ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORKERS ADVOCACY
WHO ARE WE?
Christian Workers Advocacy (CWA) is the transformed people of God advocating for fellow Workers
Christian Workers Advocacy (CWA) is a group of people who are transformed by the Gospel. In the Gospel, we encounter the Son of God, Jesus Christ who laid down his life for us and is now the resurrected Lord. It is this sacrifice and rising again that has led to a transformation in our lives so that we have received the gift of salvation and we are now called the people of God. As the people of God, we have heard his call to go out into the harvest field as his Workers to proclaim his gospel to people from all nations. Our desire is for others to receive the gift of salvation so that they may join us as part of the people of God.
​
As we have gone out upon this mission of proclamation many of us have encountered suffering and mistreatment, sometimes at the hands of our brothers and sisters. This has had a devastating impact on people, as well as the growth of God’s Kingdom. CWA stands united upon the gospel as the people of God. So, as we encounter suffering and mistreatment we stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Workers and we advocate for each other. As we embark upon advocacy for the trampled and downtrodden our intention is that God’s people will be restored, and God’s mission will flourish into the world.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
To build a future where church workers are empowered and church organisations are safe and healthy places to work
We live in a fallen world and unfortunately, the mistreatment of church workers is currently a widespread and serious problem among churches and Christian organisations. When church workers are mistreated, in the short term it results in reputational loss for churches, and in the long term, it damages those church workers, their churches, and gospel proclamation. In the worst cases, fellow brothers and sisters can abandon their faith. So, our purpose is to address this problem and create a different future for Christian Workers that will be transformative for all the people of God.
​
We picture a future where God’s people treat each other with love, dignity, and respect in all circumstances of their lives, especially within Christian workplaces. We want all different types of Christian workers – assistant ministers, women’s ministers, children’s ministers, music leaders, administration assistants, etc.; to know that they are not alone but have fellow brothers and sisters to stand beside them. We want every church worker to feel supported, encouraged, safe and to be empowered to know that they have options for their future.
​
We picture a future where churches and Christian organisations are safe and healthy places for Christian workers to serve the Lord. We want these organisations to be characterized by a culture of love, truth, and justice that infuses every relationship. We want every church to be a light on the hill, distinct from the world in the way it treats its workers so that it reflects the future heavenly kingdom that we are heading towards. CWA believes that when we head towards this future where church workers are empowered and church organisations are safe and healthy places it will bring glory to our great God.
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
To support Christian Workers through the journey of their church ministry
When a Christian Worker takes on a role within a Christian organization they are embarking upon a journey. Their journey begins with the agreement to take on a role, it will then involve carrying out their duties and at some point, it will end. When a Christian Worker walks this journey, they will have periods when their role is going well and periods when their role is not – the good times and the bad times. Sometimes they will go through a time of crisis and can feel quite alone and neglected, especially if they are being mistreated. CWA seeks to walk with a Gospel Worker upon that journey through all the ups and downs, shoulder to shoulder, and especially in times of crisis. We seek to provide help at each stage of that journey so that a Christian Worker can know that they are never really alone. They will always have someone to lean upon and even to carry them through. We want to walk this journey together.
KEY PEOPLE
Where Passion and Dedication Meet
Our dedicated team of experienced Christian workers are at the heart of what we do, utilizing their unique skills and passion to move the work of our Christian Organization forward. Without them, Christian Workers Advocacy would not be where it is today. Meet our team leader below.
Blair Courtney-O'Connor
Leader
Blair Courtney-O'Connor has worked in multiple churches and is passionate about seeing people grow to mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, he has personally experienced mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse while working in Christian organisations. He is passionate about supporting Christian workers through similar situations and founded Christian Workers Advocacy with this intention. Blair has supported scores of workers by providing them with the assistance that they need to move through their own situations. He is now working in a business context managing multiple staff teams and is an active member of his local church.