From the Human Resources Manager

Finding Purpose in Work

I’ve recently been reading “Garden City: Work, Rest and the Art of Being Human” by John Mark Comer. While I’m not quite finished yet, I’d highly recommend it if you want to explore more about your career, the importance of work, and the need to rest. 

I’ve always been interested in this area. Throughout my career, I’ve been a recruitment consultant, supported the long-term unemployed, worked on various recruitment projects, provided career guidance to tertiary students, and now work in human resources. In other words, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about work and its importance!

I read recently that nearly seven out of ten employees reflected on their purpose at work because of COVID. The data suggests that if you believe that you live out your purpose at work, you are six and a half times more likely to report higher resilience, four times more likely to report better health, six times more likely that you’ll want to stay at the company, and one a half times more likely that you’ll go above and beyond to make the company successful! (McKinsey, 2021). In other words, you’d be highly recommended to try to live out your purpose at work. 

I was recently listening to an interesting podcast where someone named Hal Donaldson was being interviewed.  Hal’s father was a pastor, and Hal explained that when he was only 12 years old, his parents were going out one evening, and he was to be left at home with a babysitter with his siblings. That night, his father died in a tragic accident, and his mother was in such a bad way that for around 12 months, Hal and his siblings needed to live with another Christian family in a caravan. They didn’t have insurance or similar, and ultimately his family ended up on welfare, and came to understand a life of poverty. His mother did what she could to make ends meet, taking several temporary jobs to support the family.  

Hal later went on to university, studying journalism, and began a career as a writer. He was a ghostwriter and, as part of this, was given the opportunity to go to Calcutta, India, to interview Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa asked him directly but kindly in that conversation, “What are you doing to help the poor?”.  Hal was completely honest in his reply, and said that he’d done ‘nothing’. She simply smiled back at his reply, and said that “Everyone can do something”.

It’s amazing how for Hal, that question really changed the trajectory of his life!

Hal ultimately ended up starting a charity called Convoy of Hope, which has gone on to become one of the 50 largest charities in the United States, running disaster responses and community service programs. They have distributed more than $2.5 billion worth of food and supplies, helped more than 250 million people, and currently feed more than 570,000 children every school day (www.haldonaldson.org, 2024).

I find his story fascinating. Hal managed to find his purpose and fulfilment in his work, knowing that he was making a difference. It’s interesting how, from a challenging childhood—knowing poverty firsthand and then being asked a simple question—he’s been able to turn that into so much good.

Colossians 3:22-24 (MSG) says, “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.”

 

Similarly, 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) tells us, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We need to develop an understanding of what God has called us to do, and the contribution that we can make to the world. If you are a parent, we need to be working with our kids to identify their strengths, abilities and ultimately help them discover the difference that they can make in the world around them. They need to find their ‘God shape’. 

As Hal found, it’s amazing to see how our life journey, and our experiences shape what we do, and the contribution we can make to the world. It’s not only about our job though - it doesn’t matter whether you are paid for it or not, we all have a contribution to make, and it’s important we spend the time considering what that looks like. 

Let's remember that what we do is ultimately about serving Christ and doing it for His glory.

Matt Purdy

Human Resources Manager