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THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC NEWSLETTER 

 Since February is “sweetheart month”, it may not be surprising for me to focus on the relationship between Ruth and Boaz from the Book of Ruth.   Although they fell in love and married, their story did not begin that way. 

After Ruth’s husband died, you will recall she decides to leave her parents and travel with Naomi, her mother-in-law, from Moab to Judea. Naomi had a wealthy relative named Boaz who operated a large business engaged in producing grain and he agreed to employ Ruth.  

The manner in which Boaz treated this employee is absolutely a model for modern day managers.  Some may say that his motive was to lure Ruth into a romantic relationship.  But, who am I to read into his motive and skew God’s Word in a direction away from the Gospel truth?  I am looking strictly at his performance as a manager and lessons which need to be practiced in today’s workplace:

NEVER DISCRIMINATE    Although Ruth may have been a good looking woman, she was also a poor Moabite widow in Israel where such individuals were considered to be second class.  Boaz, like many employers, could have simply thrown her application in the trash can!   It happens every day in America!

HELP THE NEEDY  Ruth needed an immediate income to support herself and her mother-in-law. Boaz could have easily written a large check and given it to this stranger.  Instead, he gave her an opportunity to perform work for her income.  This is consistent with the work ethic prescription delivered in the New Testament:  If you do not work, you do not eat.  

RECOGNIZE PERFORMANCE   Boaz was well aware of Ruth's kindness in caring for her mother-in-law. However, he also did not hesitate to check with others on his work team to determine Ruth's performance on the job.  He found her to be an outstanding worker who had only taken one break during a long work day. Based on these considerations, he was in a position to provide her with further assistance.  This kind of leadership is so foreign when compared to many of today's managers who fail to provide rewards when they have been earned!   

PRACTICE GODLY BUSINESS ETHICS    Boaz was a man who respected and treated, with dignity, those of the opposite sex.  He would in no way take advantage of a woman in need.  And, he made it clear that the men on his team were not to harm this female employee through any form of harassment!   Mr. Boaz did not need a sexual harassment law to motivate him to do what was right!

ENHANCE EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS     In response to Ruth's hard work, Boaz treated her warmly and provided her with incentives including the opportunity to eat with the boss and his close associates. This was a rare exception in that day since those, like Ruth, who worked alongside the reapers were not classified as "employees". They simply received "the leftovers" for compensation.  

Ruth also responded to Boaz with a thankful heart rather than “I DESERVE IT!”

Oh, how we need more compassionate managers like Boaz and more grateful employees like Ruth in America!

Quite frankly, there just may be a connection between the Christian work ethic being demonstrated here and the fact that these two individuals eventually became husband and wife.  If Ruth were here today, she would probably say that young women would do well to seek out such a man for a husband! 

May God bless you and your valentine!

I l ook forward to being with you in March In the meantime, I must be about my Father's business.

Jim Hogsett, Writer for Guideposts Magazine and President/Founder Worker Ministries.

If you have missed reading any previous newsletter, click on Archives at the top of this page.

 

A NEW YEAR OPENS A 

NEW DECADE OF SERVICED ofd 

Having celebrated our Tenth Anniversary in 2011, we at Worker Ministries are excited about entering another decade in which we plan to reach out to thousands of additional workers who may face difficult consequences if they do not make the RIGHT decisions!

Our new year began in New York City on January 7th when we launched OPERATION UPLIFT 2012. This always enables us to move our classroom to the streets of Manhattan and teach the homeless how to escape their prison, find their calling, and fulfill their mission according to God's will.

After returning from New York, Jim Hogsett returned to Washington DC  and then went to the University of Maryland to conduct workshops at the National Capital Christian Education Conference. This was his seventh year on this program and there was STANDING ROOM ONLY.  Yes, extra chairs had to be brought in and some participants were still standing while others were seated on the floor!  This is not unusual when he is speaking.

In February, Jim Hogsett travels to Peoria Illinois and conducts eight workshops at EQUIP Ministries Annual Conference. 

And, we can not forget MEMPHIS IN MAY! Jim Hogsett travels down Beale Street in downtown Memphis to speak to a gathering of the homeless in Jefferson Davis Park just prior to a luncheon being served. This annual event also launches our OPERATION UPLIFT 2012 in this wonderful Worker Ministries' satellite city.

Visit the ITINERARY page and you can read more details about events on our schedule for 2012 and beyond.

YES!

CHINA IS ON OUR RADAR!

Within recent months, Worker Ministries has provided copies of Jim Hogsett's book A Worker Need Not Be Ashamed to a very important ministry located in Northern China. These will be used in conjunction with training young children in Biblical truth. WOW! It is exciting to know that a ministry in that part of the world wishes to train young minds EARLY on the Christian work ethic!

