“Externally Focused” is the term that Bruce Mitchell’s home church uses to describe their commitment to making things happen outside of their building.  While Bruce loves his church and all the good stuff that happens on the inside, he knows how important things on the “outside” are too.  His local church leaders are also well aware that the Kingdom of God will not come in force in Canada, or anywhere else, unless there is a strategic plan for off-the-property activity during, what one Regent College professor describes as, “the other six days.”

As National Director of Outreach Canada’s Corporate Chaplains ministry, Bruce knows that God has provided unique and wonderful opportunities for him and his colleagues to carry His presence into the business community as corporate chaplains.  There may always be a few skeptics who think that Jesus will never find a place in the Marketplace, but these chaplains know that is far from the truth. Below are a few stories of Corporate Chaplains’ ministry footprint:

A second “Driving Under the Influence” conviction in one week is not a good thing! DUI Sam (not his real name), an employee of one of our companies, was sentenced to three months in the ‘slammer.’  He was bored in jail—with not much happening most of the day.  He was only too happy to have a chaplain provide a weekly diversion.  A spark of interest was fanned, which then through prayer, eventually turned in a heavenly direction. Sam developed a passion for the Bible, began to read it regularly and even started to witness to a fellow inmate.    

Where were you last December 21st?  Jeff, the store manager, had sent me (their workplace chaplain) on a mission to serve one of his key clients. Michael, the client’s young son, was unable to see Santa at the mall due to his weakened immune system. I found myself dressed in a Santa suit, holding hands and praying with Michael’s family in their living room--thanking God for another year of blessings and praying for continued health and peace.  There wasn’t a dry eye among the adults, including Santa! What I found most fascinating was that neither Jeff, nor his client, claimed to be Christ-followers but both believed in the value of Christian chaplains.
 
One female Chaplain comforted a Buddhist employee in the workplace who was stressed over her ill husband.  This chaplain relates, “I offered support and prayer. She wasn’t sure if her own prayers would be heard. I asked her if she knew about Jesus, God’s son who healed many people while on earth. She hadn’t, and said she would be interested to read his story if I brought it for her in her language (Vietnamese). I bought a New Testament at the Canadian Bible Society (they helped me chose an easy-to-read translation). She accepted it, and then gave it to her husband to read. She told me her husband had some questions about it, and I was wondering how I would find a Christian translator to help. The following week she then told me that her husband found a friend who is Vietnamese and knows the book very well, and who was willing to help her husband understand.”

Innovative is perhaps the best word to describe the Corporate Chaplains ministry. Thriving on their varied encounters with employees in all kinds of workplace settings, Outreach Canada’s chaplains are clearly called to serve.  They minister to employees and management in factories, showrooms, hotels, restaurants, service facilities, offices, and stores—just about every kind of business conceivable.  A cross-section in a 24-hr day of their combined services may find a chaplain:

• assisting in mediating a workplace dispute;
• comforting a grieving employee, and assisting with or conducting a funeral;
• visiting a hospital following  surgery;
• meeting over a coffee break to respond to a worker’s initial wondering about spiritual things;
• supporting a self-identified Christian employee in their desire to be a witness to their co-workers;
• praying for or with a worker who has disclosed a personal problem or illness;
• helping to locate a local church or Bible study in order to disciple those who come to faith in Christ, or those simply wanting to explore Christianity;
• counseling an employee through a family crisis involving their partner or a youth-at-risk;
• providing regular support, literature, and a referral for an addiction;
• getting to know a new worker, and introducing the chaplains program;
• spending time in prayer for and with company owners.

Under the leadership of Bruce Mitchell, the chaplaincy team is growing in number as new businesses realize the benefits of adding chaplains to their Employee Care programs.