panel discussion, led by McCarthy, featured
Kathy Book, Founder of Women in the Market-
place, Inc.; Brian Holbrook of Job Search Focus
Group (JSFG); and Brett Ralston, co-founder of
Roots Staffing. The session highlighted how local
groups and leaders are working to help people
identify and follow purpose-driven pathways.
“We need to curb this trend, and the only way to
do so is to help people rediscover their purpose
and to identify purposeful employment,” said
McCarthy. “If we could bring 1 million disen-
gaged workers in our region to a place of pur-
pose—and into a place of purposeful employ-
ment—imagine the impact that could have for the
Kingdom in the marketplace,” he added.
Helen Mitchell, director of the Talbot Center for
Faith, Work, and Economics at Biola University,
described her work to help churches take the next
step in the work life ministry movement: “This is
an organizational change,” she explained.
“You’re defining strategy and integrating this in-
to the church culture. It is more than programs.
You are redirecting the ship. More churches are
In a session facilitated by AWOP executive team engaging in this conversation with great enthusi-
member Laura Jackson, attendees heard practical asm, but generally, efforts are not sustainable or
strategies and ways to disciple within the work-
impactful.”
place. Panelists included Julie Thomas of Priority
Logistics Group and Priority Dispatch; Dr. Gary In looking at how Cincinnati can continue to
Huber of Huber Personalized Medicine; and Ron learn from other citywide transformation models,
Henry of Marketplace Chaplains.
Proudfit turned to panelists to hear their lessons
learned.
Henry explored the role of Marketplace Chap-
lains, explaining that chaplain care partners are
Tom White of Frontline Ministries and author of
professionally trained professionals who have a
The Practitioner’s Guide to Building City Gospel
heart for the influencing an employees’ and their Movements reminded attendees of the im-
family members overall spiritual and emotional
portance—especially in the midst “of all the
well-being.
noise”—in fostering a rhythm and culture of
prayer in a city movement. “If we're going to ask
As a business owner, Thomas explained that dis- for an expected spiritual and societal transfor-
cipleship at work for her is about seeing employ- mation, either in the workplace or in the city of
ees as a whole person, respecting them uncondi- Cincinnati and beyond…it’s going to be by the
tionally, and learning how to deeply listen to
presence and the power of God,” he said.
them. “For 25 years I’ve been unpacking love in
a very practical way,” she explained.
Henry agreed, and spoke about another theme of
the summit: the necessity for individuals and
During a panel discussion on how to cultivate
groups to come together to steward a sustainable
difference in the community. “We proceed at the
speed of trust,” he said.
Proudfit agreed, citing how coordination and col-
laboration are a part of the “next steps” for the
faith at work movement. “Together, we need to
be a collective force for the Lord in the work-
place. The question is: ‘How can we complete
each other?’—versus, ‘How can we compete with
each other?’” said Proudfit. “We recognize that
we are better together.”
Other spotlight panelists and speakers included:
Tom Thatcher, professor of Biblical Studies and
dean of the Russell School of Ministry at Cincin-
nati Christian University; Eric Swanson of the
Leadership Network and co-author of To Trans-
form a City; Drew Dinkelacker, president of The
Marketing Accelerator; and Darrel Geis, presi-
dent of the Christian Blue Network.
While the event explored where the workplace
ministry movement is headed, the XL Summit
also included time to honor and celebrate those
heavily invested in the growth of the ministry
community to date.
One of those integral members: Jerry Kirk, who
has had profound influence in the movement, na-
tionally and internally, for more than 50 years.
Kirk is former senior pastor of College Hill Pres-
byterian Church, founder of the National Coali-
tion for the Protection of Children and Families,
and founder of The Prayer Covenant.
In celebration of Kirk’s impact, Revivaltown Mu-
sic Group performed music inspired by the prayer
covenant at the close of the summit.
About At Work On Purpose (AWOP)
At Work On Purpose is a pioneer in the work-
place ministry movement, advancing citywide
workplace ministry around the world. With offic-
es in Mason and Blue Ash, Ohio, more than
10,000 individuals from the private, public, and
social sectors are a part of the AWOP community
in Greater Cincinnati alone, with thousands of
others in the AWOP network globally.
To learn more about AWOP’s innovative
citywide workplace ministry model or to find out
how you can get involved, visit
http://www.atworkonpurpose.org or call (800)
513-9580.