Companies linking work, spirituality

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For years, it was as if Rogers Strickland lived in two separate worlds.

He started a successful construction business, but it never seemed to intersect with his spiritual, faith-driven side. Until he realized it had to.

"I was good at it, and I was making money, but it wasn't enough," Strickland said. "Finally, about six years ago, I began to find some very concrete ways to take what I've been doing in the construction industry for 25 years and incorporate it into what I believe."

Specifically, Strickland began using his skills for a good cause — putting up 26 schools, community centers and churches in Brazil and Guatemala in the past several years.

The experience has brought great satisfaction to him, and he's not the only one to go through such a search for meaning at work. Many others also are grasping for a deeper purpose in their jobs — finding religious communities that more frequently address issues surrounding the weekday lives of their congregants and discovering some companies that are more willing to address the spiritual needs of their employees.

"It was almost an oxymoron to people — spirituality and work," said Greg Pierce, author of "Spirituality at Work." "But now it seems like it's exploding."

In Kansas City, the Center for Faith & Work has a support group for those between jobs, a coaching program to offer help with networking, interviewing and rsum building, and a breakfast and dinner speaker series that seeks to address ways to incorporate spirituality into the job.

The center is sponsored by the local Roman Catholic diocese but is ecumenical in its outreach. Many of its clients are looking for help finding a job, but others are just searching for a way to make their work more meaningful.

"In all respects, work is noble," said Bob Gillis, executive director of the center.

Companies take a couple of distinct approaches when it comes to bringing the spiritual into the workplace. Many do so generically, with core do-good philosophies, but others are not shy about an overt religious presence.

At Rapid Refill Ink in Eugene, Ore., chief executive Dan White and his executive team have a Bible study each week. Southeastern Freight Lines, based in Lexington, S.C., has a paid chaplain on staff to counsel employees. The chief executive of Atlanta's HomeBanc likes to say God runs his company.

Still, those examples are exceptions.