Conversational Stickers: Work as Worship

One of the great joys in 2025 has been the DML team's crisscrossing of countries and borders.  While I was out on my recent trip to Tanzania, Zambia, and Ethiopia, our partner from Burkina Faso (Pastor Theo) was bringing the message to Chad and to the DRC.  

Upon his return, he sent the following piece to the rest of the DML team regarding the "Work as Worship" stickers that we share to remind people to do their work "as unto the Lord."  We have these stickers in French, Spanish, and English, and when put on phones or computers, cash registers, or desks, they serve as a good reminder of the opportunity to live our lives as an act of worship, but they also serve as a conversation starter.  

I thought that Pastor Theo's examples and encouragement of how he is doing this were too good not to share.  And if you would like to have some stickers to carry in your wallet to pass out, please email me (renita@dmleaders.org) and I would be happy to send some to you!

I wanted to share a little experience on another way we could utilize the “Work as Worship” stickers.

I used to struggle with starting a spiritual conversation with people seated next to me on my various trips. The challenge lies in how to just start it.

But with the stickers of “Work as Worship”, it is becoming easier.

I will start by asking about how the fellow is doing, and our conversation will naturally lead to sharing the purpose of our travel. Typically, before I even ask about his profession, he will inform me, as people often travel with a purpose related to their profession.

That opens a great door for me. I will pull up my stickers and tell him that I am travelling to speak to people on how they should do their work.

Note that I will not mention that I am a pastor, because when you say that, the person might not be free to continue the conversation.

Here are three cases I wanted to share from my recent trips.   

1.  At the airport in Addis, I met a young man as I was waiting for my next flight. He is from DRC. I told him that DRC is the most blessed country because God, by His handiwork, has put everything there. But for the people to enjoy that blessing from the Lord, they need to join God in His work. That young man became so engrossed in the conversation, and he confessed to me that he had just been released from prison in India after years of incarceration. He is also a smoker, and he desperately wants to break free from it so that he can be a blessing to his country. I shared some testimonies with him about how God has delivered people from those challenges, and he confessed his faith in the Lord at the airport. I then prayed with him. He was so glad afterward, and we exchanged phone numbers. I am entrusting him to a pastor in DRC.

2.     The second person is a Kenyan woman athlete going to compete in Malaysia.

Our conversation began when I told her that I am from Burkina Faso, and I asked her where she is from. When she told me from Kenya, I shared that I have been going around speaking to people about something that started in Kenya: Discipling Marketplace Leaders, and then I pulled out the “Work as Worship” sticker. I started sharing with her on how Christians are called to do their work or compete in a running race as an act of worship. She told me that she heard about Work as Worship in Kenya, and then I prayed for her as she is going to compete.

3.     The third meeting was with two policewomen at the airport who were trying to get some money from me. I was even amazed that one policewoman said I should bring the receipt for the projector, and I tried to explain that it is a working tool, as I use it with my laptop to project my presentations. She said she did not know about projectors. Well, after these two women said I should bring 20 USD, which I did, I noticed that they were Christians. I then pulled out the stickers and began explaining how Christians are to do their work as an act of worship. They became mild with a sense of regret when I started sharing.

The task is great, but we need to push back the darkness in the marketplace through Christians who become really light.

God bless you. 

Thank you, Pastor Theo, for these examples and for your willingness to share in so many situations!

From Workbenches to Mission Fields: The Ethiopian Church on the Move

Greetings from Asheville, North Carolina, where I'm attending the forum for the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication, part of Campus Crusade for Christ.  This is a network of more than 110 global church planting organizations.

The last stop of my recent trip to East Africa was in Ethiopia, with most of my time in Wolayta Soddo, about 320 km outside of Addis Ababa.  Our relationship with the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC) goes back to 2016, as the first formal denomination with whom we partnered.  At the time, they had 10,000 churches, 10 million members.  Today, they have approximately 14,000 churches and more than 12 million members.  

