The Professional Believer’s Guide: Principles to Help Christian Believers Thrive in the Marketplace

By Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey

Are you a Christian believer? Do you have a vocation or a job or a profession? Do you run your own business? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then this book is for you. Many Christians see their work or vocation as a 'secular thing,' and so they do not treat it with the same diligence they give to their ministry or the service they do in the house of the Lord. For others, it is a matter of blending in and not 'imposing' their beliefs on others in their workplaces. Some people feel like their Christian lives must be kept separately from what they do for a living.
When it comes to our work or vocation, God intends for believers to treat it as a ministry, working for the Lord. This book outlines fourteen principles that believers can follow to help them boldly represent the Kingdom of God, wherever they are positioned in the marketplace. These principles cover aspects of the believer’s position and identity in Christ, the Christlike characteristics and certain spiritual disciplines that give believers supernatural advantage in the marketplace.
These principles can be applied by believers of any age and any stage of their professional growth or development. Students, teenagers, young adults, and more mature adults will find these principles useful. It outlines practical tips and suggestions on how to prepare for, conduct oneself and face tricky situations in the workplace. There are relatable testimonies of firsthand experiences that put each principle into perspective. At the end of each Section, you will also find helpful prayer points or declarations that you can use to build your faith and activate the will of God in the life of Christians in the marketplace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey
• Release date: Jun 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9780463654767

Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey

Dr Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey, has distinguished herself as a servant leader throughout her more than 24 years professional life. She is known throughout the field of public health for her excellent spirit and can-do attitude. Born in a rural district in the Parish of Saint Ann, Jamaica, she was determined to fulfil her life’s purpose by the grace of God. Because of her tenacity and generous spirit, she has excelled academically and professionally, and has been privileged to serve in professional roles internationally. She has credited her success as a professional and businesswoman to her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and believes she is living out her life’s purpose and calling.She started her career as Public Health Inspector in Saint Mary, Jamaica in 1997 and was later appointed as Regional Environmental Health Officer for the Ministry of Health’s North East Regional Health Authority in 2008. She later won a scholarship from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia where she successfully completed the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (2013). She also holds a Master of Public Health with Distinction from the University of the West Indies (2007).Inspired by her faith, Stephanie’s professional excellence has been recognised through various awards including the Jamaican Governor General’s Youth in Excellence Award in 2007 and Sanofi Pasteur Research Excellence Award in 2020. She has published more than 50 articles, book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and numerous reports. She has authored her first book The Professional Believer’s Guide: Principles to Help Christian Believers Thrive In The Marketplace.Stephanie is an active member of the Healthcare Christian Fellowship Australia. She also serves on various capacities in the local church including as Executive Pastor at Destiny Impact Worship Centre, Australia. She is a independent recording artist, singer and songwriter.Stephanie is married to her husband Daniel and together they have four children.

Book preview

THE PROFESSIONAL BELIEVER’S GUIDE

Principles to Help Christian Believers Thrive In The Marketplace.

Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey

THE PROFESSIONAL BELIEVER’S GUIDE

Principles to Help Christian Believers Thrive In The Marketplace.

Published by Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey

Distributed by Smashwords.

© Copyright 2022 Stephanie Mahalia Fletcher-Lartey - All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-6463654767

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright ˝1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ˝2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary English, copyright ˝ 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version., NIV. Copyright ˝ 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Table of Contents

Congratulations

Dedication

Forward

Introduction

Chapter One: The Professional Believer in the Marketplace

Chapter Two: Seeking First the Kingdom of God

Chapter Three: Knowing Who You Are

Chapter Four: Walk Humbly

Chapter Five: Be The Salt and Light

Chapter Six: Walk In Your Integrity

Chapter Seven: An Excellent Spirit

Chapter Eight: Empowering Others

Chapter Nine: Dealing with Adversity

Chapter Ten: Make Prayer Your Priority

Chapter Eleven: Access Divine Favour

Chapter Twelve: Seek Godly Direction and Counsel

Chapter Thirteen: Harness the Power of Intercessory Prayer

Chapter Fourteen: Divine Provision and Protection

Epilogue

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Testimonials

Congratulations

Congratulations, Dr Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey. You have not only written an outstanding masterpiece in The Professional Believer’s Guide, but you have modelled it. Over the years since I have known you, you have demonstrated all the principles in this book. You have not only served faithfully in the various areas of ministry including as Executive Pastor at Destiny Impact Worship Centre, but have modelled these principles through your community-based charity work, as an entrepreneur and a health professional.

Dr Stephanie, you have poured your heart and soul into this masterpiece, and I believe every person who will read it, will be enriched by the truths, the experiences, and the rich advice you have so generously shared.

As a Life Coach, businessperson, and Senior Pastor, I believe the lives of those who would read and apply these principles will be enriched. Every believer, regardless of where they find themselves in the marketplace will need these principles to not only succeed, but to impact others in a meaningful way and leave a legacy. Thank you for your obedience in sharing what God has laid on your heart and I pray that all who will read this book will be blessed and empowered to accomplish their God-given purpose.

Bishop Richard Asamoah Boateng,

Presiding Bishop, Destiny Impact Worship Centre and Director, Care Partners Australia.

I am happy to be part of history as the author’s publishing Advisor, this book will live on and become a great collectible item for Christians in the marketplace , The principles written within will help every reader to make the right choice on the job and live with integrity. I resigned one job because I saw fraud and the day I left was the day the Government Auditors found the fraud, and this caused laws to change control GCT tax in that industry.

Dr. Stephanie, every graduate from university need this , every police officer, every nurse, every doctor, and we will experience a revival for Jesus in our workplaces. The professionals will build the Kingdom of God by sowing their financial resources known as tithe and offering.

Pastors this is a textbook to reach the unreached group in your church, the professionals.

Welcome to Turnbull Arts Publishing Author’s House as you continue to write and edify the body of Christ we are excited to be the Publisher of this Best Seller.

Pastor Stephnie Turnbull DRC, BCM, RCRT

Turnbull Arts Publishing

Dedication

This book is dedicated to:

My late mother, Deloris Fletcher, who was the greatest influencer in my spiritual formation. My mother taught me the way of the cross and the importance of placing God at the head of my life, from a tender age. She was the greatest influence in my Christian life and my biggest cheerleader.

I also dedicate this book to my siblings Frank, Leonardo, Allison, Eli, and Courtney. These five of my ten siblings have been there for me through thick and thin and have encouraged and prayed for me through some of the hardest seasons of life. They are the cheering squad who are there in season and out of season, ensuring that I never gave up when the journey got too hard to bear. Their support and love have given me the boldness to turn my tests into testimonies.

Forward

I met Dr. Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey (who was affectionately called Fletcher at the time) almost two decades ago. From then she struck me as someone very committed to her work and profession but equally committed to her Christian faith. Her approach to life, academic study and her professional pursuits were always characterized by a level of excellence. This excellence also showed up in her ministry as a gospel singer. In those days, she was a part of a group of committed Christian female singers who called themselves Precious Jewels. Today, her history and track record of success are sources of inspiration in my own personal journey and in many ways represent precious jewels of hope and motivation.

Dr Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey whose life is the very epitome of Christian discipline and commitment, by writing this book, has undoubtedly responded to a significant need in Christendom and offers this book as precious jewel to those who would read it. The book is a valuable part of the believer’s toolkit as they seek to navigate the sometimes challenging, space of work. The workplace becomes particularly demanding for the believer when they are seeking to uphold their Christian standards while excelling professionally. The Aptly titled The Professional Believers Guide: Principles to help Christian believers thrive in the marketplace is an amazing resource with powerful biblical principles and insightful practical recommendations.

I have been working for the last twenty years in business; half of which I have spent in senior management and most of those years at the level of CEO. I have had progressive experience and responsibility in the areas of sales, marketing, commercial oversight, and general management. This I have done while being a practicing Christian and for most of that time a pastor, first as an associate pastor and eventually as a lead pastor. This is a path less trodden and is certainly not for the faint of heart. To be successful at balancing the demands and effectively living out the dual calling during this season of my life, prayer and Godly support has been invaluable. Additionally, I have been benefitted from the example of solid Christian businesspeople, grown from reading various Christian books addressing the subject, and engaged in various biblically based courses of study (a course of study called Theology of Work has been very helpful to me). Dr. Fletcher-Lartey’s book is another welcomed resource for me and for those who desire to escape the negative impact of the sacred-secular divide that can mentally drain a believer who desires to live out their faith in a workplace context.

The Professional Believer’s Guide is rich in terms of its content with all of fourteen practical principles that can help the professional believer to strengthen their convictions and more effectively profess their faith. This book reflects Dr. Fletcher-Lartey’s way of living, which makes the material that much more meaningful and impactful. The very practical way in which the book is written enables the believer to access clear and specific guidance in a professional setting that will save them from suffering from a sense of uncertainty and confusion. The personal stories, strong biblical references, and inclusion of prayer, highlights the authenticity of the book; it is not only written for professional believer’s but by a professional believer.

From her rural roots to her now global reach as an International Public Health Professional, Dr. Fletcher-Lartey has demonstrated the value and impact of the principles she espouses. She understands very well what it means to seek the Kingdom, how to be salt and light, has embraced the need to walk in integrity and practices empowering others. She is a woman of prayer, has surmounted many forms of adversity and nurtures a community that can offer her meaningful counsel and cover her through dedicated intercession.

Stephanie has never been stingy with her knowledge and rich professional experience, but like Jesus Christ generously shares wherever she goes. Her attitude and approach speak for itself and her public witness as a Christian professional is noteworthy. From her work in Jamaica to her distinguished career in Australia, Dr. Fletcher-Lartey’s example and work sets her apart.

As a Christian professional, I value access to guidance from Christians who have excelled in their field of study and work. I am encouraged and become excited when I hear about Christians blazing a trail of excellence in the fields of work. Jesus commanded us that we should our live our lives to shine so that persons who observed our good works can be encouraged to glorify our heavenly father (Matthew 5: 16). This is what this book is about and Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey lives what she has written.

I therefore invite all readers interested in being shining lights in a dark world, to read, internalize and apply these principles to your lives. Carry this book as a handbook, read it often and practice its tenets consistently. The value of its contents is immeasurable.

Dr. Rohan Ambersley

Christian Business Leader and Pastor

Kingston Jamaica

May 2022

Introduction

Congratulations on obtaining a copy of this book! By reading and applying the principles contained in this book, The Professional Believer’s Guide: Principles to Help Christian Believers Thrive in The Marketplace, you are setting yourself up to effectively live out your purpose and calling in the marketplace.

Many Christians see their work or vocation as a ‘secular thing,’ and so they do not treat it with the same diligence they give to their ministry or the service they do in the house of the Lord. For others, it is a matter of blending in and not ‘imposing’ their beliefs on others in their workplaces. Some people feel like