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Work Out
What is Work Out?
- It is a network for those seeking to integrate the life of work to their Christian faith.
- A focal point for those in work and/or those who are seeking work (paid or unpaid).
- A network that provides; sharing, encouragement, insight, capability, support and out-working into the community.
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Some workout sessions are recorded on video so that if you miss one you can easily catch up.
Simply click one of the videos in the box on the left to view it.
The video will open up in a seperate window for you to view it.
Please note you may have to wait a few seconds for it to start playing depending on your connection speed.
The latest videos normally become available within 2 days of the session.
Support documents:
How will it work?
- Members will be asked to “join” the network, providing details of their experience, job profile and contact details which will held confidentially. Initially this will focus on St Paul’s church but could be extended to Churches Together.
- There will be a mid week gathering on a monthly basis that will be rotated around different venues but starting at St Pauls church. These sessions will act as a focal point and will include teaching, testimony, practical problem solving, book reviews, discussion, career/job focuses and loads of chat and fellowship as well as soup, and coffee.
- There will be a newsletter to update the programme, provide testimony, news, insight and teaching, and where relevant or appropriate an update about members news and views.
- There will be support opportunities whereby members of the network donate their time/experience to other members who need career guidance, support, prayer, or any other form of practical help/contact.
- Longer term, a ministry could be built from this network whereby members donate their experience and expertise to members of the community who need practical support in business, career and/or social entrepreneurial schemes (i.e. help an individual start a cake making business with support and possibly finance from the network) with the practical hands-on guidance, expertise and encouragement of the Work Out network.
What are the underlying principles and premise of Work Out?
- Working out life with the all its demands, complexities and challenges is not easy. This network is designed to help us work-out and work through some of life’s challenges by providing a supportive network of individuals who share the desire to pursue a life of love, and integrity.
- Our life’s purpose, our choices and our identity need to be integrated. Living so called “two lives” or seeking a better work/life balance suggests that we somehow live in two worlds ... but the nature of Christian authenticity is to live in the fullness of one life that is wholly under the Lordship of Christ.
- We lead busy lives - Work out will be conducted in a straight forward, to-the-point, get-on-with-it style. Meetings will be held to maximise the efficiency of people’s time. Much of the activity of the group will be conducted via email, text and the web. This programme will be tailored to all have signed up to the Work Out network and not just those who can attend the mid weeks sessions.
- In short, our vision is that Work Out will make a difference to the lives of it’s members and to the benefit of our work communities.
Exploring Work Out issues together
- Over the course of the next months we will explore ideas and issues provoked by a book by Paul Valler called Get a Life, Winning Choices for Working People.
“My personal journey included decisions like refusing to relocate for a promotion, working part-time as a finance director of a large company and changing career. Major work life decisions like these forced me to get to grips with the tension between 3 dimensions of my life; who I was, why I was here, and what I should do? These three dimensions are all about identity, purposes and choices (see diagram below). I could not solve all my problems but I could try to make choices that were consistent with my values and my purposes. Are we integrated or fragmented? How much is there a sense of harmony or dissonance in our work and life? As I grappled with these questions and my life choices I began to realise that identity and purposes were not independent of each other. All three dimensions; identity, purposes and choices were interrelated. The choices I made would affect my character and who I might become.”
“I began to understand that my core beliefs are at the root of all of this as our beliefs drive our behaviour. To get a life requires a belief system – a set of values and principles that gives coherence. To enjoy an integrated life requires applying those values to our personal work life world.”
“This book provides a structured way to think through these issues.” Paul Valler
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