Service Industry: The Harvest

Unlike many seminarians, I never worked in order to study theology. I studied theology so I could take it to work.

We need to treat work not as a subject of theology, but as the location where your theology is proven. Scholars know it as a Theology of Work. But I like to see it as the Work of Theology.

Don't get me wrong, I fully endorse the Faith & Work, Theology of Work, and Marketplace Ministries. And this is one of them, but for the entry level & service workers. Written by someone who has been there, wrestled with faith, and found God.

After all, when I became a believer at 24, I was taught by Christians to do everything as unto the Lord, so there was no division between secular and sacred work. Still, what was my purpose in life? What was I supposed to do? And how do I get there?

When I was 31, I was blessed to be part of an incredible internship with premier scholars in the Faith & Work field. After loving the discussion so much, I noticed that we were speaking mostly to executive leadership about the business principles of the faith.

I sensed a chasm.

What about the service and hospitality workers who I spent 14 years with? What about all my old friends who didn't know a single real Christian and didn't go to church because Sundays are too busy to request off? It's the awkward middle ground demographic that comprise the majority. "The Invisible Middle."

Therefore, at last, here’s a ministry not just for the homeless (as necessary as it is like The Salvation Army), nor for the faith of executive directors and presidents (as necessary as it is like Marketplace Ministries), but for the other 85% of the workforce: the service industry. The entry-level. Those who rely on gratuities. The struggling students, single mothers and fathers, immigrants, the lower-middle class majority.

This demographic is difficult, it’s messy, and it’s starving to feel the attention of and compassion of God. It's longing to be served, to be dined, to be the recipient of grace. I see the need, have been there myself, and know how to speak deeply into this lifestyle if only for a few moments at a restaurant table. The great part: other leaders (pastors included) have in recent years started becoming more cognizant about this and are on fire to understand and help! Will you join me?

I worked in the service industry, hospitality, and entry-level for 14 years. I don't anymore. In a sense, I was “brought out” of the service industry after years of hard, minute work.

But I'm not going to tell you,

"You can get out of the service industry, too!"

I'm here to tell you,

You can find peace,

purpose,

hope,

love,

meaning,

while working where you're at.

I wish I felt that earlier than I did.