Author: Russell Gehrlein
Located in: Rolla, MO
Submitted: March 09, 2018
Tell us a little about yourself. I am a born again Christian, husband of 37 years, father of three, and grandfather of two, living in Rolla, Missouri. I have a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Cornerstone University/Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. I am a former youth pastor and math/science junior/senior high school teacher. I am a retired Army Master Sergeant with over 20 years active duty, and currently work at the U.S. Army Chemical School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I have published several articles in Army publications and maintain a blog, Reflections on Theological Topics of Interest.
What was your motivation behind this project? I have been studying this topic since the late '80s. More recently, I completed an independent study on the theology of work three years ago. I developed a two-hour PowerPoint presentation that I gave to a small number of college students. (I have posted several clips of this teaching on YouTube; put "Immanuel Labor" in the search bar, and you should find them.) About six months later, I started developing this into a book so that I could share these exciting biblical principles on work with a wider audience.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I want to greatly encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ who work ordinary jobs. I want them to understand and believe that their work is significant and that it contributes to God's work in the world. I want them to think biblically about work, understand what God wants to do in and through them at work, know how to work in a Christ-honoring way, and be fully aware of God's presence at work every day. That is my passion.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? As I worked on developing this book about God's presence at work for the last couple of years, I sensed God's presence.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? The first book I read on this topic was "Your Work Matters to God", by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks. Other authors that have written eloquently on this topic include Timothy Keller, Darrell Cosden, Lee Hardy, Tom Nelson, Amy Sherman, and R. Paul Stevens.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: This is a solid biblically-grounded introduction to the theology of work. Almost everyone works. Christians need to know what God's Word has to say about what we do all day. This will help you integrate your faith at work and guide you on your own spiritual career journey.
