The Nashville Institute for Faith and Work is excited to announce the 2023-2024 class for The Gotham Fellowship! Please join us in praying for each of our Fellows as we kick off the year together with an Opening Retreat on August 25 & 26th.
NIFW Recommends: Advent Resources
As the Advent season approaches, we at NIFW want to provide resources for you, your colleagues, family, and friends to prepare well for our celebration of Christ's coming. With holiday parties, end-of-the-year celebrations, and the overall hustle and bustle of the season, Advent is often over before we even realize that the season has begun.
Our hope is that these resources will help you to pause and reflect on how the coming of Jesus changes everything – how we live, how we relate, and how we work. May these resources guide you to Jesus and encourage you with hope throughout this Advent season.
Announcing the NIFW Gotham Fellowship 22-23 Cohort!
The Nashville Institute for Faith and Work is excited to announce the 2022-2023 class for The Gotham Fellowship! We are excited to have a representation of 8 churches and 7 industries in this year’s Cohort. Please join us in praying for each of our Fellow’s as we kick off the year together with an Opening Retreat on August 26 & 27th!
Welcome Lauren Brett, NIFW Program Coordinator
The Nashville Institute for Faith and Work is excited to welcome Lauren Brett as the NIFW Program Coordinator!
Lauren comes to NIFW with a rich background of education and experience in Ministry and Higher Education Administration, as well as a deep passion for Faith and Work integration.
A graduate of Lee University (B.S. Children's Ministry) and Geneva College (M.A. Higher Education), Lauren comes to Nashville from Anderson, SC where she has served at Anderson University as a Residence Director, Course Instructor, and most recently, Director of Student Involvement and New Student Programs.
Prior to her time in Anderson, Lauren lived in Chattanooga, TN where she served as Children's Ministry Director at Sojourn Community Church as well as in an Administrative role at McCallie School.
Director of NIFW, Josiah Leuenberger, shares about Lauren:
"We are grateful for how God has drawn together Lauren and NIFW for this next season of ministry and we are excited for all she will add to the NIFW ministry team! Lauren's organizational skill set, heart for people, and proven ability to invest in others to serve God in their areas of opportunity will be a significant gift to the NIFW community."
And a brief word from Lauren Brett:
"I look forward to serving as the Program Coordinator for the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work! The heart and mission of NIFW – ”to equip, connect, and mobilize Christians to integrate their faith and their work for the flourishing of Nashville and beyond” - is a mission that I deeply believe in. It is my desire to support NIFW participants to this end. I look forward to serving NIFW participants as they learn about being engaged, global citizens who impact the world for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God."
Please extend Lauren a warm welcome and pray for her as she relocates to Nashville and joins the NIFW Staff in late August!
Announcing NIFW’s New Director
Friends and supporters of NIFW,
It is with great excitement and gratitude that we are able to announce Josiah Leuenberger as the new Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith & Work (NIFW).
Deeply passionate about whole-life discipleship and faith and work integration, Josiah has served in ministry in a variety of capacities over the last nine years, most recently serving as a Campus Leader for Orchard Hill Church — Strip District in the Pittsburgh area. Before his ministry work began, Josiah coached Track and Field and Cross Country at East Tennessee State University and Milligan College from 2009 to 2012.
Josiah holds a B.A. in Communication Arts and Science from Grove City College and received his Masters in Kinesiology and Sports Studies from East Tennessee State University in 2011. Josiah also completed his Master’s of Arts in Christian Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2020.
Josiah plans to relocate to Nashville with his wife, Brittany and daughter, Schenley in the new year with a start date in mid-February.
Jonathan Payne, Chair of the NIFW Commission, said this about Josiah:
"I'm thrilled to have Josiah join the NIFW team. He has a love for and belief in the church, a passion to see the depth of the Gospel applied to all of life, and a breadth of experience that will serve NIFW well, as we continue to equip and encourage people across our city to embrace their day-to-day work as a critical venue for Gospel truth."
Here is a brief note from Josiah:
“I am beyond excited to become the next Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work! NIFW is a ministry that has cultivated gospel transformation in the lives of so many people and enhanced the flourishing of the city of Nashville in real and tangible ways. The opportunity to serve with the NIFW team to help people take new steps and next steps in living on mission in their work in response to the gospel is one that I take on gratefully and wholeheartedly.”
Please join us in welcoming Josiah to the NIFW team, and pray for Josiah and his family as they plan to relocate to Nashville in the coming month as Josiah steps in to lead NIFW into its next chapter.
You can direct any questions you may have to Trevor Pavey at tpavey@christpres.org.
Sincerely,
Trevor Pavey, Senior Director of Ministry Support, Christ Presbyterian Church
Jonathan Payne, NIFW Commission Chair
NIFW Recommends: Advent Edition
If we’re not careful, Advent can breeze by us and, in a blink, Christmas is here. Amidst our gift exchanges and travel plans, how can we make room to practice the presence of God and engage the story of Christmas with fresh eyes?
