"Here I Am, Send Me!"

Let me tell you a story of two young teenagers.

Forty years ago, their lives intersected at a youth conference in San Diego, Ca. After a week of talent competition and nightly rallies, the closing session was on Friday night July 13, 1979. The speaker challenged the teens to commit to full time Christian ministry for their lives. These 2 teens both made that commitment on the same night - declaring:

"Here I am, send me." Isaiah 6:8

Three years later these 2 teens, Jim and I, would finally meet each other, become best friends and get married. We both believed that our commitment in 1979 meant we were to be full-time pastors or missionaries. God kept us from attending seminary but we struggled with how we would fulfill our commitment while we worked our "secular" jobs.

Fast forward a few decades and we slowly started to understand that our work was our ministry and our mission field. What a liberating way to live! To know that God had gifted us as entrepreneurs to be missionaries right where we conducted business every day.

It's been 40 years since the day we committed ourselves to full time ministry, if only we understood that all 40 years we have been serving in ministry (at work). Now, Jim and I have the pleasure of helping our radio and podcast listeners understand what we really committed to 40 years ago - living in full time ministry every day. We don't live with regret, but we do live more intentionally - understanding that "our workplace is our mission field, and in that mission field we may be the only Jesus our co-workers and employees ever see."

I'm grateful to have been challenged as a teen to make a commitment, and hope that you too will commit to "Here I am, send me (to my workplace each day)". You might consider joining the iWork4Him Nation as a great first step towards this commitment.

Happy 40 years of ministry together!

About the Author, Martha Brangenberg

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Martha has been involved in small business her entire life. Gifted with an attention to detail and a sweet sensitive spirit, Martha is a servant leader with a deep faith in Jesus.

SHARE - Part I

Over the last 4 weeks we have talked through the strategy behind the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.

It's all about developing a lifestyle of Prayer, Care and Share. We have talked through PRAYER and CARE. If you have missed those blogs, CLICK HERE to catch up.

This week and next we talk about SHARE.

To be honest, this is where most Christ Followers get hung up. We have been taught that in order for us to be effective, we need to have some routine and 16 scriptures memorized.

It is REALLY important that we realize that we will not be SAVING anyone. We will not be leading them to Christ. That is the work of Holy Spirit.

You are never going to argue someone into following Jesus. We just need to be willing to share our Jesus story, realize the hopelessness of our own lives without Jesus, recognize our need to get rid of our sin through repenting, (turning 180 degrees) and start walking down the narrow path with Jesus.

We just need to get our story down.

• How did you realize your need for Jesus?

• What was life like without Him?

• What was rampant sin doing to you and those around you?

• How hard was it to surrender to a Lord who was all loving, all forgiving, all merciful and also full of grace?

Then you need to tell them what life has been like since you surrendered from living your life your own way to walking with Jesus His Way. Please don't make this more difficult than it needs to be. When you are sharing your story, you are sharing the Truth and how the Truth set you free, once and for all.

Next week, I am going to share with you a few methods that I have found to keep the scriptures straight in my mind, as we take the conversation from sharing our story to sharing about Jesus and what He said when He was here.

If they know you CARE, they will allow you to SHARE.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The "iWork4Him Nation' Convenant - Tenet FOUR

All along be a person of excellence in your workplace - the #1 employee in your position

I don't know about you, but excellence is rare in the workplaces of America. When you receive excellent service from a waiter, clerk, housekeeper or even an online purchase - does it take your breath away, it does mine?

As Jesus followers, what if excellence described everything about the work we do?

In our workplace, we should be the number one employee in our position. Everything we do should not just meet the standards we've agreed to, but exceed those expectations.

Excellence in our workplace needs to be demonstrated by those who have been given everything to live for. That's us Jesus followers, and that's why it's a part of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.

Is your work mediocre? Does your performance evaluation include the phrase "meets expectations"? That just won't fly for a Jesus follower. Let's try to get "exceeds expectations" on the next one and do excellent work today!

Be excellent!