The DML leader for EKHC, Yoseph Bekele, had a marketplace ministry on his heart for years before meeting DML, and because of this calling from God on his life, the ministry has flourished.  Yoseph travels to more than 70+ villages and towns every year - that is more than one per week - to share the message that work should be done as an act of worship.  He hosts a TV show for EKHC twice per week to teach this message.  He has brought the teaching to the youth ministry, men's ministry, women's ministry, and family ministry.  He teaches that poverty is not the lot of Christians and that our generous God seeks for his people to flourish and to be generous as well.

And that message is landing with changes that are noticeable.  

Last week we met with newly elected leaders of the denomination (who supervise 10,000+ fulltime ministers and 30,000 elders) to ensure that they also have an understanding of the theology of work and to hear many testimonies of believers and church leaders who are seeing the impact of working "as unto the Lord."

In Wolaita Soddo alone, there are 48 EKHC churches.  Together, the business people have formed an association that numbers more than 3,000, gathering regularly to encourage, equip, learn, and share.  They are seeing business growth and jobs being created.  

And they have planted 155 churches, sent 370 missionaries (with a goal of reaching 500 missionaries), and built seven homes for widows.  

Amazing.  

When the church is unleashed from the building, it's amazing what can happen.

When people are affirmed that their work is part of the mission of God - that their role is not limited to paying for and praying for the "real" work of the church which happens in the building - it's amazing what can happen.

Thanks to the partnership of many of you, we placed four additional fulltime DML leaders in four regions of Ethiopia, and with God's help, we hope to add seven more next year.

I can't even share all the testimonies and stories that we heard, but I will share one more.

In several countries now, a theology of work has entered into prisons, and Ethiopia is one of those countries.  Most prisoners are expected to work and there are sometimes opportunities for them to earn some money by doing so.  When the message reaches these prisoners that their work matters to God, and that they can contribute by doing their work as an act of worship, things begin to change.  Work gets done with excellence, with joy, and with integrity.  And one person shared that the prison where they are serving has now sent six missionaries.  The prisoners are pooling their limited resources, seeking to be a blessing for others, and are coving the costs of these missionaries.

Absolutely amazing.  Only God.

It's how He made us to work in harmony and cooperation for the building of His church, to His glory.

What a joy to watch, listen, learn, and participate.

The visit in Ethiopia ended with meeting with two other denominations who want to get started with DML.  Up until now, the EKHC has consumed all of Yoseph's time, but the pressure has been increasing, and we think the time has finally come for him to share some of his time with other churches.  

As always, we ask for your prayers in this!

Lastly, we also ask for your prayers for Ethiopia.  Inflation has been very significant in the last few years (resulting in EKHC just approving a 100% salary increase for their staff!), and democracy is also struggling.  You can read more about this in this article but it is worrisome for the citizens who experienced a few good years of change and now see that slipping away.

The God of Great Generosity in Zambia

Greetings from Wolayita Sodo, Ethiopia!  

Last week, I had the great privilege to be in Zambia with our DML partner, Go Make, led by Rev. Billiance Chondwe (pictured in the blue and white shirt, alongside his CFO Timothy).  Go Make launched its first Business Symposium for Young Adults on the 13th and made a commitment with the local government to keep Kitwe and Zambia "clean, green, and healthy."  The local government stated that it was the first time the church had sought to collaborate with the government.  They were very excited!  We also had other very good meetings with new and potential Zambian partners.  

We spent most of our time in Kitwe, a city of two million, and also drove to and from Lusaka, which is about a six-hour drive each way.  While I had often heard Pastor Billy talk about this being the "copper belt," it was quite something to see it in action.  Semi after semi after semi of what seemed like small loads of copper showed the very, very heavy weight of this mineral.  Zambia exports approximately 3 million metric tons of copper annually.  What an amazingly generous God!  

We also drove past zinc mines, lead mines, and coal mines, and there have been new findings of gold and emeralds as well.  Industrial parks are everywhere, and the number of semis on the roads (yes, a two-lane road) was astounding.  Zambia is very rich in natural resources!  Zambia is blessed!

