Glorifying God with Professional Expertise and Innovative Models – My Calling and Equipping in the Workplace

Speaker: Owen Tsao
2025 Abundant Mission Seminary – EMBA Online Fellowship

Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you in the Lord!

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share my journey of faith and how God has guided me in both life and career. I will share in three stages how my calling has shaped my professional work and service, in the hope that my story may encourage you in your own workplace ministry.

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1. The Beginning of Grace: From Workplace Anxiety to Trust in God

Before I came to know Christ, I was a person full of insecurity.

I failed my high school entrance exams and ended up studying Electrical Engineering at Huaxia Polytechnic (now Huaxia University of Technology) — considered at the time a less “mainstream” path. For a young man, this was a period filled with disappointment and self-doubt.

But in my second year, the love of Jesus touched me. His light broke into my dark world and, for the first time, life turned from black and white to “color.”

By God’s grace, I later transferred to the Department of Social Work at Soochow University, where I began to rebuild my confidence and sense of value. More importantly, during this period, I volunteered at Campus Evangelical Fellowship’s counseling center. Through counseling and walking alongside those in need, I discovered a profound truth: helping others brings great joy, and I too could become a blessing to others.

In prayer and with conviction, I later pursued a Master’s degree in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis (Brown School of Social Work), one of the top programs in the U.S. Although my English was weak and classes were a constant struggle, I knew this was confirmation of God’s calling.

Looking back today, I thank the Lord for answering my prayers and fulfilling my dream: to use professional expertise as a tool to serve those in need.

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Entering the Workplace: Professional Growth and Seeking Purpose

After completing my master’s degree, I returned to Taiwan and joined Bayer Taiwan in the Human Resources Department. Bayer, a global German pharmaceutical and life sciences company, valued leadership development and organizational culture. My role focused on competency-based leadership programs and implementing performance management systems to align leadership standards with company strategy.

Yet my heart longed for deeper growth and meaning. I transitioned to new roles, aspiring to become a corporate trainer and organizational consultant. At that time, there were no career coaches to guide me, so I often sought God in prayer:

“Lord, how should I walk? Your Word says You confide in those who fear You and will instruct them in the way they should go (Psalm 25). Please show me Your path.”

God responded by opening unexpected doors. Despite my non-technical background, I joined Accenture, a leading global technology consultancy, working on corporate transformation and change projects. Later, I joined PwC Taiwan as an audit consultant, contributing to corporate value reporting and communication frameworks for Taiwan’s largest semiconductor company.

These milestones — once unimaginable for me — taught me one essential truth: real strength in life does not come from personal striving, but from walking in God’s prepared plans.

2. The Journey of Equipping: From Professional Content Creation to Value-Driven Influence

As I entered the second half of my career, after years of training in multinational consulting firms and exposure to the marketplace, I began asking myself: “Is there a way of life that not only reflects who I am but also creates a lasting influence?”

This question grew deeper as I served as a volunteer and joined short-term mission journeys. I was especially impacted by Rev. Samuel Ling’s ministry in Asia through the MSI “Life Influencing Life” vision. His example challenged me: could I also, in my own way, bring influence through my professional life?

This conviction took shape while I studied for a Master of Christian Studies at Singapore Bible College and pursued advanced executive management education at the National University of Singapore’s APEX MBA program. The idea that life influencing life could be a lifelong mission became clear, and I committed myself to walk in that direction.

A turning point came in 2019, shortly after I moved to Vietnam. Two highly respected Taiwanese Christian entrepreneurs whom I admired suddenly passed away in Ho Chi Minh City. Their deaths shook me deeply. I began to reflect: we may work tirelessly overseas, striving to build our careers, but without anchoring our lives in a deeper meaning, what are we really living for? Are we ready for eternity? And what about the unspoken anxiety and insecurity that many overseas Chinese often carry in their hearts?

That year, I started experimenting with an online initiative called “Corporate Winners”—through webinars, podcasts, community articles, and written content. The aim was to provide Chinese-speaking entrepreneurs and professionals in Vietnam with meaningful, practical, and warm content—covering topics like tax, regulations, risk, M&A, and strategic development—while also weaving in stories of faith and life.

The response was far greater than I expected. One Taiwanese CFO managing a factory in Vietnam once told me:

“Owen, your content makes me feel reassured. It’s not just professional, it’s filled with warmth.”

And so, “Corporate Winners” has now been serving the Chinese business community in Southeast Asia for more than five years. The mission is simple: to accompany entrepreneurs and professionals not only in navigating risks, but also in building a journey of “secure living” and “amplified value.”

We have done this through:
• Mandarin tax and regulatory seminars
• One-on-one e-sharing sessions
• Industry networking and M&A matchmaking
• Cross-cultural coaching and leadership training

The vision has been to create one of the very few platforms in the Chinese-speaking business world of Southeast Asia that integrates trust, professionalism, and values into a free, knowledge-sharing community.

