Ministering in the Community of Your City

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” – Galatians 6:10.

Sometimes God asks us to go all-in, and by that, I mean all-in to serving our community in a BIG way.

I have a new friend from Oklahoma who felt God calling him to help elect the next governor. It was a scary step to take his faith public and risk being targeted by the media for it, but he committed to helping elect a godly leader and went all-in to living out his faith on the campaign trail as he advised and directed. And in the end, he succeeded – his friend is now the governor of Oklahoma.

Martha and I met another friend at a meeting in Naples a few months back who has a big heart for serving her community but was unsure how to start. Then God revealed to her the plight of foster families, who often step in to help in emergencies when the state response is slow. She saw an enormous unmet need for physical items such as strollers and car seats and felt God calling her to start a thrift store that would support these families and help raise money for families in the trenches of the foster system who need help fast. She responded, "God, I will do it, but I don't know how!" Today, there are several thrift store locations and so many people that have been blessed in SW Florida because of her “yes” to God and to her community. (listen to her interview here)

The reality is that our world is broken; our communities are broken; broken by sin, by poverty, by hatred, by darkness. And tragically, the Church has largely turned over its responsibility to bring hope, healing, and provision to government programs. But God is asking you to step up, to bring hope and healing to your community and all He requires is willingness. A willingness to live out your faith and a willingness to listen to the stories of those hurting around you. Be willing, and God can and will use you to bring healing and hope to your zip code. Our series of books, iRetire4Him, iWork4Him, and sheWorks4Him, all have stories of people just like you living out their faith in their spheres of influence. You can now buy all three for just $30 - read and share them with a friend!

Jim

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!

Ministering in the Community of Neighbors

From an early age, my parents instilled in me the importance of being a good neighbor.  Always be willing to help, offer to mow your neighbor's lawn if they're out of town, and return borrowed tools in better condition than when you got them. And all of that was nice, but Jesus calls us to do more. He calls us to LOVE our neighbors.

Mark 12:30-31 says, "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these."

Jesus put loving your neighbor right up there with loving God. It's THAT important. So how do we move beyond just being a "good" neighbor and into being a Christ-like neighbor? How do we live out our faith in our neighborhoods… especially if we've been living in the area for a long time and NOBODY even knows we're a Christ-follower?

Some time ago, Martha and I moved into a neighborhood of 30 townhomes. It was an incredible area, filled with people from all over the world. One of the first things we did after moving in was simply to pay attention. We worked to learn everyone's names and cars. Then, when there was an opportunity to help them out, we rushed in, and in October of 2004, we had just the opportunity. Four major hurricanes hit Florida that year, and three of them affected our neighborhood. The wind ripped the siding off and shredded the roofs in places, and to make it worse, we all had HUGE deductibles for wind damage. So, I got together a group of guys to help the neighbors fix roofing and siding. It was the perfect opportunity to serve and get to know so many people living around us. After that, we made an intentional effort to invite people over for a meal, and every New Year's Eve, we planned a get-together for our neighbors. And last but not least, our neighborhood was haunted by a power-hungry association that fostered a culture of division and frustration. So, when the opportunity came to elect a new association president, Martha agreed to it. She served in this role for ten years and had an enormous cultural influence on our area.

These small but intentional steps gave us countless opportunities to love and pray with our neighbors. The day we moved away to be closer to Martha's folks, we wept all the way to our new house. It was a bittersweet ending to an amazing 18 years, and everyone in the neighborhood knew they could count on us to help, to host, and to pray.

What about you? Do you have a plan for impacting your neighbors with your faith? We wrote iWork4Him: Change the Way You Think About Faith and Work to help people just like you live out their faith in EVERY area of life - whether it’s their office, job site, or community. God's purpose and God's will for your life are being carried out right where you are through loving your neighbors. For more ideas on how to minister in your sphere of influence, pick up a copy of iWork4Him. Oh, and did I mention that you can download the first chapter for FREE?! Just CLICK HERE.

Jim

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!

Ministry Starts at Home

Jesus saved me. He saved me from my sin, He saved me from an eternity of separation from Him, and He saved me from myself. Jesus is my LORD, and He has called me to love others in the same way He loved, to serve in the same way He has served. But what exactly does that look like in our day-to-day lives?

Today I want to share with you a bit of my personal story.

Martha and I have been married for 35 years, but we have known each other for almost 39 years. Both of our parents are in their 80s and starting to slow down. Meanwhile, all three of our kids are now speeding up, getting married, and raising their own kids. It's an odd thing to live between – the letting go of your children so that you can increasingly serve your parents. And although Martha's folks live nearby for roughly eight months a year, my folks live 2300 miles away. The reality is that we can't serve them equally, but we do our best to serve them as they need it. And it isn't easy. But it's vitally important.

