In the rhythm of daily life—whether in a field like Ruth’s, a high-rise office, a rural classroom, or a family kitchen—God is present. Our labor, our conversations, our routines: all are part of the sacred call to walk with him. Work isn’t separate from worship. In fact, work can be worship when done in response to God’s call.
On May 1, 2025, Christians around the world will come together to affirm this truth in the first-ever Global Day of Faith at Work. This initiative recognizes the sacredness of everyday work and invites believers—whether in Chinese communities or around the world—to live out their faith wherever God has placed them.
For the ChinaSource community, many of whom serve in cross-cultural, educational, organizational, or home-based contexts, this movement offers a moment of unity, renewal, and affirmation: God’s mission is not limited to pulpits or Sunday gatherings. It happens wherever we are—when we live faithfully, love deeply, and work with purpose.
ChinaSource is honored to be a partner in this global initiative, helping to raise awareness of the sacredness of daily work and to encourage believers to live faithfully wherever they serve.
🎥 Learn More from the Founders:
In this engaging conversation, Elaine Kung and others explain how the Global Day of Faith at Work began—and how you can be part of it:
What Is the Global Day of Faith at Work?
Initiated by leaders in the global faith-and-work movement, including Elaine Kung (Called To Work), Joseph Vijayam (Lausanne Movement), and Brad Smith (World Evangelical Alliance), this annual day of reflection and commissioning seeks to celebrate and empower believers to live out their calling through work.
On May 1, from 12–1 PM in your local time zone, believers are invited to gather—whether in person or virtually—for a one-hour expression of worship in daily life. The program includes:
- Prayer: Lifting up our coworkers, communities, and the work of our hands.
- Worship: Songs that celebrate God’s presence in every place.
- Scripture reading: Reflecting on biblical truths about work and calling.
- Commissioning: Sending one another out as faithful witnesses in the places where we serve.
Elaine Kung puts it this way:
“You could be the only living Bible that your co-workers are reading. Through your integrity, love, and excellence, they can experience the presence of Christ—even if they’ve never stepped into a church.”
Work Isn’t Just a Job—It’s a Calling
Elaine speaks from experience. After years as an executive and ministry leader, she knows that real transformation often begins in quiet, ordinary places. She reminds us that God was the first to work—creating, cultivating, caring. His work continues, and we are invited to participate.
“We celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day—even Donut Day and Pizza Day,” Elaine says.
“But we haven’t had a day to celebrate work itself—until now.”
This day isn’t about traditional offices or titles. This day isn’t only about traditional offices or titles. It recognizes the spiritual significance of every workplace, whether a factory, farm, kitchen, or Zoom call. The Global Day of Faith at Work embraces all kinds of labor—visible and unseen, formal and informal, paid and unpaid.
Why This Day Resonates with Our Readers
The vision behind the Global Day of Faith at Work echoes a theme that many in the ChinaSource community already live out daily: faith isn’t confined to certain times or places—it flows through all of life. Whether you’re serving in China, among diaspora communities, or in a global missions context, the call to live out your faith in your work is both deeply personal and profoundly communal.
At ChinaSource, we’ve consistently shared stories of believers living faithfully in their communities, often in quiet, unseen ways. This day offers a tangible opportunity to join others around the world in reflection, intercession, and renewal—an invitation to be reminded that our labor, wherever it is done, can glorify God.
“We are the church wherever we go,” Elaine Kung said in a recent podcast. “When we show up at work, we bring the presence of God with us.”
Whether through gathered worship or quiet witness, your work matters—and so does this moment to pause, pray, and be commissioned again to live for God’s purposes wherever you are.
For those serving in sensitive regions, the beauty of this day is its adaptability. You can participate in a private moment of prayer, organize a simple lunchtime reflection, or join a virtual gathering for your time zone. Free resources—including materials in Chinese and English—are available at globalfaithatwork.org.
An Invitation to Take Part
Whether you serve in Beijing, Nairobi, London, or Los Angeles, this is a chance to:
- Pause and remember God’s purpose for your work.
- Pray for those around you—your colleagues, students, clients, or family.
- Reflect on how your everyday tasks can point to eternal truths.
- Commission others in your circle to go with courage and hope into their daily places of service.
Let us come together on May 1 to say:
“Here I am, Lord—send me, even here.”
Not as one going abroad, but as one faithfully living out the gospel wherever God has placed me.
To host or join a gathering, or to download bilingual resources, visit globalfaithatwork.org
And as always, join us in prayer—that God would awaken the hearts of believers across China and the world to see every field, every office, every home as holy ground.
Image credit: Toa Heftiba via Unsplash
Andrea Lee
Andrea Lee writes at the intersection of faith, culture, and Chinese Christianity.As Content Manager at ChinaSource, she curates stories, nurtures a community of writers, and shapes the editorial direction to reflect the depth and diversity of the Chinese church experience. Born and raised in Taiwan, Andrea studied Chinese Literature at Tunghai …View Full Bio
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