By David Gill, reprinted from The 313.
Our final “work story” will be the “Workplace 313 Story,” remembering our five-year saga from 2019-2024. During 2018-2019 we informally offered four different seminars on “Workplace Discipleship” at a local church, Ninety men and women showed up! We (starting with David Gill and Keith Criss) soon decided it would be good to create a small non-profit with a website to provide ongoing resources and encouragement for people wanting Jesus to be the Lord of their work lives. Kelly Bresso, Gina Casey, Tom Cowley, Al Kropp, Art Hom, Marda Quon Stothers, Vent Traylor, Michael McNally, Susan Cosio, Bonnie Johnston, and Sid Smith—representing ten different churches—joined David and Keith on our board. David has been the “content machine”/writer, Keith the media/art director, and Bonnie our secretary/treasurer and proof reader. We chose the name “Workplace 313” to symbolize the focus on our Monday to Saturday workday lives (313 per year)—trusting the 52 Sundays already had plenty of advocates.
Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit us just after we launched and forced the indefinite cancellation of any in-person gatherings we envisioned. But we were already also committed to on-line communications and resources, centered on a monthly e-zine, “the313” (not just a newsletter but a “magazine” full of good content). The313 became a great resource for many people. We have published 42 issues of the313. This has included 90 reviews of books related to workplace discipleship and 30 brief “Insight” essays on the topic. We reviewed 30 other helpful faith at work organizations/websites. We created a substantial bibliography of significant books. We ran live (and then archived as recordings on our website) 30 on-line, 90-minute “Forums” on different vocational arenas and topics (nursing, plumbing, chaplaincy, business leadership, engineering, race and diversity, jazz performance, multi-vocational callings, etc.)—with twenty to fifty live attendees each time. We added a dozen recordings of 40-minute “Work Stories” featuring different workers (police, investment management, auto dealers, city mayor, tech support, etc.).
We focused a major effort on creating Workplace Discipleship 101: A Primer as a print, e-book, and audio-book introduction—and then created a 12-part series of 20-minute videos based on the book, available for free use by individuals, churches, and business groups. Basic training for all!
So we have been busy trying to fulfill our mission “to equip (“get you ready”) and mobilize (“get you going”) workers (whoever, whatever, wherever) to transform their work and workplaces with the insights and values of Jesus and Scripture.” But, to paraphrase Ecclesiastes, there is a time to plant and a time to build—but also a time to pass it on. We have reached that time at Workplace 313.
Providentially, our friends Denise Lee Yohn and Paul Taylor have been laying the foundation for an ambitious new Bay Area Center for Faith, Work, and Tech with a projected public start-up date of September 2024. “FaithWorkTech” (www.faithworktech.org) has graciously and enthusiastically agreed to carry on the legacy (and resources) of Workplace 313 as a part of their broader vision and ministry. We welcome their increased attention to technology as it transforms all workplaces and we are excited already by the significant presence of the younger generations in their leadership. We pray for their faithfulness and success. David Gill is on their Advisory Council and we hope other WP313 folk will find ways to support, participate in, and benefit from, their programs.
This month of June will be our final opportunity to accept any financial contributions, after which we will pass on our financial and website resources to FaithWorkTech and dissolve our non-profit. You will hear directly from FaithWorkTech and have the opportunity to opt out or continue on their mailing list. We at Workplace 313 strongly encourage you to support FaithWorkTech as you have us over the years.
If you are interested in staying in touch with our retiring Executive Director, David Gill, he is available at dwg@davidwgill.org and www.davidwgill.org. To contact our Media Director and Designer Keith Criss, he is available at macpynapl@tradigitalworks.com and TradigitalWorks.com.
But our final word to you is “Thank You!”—thank you so much for your faithful part in our “Workplace 313 Story.” A new chapter is beginning. God bless you.
The Green Room 