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The "iWork4Him Nation" Convenant - Tenet TWO

Looking for ways to serve those you work alongside above and beyond your job requirement.

Part of the iWork4Him Nation covenant is to look for ways to serve those that you work alongside, over and above your job requirement, not just what your job description tells you to do.

Why is this added to the iWork4Him nation covenant? Here's why.

If you are the kind of worker that only does what you're required to do, then how do you stand out among the pack? When you start to serve those you work alongside over and above what's required, your light starts to shine bright to those around you.

What are some of things you can do?

• Help out with extra projects, before or after work, maybe even work through lunch. Often we are surrounded by fellow coworkers who are overwhelmed by projects. There may be something you can do to lighten their load.

• Offer to straighten up a mess in the office, break room, or warehouse that has been ignored. Ask permission first. A clean work environment is a safe work environment and a more pleasant place to work.

• Are there things that need to be done but never get done because nobody takes the time? That can be your new extra task.

• Start serving and watch what God does with this.

For more help to live out your faith at work - join the iWork4Him Nation.

Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The "iWork4Him Nation" Convenant - Tenet ONE

Praying For those you work alongside by name

I want to talk about one of the things I learned from God as He was shaping my heart to understand that my faith and my work should be intricately connected.

That first thing I learned was to PRAY for those that I worked alongside each and every day. It made a difference.

Did it change them? Not necessarily. It changed me.

It changed my heart. It helped me to understand my role as a pastor and missionary to them. When I started praying for my coworkers and employees and my bosses by name every day, along with their spouses and their children, it helped me to see them the way my heavenly father saw them.

Join the iWork4Him Nation today and get started praying for your coworkers employees and bosses. It will change your work life.

It’s easy to join and get started! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Join the iWork4Him Nation by clicking HERE.

2. Write down their names and their immediate family members.

3. Ask for specifics to pray about.

4. Pray daily for this list.

5. See how God responds to this commitment.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

5 Never stop praying.

Special News:

In just 2 weeks - Jim and Martha Brangenberg will join hundreds of leaders for the International Culture Shapers Summit, with Jim as the emcee.  Join us in the nation's capitol and hear from America's top leaders in business, government, media, education, arts & entertainment, family and the church. Register Here

If you are not able to attend in person:  we are excited to be among the first to share the opportunity to LIVE stream this event.  Register for streaming here.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The Last Dash Before School

Preparing for the new school year Mission field.

Back to school is just around the corner. Don’t hate me – I’m just acknowledging it.  How have you spent your summer?  Have you invested into your kids? Prepared them for the sometime vicious and hostile atmosphere of school?  Your kids don’t go to public school to learn about Jesus or the Bible. 

We have to prepare them for battle, at home. 

The world is battling for their minds, and they need to learn how to defend it.  Can this school year start differently?   Let’s consider kicking off the school year by challenging your kids to be the ones to influence their peers instead of Darwin and Freud?

Challenge your kids to the iWork4Him Nation pledge https://www.iwork4him.com/jointhenation just as you have been challenged. For kids, their workplace is the school and this mission field can be more hostile than most places in this country. Every day students are bombarded with messages that challenge the very foundations of their faith.  Are your kids prepared?  Are you prepared to do battle against science class, sex ed class, social studies class, etc.? 

That is more of a defensive move.

What about being on the offense and putting the nation pledge into action. Work with your kids to identify those they should be praying for by name each and every day. Maybe it’s their 7 teachers, their bus driver, the kids they eat lunch with.  Then encourage them to serve those same people.  You, Mom or Dad could invite their teachers over to dinner and host their families.  Teach your kids what it looks like to find opportunities to pray with people when they are hurting but all along be that person of excellence in their school work and their behavior, so that people will ask them why.

Prepare your kids to answer the “why”. 

The world is looking for answers and the only answer that works for all their questions is Jesus. He is the Truth that we all seek.   Start preparing your students for battle and armor up yourself along the way. iWork4Him isn’t just for the workplace any more.