While we could never list all of our favorites, below is a list of suggested Advent-related resources for you to enjoy and dwell on this year.
1. honest advent: awakening to the wonder of god-with-us then, here, and now — Scott erickson
Accompanied by original works of art by the author, this is a creative, thoughtful book that takes you through the Incarnation by witnessing to the vulnerability of Christ’s birth through the eyes of those involved.
2. celebrating abundance: devotions for advent — walter brueggemann
A classic series of Advent devotions written by theologian Walter Brueggemann that highlight the abundance of life that God has offered to us in the life of Christ.
3. advent songs — the porter’s gate
A new, contemplative worship album of Advent songs featuring artists like Liz Vice, Jonathan Ogden, and Page CXVI.
4. advent devotions: working well in a season of waiting — meryl herr for the fuller de pree center
This devotional invites us to focus anew on what it means to live faithfully in the time between Christ’s first and second comings and to consider how Christ’s first and second comings make a difference in our work.
5. hidden christmas: the surprising truth behind the birth of christ — tim keller
From pastor and author Tim Keller, Hidden Christmas is a short book that helps us reimagine the significance of Christ’s birth as central to the Gospel narrative.
6. the advent of the lamb of god — russ ramsey
This book from pastor and author Russ Ramsey features twenty-five readings contextualizes Christ’s birth within the larger biblical arc and helps us understand how Christ’s birth was the fulfillment of God’s promises.
7. come, thou long-expected jesus — edited by nancy guthrie
This anthology edited by Nancy Guthrie features works from Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, Joni Eareckson Tada, and more.
8. waiting on the word: a poem a day for advent, christmas and epiphany — malcolm guite
This poetry anthology features Advent reflections and original poetry from Malcolm Guite that help illuminate the wonder and beauty of the coming of Christ.
Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.
Want to stay connected with NIFW? Join our email list to be the first to know about our upcoming events, programs, and latest resources.
NIFW Recommends: Resources on Faith, Work, and Culture
If you’ve been following along with us on social media over the last few months, we at NIFW have been providing weekly recommendations of some of our favorite resources on faith, work, and culture. This blog is our way of having all of our recommended resources in one place, making it easier for you to add a few (or all!) of these to your reading/listening list as you wish.
While there are a number of recommended resources we love but didn’t have space to post about, you can always check out our newly-updated resources page for other recommendations not listed here. If you’re looking for a specific resource, feel free to reach out to Cameron Presson, NIFW’s Content Specialist. We hope you find encouragement and wisdom for your work in these resources!
NIFW’S RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (Tim Keller & Katherine Leary Alsdorf)
Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good (Amy L. Sherman)
Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (N.T. Wright)
Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling (Andy Crouch)
Race, Economics, and Apologetics: Is There a Connection? (Luke Bobo)
Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life (Tish Harrison Warren)
He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World (Sho Baraka)
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (James K.A. Smith)
Work and Worship: Reconnecting our Labor and Liturgy (Matthew Kaemingk and Cory B. Willson)
Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.
Want to stay connected with NIFW? Join our email list to be the first to know about our upcoming events, programs, and latest resources.
Meet Our 2021-22 Gotham Class
We are excited to introduce you to the 2021-22 class for Gotham, our nine-month faith and work leadership intensive. In this year’s class, we are excited to have a representation of 6 churches and 10 industries, and we can’t wait to kick off the year with our Opening Retreat on August 13 and 14.
Get to know our new Gotham class below!
Announcing: Foundations of Faith and Work
We are excited to announce the launch of Foundations of Faith and Work, a theology course available through NIFW or in partnership with your church designed to equip groups and congregations with a Biblical theology of work.
what is foundations of faith and work?
Foundations of Faith and Work is a 10-session course designed as an introduction to faith and work theology. The course is designed as a small group curriculum, with downloadable, highly engaging video teachings, facilitator and participant guides, and discussion questions.
Both theologically rich and accessible, Foundations of Faith and Work content was developed by NIFW’s Senior Advisor, Dr. Paul Lim, a divinity school professor with a Masters of Divinity from Princeton University and a Ph.D from Cambridge University.
why foundations of faith and work?
For many of us, we will spend a majority of our lives at work. However, many Christians are dissatisfied in their work, and have not been taught how their work is an integral part of their worship. God has designed a better story for work than the one many of us are living.
Foundations of Faith and Work equips Christians as the “scattered church” to see their work has eternal value and purpose. Through this course, you will understand how the Gospel speaks into your job and industry, learn to serve others more effectively, and experience deeper meaning in your daily work as you sense God’s redemptive purposes for your vocation.
“This course,” says Executive Director Rose Wynne Brooks, “provides greater accessibility to all workers seeking to understand how their work, paid and unpaid, matters to God. Our hope is that the commitment level allows parents with young children, executives with limited margin, young professionals in career building mode, and retirees wondering what’s next to gain a foundational understanding of participating in God’s mission in their workplace, regardless of industry, job type, or career stage.”
who is this course for?
