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We're Just Selling the Wrong Thing printer-friendly

By David Spickard, CEO Jobs for Life

Recently, I visited a Jobs for Life class held at a local ministry and listened to the conversation as the students and champions discussed the Parable of the Talents. In the story, Jesus describes a man who entrusts his servants with talents. To one, he gives five, another three, and another one. The story goes on to describe how each servant used the talents he was given.

As the students discussed the story, they began to uncover their talents and the way they've used those talents. This particular class is part of an effort in my city to reduce gang violence and the students are young men mostly 18-25 years old some with prison records and others with a history of gang involvement. While the men learn how to build their resumes, assess their skills, and prepare for interviews, they are in class learning something much deeper - a biblical understanding of work.

The discussion became more and more animated until one student raised his hand. When he began to speak, you could hear a pin drop.

He said, "You know God has given us so many talents. I bet you everyone in this room is a great salesperson. We target our market, know our product, we're great communicators and extremely hard workers. After all, we stand out on the street corner selling all day...We're just selling the wrong thing!"

The silence was interrupted by laughter, everyone realizing his point and wondering what it meant for them.

Sitting there listening, I was struck by the laughter. Why is that so funny? How could standing on the street corner selling drugs all day be something to laugh at? After all, the stories I had heard were devastating. At 5pm everyday, the streets are abuzz with traffic as people come into the community ready to buy their supply. 10 year old kids are positioned at the top of the hills ready to signal those below that the police are on their way.

As the laughter continued, I then realized what is painfully true...Selling drugs for this group is as ordinary and normal as it is for me to get up and go to work each day. It's the industry of the community, their way to make a living, feel valued, and create a legacy.

The conversation continued. One after the other began to build on the idea that God has created them with unique gifts and talents and He meant for them to use those gifts for good, not evil. One talked about making a brighter future for his kids, another talked about wanting to be a positive influence in his community, still another talked about the dreams he had to own his own business.

People often ask me, why should the Church engage in job training and equip men and women for work? Is that a proper role for the Church? After all, according to the Urban Institute, only 1% of churches in America do any outreach related to work. And yet, when I see what's happening in the hearts and minds of these young men, the answer is pretty simple.

At the end of Jesus' life, we see Him praying to His Father the following in John 17:5:

"I brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."

The work we do, the jobs we complete are not just a means to an end. They are a means by which we worship and honor God. Believe it or not, every time we open the door of our workplace, we bring glory to God.

In their discussion, these young men were beginning to understand that work is much more than earning a paycheck. It's a way to use the gifts and talents the Lord has given them to care for His creation and glorify Him - a much different lesson than the training they would receive at the local job training center or other government programs in our city.

Only with this understanding will they choose to work faithfully, trusting God in a $12/hour job versus making $100 a hit selling crack on the corner.

So, should the Church be engaged with job training? You bet. Millions of people in our country are unemployed, others are working but not earning a livable wage, too many have recently been laid off, and others just simply dread going to work. People are broken, tired, falling into poverty, resorting to crime, going back to prison, running up their debts - all because of a lack of work. Not only do they need a job, they need life - the life that only the Church can give.

About Jobs for Life

Jobs for Life is a national non-profit ministry based in Raleigh-Durham, NC that equips churches and community organizations to provide hope to those who struggle finding and keeping employment.

Through a strategy that combines work readiness training, Biblical principles, and volunteer mentoring, JfL enables individual churches and organizations to become JfL sites, fully equipped to provide job training and ongoing assistance to unemployed and underemployed individuals.

Today, JfL sites are located in over 140 cities and 34 states serving approximately 3,600 men and women per year. Those sites include: urban and suburban churches, shelters, prisons and re-entry programs, ministries to at-risk youth, community development corporations, rescue missions, faith-based crime prevention programs, YMCAs, faith-based substance abuse recovery programs, community non-profits, and many more.

For more information, visit www.jobsforlife.org.

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