Ministry in Word

 

Not Called to Comfort
Dave Hataj

 

In this session we share the story of Dave Hataj, who walked the long road of transforming the culture at Edgerton Gear, a family-run precision machine shop. Through committed obedience, Dave hired a new generation of skilled employees who transformed the workplace with character and care. God is calling us to follow him. To some that can look odd or feel confusing. But in fact we understand that the way of God, though seemingly difficult and uncomfortable, is actually a calling into a new understanding of life and work.

Discussion Questions

Come to Jesus

Jesus’ invitation is this: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Following Jesus is actually a path that leads us away from comfort—in a material,  temporal sense that is. What we’re called to is a faith that gives us “rest for our souls.”

  • Have you experienced the rest in Jesus’ words to come to him? What does that mean to you? 

  • Henry talks about how as modern-day Christians, we have become preoccupied with pursuing comfort, that we’ve believed that our God works the same way. Have you traded in God’s eternal rest and provisions for the desire for the fleeting enjoyment of this world? 

Long Obedience in the Same Direction

As we watched in this session's video story, the culture at Edgerton Gear took decades to establish. The road Dave Hataj traveled to transform his family-owned business was long and hard. However, through his faithfulness, he was able to introduce a redeemed legacy for the new generation of employees he hired. 

  • Is there an obedience step that God has called you to, which you haven’t seen the fulfillment of yet? How might you find encouragement in this video to persevere through that? 

  • It took 20 years for Dave to have peace that this was where he needed to be. Have you found peace in your current position? What does long obedience look like for you?

 
 
 

Ideas to Explore the Mark Further

Looking for some practical ways to put this mark into action? Here are some ideas that can help you develop an even greater understanding of Ministry in Word

  • God has given us all a story to tell. And as his faithful followers, we have the unique opportunity to use what we’ve learned through life and business to edify, encourage, and inspire one another. Our resource Sharing My Story of Grace and Business is a great tool for practicing sharing the story behind your entrepreneurial journey and the ‘why’ behind it.

  • Consider hiring a chaplain or a spiritual integration officer who can speak words of life and care for your team’s spiritual needs. See our page of Top Chaplaincy Tools for more resources about providing spiritual care to your workforce.

  • Take time in your schedule to pray for your family and community before starting the day.

 
 
Anna Kwee