Case Studies
- Going to the conference with Bora to develop a friendship. Seeing Bora as a spiritually needy person in a painful time in her life, who, despite her ultra liberal interests, would be helped by having a Christian friend. Perhaps this friendship could deepen and spark some open questions from Bora about Maria’s faith.
- Responding to Al’s resentment and Sally’s disappointment by extra kindness, competence and liberal affirmation.
- Attending Faculty/Staff Christian Fellowship meetings, which meet once per month and which welcomes non-Christians. Give her testimony at one of these meetings.
- Signing her name alongside other faculty and staff to the Christmas and Easter advertisements in the student newspaper with the FSCF design and publish as a witness.
- Put the plaque which Sheldon gave her up in her home, but the desk edition of the Bible in her office bookcase (rather than on her desk). Indeed, she could pray over her meals without making a scene.
- Being discreet about prayer meetings in the office because they have the tendency to create an "us and them" mentality. Go to lunch occasionally with Sheldon and pray there.
- Respond to student or staff questions about her personal faith honestly, and refer students who express interest to the on-campus religious clubs.
- Become a faculty sponsor of a Christian group on campus.
A CASE STUDY IN VOCATIONAL WITNESS
by J. Richard Arndt and Randy White
Maria Gomez is a 30 year old, newly married Latina who recently earned her Ph.D in higher educational administration. She was just hired by Frederick Neitche University as Director of Student Information Services (SIS). Her first "real job," she is excited with the opportunities for gaining experience, earning a good salary, and possible promotion to higher levels of responsibility.
As director of the SIS, Maria supervises four full-time employees, including two male advisors (one African American and one Caucasian), one Asian American female advisor and a Caucasian secretary. The Caucasian male advisor applied for the job Maria got, and is angry that he was not selected. He’s hoping she fails. All four are older than Maria. On her first day, her secretary confessed to her that she preferred a male supervisor. Maria’s boss, the Vice President for Student Services, is very politically correct, has assembled an ethnically diverse department, and screens all department communications for any hint of racism, sexism, classism, or ideological (conservative) bias. On his desk is a copy of the Humanist Manifesto, and it is known that he claims to be an atheist.
As a committed Christian, Marie wants to begin a positive Christian witness in her new job. God had always put people’s need for Christ on her heart, and she found evangelism in her student days to be very natural. She wondered what sharing her faith would look like here. It seemed very different from school. Her secretary was disappointed. Al was angry and resentful, and her boss was intimidating. She noticed that Sheldon, the African American advisor, had a "Christian Fish" sticker on his car, but also noticed that he wasn’t esteemed very highly by his colleagues or ever given the top assignments. And Bora, the Asian American advisor, seemed so different than herself; she was a rising star in the department, always dreaming up ways to get students to women’s conferences or planning joint ventures with Intentional Nurturehood. After a few days on the job it dawned on her that she would have her work cut out for her if God was going to use her to show his love for her department.
As a "welcome to the office" gesture, Sheldon gave Maria a nice desk edition of the King James Bible and an expensive plaque which said, "Praise the LORD!" He said it was great to have another Christian in the department now, and that they ought to have a prayer meeting in her office each morning to start their day. They could "even keep the blinds open as a witness." He shared how he had been inviting office staff to church, giving Christian cards and Bibles to staff on holidays, and praying over his meals in the lunch room, and referring students to the Campus Crusade group on campus. But he also felt all alone as a Christian there, and a bit ostracized. Bora also brought a welcome gift (a lotus flower and Korean proverb), shared briefly about the divorce she was going through, and invited Maria to the upcoming women’s conference. "We could even drive together if you wanted," Bora said.
At home, Maria began describing to her husband her desire to share her faith at work. She told him all about Al, Sheldon, Bora and Sally. He responded instantly by saying, "you need to be careful of the whole separation of church and state issue. As a supervisor you could be charged with religious harassment or favoritism if you do what Sheldon does. Why don’t you just let your actions speak for you and not risk the potential backlash from your boss?" She wondered whether her way of sharing her faith should look more like Sheldon, or more like what her husband was suggesting.
What do you think Maria should do to be an effective witness in her department and amongst students? What are her options? What principles should guide her decisions and methodologies?
What Maria Gomez did:
Because Maria was active in a campus fellowship in her student days, she asked the local campus staff worker her opinion. The staff worker suggested these approaches, some of which Maria adopted:
What do you think about the staff worker’s advice?
Written for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Fresno’s Marketplace Study Group. Used by permission.
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