Faith is What Guides Us: At Christmas and All Year Round
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Since we are in the thick of the festive season, we thought we would take this opportunity to share what this time of year means to us here at Staff Shop. As a multi-faith organization, run by Christian leaders, we believe in the value of authenticity and bringing your whole self to work each day. This means that our beliefs and values guide our decisions – in both our personal and professional lives.
Founder and CEO, Jennifer Ménard-Shand, and COO, Alison Hernández lean on their Christian beliefs and aligned values as a compass every day. While some might assume that this makes Staff Shop an exclusive organization, the opposite is actually true. Staff Shop is a big tent – with room for everyone. Regardless of what you believe, you are welcome here.
What does an organization with Christian leadership mean or look like? The proof is in the pudding. Just look at our previous blog on giving back to causes that we’re passionate about. Every team member is encouraged to volunteer for causes that break their heart. That is just one example of how faith guides us in our organization. But it’s not just about giving back. Jennifer and Alison have a purpose statement that grounds their leadership:
“Our purpose is to practice servant leadership and remain agile to God’s calling by using the gifts, resources and blessings He provides to lead a profitable organization devoted to giving back and moving His Kingdom forward.”
For Jennifer and Alison, there’s no sense in wasting the gifts we’ve been given in our very short time on earth. They work hard every day to make Staff Shop a home for growth and meaningful work for all stakeholders. Their faith in God gives them the strength to move the needle in people’s lives and to lead with empathy and integrity.
Jennifer proclaims; “We have a responsibility as leaders to lift people up to their highest level of contribution and to serve upward and outward. Staff Shop is a platform I’ve been gifted with to steward dutifully, and I never lose sight of the fact that it doesn’t belong to me – it belongs to God. I’ve simply been chosen to lead it for as long as he allows me to, and I am grateful for that privilege.”
Alison says, “Part of our Mission statement here at Staff Shop is to ‘showcase the value in people.’ This is what makes this noble and honourable work. I believe that everyone is made in God’s image and that it doesn’t take a lot to treat people with respect and dignity accordingly. We have a unique placement in the marketplace, as staffing firms often struggle to recognize and appreciate their workforce as valued individuals due to sheer numbers and volume. Excelling at this is our challenge and our calling.”
The Reason for the Season
Christmastime is special for us. The joy and the wonder of the season warms our hearts. For Christians, this time of year is a time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: the miracle that was the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This story often gets lost in stories of Santa Claus and deals on Black Friday or Boxing Day.
When we wake up on December 25, our hearts are full knowing that this day celebrates and reaffirms our purpose, our love for Him and our will to move His Kingdom forward. We spend this day with family and loved ones as we honour all of our blessings, and the only eternal gift we have, Jesus.
While many people focus on material gifts, we acknowledge that they are symbolic of the gifts the three wise men gave to Jesus after his birth. Gifts also symbolize generosity – a gesture we practice all year round.
Christianity in Business
Though the business world is more or less a secular space, there are some groups and events that tie our faith and business together. For example, Staff Shop leaders and team members attended the annual Bells on Bay Street event in early December. This event is one that our leaders don’t miss, as it’s a great way to kick off and reflect on the holiday season. Not only does this event highlight the true meaning of Christmas, it also reminds us to give back and to take care of those less fortunate. Many business leaders are in privileged positions and Bells on Bay Street is a great reminder that you can do so much good and share your privilege.
Another annual event that Staff Shop leaders highly recommend is the Ontario Prayer Breakfast, which was held in April of this year.
All business leaders can find value in them, regardless of their background. Whether you have a lot of faith, a little faith or no faith at all, you will be able to take away valuable lessons from these events.
The Spirit of Giving
It’s better to give than to receive. It can be fun to pick out special gifts for loved ones during the holiday season. Finding that unique item that you know that person on your list will love can be so fulfilling.
That said, we know this time of year can be stressful for some. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create magic and do it all. It’s easy to lose sight of what matters so remember to appreciate gifts that don’t always cost money. And if you’re still looking for last-minute gift ideas, check out Staff Shop’s 2022 Gift Guide for inspiration!
Merry Christmas and Happy 2023!
Staff Shop is so grateful for everyone who worked so hard to make 2022 memorable. Everyone who joined us or hired us played a role in our success. Thank you for having faith in us, for sharing your passion with us, and for being inspired by freedom with us.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and we cannot wait to see what 2023 brings!
You are welcome to contact us if you require staffing solutions or are looking for work in the new year.
BONUS: Our Founder & CEO Jennifer recently wrote a devotional for the Canadian Bible Society on finding peace in trouble. Enjoy 🙂