How to Spread the Gospel at Work
How to Evangelize at Work as a Catholic
Before you begin witnessing at work, having an understanding of evangelism and the motive behind it can help you find ways to connect about faith naturally with others. Sharing Jesus in the workplace with our coworkers can feel difficult or awkward at times, so for many Christians, it can be easy to keep the gospel to ourselves. To step outside of our comfort zones, we need to understand how and why we are called to evangelize — and when a moment may offer the opportunity to evangelize in a way that speaks to colleagues and friends.
The Bible tells us repeatedly to share the gospel with those who need to hear it. Pope Paul VI even made the bold declaration that the Church “exists in order to evangelize.” So how can we fulfill our mission to bear witness to those around us? Evangelism becomes more natural when we are confident in our faith. Saint Paul says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for the Jew first, and then Greek.” When you grasp the power of the gospel, its transforming message generates excitement to share this good news with others.
That doesn’t mean you need to grab a megaphone and preach to everyone you encounter. For most people, a subtle approach tends to work better. According to 1 Peter 3:15-16, Christians should be prepared to explain where their hope comes from but that we should “do it with gentleness and reverence.” Likewise, Colossians 4:5-6 says when you have the opportunity to talk with unbelievers, you should “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.”
This should be good news for anyone who is afraid of boldly preaching wherever they go. While this type of evangelism may work in certain situations, when you’re witnessing to your coworkers or other people you know, you can take a gentler approach. In fact, some evangelism can be done through actions instead of words. People who see you living your life up close should notice a difference between you and others based on your actions.
Recall that Saint Peter mentioned the hope Christians have. That hope should be something that attracts attention from your coworkers and makes them wonder if you have something in your life that they are missing. They should also see you doing good works. As Matthew 5:16 says, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Everything from your general attitude at work to the way you treat others can be a powerful witness.
There is no exact recipe for successful evangelism or how to witness at work. It can look different for different people. In general, though, Catholic evangelism should look like living a life that points to Christ and taking opportunities to share the gospel in a way that is warm and gracious.
Creative Ways to Spread the Gospel at Work
1. Display Bible Verses at Your Desk
2. Invite Coworkers to a Holy Days of Obligation Mass
3. Offer to Pray for Someone
4. Be an Open Book
5. Be the Best Worker You Can Be
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