Work, faith and justice

This is the second blog I have ever written. The first one had to be adapted to fit certain criteria, and by the end it wasn’t really me at all. It was just information that could have been written by a computer.

Well, not this time. This one is all me. No AI, no IT team dictating the rules.

Here goes,

Twelve months in the making

Twelve months. It has taken twelve months to make that decision. A change in my contract, my working hours, and my entire job.

Here’s the kicker: they decided to release me on Friday. Yes, let me go. After raising concerns about discrimination and unfair dismissal, they still let me go. I had asked to be made redundant ten months ago and was told, “We’re not in that situation.”

You might be thinking, Okay, so you’ve lost your job, what happens next? Well, here’s the truth: I haven’t made a plan. I haven’t decided what the next step will be. A friend of mine, a keen blogger, sat across from me at a church lunch. After I explained my situation, she looked at me and said, “You need to start a blog!”

Me? A blog?

‘A blog‘, she said

So, here is, ‘A Blog’

Let me take you back.

In 2023, I accepted a job at an organisation that cared deeply for the environment, and their values aligned perfectly with mine as a Christian. The CEO was also a Christian, I could see the warmth flowing through the management and down to the grassroots staff, like me.

This was it. At 38 years old, I thought I had finally found my forever job. What was I doing? Case management, project work, responding to emails, and finance. It had my name written all over it.

My first challenge was to take on three roles within the organisation, releasing three other staff members to focus on their own work. Within a month, I had done it successfully. I was shaping my job and the team around me. At that point, there were just two of us: me and my manager. I collaborated with many teams to ensure the job was done. We worked tirelessly to meet budgets, complete projects, and hit deadlines. It felt amazing to be trusted with that level of freedom, something I had never experienced before. I took real pride in the responsibility. The team grew quickly, with another manager joining above me. Still, things worked well. I had autonomy, they trusted me, and everything was in harmony.

The harmony ended

From December 2024, I began experiencing bullying behaviour from a newly appointed manager who sat between me and my previous managers. There were also talks about changing my contract, adding weekend shifts and out-of-hours calls, something I knew I would struggle with. I made that clear in a consultation meeting that all the changes would impact me and my family. It also revealed just how far management would go to make an employee feel like they are the problem and the only resolution is to do exactly as they ask. Thankfully, I had already joined a union, one that truly cared about justice, not only for me but for others across the country in the public sector. We even show solidarity with Palestine, as a union. (Let’s not started on that subject today).

The breaking point

Back to my situation. I asked to stay in my role, be made redundant, or, as a last resort, be transferred. The only option they offered was transfer. They found a role I could either accept or decline, but it was not suitable and I was never given the option of either.

I was placed on an out-of-hours call system as the new manager implemented the new work stream. I explained that this would affect my mental health. I wasn’t listened to, and it led to me taking time off. Even when I asked to return, they refused, saying they couldn’t remove me from out-of-hours duties which included intercoms. I had written a SWOT analysis on what might happen if they went ahead with the changes. I attended an occupational health referral. From an employee’s perspective, I went above and beyond and still somehow missed the target. Then came 3 October 2025. I was told in a meeting that my contract would be terminated, effective immediately. In practice, that meant being put on garden leave for my five weeks’ notice. They also said I would receive compensation because I had done everything asked of me, though apparently, they didn’t know what that would look like, as they had never had to do this before. Welcome to the organisation that now, is somewhat less caring.

Staying sane

So how have I stayed sane? Prayer. Meaningful prayer. Asking God to support me through this troubled time. its not about me anymore its about my relationship with God, the unending love he has for his children.

The light bulb moment

I have been writing a sermon on The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1–8). As a youth leader, I encourage my young people to plan a service called Our Generation, a mix of charisma, humour, and energy that shows we are the next generation of leaders, and that we can lead a church. While writing this sermon, I realised the parable wasn’t just a story, it was a mirror. I read it three times looking for a challenge? Then it hit me: Look in your own back garden, Joel. Look at the last twelve months. Haven’t you been fighting for justice, in your job, in your organisation, and praying to God for strength? Isn’t that what Jesus asked of His disciples in this parable? Yes, I have been challenged. Yes, I have had some really tough days. But on the days I listened to God, I knew brighter days were ahead and I had to keep going.

Dr. Naomi Oliver, a theologian and preacher, wrote a sermon called How One Woman’s Determination Teaches You to Never Give Up on Your Dreams. She says:

“At the heart of the Parable of the Persistent Widow are two distinct characters: a helpless widow and an unjust judge. In biblical times, widows were among society’s most vulnerable; they often had no means to support themselves or defend their rights.”

She continues:

“The parable itself serves as an effective teaching tool for illustrating how unwavering faith combined with constant communication with God leads to answered prayers. Through this engaging story of a widow’s relentless pursuit of justice, Jesus demonstrates how believers should approach their relationship with God, tirelessly seeking His help while trusting His divine plan.”

That perfectly sums up my last twelve months. I have been fighting for justice. I am an advocate for activism grounded in peace and love. If we cannot show love and peace, then we are we not building God’s Kingdom.

Naomi finishes with this reminder:

“The Parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us to trust in God’s timing and sovereignty. It’s easy to grow impatient when things don’t happen on our schedule. Sometimes it feels easier to give up on prayer when nothing changes. But God hears us, even in the waiting, and invites us to keep trusting Him.”

Brighter days ahead

So will I keep seeking justice? You bet I will.

I still have a long road ahead, but with the power of prayer, support of my union and love from my wife, I am looking toward brighter days. Not just for myself, but for the people still in the team, to see a more peaceful, fair, and just way of doing business.

Finally, I will leave you with this

We are all fighting demons that others don’t see. So have you put your faith in the Lord recently?

With Blessings,

Joel