Jim Hogsett has been invited to visit that ministry and we are currently examining possible dates in 2013.

 

NEW TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS

COME TO WORKER MINISTRIES

We have always understood the importance of being on the cutting edge of technology as a major vehicle for quality service and promoting the Christian work ethic throughout the world.

We welcome you to our new web site which has been designed by Rick Martin, our Director of Technical Services. This site enables us to feature interesting and far reaching technology features which visitors to the site will enjoy using.

We have also recently replaced all of our computer equipment at our world headquarters at Elon North Carolina with new state-of-the-art technology that is second to none!

Kathy Perkinson, Vice President, states that during 2012, the ministry will explore the possibility of establishing its own internet radio station. "W M N S can be another major communication medium which we may use to further promote the Christian work ethic."

If the station becomes a reality, workers can immediately access our radio center and be only one click away from hearing and participating in our broadcast!. Listeners will be able to call into the station during talk programs and discuss their concerns about what is taking place in the workplace.

Perkinson states, "Those who are familiar with the background of Jim Hogsett know that his first day on the job was at the age of twelve when he became the youngest broadcaster in the United States. With this additional medium, he will have come full circle and he looks forward to returning to the microphone in this new dimension of our ministry."

Stay tuned and we will keep you posted concerning all of these exciting developments in a ministry that is reaching out to thousands from Elon to New York to Honolulu to China!

 

OUR GIFT TO YOU:

JOIN JIM HOGSETT IN ISRAEL

In November 2010, Jim Hogsett traveled in Israel which included visiting with Israeli troops on the front line. His 191-page diary captures the wonderful memories of his time in the Lord's Land. It includes many pictures and interesting narratives.

The content includes his travels to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Western wall, and inside the empty tomb where our Lord was laid! And, you will not want to miss Jim's visit to Massada, one of Herod's castles, at the top of a mountain which was reached by cable car!

Jim wishes to share his journey with you AT NO CHARGE. Simply click here and you can join him in Israel! You also have permission to copy any pages of the diary. (Note: Due to the size and quantity of pictures in this presentation, please wait a few moments for this publication to upload.)

OPERATION UPLIFT is a specific strategy which enables our ministry to literally go underground to reach out to important souls created by God Almighty. These are real human beings who have become wanderers in the wilderness! They are known as "the homeless".

Kathy Perkinson, Vice President of Worker Ministries: "Poverty will never be eliminated until these individuals find their purpose for living and become employed so they can fulfill their purpose based on the will of God! Helping them find their mission becomes OUR mission!

We do not preach to them. We let them know that God loves them and it is not His purpose for them to live on the streets and there is a better life for them if they are willing to find it. We then show them how to move in that direction."

OPERATION UPLIFT is conducted at our Worker Ministries world wide satellite locations.

Visit our ITINERARY page on this web site to keep up with our schedule and any changes which may become necessary.

 

PRAY FOR OUR FRIENDS

FOUND THROUGH OPERATION UPLIFT!

Click HERE for Jim Hogsett's diary showing list of those we have found living on the streets.. Let us pray that God will help them find their purpose for living! It can happen because there are thousands who have left the streets and are now living their life according to God's will! We have also included other unemployed individuals on our list.

 

YOU  CAN  H E A R  LIVE  MESSAGES

FROM WORKER MINISTRIES

Thanks to Rick Martin, our Director of Technical Services, you can now hear live messages from Jim Hogsett as he speaks the plain truth about the Christian work ethic. Simply click on the Audio Player on this page and select any message listed on the menu.

Included on our list is an interview which took place when Jim was a guest on the Living Christian Radio Network which originates from Seattle Washington. The interview is significant in that some very critical questions were asked concerning difficulties in living the Christian life in today's workplace. The broadcast also enabled us to carry our message on how to live the Christian life in the workplace to workers in Canada and in the western half of our country.

We hope these messages will provide further help as you work on living the CHRISTIAN life in the workplace.

 

MONEY IN THE HANDS OF A CHRISTIAN

As Americans become more and more concerned about our economy and their finances, Worker Ministries is providing help through valuable training which we conduct concerning personal money matters. We wish to emphasize that this training is Biblically based and has been tested with congregations in the Washington DC area.

Our seminar includes the following topics:

"How Did We Get in this Economic Mess and

What Can We Christians Do About It?"

Being A Good Steward

Money Myths

How Much Are You Worth and How Do You Measure up?

Managing Debt for Financial Freedom

How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be

Investing With Confidence and Retirement

Teaching Children Money Management

The seminar can be conducted at YOUR CHURCH at NO CHARGE. Contact us through our CONTACT page on our web site. We wish to emphasize that NO products or services are advertised or sold during our seminar.

 

 

END OF NEWSLETTER