By Caroline Stoltzfus
Like millions of other Americans, I work from home thanks to the permanent workplace changes brought on by 2020. I began that year commuting to a locally-focused Ohio nonprofit and ended it working remotely in Colorado for a marketing agency based in Tennessee. Now over three years removed from the day we packed up our laptops and office plants, conversations about the future of work and where it takes place still dominate news cycles and news feeds.
As companies hash out how to manage a remote workforce, the Church must consciously wrestle with how we share the Gospel with virtual coworkers. Research from Stanford University in February 2023 discovered that 12% of full-time employees work from home daily, while 28% are in a hybrid arrangement. Many employees are happy to punch in and out from their spare bedrooms, as evidenced by the number of petitions and refusals to return to the office after demands from high-profile leaders. Whether you’re amongst the crowd that would never trade your work-from-home situation or (like me) you wish you had an office to return to, digital working relationships are here to stay. And the call to go into all the world and share the Gospel demands that Christians develop a theological framework for practicing evangelism in the metaverse.
Monday in Mind
Traditional evangelistic training focuses on contextual, local relationships. In-person can, should, and always will be the most meaningful way to get to know and care for another. New Testament churches sprung up and grew because of the radical example of generosity and hospitality shared with their communities. While we should always endeavor to know and practically serve our physical neighbors, a growing number of us must consider the internal and external influence of the 40-plus hours a week spent in a home office. We must define and practice creative ways to communicate Christ between screens.
The pandemic accelerated WFH adoption and closed some opportunities for evangelism in the workplace—water cooler conversations, the lunch table, small talk between meetings, etc. Now, after years of isolation and uncertainty, society has become more receptive to spirituality. Barna Group research conducted in October 2022 found that three out of four adults want to grow spiritually, and nearly half say they are more open to God than before the pandemic. At the same time, the backlash to media campaigns such as He Gets Us and continuous reporting on church abuse scandals point to the reality that while Jesus might not have a PR problem, Christians do (as many other authors before me have stated). David Kinnaman, Barna CEO, writes, “The challenge facing the Church and parachurch ministries is whether they are ready and able to meet the spiritually open—where they are, as they are. Our data show the Church has real work to do to bridge the trust gap for people who are spiritual but not religious.”
At Grace + Peace, one of our values is Discipleship with Monday in Mind., which stems from Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Jesus saves us not so that we can go to church on Sunday but to live in and share His grace on Monday. As our website states, “The Christian life is holistic: bringing his kingdom of love and justice into every facet of every day.” And now, “every day” includes the not-so-perfect pixelated conversations we have with coworkers who live states away.
Laying Foundations in the Metaverse
Prayer, biblical knowledge, kindness, and excellence in our duties are all core components of evangelism that translate to the remote office. Unfortunately, the digital world creates roadblocks to established methods of the evangelism process, such as practical service, shared meals, and daily relationships. What imperfect practices can we exercise as launchpads for Gospel conversations in the metaverse?
Practice digital hospitality. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:9-10
Hospitality requires sacrificing time and resources as you welcome people into your space. You cannot invite virtual coworkers to your home or church, but you can save space on your calendar to schedule a regular virtual coffee meetup. You cannot bring in a birthday cake, but you can offer to prepare the next agenda.
Most of us want to clock in and clock out as quickly as possible to get on with our “real lives.” What would it look like to spend an extra 20 minutes a week and generously open the door to the real lives in front of us across the screen?
Find common ground in the questions. “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” — 1 Peter 3:14–15.
The work environment might have changed, but the world hasn’t. Our teammates still experience the shock and hopelessness brought on by the daily news cycle. If you’re struggling to cope with the challenges of racism, family, violence, social media, and mental health, odds are your coworker is too. Pay attention to their countenance. Follow up on that passing comment. Have a live conversation in reaction to a difficult headline. If you own a meeting, build five minutes into the agenda for catching up. Measure your questions based on your relationship with this person and develop depth over time. You might be surprised at how open someone becomes when you acknowledge the difficulties of life and ask, “How are you coping with all of that? What gets you through the day?”
Your audio might cut out, and you won’t be able to share a hug, but you can be present to someone who might not have the full attention of anyone else in their life that day. Prayerfully, in that vulnerable space, you’ll have the opportunity to share the reason for the hope in you.
Connect co-workers to a local church. “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth… According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 3:5-11
The planting seeds metaphor that comes out of 1 Corinthians can become an excuse for passive demonstrations of the Gospel rather than clear proclamation of the Gospel. I’ve certainly operated the vast majority of my witness in this way. At some point, in some pointed way, you must share the Gospel with your words. Foundations can be laid in the metaverse. If we are blessed to see acceptance or curiosity, the next step is connecting seekers to a local church—praise God! Search for and share some options near their neighborhood. If you have a believing friend in that city, ask for recommendations and make the introduction. Virtual relationships have significant limitations, and it’s imperative that an embodied church water the seed you planted. Thankfully, we can trust God to grow those he began a good work in.
Sharing the Gospel might look different than on your college campus or pre-2020 office environment. However, we know that Paul’s words were powerful and effective to people and places he had never visited, such as Colossae. He boldly declared the truth to people who felt the tug of empty spiritualism in their cultural context. Your coworkers need to hear about the beauty of a relationship with Christ. While you might not experience the fullness of living in a church community with them, you can still be the Church to them. Lord willing, you’ll see each other face-to-face in eternal glory.
Caroline and her husband Cole have been members at g+p for nearly three years. She enjoys deep chats, emerging ideas, trail runs, podcasts, and baked goods. Find her writing at homecomingcreative.com and on LinkedIn.