What is this about?

The ‘Second Places’ ministry refers to regular gatherings of Christians according to various vocational affinities (eg Education, Health professionals, Finance, Hospitality, Sciences etc).

What is the purpose?

The purpose of these gatherings are twofold:

1. To fortify one another in their faith in the workplace
2. To encourage one another to be ‘salt & light’ (Matthew 5:13-16)

We recognise that each industry has different inherent challenges to both the ethics and the faith of a Christian. The best source of ‘fortifying’ will therefore be from others who face the same challenges. In a sense, this fulfils the warning for a believer to ‘not lose their saltiness’. The primary purpose of the ‘salt & light’ metaphor however, is to motivate believers to have meaningful kingdom impact in their lives. It is significant that most Christians struggle be an effective witness in the workplace, a space that occupies significant time and energy. These groups will help believers achieve these two goals.

Why the name ‘Second Places’?

Sociologists have long outlined the three main dimensions of our social lives as:

• First Places: Home
• Second Places: Work
• Third Places: Social lives

The church, in general, is able to help Christians impact First and Third Places (people come to church in families, and experience social lives within church community), but struggles to help Christians in Second Places. This ministry aims exclusively at the Second Places, our places of work.