Campus to Career: Labouring Through Transitions

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community

Our God-given vision is to see lifetime labourers raised up for God’s harvest. One of the biggest obstacles is navigating the transitions of life. A key one we regularly face is the move from university into full-time work. Why is it that students who seem so strong and secure in their walk with God and discipling of others so often disengage after university? Suddenly people have less time, many are exhausted, and the pressures of marriage, children and finances soon follow.

Recently, a few labourers from the workplace shared with the ANU student group something simple but profound; hard-earned wisdom gained from wrestling with God in the realities of life and work.

Here are some of the insights they shared:

1. Find your identity in God
Careers rise and fall, but the one who identifies with Christ is secure. Faithfulness isn’t withdrawing from work, but seeing it with eyes of faith – as a place to glorify God and witness to Christ.

2. Prioritise your walk with God
It may look different as a worker, but even using that small remnant of concentration to read Scripture and pray is vital. God is not another draining task – he is the one who gives rest and peace.

3. Engage wisely
Mention your faith early in work relationships. Some will change the subject, but others will lean in – see that as a God-given opportunity. You don’t need to answer every jab, but don’t shy away from gently sharing your perspective.

4. Draw your own boundaries
With productivity as the highest goal, work will take everything you give. To remain available for God’s purposes, you may need to turn down promotions or opportunities. And that is ok! God will honour this.

5. Persevere in prayer
Workers often take longer to respond to the gospel than students. Don’t let the slowness stop you from praying.

6. Stay connected with likeminded labourers
Without regular encouragement, we are unlikely to persevere.

Please join me in praying these truths would take root in our students as they enter the workforce. I pray they would be encouraging to you also!

Also pray that God would raise up not just the small group of students we’re engaged with, but thousands of disciples in Australian workplaces who labour in these ways.

Luke Midena is from our Canberra Labouring Community.

To find out more about his ministry, visit his Staff Profile page.

From Grant to You – All about Mission

God is a missionary God. He is a sending God. The Father sent the Son to earth to bring His people into a right relationship with Him. And the Son went. As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends His disciples into the world to share the good news of the gospel with every nation (John 17:18).

God is … a sending God.

The book of Acts is essentially the story of Acts 1:8 being lived out: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We see thousands coming to faith at Pentecost and afterwards being scattered under persecution that follows Stephen’s martyrdom in chapter 7, Paul converted and given a specific commission by Jesus to go to the gentiles (literally the ethnos, nations, in the Greek), and Paul goes on four missionary journeys to Syria, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Crete, Malta and Italy, finishing in Rome – the capital of the Roman Empire.

group of three photographs illustrating different ways to achieve mission. Photo 1: global/overseas mission; 2: man looking over rooftop of town; 3: group of people praying over meal.

God is calling you to go. The question is: is that across the street, across the room at work, or across the ocean?

The Navigators calling to advance the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost is the way that we endeavour to play our part in the grand plans of God. Reflect prayerfully on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20. God is calling you to go. The question is: is that across the street, across the room at work, or across the ocean? As you pray, let God’s purposes and promises possess you to make your God-intended contribution on earth.

Mission is on the very heart of God. Is mission on your heart?

Featured image: “Missions”. Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash. Collage: Different calls to mission: Image designed using CanvaPro.