#228 – Integrity Idea 052: Do a Devo

Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization.  We believe some are critical (and necessary) steps in the RENEW/RE-ALIGN/RE-IMAGINE/RESTORE process.  Others are just ideas to be considered if they feel like a good fit based on what leaders prayerfully discern is best for stewarding the organization toward its WHY.

“Do a Devo” falls into the “if it fits” category because it is an overt expression of faith that is not central to the pursuit of faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.

Integrity Ideas are specific actions a leader can consider during the Re-Align step of Integriosity®–actions that will begin to Re-Align the organization with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  You can find more Integrity Ideas at Integrous | Integrity Ideas (integriosity.com)

INTEGRITY IDEA: Do a Devo

“Do a Devo” has nothing to do with the American new wave band popular in the 1980’s (if you are curious or nostalgic, clink the video link below).  “Do a Devo” is about periodically providing a Biblical devotional message to employees (and other stakeholders) who “opt-in”.

It should not come as a surprise that the Bible includes verses encouraging the teaching of Scripture:

 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)

“Do a Devo” recognizes that fewer and fewer people are participating in organized religious services, which means that fewer and fewer people are hearing messages about Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.

According to Gallup research, the percentage of adults attending church or synagogue on a weekly basis dropped from 32% in 2000 to 21% in 2023 and the number of people who said they seldom or never attended church or synagogue increased from 40% in 2000 to 57% in 2023.

Biblical teaching in the workspace is not a new idea.  We recently heard that Jesus made 132 public appearances and 122 of them were in the marketplace.

“Do a Devo” also recognizes that very few people who profess a Biblical faith actually understand that their work is a sacred activity with intrinsic value in God’s Kingdom.

In 2019, a representative of a faith and work organization mentioned that they and another organization had conducted surveys of workers in an effort to ascertain whether Evangelical Christians understood that all of their work was a sacred activity.  Based on those surveys, these groups concluded that only 5-9% of the workers who self-identified as Evangelical Christians had a Biblical understanding of work as a sacred activity and a calling.

In addition to sharing Biblical messages with stakeholders, “Do a Devo” is an opportunity to help people understand how Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities are relevant to work, which can help even “church-going” employees move across the Sunday/Monday Gap, the Sacred/Secular Gap and the Knowing/Doing Gap.

“Do a Devo” reinforces a culture of faithful integrity, reminding even stakeholders who “opt-out” that the organization is serious about pursuing business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.

CONTINUUM: Proclamation

The Integriosity model organizes “heart change” along six Covert-Overt Continuums.  There is nothing magic about these categories, but we believe they are helpful in thinking about practical execution of a Re-Imagined Purpose, Re-Imagined Values and a Re-Imagined Culture.  The Continuums are Prayer, Proclamation, Policies, Practices, Products, People.

Each Continuum represents an area in which leaders can begin to think about, plan and institute Re-Alignment changes to the heart of the organization.

“Do a Devo” is on the Proclamation Continuum. While it will require Prayer and putting in place organizational Practices, it is about sharing Biblical faith messages with those who may not have a Biblical faith or who may not have crossed the Sunday/Monday, Sacred/Secular or Knowing/Doing Gaps.

COVERT-OVERT RATING: Overt

The Integriosity model breaks the Covert-Overt Continuums into six gradations–from Highly Covert to Highly Overt–that we believe are helpful in beginning to pray and think about what is most appropriate for an organization at a particular moment in time.

Most Integrity Ideas will have one place on the scale.  Some can vary depending on how they are implemented.  “Do a Devo” is Overt (An overtly faith-based action known generally within the organization) because it involves the study and application of Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.

“Do a Devo” can also be Very Overt (An overtly faith-based action involving suppliers, vendors or customers) if the faithful leader decides to open it up to stakeholders outside the organization.

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees

When we categorize faith-based actions, we also consider the stakeholders principally impacted by the action: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community and Kingdom.

“Do a Devo” serves the Kingdom, but it is mainly about teaching, caring for, valuing, and discipling Employees.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching. (2 Timothy 3:16))

IMPLEMENTATION

“Do a Devo” is easy to explain and can be done relatively inexpensively, but its implementation can take many forms and requires prayerful consideration by faithful leaders.