Foundations of Faith and Work is for Christians that desire to see how their work—both paid and unpaid—is an essential way to promote human dignity and flourishing in the Greater Nashville area. This course is available to churches of all sizes, denominations, and locations.
how can You take the course?
There are two ways you can take Foundations of Faith and Work.
Bring the course to your church small group, Sunday school class, or adult learning course. NIFW will provide all the materials needed to offer the course, including downloadable video teachings, facilitator and participant guides, and discussion questions.
Register for Foundations of Faith and Work taught by NIFW. The first course through NIFW will begin in mid-May.
want to learn more?
For more information on the course, please contact us at info@nifw.org.
You can also visit the webpage for more details.
Be notified when registration is open for Foundations of Faith and Work through NIFW
Learn how you can bring Foundations of Faith and Work to your church
White Introspection and Black History Month
Lifting the veil
As a white woman who grew up in a very small town in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia, the trials and tribulations of my African American brothers and sisters seemed far away and frankly, I was unaware in my protected world. Perhaps you have a similar perspective based on your childhood. I can imagine many of us have history that influences how we perceive the current opportunity gaps in the United States and beyond.
I am slowly becoming more aware of the disparities in our country. This past year I have intentionally intensified self-examining myself and my heart. Jesus has been a merciful leader in this journey of discovering my thoughts, feelings and opinions.
I never considered myself a racist, prejudiced, privileged. Perhaps as a woman, I was on the receiving end of prejudice and inequity and lack of inclusion. And while this may be true, it was nothing like what I now see and understand to be my privilege. A few years ago, a program I was in provided the opportunity to visit the Nashville Jail and moved me into a different level of awareness. I had a realization that things really were different, the playing field not even. Yet, while I felt convicted and informed, I did not do much differently. It was too hard. Still, the feeling of injustice and “how could this be” remained with me.
Then, a friend and mentor introduced me to a local African American Pastor. At Cracker Barrel over breakfast, as he shared his hard-earned wisdom and experiences, the veil across my eyes lifted a little more. I told him “I’m not jumping in, I’m scared and I don’t know what to do— it’s too big. But, I am not walking away. I want to keep talking and see where God takes this.” Graciously, he agreed.
Then, this past year’s continual tragic violence against people of color captured the attention of the nation, and a greater sense of urgency rose within me. I read Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison with a book group and invited my pastor friend to speak to us. Ultimately, that experience resulted in the two of us creating a very small Racial Justice Resource Group that started meeting in June. We are still meeting, and the group recently agreed to a mission: to change how the world sees and treats communities of color. It is a place where I am deeply challenged, convicted, and hear truths that remind me that my heart still has much to learn.
I rarely leave these meetings feeling uplifted. Rather, I leave them knowing I have so much to learn, lament, repent, confess and ask forgiveness for. In the face of this intense self-reflection, I move forward in God’s grace and with the promise of hope. I have always shied away from suffering, particularly if I could reason it out, or move on to something more rewarding (meaning in my control). Jesus is not letting me move on. He has placed within me a desire to be like Him, to love my neighbors and all that requires of me. I have no idea where this is going and I am okay with that, because He is in the lead.
I tell you all this because what I often hear from others, as I also said, is, “I don’t know what to do. It’s too big.” My desire is to encourage you to either take a first step or to keep moving forward, enter into conversations, read, have courage, and pray for God to open doors. He has blessed me with a friend who, for some reason, is willing to patiently walk with me.
I never felt the effects of my whiteness. I have felt the consequences of being a woman and all that carries, but for many years I never connected my whiteness and privilege. Now, I know that in my heart, as a white woman, I am unfairly privileged in America because of the color of my skin. It has taken me a long while to accept this, and it is a grossly unjust fact.
Taking a Step
Importantly, February is Black History Month. It is also Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, a new season in the church calendar. You may know Shrove Tuesday as Fat Tuesday, a day of self-examination that rolls into Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday is significant because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter. The ashes, placed by some denominations, symbolize both death and repentance. During Lent, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, the very sins Christ died for. Lent is a time to come face to face with how we as individuals and as a people have fallen short; in other words, our great need for grace.
If you are white, perhaps this Black History Month will be a time for you to examine how you can understand more about the experience of people of color, acknowledge where you feel uncomfortable, break down some walls, and seek to know who are outsiders and insiders in your life and why. You will see from these words that I am woefully in need of further self-examination, of amending my still safe place of ignorance and denial. I do so very much need Jesus in my struggle to live out the Scriptures, to be like Him, to see the world as it is and not how I wish it to be.
I share this final prayer with you in the hope that it may speak to you and encourage you to continue doing the work of co-creating with God in pursuing a world that is just for all people made in His image.
a prayer for faithful action
Save us, O Lord, from being idle bystanders–looking on. Enliven us to attempt to understand the dilemmas of a broken world, and be willing to act. Give us compassion for the lost and confused, the weary and the oppressed, those different from me and confused like me. Save us from slick and simplistic answers to this problem, which offer words but no real help. Unsettle us, and move us on from viewing the plight of sin-scarred people, to actions that promote spiritual and inward healing and liberating forgiveness. Cleanse our lives, that they may be instruments worthy of conveying your truth of abundance, generosity, equality, inclusion, and everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We ask this in His name. Amen.