Of course, Zambians are not the only ones who are aware of this abundance and suffer from the opportunistic actions of outsiders and the evils of greed and corruption. I observed numerous foreign mining companies, as well as a large number of individuals from other countries, actively engaged in the mining business.  

However, this particular government in Zambia is working diligently to help the people develop their capacity to mine independently and reclaim some of that land for Zambians.  They have made it very easy for nationals to register a mining company, have set up systems for renting earth-moving machines, and have technocrats who can teach and mentor Zambians in the mining industry.  They are also encouraging farmers by setting up feed mills every 2-3 km so that the farmers don't need to carry their harvest very far to process it.  Lastly, they have given community development power back to communities and allocated 32 million kwacha (approximately $ 1.2 million) annually to designated communities for the people to decide how to bring development into their own community.  They can build bridges, roads, clinics, or other infrastructure. Very smart for promoting ownership and self-determination!

I wish the news were similar to that of the other two countries I visited on this trip.  Democracy appears to be in decline in many places. Dictatorship seems to be making a comeback, eliminating the ability for free speech, reports of people disappearing, torture, and killing.  The leader of one denomination is in jail, and all 2,000 churches from that denomination have been shut down due to the belief that this leader spoke against the existing government.  People are afraid, and flourishing is under attack.  

We pray for the church to live out its call for justice, righteousness, and loving kindness through leaders who possess courage, compassion, capacity, and competence.

(L-R) Regional Overseer of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, myself, the Deputy Mayor of Kitwe, and Pastor Billy.

Not only is God generous with minerals in Zambia, but beautiful purple flowering jacaranda trees also line many streets in Zambia!

Location, Location, Location: Bishops in the Market

Last week, in Morogoro, the DML Tanzania leader, Pastor Antony Kayombo, held a meeting for bishops and pastors in the heart of the city, in a market.  We usually meet in a church building, but Pastor Anthony decided it would be good to meet in the place that is the focus of our attention. The market we visited is home to more than 2,000 vendors and features conference rooms on the side.  We met on the second floor of this four-story building, in a conference room, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of this market.

On the floor where we met there were vendors selling primarily fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices.  Thankfully, the butchers (and their many flies) were mainly outside in the open air!  Customers came and went throughout the day, peeking into our room as they passed.

For many of the bishops, this was the first time in years that they had been in the market.  Typically, someone else does the shopping for them.  At the start of the day, Pastor Anthony sent everyone out to walk through the market, two by two, simply to observe.  And when everyone came back, they shared their observations.

Many observed both challenges and opportunities.  Some came with solutions to the challenges.  Some came back with phone numbers of unbelievers who want to know more about Jesus.  Some met believers struggling to sell their goods in such a competitive environment.

For us, as facilitators, it was an ideal environment for discussing the role of the church from Monday to Saturday.  

Throughout the day, we could point out the door as we discussed the church's work in such a place.  

All day, we could speak very practically of equipping the believers who are walking by to be the church to the unbelievers in that place.  

Throughout the day, we could point to vendors and discuss the importance of their work in fulfilling the characteristic of a providential God, as these men and women provide the necessary food for those who do not grow their own.  

At the end of the day, these church and denominational leaders had a vision for reclaiming the market for Christ by establishing a workplace discipleship ministry led by believers in their church who have a solid understanding of a theology of work. 

If you haven't been in one of these markets before, here is a brief video that captures what it is like!

A Family Cabinet of Ministers: Godriver’s Creative Solution

Greetings from Tanzania!  Last week was a great week in Tanzania, hearing amazing testimonies of business and church growth. On Sunday, I was privileged to preach in three different churches in Morogoro.  It made for a busy day, but it was good.  Pastor Anthony Kayombo is the leader of DML Tanzania, and he also served as my translator (see picture).  The fun thing about a translator who is also a fantastic teacher and preacher is that they can add value and context to what I was saying.  