I know what you're thinking; Jim, what does that do with us living out our faith at work?

Here's the truth: we can be great, big Jesus followers at work, but if we neglect our family, it discounts our witness and testimony.

1 John 4:11-12 says, "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." In other words, the way that you love your family should be an extension, an expression of God's love for you. And if it isn't, then your life is not expressing the gospel in its fullness.

I remember when I was 13 years old, my Dad said, "Jim, it's all great the ministry stuff you are doing in the community, but I'll believe it's true when I see you living it out at home." So, next time you are contemplating if you should serve on a committee at church or the board of a non-profit or volunteer some hours at your favorite charity, first ask yourself, what is the condition of your family and how can you serve them like Jesus FIRST?

Learning how to honor God in all areas of our life, starting at home, is undeniably a challenge – the kind of challenge that takes a lifetime even to begin to figure out. But it's essential. If you are looking for some ways to begin, I highly suggest picking up a copy of iWork4Him. We wrote this book as a guide to help you get a jump start so that your testimony is powerful and effective in every sphere of your life – both work and home.

Jim

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!

Are Women Second Place in the Church?

I grew up within the Church. I love the Church. The Church was Jesus' idea. And His idea included a selfless group of men and WOMEN who were sold-out followers and wanted to bring the good news, including healing and hope, to everyone around them.

However, as much as I love the Church, I've noticed that the Church has an easier time celebrating the workplace accomplishments of men than it does those of women. And that is a problem. Jesus made it clear that women and men were on equal footing in the Kingdom of God, just like He made it clear that Jews and Gentiles were on equal footing (Galatians 3:28). There should be no delineation of favor or support between these groups because we are all one in Christ, and yet there is.

Most churches I have been a part of celebrate women by asking them to join a daytime bible study or serve in the children's nursery. Of course, there is nothing wrong with these things; however, the reality is that many women are called to areas outside of these traditional "female roles." When a woman comes to be a follower of Jesus, she is filled with the Holy Spirit and is gifted accordingly. The supernatural call on her life may include many things, from being a stay-at-home mom to a talented leader to having a workplace calling. However, most churches don't have a place for career women to find encouragement in living out their faith at work.

My sister is the CFO of a company. Part of God's purpose for her life is clearly public and private accounting, and accordingly, she has flourished in her positions over the years. Yet, she doesn't fit the mold of where the typical Church wants to plug in a woman to ministry. Because of this, my sister had to think outside the box to engage her skills in a Church setting. Martha and I have run into so many women who feel second-place in the Kingdom because they love to work outside the home and be a part of the marketplace.

If this sounds familiar, you aren't alone.

Martha and I wrote sheWorks4Him: Embrace Your Calling as a Christian Woman at Work, in collaboration with 22 other faith-driven career women just like you, as a written piece of encouragement to every Christian working woman. sheWorks4Him is full of letters to celebrate, validate, equip, and connect women God has called to the workforce! We would love to share the first chapter of sheWorks4Him for FREE! You can  Download it here.

Remember, your unique gifts are a necessary part of God's greater Kingdom plan – embrace it!

Jim

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 iRetire4Him Lifestyle

I have a friend who was enjoying what I like to call "Retirement, American Dream Style" – aka days filled with golf, tennis, and bike riding. He even lives in one of those golf neighborhoods, where you can walk from your front door right onto the green.

Then one day, without any warning, my friend ended up in the hospital. Let me tell you, nothing will get your attention like a heart attack will. And his heart attack could have been the BIG ONE, but by God's grace, it wasn't. My friend has been given a new lease on life, one he doesn't want to waste.

With his newfound passion, my friend decided to try and become a mentor through his church. Unfortunately, his church didn't know what to do with a retired executive, and he got put out in the proverbial pasture. So many retired friends of ours have had the same issue. Time on their hands, wisdom in their minds, and willingness in their heart but no place to put all of that into action.

Until now.

iRetire4Him: Unlock God's Purpose for Your Retirement was written with you in mind. Whether you are preparing for retirement or already in retirement, you have a calling on your life, and your calling doesn't retire. Living a life of intentionality in retirement may include golf, tennis, and bike riding. Still, all those activities should be a part of living out your faith for others to see. iRetire4Him can help you know what that may look like in your life.

My friend got a second chance at retirement; not everyone does. iRetire4Him is a lifestyle AND a statement of purpose and faith. Try it on for size today!

Jim

We would love to share the first chapter of our soon-to-release book with you:  Download 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 iWork4Him Lifestyle

I have a friend I’ve been mentoring for 4-5 years who is in law enforcement. He is an honorable man who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and is sold out on Jesus. However, making the connection between his work as a law enforcement officer, his faith, and his tours of duty was especially difficult for him. He struggled with the carnage he had seen in the middle east, the current political tension around his career, and the love that Jesus wants him to share with his neighbor... (aka all those he comes into contact with every day). 