Below are a few resources that myself and our team at NIFW recommend for leaning in and learning how to engage faithfully in promoting racial justice both within and outside the walls of work:
The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism — Jemar Tisby
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice — Jemar Tisby
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness — Austin Channing Brown
Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation — Latasha Morrison
Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.
Want to stay connected with NIFW? Join our email list to be the first to know about our upcoming events, programs, and latest resources.
"Dispelling Diversity Myths At Work" Facilitates Gospel Conversation About Racial Equity and Inclusion
God’s call for Christians to do justice permeates every aspect of our lives, including our work. However, the American workplace has been a source of injustice, with racial minorities experiencing workplace inequality across every industry. At Dispelling Diversity Myths at Work, attendees engaged in a virtual conversation about how to seek more equitable workplaces, led by Dr. Christina Edmondson, Pastor Mika Edmondson, and Pastor Daryl Fitzgerald, leading voices in the field of Christian racial justice.
The event explored the prevailing myths that corporate diversity culture perpetuates and identified ways to promote racially equitable workplaces. Drawing on the truth of the Gospel, the panelists highlighted how the kingdom of God breaks down barriers to equity, requires us to fight against injustice, and celebrates the diversity of God’s people. We encourage you to watch the webinar recording to hear the whole conversation, but below are a few key takeaways from the event, including several convicting quotes from our panelists.
Galatians 3:28 spotlights a painful consequence of sin—unequal access along race, class, and gender lines.
Pastor Mika used Galatians 3:28-29 as a scriptural example of why Christians should engage in conversations surrounding diversity and inequity in the workplace. Paul commands the Galatians to break down race, class, and gender barriers in the name of the Gospel, for “you are all one in Christ Jesus.” However, as Pastor Mika pointed out, that doesn’t mean that these barriers will not continue to exist in the culture around us. In fact, as he explained, “Sinful disparities is the default, so we have to bring a kingdom pushback” to issues of racial justice in the workplace.
“When we perceive ourselves as “color blind” or make “color blindness” a goal, we have to pretend that we don’t see an aspect of another human being in order to value them.” — Dr. Christina Edmondson
Dr. Christina outlined that although statements such as “I don’t see race” or “I only hire the best people for the job” are an attempt at racial tolerance, Christians are called to something higher and more beautiful, in which cultural difference is not only acknowledged but valued. “Color blind” hiring practices minimize the painful reality that hidden racism embedded in our country’s history has caused opportunity to be unevenly distributed to people of different races. In order to promote more equitable workplaces, Dr. Christina suggested creating a strategic plan to intentionally hire diverse candidates, such as recruiting from local historically Black colleges or universities with graduates who work in your specific industry.
“When it comes to the workplace, I can add value to you and you can add value to me.” — Pastor Daryl Fitzgerald
One myth in corporate diversity culture is the myth of “cultural fit.” Sometimes, companies are hesitant to hire employees from diverse backgrounds because they are concerned that new hires will not fit in with their company culture. As Christians, we believe that all people are made in the image of God and therefore have inherent dignity, worth, and value. Thus, in our workplaces, we must move from considering the “cultural fit” of a new employee and instead value the “cultural add” that an employee brings, as Pastor Daryl shared. Additionally, Pastor Daryl pointed out that as Christians, we need to move from treating individuals in our workplace transactionally to considering individuals relationally. This perspective will not only provide kingdom value, but we know from research that investing relationally in diverse teams will actually add productivity and marketplace value to companies.
“People are not boxes to be checked, they are people to be learned from, listened to, and loved.”— Dr. Christina Edmondson
Often, when it comes to conversations surrounding diversity in the workplace, we can arrogantly assume that we have “arrived” in terms of racial awareness. However, Dr. Christina pointed out that power and arrogance tend to go hand in hand, which allows those in positions of power to ignore continuing issues of racism in their workplace since they have met certain goals or targets. As Christians, we should approach these issues with an honest perspective on our own brokenness and a willingness to be held accountable when we fall short. Dr. Christina offered several practical ways to seek accountability for equity in the workplace, including engaging in evidence-based diversity training, seeking out objective data and outsider perspectives about racial equity in your company, and creating strategic plans to pursue equitable hiring policies.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is hard, time-consuming work. But it’s worth it, especially when we have an eye on the Kingdom of God.” — Pastor Daryl Fitzgerald
Pastor Daryl ended the conversation with a powerful reminder that work involving racial equity is difficult but worthwhile work. As he reminded us, “Achieving equity is going to take years to develop because there have been years of inequity.” This is not a conversation that can be neatly tied up with a 5-step action plan, but you can faithfully work towards racial equity in your work today. One place to start, Pastor Daryl suggested, was to commit to investing in at least one relationship outside of your own culture.