Because “Do a Devo” involves faith-centered teaching, for most organizations distribution of devotionals should only be to employees who have “opted-in” to receive them (and whether an employee chooses to use or not to “opt-in” shouldn’t impact their employment).  We recommend a clear disclaimer (i.e., opt-in is optional and will not impact employment) when informing employees about the “Do a Devo” resource.

When faithful leaders are prayerfully discerning how to implement “Do a Devo”, these are eight aspects to consider:

Audience:  

Will devotionals be available only to employees or can other stakeholders (e.g., vendors and customers) receive them?  Regent Bank in Oklahoma sponsors (and includes a link to it on their website) a daily devotional provided by a separate non-profit started by its Chairman and CEO.  It is a call-in number that has had as many as 250,000 participants.

Format:

In what format (or formats) will the devotionals be distributed?  A devotional can be in any media format–text, video or audio–and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, for example, uses an audio format so that it is easy for truck drivers to access while working.  Videos are very engaging.  Text is the easiest to produce.

Frequency:

How often will the devotional be distributed?  A devotional can be daily, weekly, monthly or at irregular intervals.  We recommend a regular interval so that people can anticipate its arrival and develop a rhythm.  By way of example, Regent Bank links to a daily message and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated does a weekly message.

Length:

How long will each message be? The best length will depend to some extent on the format.

Creation:

Will the devotionals be created in-house or utilize third party content (e.g., published books of devotionals, online devotionals such as those provided by CrossWalk.com, “white label” devotional services such as Daily Faith PLR, devotional series available on YouVersion)?  If in-house, who will create the content (One employee–Various employees–A Corporate Chaplain–A local pastor/priest)? Who will select, review and approve the content?

Content:

What topics will be addressed? Will the devotionals focus on themes such as work, leadership, finances, marriage, parenting, and fitness?

Presentation:

If devotionals are created in-house and in audio or video format, who will be the presenter (CEO–Corporate Chaplain–Local Pastor–Culture Officer–Various Employees)?   Regent Bank uses devotionals that bring in a guest speaker on certain days.  Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated uses a different employee for each devotional, drawing from the C-Suite to the loading dock.

Delivery:

How will the devotionals be delivered?  E-mail? Podcast? Intranet? Link to a third party website?

“Do a Devo” is not about bringing religion into the workplace.  It is about bringing Scripture to work in ways that help people flourish by, in the words of Dr. Skip Moen. “[moving] in the direction of the divine design in [them]“.

Wherever faithful leaders land after prayerful consideration of how to implement “Do a Devo”, making a devotional available will reinforce to all employees–whether or not they “opt-in”–the commitment of those faithful leaders to cultivating a caring and compassionate organizational culture that aligns with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities and prioritizes the bigger WHY of their flourishing.

PERSONAL NOTE (from PM):  This post was inspired by two presentations at last week’s National Faith and Work Summit in Dallas, organized by the National Faith & Work Association.   One was by Mark Whitacre, the Vice President of Culture & Care at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, and the other by Sean Kouplen, the Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank.  Thanks to Mark and Sean for sharing the faithful leadership happening in your organizations.

ESSENCE:  Integrity Ideas are specific practical actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.

INTEGRITY IDEA: Do a Devo

COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Proclamation

COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Overt

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees

This has nothing to do with the American new wave band popular in the 1980’s.  “Do a Devo” is about periodically providing a Biblical devotional message to employees (and other stakeholders) who “opt-in”.  It is not about bringing religion into the workplace–it is about caring for people by sharing the wisdom of Scripture in ways that can help them flourish at work and at home. It recognizes that fewer and fewer people are participating in organized religious services, which means that fewer and fewer people are hearing messages about Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  It also recognizes that very few people who profess a Biblical faith actually understand that their work is a sacred activity with intrinsic value in God’s Kingdom.  In addition to sharing Biblical messages with stakeholders, “Do a Devo” is an opportunity to help people understand how Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities are relevant to work, which can help even “church-going” employees move across the Sunday/Monday Gap, the Sacred/Secular Gap and the Knowing/Doing Gap.  “Do a Devo” reinforces a culture of faithful integrity, reminding even stakeholders who “opt-out” that the organization is serious about pursuing business a better way toward a bigger WHY of Biblical flourishing.

DEVO - "Whip It"

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Photo credit: Original image by Alex Shute on Unsplash
(photo cropped)

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