We believe each of us is created to both know Christ and to make him known. Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, making it one the most natural mission fields in our life. In reality, for most of us it’s the most under-utilized communities in which we recognize our potential to make a daily difference and share the love of Jesus. None of us are alone in our daily challenges, and together, we can encourage one another to be intentional and fruitful in our workplace.
If you're interested in learning more, contact Craig Foster: [email protected]
Connect
LifeWork is about exploring where your work life and your life's work intersect. We believe we can do by connecting with others from the workplace. Together we can talk through the challenges and victories you and others have in living out your faith at work. None of us are alone in lifework challenges and it’s important to discuss in community.
Discipleship
Fully Formed Followers
What is a Disciple? A Fully Formed Follower of Christ
The apostle Paul put it this way: “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” Galatians 4:19. Paul “labored,” which is to say, “he worked hard” to see Jesus formed in others. That’s what it means to be a disciple – to have Jesus formed in our lives.
Here’s a simple definition:
Fully Formed Followers of Jesus understand what Christ has done for them (Grace), who they are in Christ (Identity), and have set their hearts to pattern their lives after Christ’s until they look and live like Jesus (Life Patterns).
What characteristics are we working hard to form in others? There are many indicators, but after reflecting on the words of Scripture and their own lives, the pastors and elders at Hill Country Bible Church concluded there are four basic identities with corresponding life patterns that encompass the core characteristics of a follower of Jesus.
- Worshiper: Disciples grow in their devotion to God and away from devotion to anything else.
- Witness: Disciples faithfully share the good news of Jesus with others and see people come to faith in Christ.
- Servant: Disciples know how God has gifted them and they use their gifts to serve others.
- Disciple Maker: Disciples understand their primary ministry calling and disciple others to become fully formed followers of Jesus.
If you're interested in connecting with a Fully Formed Follower Group, contact [email protected] or for more information click on disciplemaker.
Coaching and Leadership
Hill Country Faith & Work Mentoring Cohort
The Faith and Work Mentoring Cohort focuses on emerging leaders in Austin who desire to use their God-given gifts as they live out their faith in the workplace. Through deep growth of professional strengths and weaknesses, group discussion, panel interviews with faith-based leaders, and individual mentorship, these servant leaders are equipped to better navigate the unique leadership challenges in today's business sector.
Opportunity to join a Hill Country Bible Church cohort or be a mentor to a cohort member. Application process begins in May of each year.
Design and Focus
Determine The Right Career Path Through Design & Focus
Design & Focus, a program of PurposeWorks, helps you better understand yourself and make well informed career decisions toward work that best fits you, which gives you increased clarity and confidence. You will complete assessments, exercises and identify activities where you were most fulfilled, helping you establish an action plan to seek fulfilling work and identify a job target.
Online and On-Demand Workshop. Enroll Anytime. Fee based (Scholarships Available)
Living A Called Life
Life Purpose and Work-Life Balance through Living The Called Life
In “Living the Called Life” we will walk through practical steps to determine what areas of ministry God might be calling you into. We will look at how God has wired you in terms of your spiritual gifts, your strengths, and your passions and help you take the next step in living out God’s calling for you in this season of your life.
See more information and to register for the class click here.
Networking Communities
Job Seekers Network
Find a Job Faster through Job Seekers Network
Job Seekers Network, a program of PurposeWorks, provides comprehensive job search programs and services and emotional and spiritual support to unemployed and underemployed adults in Greater Austin to support, equip, and enable them to find a better fitting job faster. Get help with Career Direction/Career Fit (called Design & Focus), Personal Branding, Resumes, Interviewing, LinkedIn, Marketing Plan, Negotiating Compensation, Written Communications and Networking.
Check our calendar to a Monday morning meeting (either in person or Zoom).
Workplace Fellowships
We believe God values work, and that's why we have formal and informal Workplace Fellowship Groups (WPFs). Despite spending around 90,000 hours at work in a lifetime, many Christians still feel that their work is not as significant as global missions or pastoral ministry. That is why these groups help believers like you to integrate their faith into their work and bridge the gap between Sundays and their 9-5 jobs. Workplace Fellowship helps to find or launch a community group into your workplace.