Ephesians 6:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Be a Workplace Missionary

Martha and I have been traveling the last 5 weeks. We have met with Christ Followers and interviewed them from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, and Florida.  We are weary from the travel. No, it’s not because I am old but it was because it was over 7000 miles! 

Here’s my point.

God is moving in amazing ways in workplaces all over this great country.   We have talked with people of all walks of life and God is awakening His Church to the idea of WHOLE LIFE Discipleship.  Christ-followers are living out our faith wherever they go – especially to work. When we realize that 85% of the U.S. population doesn’t go to church on a regular basis – we have to find a way to introduce them to Jesus. Let’s do it in our workplaces. 

The Workplace is the greatest mission field of the world. Do you accept the calling on you to bring Jesus to work with you?  I hereby commission you as a missionary to the lost in your workplace.

Do you feel compelled to Join the Nation? – www.iWork4Him.com – Click on the iWork4Him Nation Flag. Commit to being an agent of change in your workplace.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

iWork4Him Nation - Disciple

We continue our series on the iWork4Him Nation covenant and living out a Prayer/Care/Share/Work/Disciple lifestyle in our workplaces each and every day.

This week:  Disciple

DISCIPLE

1.  Share my life with others and teach a Biblical worldview and promote whole-life discipleship

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When we hear the word disciple, most of us get freaked out.  Most of us believe it is a job for Pastors to do.  WRONG.  Jesus called all of us to make disciples.  In order to make disciples, we just have to do what Jesus did.  Study the scriptures, feed them into people, demonstrate God’s work in our lives, and encourage them to do the same with someone else.  Discipleship is natural when you are obediently following Jesus.  Oh, I forgot one thing, Jesus did it selflessly. He set aside his agenda in favor of his heavenly father’s agenda. Want to be a good discipler? Be prepared to go all in for Jesus, setting aside your agenda and submit to God’s and then pour your life into another.

Do you feel compelled to Join the Nation? – www.iWork4Him.com – Click on the iWork4Him Nation Flag. Commit to being an agent of change in your workplace.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

iWork4Him Nation - Work

We continue our series on the iWork4Him Nation covenant and living out a Prayer/Care/Share/Work/Disciple lifestyle in our workplaces each and every day.

This week: Work

WORK

1.  Work with excellence – be the best and brightest example of a worker in my workplace position.

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

I believe as a Christ Follower, it’s my responsibility to be the best, brightest, most honest, hardest working employee in my position within the company/organization.  As the owner or employee, our workplace performance is a direct reflection on God. If we slack, we make God look bad.  People are watching us to see if Jesus really impacts everything about us.  Think about Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Once he met Jesus, everything about him started to change and he lived out his faith, even in a difficult position.  When we surrender our life to Jesus, we begin a lifelong transformation – that impacts work for sure.

Do you feel compelled to Join the Nation? – www.iWork4Him.com – Click on the iWork4Him Nation Flag. Commit to being an agent of change in your workplace.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

iWork4Him Nation - Share

We continue our series on the iWork4Him Nation covenant and the living out of a Prayer/Care/Share/Work/Disciple lifestyle in our workplaces each and every day.

This week: Share

SHARE

1.  Be ready to share the hope that is in me, Jesus.  Jesus Rescued me – He wants to rescue them as well.

1 Peter 3:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

We never know the moment that someone will ask us about our faith and our conviction that Jesus is our Lord.  The Bible says to always be ready!  Be ready to share how Jesus intersected your story and changed your life. It’s OK to practice it out loud and write it down.  I pray daily to see the opportunities when they come and that I can be bold but loving and sensitive with my workplace friend.  After sharing my story, I always refer people to read the book of John in a modern translation.   Our testimony coupled with the power of the living and active word of God is convicting. This is the work of Holy Spirit. Our job is to do the testifying.

Do you feel compelled to Join the Nation? – www.iWork4Him.com – Click on the iWork4Him Nation Flag. Commit to being an agent of change in your workplace.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.