Last week, we conducted our foundational workshop in Chalinze at a church that has been implementing DML for several years.  The pastor of the church has been in contact with other pastors in the area and has mobilized more pastors, along with leaders of the Pentecostal Union of Churches, to attend a DML workshop. They are now organizing additional workshops and training sessions.  What was particularly interesting was that the members of this church were eager to attend the workshop to share their testimonies with the new pastors and church leaders.  We spent about two hours listening to stories about business growth, church growth, and financial freedom for families (budgeting).

I am going to share one here because the creativity of this woman in organizing her household is something I will share again and again with other families, as it is such a good idea!  Read her story here and enjoy!

Godriver Mussa Daudi’s Story of Growth and Creativity (written by Leticiah Kayombo)

After receiving training in DML (Discipling Marketplace Leaders), Godriver Mussa Daudi decided to put her learning into action by starting a chicken business. She began with just 100 chickens, but through hard work and dedication, her business grew to over 1,000 chickens. She now raises them in batches of 500 every month, steadily building a thriving enterprise.

Along the way, Godriver also learned about the importance of saving. One of her biggest struggles had been electricity—frequent cutoffs and running out of units without warning caused stress and losses. After her DML training, however, she became more creative in her approach. She sat down with her children to openly share her challenges, and together they came up with a family solution.

Godriver appointed her children as “cabinet ministers,” giving them responsibilities:

• Minister of Energy – to monitor and manage electricity units so the family would never run out unexpectedly.
• Minister of Environment – to ensure cleanliness and good care of the home and chicken environment.
• Minister of Food and Agriculture – to help with feeding the chickens and managing food supplies.

With this collaborative approach, Godriver no longer faced the same struggles. Instead, she found herself flourishing—with less stress, more savings, and a family that worked together in unity.

Her story is a testimony of how Godly wisdom and creativity, when combined with training and family support, can transform not only a business but also a household.

Tomorrow, we will travel to Turiani to conduct another workshop with pastors and church leaders.  On Thursday, I will travel to Zambia to visit DML Zambia and assess its progress.  

God is good, all the time!

A Celebration of Labor and Love from Burundi

DML Board member and volunteer, Lacey Faieta, is in Burundi and shared the following pictures and testimony from her Sunday.  I thought it might be nice for all of us to journey along with her. The DML Burundi team is doing amazing work with four denominations implementing DML and four more waiting to start.  It is a blessing to have a DML board member witness what is going on.  [If you are reading this and have an interest in visiting one of our partners to participate, encourage, and witness what God is doing in the Marketplace, please let me know!]

Lacey writes: 

Thank you for praying for Burundi. 

Today, we drive an hour (on roads that few cars visit!) outside of Ngozi to a village in the middle of the banana fields for a church service and a commissioning service for those who attended a DML business training. 

During the service, the worship was relentless, and the message was powerful. 

It ended with a request for the church members to give to help a homeless man. The pastor even asked how many people knew the man he spoke of. As they raised their hands, he said, "What if it had rained and he had nowhere to go? How would Jesus respond, and how should we?" Then they took an impromptu offering for that man, who wasn’t even a member of their church.

I shared a message about every person being on God’s reconciliation team and in full-time ministry as marketplace ministers. The pastor shared that the message was received with excitement, and it’s a needed message all over Burundi.

The nation of Burundi captures the hearts of most people who visit.  As can be seen in the photo of the bicycle that is stacked high with bananas, the people are incredibly hardworking despite extreme poverty.  There are significant challenges in combating the false teaching of the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel, but the DML team is changing the narrative of the gospel with a healthy theology of work.

While I was there in June, pastors shared that income is growing among their members, as is their giving, as several pastors have now been able to build church buildings—something they didn't think would be possible.  

However, the most significant change they shared is that members transition from expecting the church to take care of them to being equipped to participate in the church's ministry.  

They realize that when they said "yes" to Jesus, they weren't enlisting HIM to their cause, but He was enlisting them to HIS cause.

And to that we say, "AMEN!"

Here is a short video of the service (or click here to watch it).