Developing Faith & Work Integration Leaders in the Church

A Conversation with David Kinnaman and Hannah Stolze

The Center for Faith and Innovation partnered with the Billy Graham Center to host the marketplace track during the Integrate Conference.  During the afternoon session the audience got a chance to listen in on a conversation with , students, business leaders, and faith & work integrators listened from David Kinnaman and Dr. Hannah Stolze on how to build and support leaders in Faith & Work Integration in the church. David is the CEO of the Barna Group, which developed a research titled “Christians At Work”. Dr. Hannah Stolze is the Executive Director for the Center for Faith and Innovation at Wheaton College (CFI) and author of the book, “Wisdom Based Business.” Facilitated by blogger and pastor Ron Edmonson, the two panelists addressed the existing gap between the church and the working space. 

As one panelist mentioned, the things that God calls the church to do are greater than any one local church. This is, in essence, what Tim Keller talks about in regard to the Gospel ecosystem.  Churches need to work together with each other, with other institutions including non-believers to be the kind of salt and light communities need. Yet, the common church is not where young people look for guidance on pursuing their calling. David Kinnaman challenged church leaders to consider “How can local churches be a tactic in someone’s life?” “People want to be a faith work integrator. They want to have purpose in life, and the church can help close that gap.

With this jarring insight comes the question, “How do church leaders initiate integration?” How can church leaders cast a vision for established workers on how their work matters and help young people who want to change the world through work see that the church is aspiring for the same? 

David and Hannah gave the audience five tips to do this: 

First, people need to see every type of work as worship. “Work” begins from the very first chapter of Genesis as God Himself worked to create this world and allowed Adam and Eve to take care of the Garden of Eden. Humans were created in His own image and equipped with resources to reflect His creativity. “You can love God with all the resources that you have, '' said Stolze. 

Second, churches can find opportunities for integration by asking questions and listening. By asking questions such as “What do you do?”, “Do you love it” or “Do you feel supported by the church in your vocation?” churches better understand their space and participate in a live giving process where people are heard.  “There is a world of opportunity in understanding this priesthood of all believers,” said Kinnaman. 

Third, take advantage of individualization in discipleship; to apply the theology of individualization that goes even deeper than AI (Artificial Intelligence) which is that God knew us before we were born! There is almost never an imagination for how philosophy or science, technology, engineering, and math is part of the wavelength of pastoral ministry, but that needs to change. This is what the vocation-oriented and ambitious millennials and Gen Z want and need. 

Fourth, emphasize the importance of apprenticeship and mentorship. Consider Vocation Bible School! People need training to be developed into the kind of people God is calling into the pastorate. 

Lastly, GO FOR IT! There will always be resistance to change, but Covid has granted churches a certain degree of flexibility and openness to take advantage of.

To see the full interview, please click on the link below: