Christians working together peacefully and in unity is not just a dream goal, it is a mandate from God and an essential part of effective ministry.

The outside observer may doubt that those working in a church bookstore would ever experience the tensions, anxieties and misunderstandings that plague the secular workforce. But the truth is, Christians working together in the ministry of the church are not exempt from disharmony.

Consider possible areas of friction in your store. Perhaps:

• paid staff feel they have to work harder than volunteers.

• volunteers are undependable concerning the schedule.

• staff members rearrange others' display work.
  

• some staff avoid pitching in on unpleasant cleaning tasks.

Not every worker in a church bookstore is at the same level of personal or spiritual maturity and wholeness. Understanding this may go a long way in fostering an attitude of mercy and grace.

Someone who has been deeply wounded in their past will be more likely to be overly sensitive and on their guard against others. We must not focus so thoroughly on ministering to our customers that we miss the chance to minister compassion and forgiveness to our fellow workers-taking the opportunity to share materials that have meant a lot to us.

Sometimes those working in Christian stores have chosen to do so not so much out of a desire to minister to others, but more to find help for themselves. They may have an area of weakness or emotional pain, or they may be seeking a deeper walk with God.

We must remember that Jesus forgave us, too. Rather than reacting, we must choose to act in love. Consider:

• Introducing a manager's suggestion box in which staff can anonymously raise any grievances.

• Adopting an open-door policy to encourage staff to talk over problems.

• Ensuring work tasks and assignments are shared equally among paid and volunteer staff.

In music, harmony is a pleasing combination of notes played at the same time. Although we, like the various musical notes, may be different, we can join together under the direction of the Holy Spirit to create harmony worthy of the King.

Anita Welty was involved in Christian retail management for more than 17 years and is now a full-time freelance writer.

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