Thank you to all who attended “Dispelling Diversity Myths at Work,” the first of a series of events about how to be a faithful catalyst for flourishing in your workplace. Be on the lookout for information regarding our next event that will continue to focus on issues of racial equity at work. Additionally, take a look at our resources page for further resources to help you continue to engage in promoting racial equity and inclusion at work.
Miss the webinar or want to watch again? Click the button below to watch a recording.
Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.
Want to stay connected with NIFW? Join our email list to be the first to know about our upcoming events, programs, and latest resources.
NIFW 2020 Year in Review
John 1:5 (ESV)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In 2020, we have been forced to reckon with the darkness of tragic racial violence, a polarizing election season, and a global pandemic that has left millions of people disoriented and unemployed. The author of Eccesiastes reminds us that there is “a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecc. 3:4), and this past year has held many reasons for mourning. However, Christmas is a time to celebrate the incarnation of Christ, which promises that we do not mourn nor dance alone, but rather that through both, Christ is “Immanuel”— “God with us.”
We are deeply grateful for your support and prayers during this challenging year, and we thank God for the integral role you play in our story and His larger unfolding story for creation. Below is a snapshot of what this year held for the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW) and a look forward to what’s ahead in 2021.
This year, NIFW welcomed new members to the team to help us broaden programming, develop content, and expand our reach into the Greater Nashville area and beyond. Rose Wynne Brooks was announced as the new Executive Director; Caroline Davidson joined the team as Program Director for Gotham, our flagship faith and work leadership intensive; Dr. Paul Lim, our Gotham pastoral teacher, joined as a Senior Advisor for Program Content; Cameron Presson was hired as a part-time Content Specialist; and Anna Brown serves as our Nashville Fellow in the role of Communications and Operations Coordinator. Check out our staff page to learn more about each member of the team.
Throughout the challenges of 2020, our expanded team continued to invest in established programs even as we had to transition to a virtual format. We are incredibly grateful for the 2019-20 Gotham class, who completed the program this spring. We welcomed the sixth Gotham cohort in the fall, and God has been at work in this year’s class. The members of the Entrepreneur Support Group have continued to faithfully meet for spiritual formation and support through the unique challenges of business leadership in 2020. Read a Q&A with a member of ESG here.
We offered new programs to help equip people to love God and serve their neighbor at work. In light of the economic impacts of COVID-19, we are partnering with the VOCA Center to offer a new program titled Job Search Navigation. As a result of the commitment put into the group, a few members have already been offered job opportunities; read a Q&A with two participants of the program here. Additionally, we will launch a new faith and work program titled Foundations of Faith and Work that will accommodate people’s busier schedules. We are encouraged by the feedback we received from a pilot class we taught this fall, and we are excited to bring this program to the Greater Nashville area in 2021.
Like everyone else, our event plans pivoted in light of COVID-19 to a virtual format. In advance of this year’s election, we partnered with faith and work organizations across the country to offer The Politics of Neighborly Love, which brought together over 700 people across the country to discuss how Christians can faithfully engage the political sphere in today’s moment. We were grateful to be able to host Peace Over Performance: Centered Leadership in Disorienting Times, a leadership webinar featuring executive coach Amy Balog, and 12 Job Search Fails, a webinar to help job seekers strategically refine their job search.
As we thank God for His faithfulness amidst the challenges of 2020, we trust that 2021 will bring new challenges and new opportunities, and we are committed to being a faithful resource for you as you co-create with God to advance His Kingdom here on earth. We will be launching new programs and have a number of exciting events that we hope will encourage you in your work, including an emphasis on pursuing racial and economic justice through your daily work. If you aren't already, follow us on social media (@NashFaithWork) to keep up with what’s happening at NIFW in 2021.
It has been our joy to partner with you as you seek to faithfully engage the world through your daily work. We’re grateful for all of you who make this work possible, and we pray that you experience God at work in 2021 in new ways.
How Job Search Navigation Equips People to Pursue Employment
The economic impact of COVID-19 has created a pain point for many people in their work, whether that means being met with furloughs, hiring freezes, or sudden changes in the nature or pace of work. To help people pursue what’s next in their careers, Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW) is offering the Job Search Navigation program in partnership with the VOCA Center, featuring ten sessions of virtual job search group training with live coaching from career experts.
The next two cohorts will meet on Mondays or Tuesdays beginning November 9th and 10th. NIFW had a conversation with two participants of the program about their experiences in the program and the insights they received for successfully job searching today.
Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW): How did you feel going into the program, and how do you feel now having completed it?
Chad H. (CH): Coming into the program, I was nervous because job searching is a hard process, and I’m not always sure where to start. I knew having coaches would get me out of my comfort zone in needed areas such as changing my resume or refining my elevator pitch. After completing the program, I feel confident in the job search process. The coaches gave me great feedback, and I’m currently connecting with people and applying for jobs.