Looking back, I know clearly: none of this came from my own ability. It is God who has taken my limited professional skills and used them as a small vessel to bring hope and direction to others.

This is the reality of Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Since most of my time is spent in the workplace, God’s calling is clear—that I should shine for Him right in the marketplace.

 

3. Entering Cross-Church Youth Ministry: Learning Obedience Through Innovation and Authenticity

 

 

The third stage of my journey has been God’s invitation to step beyond my professional roles into cross-church youth ministry—an area where “the workplace as mission field” has become tangible in Vietnam.

 

Since 2023, while continuing to live and work in Vietnam, I began noticing the common struggles faced by the younger generation here. Many young people seemed lost when it came to choosing a future direction—whether in selecting their field of study, preparing for employment, or discerning their life path. Some did not know their own strengths, while others lacked awareness of which industries are rising in Vietnam’s fast-changing economy or how to plan for long-term growth.

 

In response, I accepted the invitation of local fellowships to launch a bilingual (Chinese–Vietnamese) program called “Life & Career Management Workshops.” These workshops aim to guide Vietnamese youth in clarifying their goals, understanding industries, and building future roadmaps. The workshops have three main objectives:

 

  1. Self-discovery and life planning – helping young people recognize their gifts, identify resources, and create a personal roadmap.
  2. Career readiness and economic awareness – introducing employment preparation, the dynamics of Vietnam’s economy, emerging industries, and business operations.
  3. Goal-setting and relational growth – equipping them to set practical goals, embrace change, and build meaningful connections and influence.

 

 

The program includes reflections on major life decisions, industry insights (such as electronics and retail supply chains), business model analysis, small group interactions, and caring exercises. Each workshop typically runs as a two-hour session combining group discussions, storytelling, and peer learning, with participants largely drawn from youth fellowships and recent graduates.

 

Through this process, I have learned an important truth: without genuine listening and cultural understanding, it is impossible to truly “touch” the pain points of their hearts.

 

I thank God for His guidance in shaping my ministry through three key principles:

 

  • Doing good through content – not just repeating slogans, but helping young people see practical and meaningful directions.
  • Serving with innovation – for example, introducing the OGSM (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, Measures) framework to help them set actionable life and faith goals.
  • Practicing honesty in relationships – treating every workshop and consultation as an act of service, offering sincere advice and companionship.

 

 

At the same time, God has used this ministry to teach me about balance: how to navigate the tension between family and service, and how to stand firm in faith amid a volatile marketplace. These challenges have not been easy, but they have drawn me into deeper dependence on the Lord.

 

Conclusion

 

 

Genesis 12:1–9 records God’s calling to Abram:

 

“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you… I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

 

This was the beginning of God’s covenant promise with Abram.

 

But immediately in verse 10, we see famine driving Abram to Egypt. Out of fear that the Egyptians would kill him because of Sarai’s beauty, he claimed she was his sister (a half-truth), which led to her being taken into Pharaoh’s palace. On the surface this looked like a survival tactic, but in reality it was a compromise of honesty and a failure to trust in God’s promise.

 

 

 

 

How God Works Through Imperfect Vessels

 

 

While preparing for this message, I studied Genesis 12:10–20 with my brothers in fellowship. This passage shaped my conclusion:

 

  1. Human weakness leads to failure and compromise
    Abram, the so-called “father of faith,” had just stepped out in faith to follow God’s call, but almost immediately he stumbled—lying out of fear. He did not seek God’s guidance or protection, but instead chose a human solution. This reminds us: even those called by God are not immune to failure under pressure.
  2. God’s grace covers human mistakes and intervenes to prevent greater harm
    Though Abram acted wrongly, God did not abandon him. When Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s house, God struck Pharaoh’s household with severe plagues (v.17), protecting Sarai from harm and preserving both Abram’s marriage and the covenant lineage. This reveals a crucial truth: God’s grace is greater than human failure. He intervenes to stop sin’s consequences from running their full course.
  3. God fulfills His plan even through weakness
    Abram lied out of fear, yet he remained God’s chosen instrument. God still worked through him to establish a people of faith and eventually bring forth Jesus, the Messiah. Over time, Abram grew in faith and obedience, becoming the model of faith we know today. This shows us that God’s calling and leadership are not based on our perfection, but on His faithfulness and His sovereign plan.

 

 

 

 

 

Application for the Workplace and Marketplace

 

 

In our workplaces, families, and ministries, we often question whether we are worthy of God’s calling. Many times, like Abram, we respond to pressure with avoidance, compromise, or even deception. Yet what God values most is our repentance and willingness to be guided.

 

God does not call the perfect. He calls those willing to be shaped.

 

“God does not choose us because we are flawless. He chooses us because of His faithfulness and grace, working with us so that even in our brokenness, His glory is revealed.”

 

May every brother and sister serving in the marketplace take heart: do not fear your imperfections. God is able to make us strong in weakness, renewed in failure, and useful for His kingdom even in our incompleteness.