A book full of notes, brain full of ideas and heart full of inspiration! The 2023 Transform Our World Global Conference was coming to a close and it had been an incredible experience.
Only 4 days earlier I was standing in the typical English cold and wet at 6:00am Wednesday morning, where it was easy for my mind to wander and dream of the potential learnings, experiences and sun that lay ahead of me at the 2023 TOW conference in Santa Clara, California. My lift arrived and we – Daniel, Hannah and myself – excitedly (me sleepily) discussed what we were hoping to learn from the conference, who we were hoping to speak to and how bad the London traffic would be near Heathrow airport.
Now as I reflect on those pre-conference expectations, not only was the London traffic a doddle, but the learnings and conversations I had during my time in the US far surpassed anything I had hoped for.
One of my favourite moments of the conference came during a session in which Poncho’s motto, “Have fun and love God and others”, was shared with me for the first time. Maybe this motto won’t adorn as many kitchens as “Live, Laugh, Love” does, but it did make me think about what is important to God and myself. Surely the Creator of the universe has created us as His beloved children to enjoy life and love one another.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”
Psalm 37:4
How amazing if the desires of our heart were aligned with those of God’s heart. What is on God’s heart? I think it’s for us to love one another and find our delight not in earthly possessions but in the bringing of righteousness, peace and joy.
I am personally aware that I have the tendency to be very introspective and can often think too much or too little of myself at any given time. However, the closer I get to God the bigger I discover Him to be! And so I gain perspective on my actual size in this rollercoaster journey we call life, which is just like Goldilocks’ third option – not too big or too small, but just right. I see more clearly the role I have to play as an appropriately sized cog in His Kingdom. That role: bringing His kingdom to people to allow them to experience the joy and peace of God. Now that sounds like a wonderful job that He has entrusted to me and you as His disciples.
Hearing so many inspiring and encouraging testimonies from people across the world helped reinforce the truth that through our workplace ministry we really can change an organisation one person at a time. As humans, we respond to the culture we are exposed to (trust me, I’m a northern Englishman living in Kent – talk about a culture shock!). However, culture is caught not taught, and so it is not enough to just talk about loving our neighbour, we must actively do so. If we can bring a culture of love – showing God’s Kingdom in action – to one person, they will be transformed by this and in turn can transform their workplace culture to one befitting His kingdom. This change can be exponential but it starts with us truly wanting to see that change and actively loving that one person. I was reminded at the conference that the only way to God is through Jesus, but there are many routes to Jesus.
Upon landing back in the UK and resuming normality, the challenge I’ve found is to not be overwhelmed by all the possibilities and opportunities in which I know I can make a difference. Thankfully, we don’t need to do this on our own. God has positioned each of us in a place where we can make a difference, and we can be reassured that as we live out our lives as children of the Most High, with our hearts postured towards God and full of love for those around us, we will be compelled into actions which bring righteousness, peace and joy. Not because we are ‘better’ but because we have a God who is the best.
“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Matthew 7:17-18
Mark, a Worship.Works Graduate (2021), works for a consultancy where he seeks to authentically live out his faith daily by keeping Christ at the centre of His work and how he serves his colleagues and clients. He joined a team from W.W to attend the Transform Our World Global Conference in October 2023.