Niki F. (NF): I was extremely eager to learn more about my skills and how I could apply those to the job search. I came out of the Job Search Navigation program with a better sense of my innate God-given professional gifts, options for new career paths, and a toolbox full of skills that I can implement to land the next opportunity.
NIFW: How are you more equipped to navigate a job search now than when you first started?
CH: I have a better understanding of my strengths and skills to talk about in an interview based on my assessment results. Also, I feel more confident in building a strong resume, knowing which stories to talk about in interviews, and how to use LinkedIn to target and network.
NF: I am better able to articulate my talents, define my path forward, and secure a position within a company that I believe in. My original career path felt like it was circular with no way forward. Now, my path feels more defined, and I feel equipped with the tools needed to move forward.
NIFW: What job search challenges did you encounter during the process, and how did the training help you to address them?
CH: The question I was wrestling with during this process was whether I wanted to stay in my current industry, and if not, what field or industry I should pursue work in next. I had to do the work of narrowing down my industry options, which I was able to do through talking to different people and companies. Eventually, my career assessment results reaffirmed for me why I enjoy the type of work I’m currently doing.
NF: My biggest challenge was focused around having too many career options to pick from. I eventually realized that the informational interviews that were suggested were ways I could narrow that list. Once I made that connection, I was able to move forward.
NIFW: How did the group aspect of the training help support you in your job search?
CH: People gave great feedback and encouragement in our breakout sessions, helping me refine items such as my value propositions and resume. The group sessions were also a safe place to discuss the areas where each of us were struggling.
NF: The group aspect of the training was a huge motivator! It was great getting to know others that were walking through similar struggles and learn from them. Being able to rehearse my value proposition weekly with the group gave me confidence to do that outside of the group as well.
NIFW: What were your biggest takeaways that you learned in the program?
CH: Based on the different career assessments, I learned what my strengths and abilities were, which was reassuring and gave me confidence in understanding what field of work I should pursue. Additionally, learning how to tweak my resume when applying for jobs was vital information.
NF: My biggest takeaways from the program were learning that networking is essential (something I did not want to believe), developing a deeper knowledge of my God-given gifts through different career assessments, and being reminded throughout the process that God is for me.
Interested in learning more about the Job Search Navigation program? Click the button below to learn more and apply today.
.
The Meaning of Peace Over Performance
We are excited to present to you “Peace Over Performance: Centered Leadership in Disorienting Times,” a webinar with executive coach Amy Balog on Thursday, October 15th from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT. The pandemic has exacerbated the challenges of leading in today’s world, and the event will center around a refreshing approach to leadership that relies on the peace of Christ as the fuel to our performance in our daily work.
As the founder of ConnextionPoint offering executive coaching and leadership development for teams and organizations, Amy is an experienced coach and consultant who has worked with a wide range of clients including Fortune 500 Executives. Below is a preview of our October 15th event written by Amy focused on the paradigm of “Peace Over Performance” and its significance for today.
I am delighted to be invited to present next month’s webinar Peace Over Performance: Centered Leadership in Disorienting Times with my friends at the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work.
I am often asked about the phrase peace over performance – what does it imply? And why say peace over performance? Does this mean performance isn’t important?
“Yet our performance needs the fuel—the duet—of our peace, now more than ever.”
THE DUET OF PEACE
First, let me say that performance is a good thing. With the strides of performance, we experience life-giving energy in wins and build confidence in our God-given gifts and talents. Our performance creates valuable momentum personally and for others we lead and love. Yet our performance needs the fuel—the duet—of our peace, now more than ever.
When I speak of peace I am referring to access to the inner peace that Jesus spoke of in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” We may rarely consider Christ’s peace within the same vicinity as our performance. Many of us have learned how to survive in a world which has become increasingly competitive, volatile, and divided. Working diligently to meet our commitments in our careers and as leaders at work and home, we hone our ability to operate with a hyperfocus on performance – sometimes at great personal and spiritual cost. Without realizing it, the demands of the environment around us envelop our view of our worth and tax our faith. We experience living within our performance without the fuel of God’s peace.
FINDING PEACE AMIDST DISORIENTATION
And now at this extraordinary time, we are moved beyond disruption and into the realities of a deep disorientation. Before 2020 it seemed as though most challenges were limited to our own life; we recovered from our own setbacks and clamored back to a world we knew. Today, the seismic events of the pandemic and fracturing tensions that laid in wait within the fault lines of society have come to our door. For many of us, these events have destabilized our careers, life plans, and what we always trusted in our leadership in ways unimagined.
To recover our center in today’s disorientation, we need the fuel line of peace. Once our peace has a true command of our performance, practical and invaluable shifts become available to us in our leadership and vocational work. The shifts (which will be explored in the webinar) include:
We avoid overidentifying with our work and find our worth in Christ, rather than in our performance.
We shift from the tyranny of perfectionism in our work that leads to self-judgment, and instead lead with grace both for ourselves and others.