Throughout our friendship, I have prayed with him and for him, but making the connection between his faith and his work has always been, frankly, just plain hard.

Then, about two months ago, I got a text message from him that said,

"I'm just mentally preparing for my journey. Nothing fancy. No theology. No arguments. Just going to offer to share the great news that is Jesus Christ. Offer a small ABC to Salvation, and if they would like, I 'd be happy to baptize them. I don't know where this idea came from, but it came to me that I could do it, and it can be my part. Even if I only lead one person to Jesus this year, one more eternal life will be saved. I'm just a nobody who wants to tell everybody."

Talk about a leap of faith - I am so proud of him! And did you catch the last line of my friend’s text message? I’m just a nobody who wants to tell everybody.

Matthew 28:18-20 says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When Jesus gave the great commission, it was to fisherman and tax collectors – it was to nobodies. Yet, Jesus chose to use them to spread the gospel to every nation, and it was Jesus who empowered them to do so. In the same way, God wants to use you in whatever profession you’re in to bring the good news to those around you! All you have to do is take the same leap of faith the apostles did, the same leap of faith that my friend did. Say yes to God.

For some easy ways to get started sharing the gospel in your own workplace, pick up a copy of our new book, iWork4Him: Change the Way You Think About Faith and Work.

Jim

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 Tax Man

Tax Day is May 17th this year… weird. Another Covid Anomaly. When most of us hear the words “Tax Man” or “Tax Return Filing Day,” we get heart palpitations. Why? Because we’re afraid to owe the government money. Now, imagine that your business files its tax return and finds out it owes an enormous amount of money, the kind of amount that would keep you up at night trying to figure out how you could ever pay it. You lay in bed filled with fear and dread because the taxman always gets what’s his - no matter what... kind of like a horror story.

That feeling, its nothing compared to judgment day.

You see, we all actually DO have a debt we can’t pay. When we have to account for the way we spent our lives, it will become clear that we all have a load of sin… and the cost of it is death. Many of us have lived our lives imagining a cosmic scale at the end of it all, hoping that our good deeds outweigh our bad and thus give us a ticket to heaven... but that turns out was a lie because God’s standard is PERFECTION. Our sin is a debt with a guaranteed death sentence, and there is nothing we can do to pay the bill, good deeds and all. Now that is a horror story.

You can’t pay God back with your good deeds, you can’t scam the heavenly ledger, and you sure can’t escape the death sentence delivered. It’s hopeless.

But then Jesus rescued us! He said, “I will pay the sin debt for you; you just need to give your old life to me in exchange for a new one that comes without a death sentence.”

That is good news! I owed God an unpayable debt, and then Jesus paid for it all!

It’s like a millionaire came into your business and said, “I want to pay for that ridiculously enormous tax bill.” Can you imagine the relief? The Gospel is that but a trillion times more! Yet all around you are other people who don’t know the truth about their death sentence yet. They think they don’t own anything or that their good deeds will outweigh their bad when giving an account. They have been lied to and misled by the enemy of their souls, who wants them to live in ignorance until cosmic Tax Day is upon us and it’s too late.

But guess what? God put you right where you are – your job, your neighborhood, your friends – so that you could go and give the good news to those who need to be delivered from death to life. Everyone is searching for hope these days. With so many dead from COVID-19, millions of people have realized that life is fragile and can be lost at a moment’s notice. There has never been a better time to share the Gospel.

Look around you. Do all your co-workers know your story? Do you love them enough to be vulnerable in order to deliver them from a death sentence? Be a warrior and rob Hell of another resident!

But make sure you pay your taxes.

Jim

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 Walls Are Coming Down

For the last 13 months, our country has been caught in a holding pattern. Most people have been stuck within the confines of their home, removed from any social interaction outside their immediate household due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rub is, we were created for relationship, for community – and without it, we begin to break down.

As the U.S. starts to open back up, Christ-followers have an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the lonely, the hopeless, and the socially starving. However you define “your community” – whether work, neighbors, or friends - I guarantee there are those inside it who need healing, who need hope, who need Jesus.

Wherever you are, and wherever you go, you carry the light of God with you. Matthew 5:15-16 says, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others…” You see, God has placed you right where you are on purpose and for a purpose. He wants to use you as a lamp in the darkness to bring light and encouragement to all those around you who don’t know him yet – to those who are stuck in isolation and hopelessness.

So, as you begin to go back out into the wide world, stop and look around you. Who doesn’t know Jesus yet? What can you do to bring hope, light, love, and healing to them today?

