.png){kind=logo}
Stories & Blog
Stories From All Professions
Read the series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Disciple-making from all professions has been going on through God’s people since His original command recorded in Genesis 1 to reproduce His image throughout the earth. But what does that look like in the 21st century? Larry Sharp, Crossworld’s Vice President Emeritus, shares some stories of the power of all professions disciple-making.
Disciple-making from all professions has been going on through God’s people since His original command recorded in Genesis 1 to reproduce His image throughout the earth. But what does that look like in the 21st century? Larry Sharp, Crossworld’s Vice President Emeritus, shares some stories of the power of all professions disciple-making.
Stories From All Professions
by Larry Sharp, Crossworld Vice President Emeritus
An Architect and the Making of Disciples | Andrew is an architect. He loves boats and the water, and he owns a boat-building business in Asia, where he lives. Andrew also loves Jesus and wants more people in his country to follow Him.
Andrew can be a legitimate business owner in this country where missionaries are not allowed. Unlike most employers in the country, he is honest, fair, caring and supportive of employees, clients, vendors, tax authorities, accountants and neighbors. He can live out his faith in the workplace and use his profession to impact his staff of about 30 employees. In short, Andrew is “Jesus” to Muslims and Hindus who have never heard the good news.
When Andrew bought the business, there was not one employee who loved and followed Jesus. Recently I received this email from Andrew:
“A 56-year-old Muslim man just accepted the Lord and was baptized yesterday! He has a wife and two 20-something boys. He is a changed man and even his wife can see it. Please pray for him and his family, as I understand his wife will seek approval from her family to follow his ‘new faith’ in Jesus.”
Now Andrew has disciples on both sides of the cross — many following from afar and one following more closely. Andrew continues to trust God to build His church as he runs his business for profit, for creating jobs, and for making followers of Jesus.
A Nurse in a High Risk Country | Susie is a nurse in a war-torn country in Asia. Her calling is to use her professional abilities to make a difference in the lives of women who are victims of poverty, abuse, war and religious blindness. Read more.
If Jesus Were an Engineer | Ben is an engineer. So is Bruce, so is John, and so is Jonathan! They all understand that their engineering ability can change the lives of desperate people in Haiti. Read more.
For the past century, most people have associated the global task of disciple-making with mission agencies like Crossworld that send professional religious workers with theological calling and training. What if God had an additional way? A more historic way! A way that encouraged people with professional skills to not necessarily “give them up for Jesus,” but to “use them for Jesus”!
Andrew can be a legitimate business owner in this country where missionaries are not allowed. Unlike most employers in the country, he is honest, fair, caring and supportive of employees, clients, vendors, tax authorities, accountants and neighbors. He can live out his faith in the workplace and use his profession to impact his staff of about 30 employees. In short, Andrew is “Jesus” to Muslims and Hindus who have never heard the good news.
When Andrew bought the business, there was not one employee who loved and followed Jesus. Recently I received this email from Andrew:
“A 56-year-old Muslim man just accepted the Lord and was baptized yesterday! He has a wife and two 20-something boys. He is a changed man and even his wife can see it. Please pray for him and his family, as I understand his wife will seek approval from her family to follow his ‘new faith’ in Jesus.”
Now Andrew has disciples on both sides of the cross — many following from afar and one following more closely. Andrew continues to trust God to build His church as he runs his business for profit, for creating jobs, and for making followers of Jesus.
A Nurse in a High Risk Country | Susie is a nurse in a war-torn country in Asia. Her calling is to use her professional abilities to make a difference in the lives of women who are victims of poverty, abuse, war and religious blindness. Read more.
If Jesus Were an Engineer | Ben is an engineer. So is Bruce, so is John, and so is Jonathan! They all understand that their engineering ability can change the lives of desperate people in Haiti. Read more.
For the past century, most people have associated the global task of disciple-making with mission agencies like Crossworld that send professional religious workers with theological calling and training. What if God had an additional way? A more historic way! A way that encouraged people with professional skills to not necessarily “give them up for Jesus,” but to “use them for Jesus”!
_1695224545_600x400.JPG)