Takayuki Sato (52) has worked for Mitsubishi Trading company for 24 years. He has worked mainly in Marunouchi, as well as spells in Bangkok and Chicago. He leads the Mitsubishi Marunouchi office group on Tuesday lunch times.
I have been praying since April 2001 when I joined the company to be given a Christian Prayer group at my workplace.
It is not by chance that I came to my current workplace, but God sent me here. And so, I trust in God’s power and guidance, not in my own strength or wisdom for the Lord’s work to progress here. In the workplace, through prayer and the Word, God has taught me to recognise the presence of the Lord anew and to step out in faith.
“For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore, my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.” (Acts 2:25-26)
At work, things can go wrong, and relationships can be difficult and troubled. But it is a great encouragement to know the presence of the Lord as we pray, bringing us peace, joy, and hope. I have been greatly encouraged by the Mitsubishi Marunouchi Office Group as God has reminded me of His presence with me and given me strength as I have gathered with colleagues at work to look together at the Bible.
Every month, about 3-6 people who work for Mitsubishi related companies in the Marunouchi area gather and take turns to give a short message from the Bible or testimony. Each person then shares their reflections on the Bible talk. The time commitment is about 45 minutes during the lunch hour. The testimonies and short messages are always full of great insights. As each of us is in a different position, situation and age group, it is an encouragement and a challenge to hear other brothers and sisters teach us things that we are not usually aware of ourselves, and it makes us pray even more.
One time when I was struggling with a heavy burden which I was carrying, one member of the office group reminded me to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). It is difficult to rejoice when we encounter hardships, because our mood is often darkened. Seeing that brothers and sisters in the same Marunouchi area can rejoice by trusting in the Lord even in such circumstances made me aware that the Lord’s power is working through them.
The workplace is a place to serve the Lord and others. It is never easy and simple. Sometimes we all encounter trials. We want to run the race that each of us has been given to participate in, and we want our office group to be a place where we can encourage each other to do so.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ” (Hebrews 12:1