Spirituality and Mission in the Workplace: New Missional Initiatives in Eurasia

“Mission in profession” has become one of the most notable missionary trends in the post-Soviet space; i.e. mission of Christians in professional communities. 

Questions remain about how these missional initiatives will be consistent with ecclesiastical trends, as well as how missionary activity itself will correlate with spirituality. It is obvious that in these territories new ecclesiastical formats will arise. How can these professional Christian communities organize themselves professionally and ecclesiastically? Will the church be able to use this potential, or will this blur the boundaries of the church and threaten its “canonical territories”? 

Obviously, these ideas need a holistic theological reflection and wide discussion with church ministers. Especially about spirituality and its implications for the mission in this area. What forms of spirituality are possible in the workplace so that it is not “too religious”? How can Christian spirituality manifest itself in the workplace and how can it serve the mission? 

As our studies show, there is controversial correlation between missionary activity and spiritual growth, and sometime activity harms spirituality. So we believe that our understanding of spirituality and mission needs to be corrected, and they must be parts of a holistic Christian life, in which vita activa and vita contémplativa are complemented and strengthened. 

Without paying special attention to spirituality, our missionary activity in the workplace risks remaining one more attempt “to change the world”, without renewing Christian identity and missional ecclesiology. Based on the experience of Eurasia Mission and our partners we want to offer some key points that can stimulate discussion about raised questions and then show how these new missional initiatives become stimulus of new reformation in the direction of holistic spirituality and holistic mission.