Gideons
The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. While we are often recognized for our work with hotels, we also place and distribute Scriptures in strategic locations so they are available to those who want them, as well as to those who may not know they need them.
The Global Leadership Summit
Toolbox + Resources
The desire of LifeWork is to equip and provide resources to help aide us in living out our faith in work where we spend the majority of our time each week. Use the below tools to have Kingdom impact by growing in your faith individually and with colleagues.
LifeWork Core Sessions
If you are interested in watching LifeWork core sessions, you can find the videos and notes here!
Work as Worship - The Four E's
The goal of E4 WORKLIFE: Work as Worship is for you to experience a paradigm shift in integrating your faith and work as you begin to view your work as worship. Let’s recapture and live out the concept of “Avodah,” a Hebrew word which translates to both work and worship.
Workers who view their work as worship are:
- Excellent
- Ethical
- Engaging
- Evangelistic
For more information and resources visit go here.
Explore God
Explore God was created to help you initiate spiritual conversations in the worksplace in a non-threatening way.
Using a curated selection of videos and prepared questions for reflection, these series are designed to help you explore, expand, and engage others. Each series can be done in a small group format as you watch and discuss each video. You will be given everything you need to empower yourself to explore your big questions about God and faith.
Embark on a series here.
Table Podcast: Workplace Discipleship
In this podcast episode, Bill Hendricks and Dr. David Gill talk about how faith and work intersect, focusing on combining ethics with evangelism.
HCBC's Philosophy of Ministry
Philosophy of Ministry
Each of us, together...saturating greater Austin with the love of Jesus.
In conjunction with our purpose statement, the leadership also established this simple core philosophy of ministry:
1. Who are you?
2. Where are you spiritually?
3. How can I help you take the next step?
This philosophy recognizes that each person, no matter where they are in their spiritual journey, has a next step to take and often needs help taking it. It continues to guide our approach to ministry so that we stay focused on people — not programs.
BLESS Plan. For ways to both get started and stay on track to be a witness using a BLESS Plan, click here.
Must Read Books
Your Work Matters to God
Your Work Matters to God demonstrates just how important secular work is to God. Whether you are a man or woman, once you realize how many different ways there are to influence your coworkers for Christ without preaching a word, you’ll be challenged to develop a lifestyle so striking and true, the people you work with will be eager to let you talk about what makes you different.
Check out the Book here!
Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demand of Reality, by Henry Cloud
Integrity—more than simple honesty, it's the key to success. A person with integrity has the ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances. Drawing on experiences from his work, Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist, leadership coach, corporate consultant and nationally syndicated radio host, shows how our character can keep us from achieving all we want to (or could) be.
The Power of One by John Maxwell
An ethics guide for any situation, each "day" of The Power of One offers a Drilling Down section which features a case study or story that illustrates the day's topic, Summarizing Principles on the subject, penetrating questions for Making Evaluation, and points of application for Taking Action. Maxwell reveals the factors that can "tarnish" the Golden Rule and teaches how to develop the Midas touch in personal integrity.
Workplace Discipleship 101
Workplace Discipleship 101: A Primer, by David W. Gill
The Sacredness of Secular Work, by Jordon Raynor
Freedom to embrace your work as just as sacred as that of your pastor or the missionary on your refrigerator. Freedom from the pressure of doing something “more eternally significant” in your career. You’ll walk away from this book with confidence to lean into nearly any vocation for the glory of God and the good of others!
Art of Neighboring
Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door,by Dave Runyon and Jay Pathak
You have hundreds of Facebook friends, but do you know the full name of your next-door neighbor? Examining the effects of our unprecedented mobility and our increasing isolationism, Pathak and Runyon help you make lasting personal connections by asking---and acting on---one question: What's the most loving thing I can do for my neighbors?
Every Good Endeavor
Every Good Endeavor
In a work world that is increasingly competitive and insecure, people often have nagging questions: Why am I doing this work? Why is it so hard? And is there anything I can do about it?
Check out the book and resources: Learn More
