As one aspect of the Marunouchi Office Groups (MOGs) ministry, we put on a 6-session course in autumn 2021, to help city workers grow as witnesses for Jesus in their workplaces. Akira Endo, one of the TMP staff, with much prayer and reflection on his 40 years of witness in the workplace in Tokyo, has helped us put together a course which we hope will be a blessing to many people. Here are Endo-san’s reflections on the course.
My first introduction to TMP and Thierry Richards was in 2019. Never did I think that at that time, that this would be the beginning of the making of what would become the “Witnesses in the Workplace” course. As shared in Isaiah 55:8-9, God’s plan is far better than our thoughts: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The truth of this passage is a constant reminder to me, that this course is His work with His bringing different people into my life.
Thierry-san, Takahashi-san and I began working on the concept of how God might encourage Christian businessmen and women to be more effective witnesses in their workplaces through this course. It was a growing experience for me, as we prayed, discussed and shared the content with each other. Always having in mind that it was not by human efforts, but by God’s mercy that God would use us and this course to strengthen Christians in the business world. The course content has evolved as it was shared with the TMP staff, TMP Directors and to the Samurai participants. Finally, we did a 6-session course over 7 weeks to 10 businessmen and women at the end of 2021.
My prayer is that through this course and other activities of TMP, men and women will become bolder in sharing Christ in their workplaces. Two months after the most recent course, we had a reunion for the participants where they could share whether they had been able to implement what they had learned from the course. They shared how they have become more conscious of their need for prayer throughout the day. And how they have begun to share their faith with colleagues and family members, and developed a stronger interest in their colleagues at work than before. And the truth that they are “Full Time Christian Workers for the Lord in everything that they do!” has begun to change their attitude to work. Hearing these testimonies was encouraging for both Takahashi-san and me.
My hope is that the changes made in the lives of those participating in the course may begin to make ripples that expand and touch other people’s lives. We long that these tiny ripples may become waves which transform the lives of Christian businessmen and women who in turn will speak of Jesus with their non-Christian colleagues and friends. And that this hunger and thirst to share their faith may continue to flourish for the rest of their lives. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this work, and ask for your continuous support and prayer. You may ask how you can support this work? One way is to introduce your friends who might benefit from participating in this course to start another ripple in their workplace.