Equipping a generation for strategic careers that make disciples
Jesus has given us all a mission - making disciples - and we believe our careers have an enormous chance to impact this.
Our three key focuses are:
Understanding Impact
Career Choice
Radical Generosity
What do we mean by these?
Understanding Impact
Because Jesus’ mission of making disciples is so important, it really matters that we achieve it strategically. A focus on impact and effectiveness is part of what it means to use the talents He’s given us wisely (Matt 25:14-30).
Since careers have so much potential for impact, we believe that how we choose, and use, them is crucial to us living fruitful lives.
Career Choice
Whilst we acknowledge that many are called otherwise, we believe that three career routes are particularly strategic for making disciples. We encourage you to prayerfully consider these:
1) Gospel patronage: Those fueling gospel work by pursuing high earning careers and giving sacrificially.
2) Full Time Ministry: Those preaching, discipling, and leading in paid ministry.
3) Discipling culture: Those shaping culture and institutions to pave the way for the gospel.
Radical Generosity
In our quest for using our careers to make disciples, money is one of the biggest opportunities - and biggest dangers - facing each of us. It has potential to transform the world; it also has the potential to corrupt our hearts.
A radical and sacrificial generosity is the solution - and it’s something God calls us to now.
Adapted from John Wesley, we suggest that our attitude to money should be “get all you can, keep as little as you can, and give as effectively as you can”.
First be a faithful disciple
Lastly, even more important than how we make disciples, is how we are faithful disciples. This remains our first priority.
The key to impact is our relationship with Jesus. In his words: “if you abide in me, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5)
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit
John 15:5
Practices of a Fruitful Worker
To aim for the greatest disciple-making impact I commit to:
Abide daily - I seek Jesus first
Work strategically - I choose and use my career for maximum impact
Live simply - I cap my lifestyle to give radically
Give effectively - I give where it will produce the most fruit
Mobilise others - I multiply impact by raising up other fruitful workers
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.”
What we do
To build this cross-denominational movement of students going all-in with their careers for Jesus, we run university events (in collaboration with CUs and churches), create high-quality content and run residential retreats.
Cambridge
Durham
Oxford
London
More
Coming Soon
Help us launch in your university
Hear about our events
Our story
At the age of 17, I was confused. I was passionate about people meeting Jesus, yet I felt God had gifted me with the skills for business. So I sought advice from my mentor - but he flatly told me “read the bible, no one works in business to fund Christian ministry. The real heroes are evangelists like Paul”.
Shortly after, I learned this was false. I was invited along to an event exploring gospel patronage. This was filled with business people sacrificially serving Jesus. So I knew I could do the same.
Fast forward 3 years, the idea of God using my secular career to serve God lay dormant. Then, at a Christian festival, I attended a seminar on radical generosity. Through this, God revealed that others too must be confused about money and careers.
At Cambridge, I chatted this through with some like-minded friends. We felt we should run events exploring how to use and choose our careers to make disciples. So three years ago, Fruitful Work Cambridge was born.
Today, we’ve all graduated. The Cambridge committee is in its fourth generation. I felt called to sacrifice my prospects in the City to launch Fruitful Work in universities across the country. Now our team is excited to inspire a generation to go all-in to impact the world for Jesus.
Resources
Click below to explore great resources, including:
The Fruitful Work Career Guide - We’re building the guide for students as they consider their careers. This book contains our core teaching and advice.
Fruitful Work Career Bot - This is a surprisingly effective tool for helping you come up with ideas, explore the disciple-making impact of roles, and receive tailored, thought-provoking advice.
Watch inspiring content on Instagram
Follow us
Click to see your University’s Instagram.
Meet Our Trustees
Benedict Harding (Chair) - Director of Ministry Operations - UCCF
Dr John Greenall - Consultant Paediatrician - NHS
Rev David Walker - Head of Workplace Ministry - LICC
Michael Scott (Secretary) - Project Manager - Michael Scott Associates
John Brown - Co- founder and Software Engineer
Nanya Molokwu - Law Graduate, University of Cambridge
Meet Our Core Team
Olly Perkins - CEO and Founder
Dr Ed Michaelson - Exec Team and Co-Founder
Maysa Clam - Development Manager
Jacob Böhm - London Coordinator
Ben Adams - Social Media
Asher Dunnet - Co-founder and treasurer
Meet Our University Committees
Andrew Girgis - Cambridge President
Ben Wagstaff - Durham President
Ian Carroll - Catering Coordinator
Alasdair Hopwood - Strategic Advisor
Divya Kothari - Events Coordinator
Anwuli Okwuegbuna - Engagement Coordinator
Rebekah Wilson - Engagement Coordinator
Aleezah Alam - Events Coordinator
Our Partners
We believe the entire body of Christ has a part to play in God’s plan of redeeming the world. So we’re actively seeking partnerships with other organisations. We’ve run events across a number of universities with UCCF and Just Love and are working to formalise our relationships with both organisations.
