Straddling Two Worlds: A Seminarian's Testimony on the Value of Work with Purpose

Like many of you, Julie has lived in multiple worlds. She has been a banker, full-time homemaker, neighborhood evangelist, and director of women’s ministry and adult spiritual formation in church contexts. And in her marriage, she has walked alongside her husband as he navigates his 30-year career in the marketplace.

No matter where we find ourselves, we all work – in a wide variety of contexts and with a common mix of work and leadership challenges. If you’re a seminary student, you are investing many hours and resources preparing to minister to people in the church. If you’re a staff or faculty member, you devote your energy to serving or instructing those preparing for a multitude of vocations. Whether your work is paid or unpaid, inside the workplace or beyond it, your day-to-day tasks are relevant to the kingdom of God.    

Join us online to hear about the fruit of engaging in Work with Purpose opportunities at Bethel that will equip you for all kinds of ministry, grounded in a healthy and robust biblical understanding of work as well as the needs of the worker in your pews or in the cubicle next door. 

About Our Guest Speaker

Julie Burns is a Master of Divinity student in her fourth year of study at Bethel Seminary. Her first professional role was as a commercial lender with U.S. Bank. Later she served as Director of Women's Ministry at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and as Director of Spiritual Formation at Crossroads Church in St. Cloud. While at Bethel, she has been the teaching assistant for two faculty members, and she also temporarily filled the role of the Work with Purpose Initiative Manager. Julie is passionate about whole-life discipleship and sees Work with Purpose as an integral aspect of the ongoing discipleship conversation for pastoral leaders and workers of all kinds.