The iWork4Him Nation Covenant lays out a simple plan for transforming your workplace into a mission field, but that same plan can help us activate a ministry of healing in our community.

• Start praying for those in your community.

• Look for ways to serve those around you.

• Work to befriend others.

• Offer to pray with your community members.

Whether you stop to talk to your neighbor in the front yard, invite your coworker to lunch on the first day back to the office, or offer to pray with your boss - be a person that’s a good listener, that demonstrates excellence, that authentically cares, and that brings the light of Christ into the dark places.

The walls are coming down in our country, and as those walls come down, people are ready to hear about Jesus. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a cultural influence for Christ. If you are looking for more inspiration and encouragement about how to share your faith at work and at home, tune in to The Awaken Podcast Network.

Jim

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 Unique Gift of May Day

I grew up in Minnesota – ya know, one of those states up by Canada, eh - where the winters are extremely cold and seemingly eternal. There were years where winter would start in September and end in late May… that's nine months of snow. Suffice it to say, people up north love spring.

I'm not sure where the tradition started, but on May 1st, we celebrated "May Day" - a holiday representing the end of winter and the beginning of spring. But what exactly does one do on a holiday dedicated to flowers, new growth, and mud? Well, we played Ding Dong Ditch with a bonus (obviously). The idea is to ring the doorbell and then leave an anonymous gift on your neighbors' or friends' stoop – a May Basket.

Martha and I live in Florida now, where May 1st isn't celebrated because it's already hot and muggy here. But I think it's time for May Day to make a comeback, not just as a celebration of spring, but as a celebration of new life and rebirth – including our new lives in Christ! As followers of Jesus, loving our neighbors as ourselves is just one way to share the hope that God planted in us.

So, this May 1st, prepare to celebrate your new life in Christ by showering your neighbors and coworkers in love! If you want to be traditional, prepare some gift baskets, put them on someone's front step, ring their doorbell, and bolt. In the era of doorbell cameras, you may get caught, but the sentiment is the same. Or perhaps pick up a bouquet of flowers on your way to work and put them in a shared office area. If you are working from home, save the picture from this blog post and attach it to the bottom of your emails as a day brightener. The idea is to simply be a blessing to those around you.

Galatians 6:10 says, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…" 

May Day is a fantastic opportunity for you to do good for your neighbors, coworkers, or employees. As you form new friendships, God will open the door for you to share the best gift of all: the gospel of life.

Happy May Day! You can leave the basket at the door.

Jim

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!

A Donation of Life

I got to do the coolest thing on December 10, 2018 - I had the incredible privilege of donating one of my kidneys to my friend Bill. It’s a long story and has been covered in a previous blog and a few shows, but the point I want to get across is that this kidney shortage is a serious thing. About a year ago, Joe Carrol from BLE in San Antonio, TX, told me about his friend Larry needing a kidney. Joe had tried to get qualified, but his kidneys are not able to be shared for medical reasons. Martha and I offered to do a show for Larry so that he could share it with potential donors and see if he could round up a new kidney to replace his failing ones. We did the show, and many people stepped up to get tested, and one made it all the way to the finish line. Larry’s lifesaving surgery will hopefully be scheduled in the next couple of months.

You may be wondering, Jim, why are you talking about kidneys? Two reasons. First, someone you know may need a new kidney to continue living, and you’ve got an extra! But the bigger reason is that Martha and I have been given a platform, and we want to use it to help people find life – through faith, and yes, sometimes through a kidney.

The incredible thing is that you, too, have been given a platform: your workplace. Your skills and position open the door to amazing conversations that no pastor or church would ever be able to have. You have been given the gift of life in Jesus, and you can share that unique gift through thoughtful, loving conversation. Sure, the conversation may cost you something, maybe even a friend, but it may also lead to someone gaining a whole new eternal life because of your generosity and willingness to share.

Maybe you are like me, you are generous, and you are loving, but you always looked at your work as second class compared to being a pastor or missionary. That lie kept me quiet in my faith and alienated many who needed to meet Jesus. My work is not second class, not when I was selling insurance and not when I was selling used cars. My work was God’s work, and He wanted me to be a blessing to everyone around me, even if they don’t believe that Jesus died for them.

Maybe you can donate a kidney, and that will lengthen someone’s earthly life (check out the link below for more information). Regardless, you can share a Jesus story that will extend their life forever. Pretty awesome.

For my story about me and Bill check out this link here -  https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/3/one-incredible-kidney  https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/1/behind-the-scenes-of-a-miracle
https://www.iwork4him.com/blog/2019/1/a-gift-at-christmas
.
For Larry’s story –  this link. 

For your story…it’s still being written…

Link to more info about donating a kidney.

Jim

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!