For the past 24 years, Bob and I have owned or been owned by a service business. Although I never thought of this as a formal ministry, our business has certainly afforded me the opportunity to minister on numerous levels daily. And for us, it begins with our employees, who are our most important assets. We have always hoped to develop a culture of ministry which goes beyond just cleaning homes and businesses.

 

It wasn’t until several years in, when I had little ambition to grow our business, that something changed. I have always coached people to either be happy where they are or make a change. At the time, selling a business and making a change seemed so complicated. I couldn’t just give my two-week notice and pack my desk. I knew that just cleaning homes and making good money in the process was not fulfilling me, but how could I change to make what we do or how we do it to be more meaningful?

 

I started by agreeing to frequently visit the girls’ juvenile detention center and speak to the inmates about ambition and leadership. I was fortunate enough to bring in other female leaders in our community. The girls loved Ramona Chance. Some were uninterested and just wanted to be heard and others hopefully began to see potential in themselves. This energized me, too.

 

We also began to give free cleanings while women were going through cancer treatments through our “Cleaning for a Reason” program. We love how this can bless a family through a very hard time but just as importantly, our employees have been blessed to realize they are a part of a ministry. One long-time client was in her last stages of cancer but home in a hospital bed. One time when her cleaning team was there for their regularly scheduled visit, she requested that they sit with her a while and they prayed with her. She died a few days later.

 

Over the years, we have employed hundreds of people. I often pray for each of our current employees by name, sometimes to just ask God to make sure they get to work that day! We have always encouraged them to embrace the fact that they are doing more than just cleaning homes; they are impacting the life of the family who comes home at the end of their day to a fully clean house. We try to help them see the blessing they give through this. Often, I hear from a client that our company has actually helped them be a better parent by taking away stress and bringing a bit more peace into the home.

 

But to empower the employees to believe in this important ministry, they have needed to be ministered to also, like all of us do. We have loved them through their trials as they have done for us. I hope they know we love them as people first, employees second. Keeping this balance is sometimes difficult but I do believe they stay with our company so long because they do feel important and even in some cases, spiritually fed, even if they may not realize it.

 

I would suggest that we can all create a ministry in our workplace, where we spend most of our time. We can be the calm in a storm, the support in despair, and simply show joy every day. Showing joy is the best reflection of God and the best way to show His love. So hard some days, but so very simple too!

 

 

Carol Doak