What I love about my in house Christian group - Todd

A lady who recently heard about the in-house Christian group at law firm Hicksons was surprised … “you’ve got a Bible study, in a law firm?” she exclaimed.

Todd Porman, Senior Counsel, at Hicksons Lawyers has been a part of the in-house Christian group there for 7 years. Todd shares his story of how the group got started and how it helps believers mature in Christ.

Soon after I joined Hicksons, in January 2015, a mutual friend at City Bible Forum told me of a keen Christian who was also joining the firm. We quickly connected and decided to start an in-house Christian group. We thought it wise to have at least 3 in the group and God quickly answered that prayer, a third believer was found and the group was born.

In God’s goodness the group has continued for 7 years, albeit fluctuating with staff changes. Two of the original 3 remain and others have joined since.

New staff who join our firm who are Christians (or at least open to hearing about Jesus) are often surprised to discover that we have a group meeting fortnightly to study His Word, to encourage one another and to pray. Some are also relieved – expressing joy in feeling safe to find others they can talk with about God, Jesus, the Bible and faith, without being ridiculed or ostracised.

Although our prayers are often for our work colleagues, and their eternal salvation, the group has primarily served to encourage existing believers to mature in Christ. We help each other face the trials and tribulations of work, surrounded by unbelievers, and encourage each other to glorify God every day in the way we work and relate to others.

And when we consider the depths of God’s love for us – demonstrated in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) – it is a joy to be allowed to be part of His plans to lead at least some of our work colleagues to Christ.

One former colleague – a brother-in-Christ – described himself as a ‘private Christian’ but, through being a part of the group at work, he later felt mature enough to be open about his trust in Jesus.

I also love the foretaste of Christ’s eternal family – having a Christian group in the workplace – with diversity in our backgrounds but unity in the body of Christ. It is powerful.

I’d love to see local churches encouraging their members to join or start an in-house group in every workplace and you can see citybibleforum.org/inhouse for a list of workplace groups that already exist.

[Interested in starting an in-house group in your workplace? Contact Craig Josling]