We practice the mechanics of self-compassion that help us to rewrite the performance narratives we’ve constructed for ourselves or that culture has taught us.
The peace that surpasses all understanding offered to us in Christ is abundant. It is God-designed and created. This peace offered to us is accessible and tangible, and can transform how you experience the moments when you are challenged at your core—when your greatest leadership is required.
We can know peace not as the world gives but as Christ gives.
To watch a recording of the Peace Over Performance webinar, click here.
Want more resources from NIFW? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also find more resources from NIFW on our blog and resources page.
Want to stay connected with NIFW? Join our email list to be the first to know about our upcoming events, programs, and latest resources.
Welcome NIFW’s New Gotham Program Director
We are excited to announce Caroline Davidson as the new Gotham Program Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith & Work (NIFW), effective August 10, 2020.
After spending roughly a decade in campaign and election politics, she is well versed in both finding identity in a job, title, achievement, or company name, and in finding freedom from doing so. She holds that true identity is formed solely by the grace of the Gospel, unmoved by the world's standards of success or our ability to achieve it. Through this lens, she believes that there is value in every endeavour, not in what work is being done or at what level, but in how it's being done and for whom.
Caroline has worked for, and on behalf of, campaigns at both the state and federal levels, serving in an array of positions including advertising, fundraising and event management. Additionally, she has worked in logistics and operations for large-scale events such as National Party Conventions and a Presidential Inauguration, as well as in the private sector in planning and executing conferences, festivals and other meeting-based events.
Caroline is a proud alumna of Auburn University, an Atlanta native, and dog mom of two. She has called Nashville home for three years and strongly believes, to borrow a phrase from Jim Elliott, that “wherever you are, [you should] be all there”. As such, Caroline is (now) a committed Nashville Predators fan and a lover of hot chicken. She excitedly joins the NIFW team as the first dedicated Program Director for Gotham and is humbly expectant for the program’s impact in the lives of participants, their work, and subsequently, the city of Nashville.
Caroline will begin her role focusing on Gotham Alumni engagement and outreach. Please join us in welcoming Caroline to this new role in the NIFW ministry.
Meet our 2020-21 Gotham Class
Gotham, our nine month faith and work intensive, launched last weekend with an opening retreat focused on the year ahead. We are very encouraged by the breadth and depth of vocational, spiritual, and personal experiences in the new Gotham class. We have a representation of 11 churches, 11 industries - all coming together to focus on Christ in their lives. Get to know our new Gotham class below.
Chip Roper Q&A: Previewing NIFW’s Upcoming Webinar Series, “Pursuing Purposeful Work Right Now”
COVID-19 has drastically changed the world of work. When everything feels off balance, how can we find our footing and gain a greater sense of confidence and clarity in our work? As Christians, how can the Gospel inform our response as we consider how to move forward in our work?
We have partnered with Dr. Chip Roper, Founder and President of the VOCA Center to create a three-part webinar series titled “Pursuing Purposeful Work Right Now” that will answer these hard questions and help you gain a grounding sense of confidence and clarity for your work in the midst of COVID-19 and after.
We talked to Dr. Roper about the upcoming series to give a preview of what to expect.
Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW): The title of our three-part webinar series is “Pursuing Purposeful Work Right Now.” Can you give us a preview of what our audience can expect from each webinar?
Dr. Chip Roper (CR): The series will focus on finding confidence and an enduring sense of calling for our work in the midst of our current moment. The first webinar will explore the question, how can we find an enduring sense of meaning in our work? In the second webinar, we will look at the building blocks of calling and the intersection of the Real World and the Real You to answer the question, how do I figure out what work God wants me to do now? The third and final webinar in the series will be tactically-focused, where we get into the nitty-gritty of how to pursue a job in the midst of this altered job field and beyond.
NIFW: The series has an intentional order to it. How does the content build upon itself?
CR: The first webinar will help us with how an understanding of calling rooted in the Gospel can anchor us even when our work has been disrupted. Once we’ve explored the meaning of our work, the second webinar builds on this by asking the question, how can I discern the work God is calling me to by finding out where the Real World and the Real Me intersect in a job? Then, the final webinar takes the information from the first two and discusses how to prepare for a job search, leverage your network in your search, and position yourself to land the job you want.
NIFW: One of the topics you’ll be discussing is how our different frameworks for approaching our work can change the way we think and experience our work. What do you mean by this?
CR: While a secular perspective on work largely equates our work with our identity, seeing work through the lens of the Gospel means that we bring meaning to our work, rather than getting meaning from our work. As Christians, we have a narrative that the Gospel brings us meaning to our work irrespective of what our work is. As a result, instead of looking to our work to define ourselves, we can look to God for our significance and identity and work with and for God rather than for ourselves.
NIFW: Some people might be wondering who the content targets. Who is this information for?
