*TOW-Guyana*

1. *TOW-Guyana* Welcome you to … Bakke Graduate University (BGU) & Work, Calling & Human Dignity February, 2012

2. Outline • TOW Introduction – what this means to me personally as a fellow Guyanese • Why a focus on TOW (Work, Calling & Humanity) Context to the Caribbean with emphasis on Guyana • Touching on ‘Fruit of the Spirit in the Workplace’

3. TOW Introduction • What this all means to me personally as a fellow Guyanese • The best way I can impart what is in my heart is through my own TOW walk – oftentimes, this is the best way of teaching … • For me, it all started as a very reflective process • For years I have quietly observed (both in Guyana and throughout my travels) the confusing dichotomy as many seemed so metamorphosed from Sunday to Monday • I did not recognize the Sunday church goers on Monday • I wondered: What is it that causes us to make this shift where many enjoy who we are on Sunday but dread dealing with us on Monday? • I have lived this with many and it is both puzzling and scary

4. TOW Introduction cont’d • I started feeling a deep sense of … • Spiritual Discontentment & Spiritual Intolerance • Something had to change – something had to transform • We could not continue the way we were • For some time, I heard the words … No more procrastination … Now! • All of this resulted in prayer and personal reflection • Please let me share the following reflections with you: • I leave these with you as we enjoy this week’s TOW journey together • The timing is right … let us follow His lead as He stays one step ahead of us throughout this journey …

5. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we really believe that Guyana is called of God to transform its people and the rest of the world … what would be different?

6. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we deeply feel the same presence on Monday as we did on Sunday … what would be different?

7. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we truly believe who we are on Sunday is the same as who we are on Monday … what would be different?

8. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we truly believe that we are Christ in human form- walking each day as He walked 2000 years ago, talking as He talked, loving healing and caring as He did … what would be different?

9. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we clearly saw that our daily work is about His purpose and our daily mission field … what would be different?

10. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we deeply embrace the fact that today may be the only Christ the world (a hurting creation) sees through our life … what would be different?

11. TOW Introduction cont’d • What if we really believed that Genesis 1:27 called each of us to be a leader and as such, we are committed to leading as well as following each other? • What if we believe that we have the personal responsibility to help each person answer his/her Genesis call … what would be different?

12. TOW Introduction cont’d • Finally, what if we truly believe that God has a specific purpose in our being in this room tonight and that what we must learn, we must apply personally and we must share with others? • Then ... I promise that if you follow this purpose … your life will never be the same after this week  …

13. TOW Introduction cont’d • Meeting the team at Bakke Graduate University helped me answer these questions and sort out these reflections • I saw TOW ‘lived daily’ and it was so refreshing … • Personally, this TOW message has become the basis for much of my work for Him … and I long to see as many as possible be blessed by this message … so here we are Guyana! 

14. Why TOW & The Caribbean? • Why a focus on TOW (Work, Calling & Humanity) Context to the Caribbean with emphasis on Guyana • This region is no different from any other Some of our Caribbean countries have the highest number of churches per capital yet are amongst the world’s leading crime centers • How do we explain this? • Some of our countries have officially declared themselves to be Christian nations yet we are tired of the unethical practices • What is happening at the leadership level?

15. Why TOW & The Caribbean cont’d? • Clearly … there is a disconnect between Church & Life … Business & Mission … Theology & Work! • I am tempted to say that we have made church another social gathering: • The personal relationship with Christ (along with His purpose) is missing • The clear understanding that our work is our calling is missing !

16. Fruits of the Spirit in the Workplace • I will just leave these with you as I ask you two questions that we will not answer today … you will answer as we progress through this journey … • Joy: More Than Happiness at Work • Goodness: Un-selfconscious Giving • Love: The Greatest Thing to Give and Receive • Self-Control: Resolving the Work-Life Dilemma • Gentleness: The Strength of Meekness • Faithfulness: Workplace Integrity • Kindness: Putting Others at Ease • Patience: Remaining Where You Are with Hope • Peace: Bringing Wholeness and Harmony Questions:

17. Fruit of the Spirit in the Workplace cont’d • Question #1: • How many of these fruits of the Spirit are your workplace giving to you? • Question #2 • How many of these fruits of the Spirit are you giving to your workplace? • At the end of the day … it must begin with ‘me’! • Lord, make me a channel of your peace, joy, love etc …

18. The End … Thank you and … the Lord bless!