CR: The content we will cover is relevant for people all across the spectrum—from those who have been laid-off to those whose work has ramped up as a result of COVID-19. These webinars are for anyone whose work has changed in some way during this time—which is everyone.
NIFW: The content of the series is timeless in its relevance—yet, COVID-19 has created a sense of urgency around these issues of work and calling. Why is a Christian understanding of work needed right now?
CR: A Christian understanding of work is rooted in something other than our circumstances. So, even when our work itself changes, the meaning and purpose of our work does not. During a time of anxiety and fear, the Gospel reminds us of an important truth about vocation: God is the caller, not us.
Join us for our three-part webinar series, “Pursuing Purposeful Work Right Now,” on June 3, 10, and 17 from 11:30am - 12:30pm. To register for this FREE webinar series, click here. All registrants will receive a complimentary job search guide from Dr. Roper and the VOCA team.
CHIP ROPER BIO:
As the President of The VOCA Center, Dr. Chip Roper is driven to rescue people from the forces that rob them of effectiveness and joy at work. Chip and the team at VOCA know what it is like to be stuck in a job that sucks the life out of you. They know what it is like to be tolerated, instead of followed as a leader. They know the fear that most managers share: “am I getting the best out of my team?”
To answer these common challenges, VOCA delivers customized coaching and training to executives, professionals, company teams, and the pastors who serve them. Chip is a sought-after speaker on the topics of faith, work, and calling. He hosts The Resilience Webinar Series, Produces the Calling Workshop, a bi-annual event in Midtown Manhattan, and facilitates a monthly peer mentoring experience entitled, “The Executive Circle.” He writes the column Marketplace Faith for Patheos.com. Chip is the Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at The King’s College in New York City.
Certified in Executive Coaching by Columbia University, Chip tackles the vocational challenge from 30+ years of P/L leadership responsibility as a small businessman, a pastor, a career coach, and a business consultant. Dr. Roper’s executive clients can be found in firms such as J.P. Morgan, Baycrest Partners, Google, Target Health, Previnex, Hangang Asset Management Company, the Ugandan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, CNBC, and the New York Property Insurance Underwriters Association.
Important COVID-19 Update from NIFW
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to prioritize the safety and health of our guests and our staff. With that said, the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work is making adjustments moving forward to our upcoming programming.
Workshops
The Compassion Fatigue Workshop for Helping Professionals on March 27 is postponed. New date TBD.
The Building Blocks of Career Discernment Workshops on April 2 and 3 are canceled.
The Enneagram at Work Workshop on April 24 is canceled.
Gotham Interest Meetings
The March 25 Interest Meeting has been moved to a virtual meeting via Zoom. Time and date details remain the same: March 25, 2020, 5:15-6:30 p.m. CLICK HERE to register and receive the link.
The April 21 Interest Meeting has been moved to a virtual meeting via Zoom. Time and date details remain the same: April 21, 2020, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. CLICK HERE to register and receive the link.
As of now, our May 13 Interest Meeting will be in person, though, we may move it to Zoom as we continue to monitor COVID-19.
We appreciate your understanding and patience in advance as we make adjustments to honor and love our neighbors in the best ways possible. If you have any questions about the changes, please don't hesitate to reach out to info@nifw.org.
Welcome NIFW’s New Executive Director
We are excited to announce Rose Wynne Brooks as the new Executive Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith & Work (NIFW), effective March 3, 2020. Rose Wynne has been our Interim Gotham Lead Director since January 1st, 2020.
Rose Wynne was most recently a managing partner with Strategic Growth Results, where she is a consultant and advisor to executive teams seeking next-level growth in diverse markets, both mature and early-stage companies. Prior to this, she held Vice President positions in Marketing, Business Management, and Customer Service for Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Siemens Medical Solutions, Inc. and GE Commercial Finance. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from U. T. Knoxville, as well as executive education from Harvard Business School and Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Rose Wynne is a Strategist, with well-developed leadership skills and corporate experience to lead NIFW. She possesses great insight into organizational development and team building, with a unique ability to grasp and develop a vision and create sustainable processes, through excellence, for long term health and growth. Rose Wynne speaks with great clarity, with a shepherd's heart, while also a seasoned professional who is capable of cutting through the fog in assessing a particular challenge or reality, in order to develop business/ministry solutions, both people and processes.
One of Rose Wynne's first priorities will be to hire a new Lead Director for Gotham, beginning with the class of 2020-21. Rose Wynne will continue to lead the current class to the finish line at the end of April. Please join us in welcoming Rose Wynne to this new role in the NIFW ministry.
Sincerely, Scott Sauls, Senior Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church, the Governing Board, and the team at NIFW
Meet our 2019-20 Gotham Class
Gotham, our nine month faith and work intensive, launched last weekend with an opening retreat focused on the year ahead. We are very encouraged by the breadth and depth of vocational, spiritual, and personal experiences in the new Gotham class. We have a representation of 13 churches, 14 industries, 60/40 female/male, 3 races - all coming together to focus on Christ in their lives. Get to know our new Gotham class below.
