I once shared a message at a workplace fellowship in which I introduced the concept of “VUCA.” The term first emerged in the 1990s to describe the unstable global situation following the Cold War. VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. It reminds us that, when facing unstable circumstances, we need to remain flexible and ready to adapt at all times.

As we entered the twenty-first century, VUCA developed further into “BANI”: Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible. Amid such unpredictable and constantly changing circumstances, people’s hearts also seem to have become increasingly anxious and fragile. Whether described as VUCA or BANI, our present environment is becoming ever more unpredictable, difficult to plan for in the long term, beyond our control and without standard answers.

As disciples of the Lord, amid an ever-changing workplace environment and interpersonal relationships in which absolute truth is lacking, we need all the more to rely on the Lord’s word and on fellow travellers in faith so that we may stand firm. This is precisely the mission of workplace fellowships. One member jokingly remarked that their brief lunchtime gatherings at work were like an oasis. It was as though God had set apart sacred spaces in Central, Wan Chai and Admiralty, where brothers and sisters from the NPAC family could read the Bible, pray and watch over one another. Together, they form a spring of living water that infuses their lives with boundless strength, enabling them to continue working hard in their daily lives while also becoming attentive to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of their colleagues who have yet to believe.

A Christian supervisor in a senior position once shared that a colleague lacked confidence when she began a new role. After reviewing the first document she submitted, he wrote “Well Done” on it as a word of encouragement. More than ten years later, when this colleague resigned because she was emigrating and came to say goodbye, she unexpectedly brought out that very document. It turned out that she had treasured and kept the document bearing the words “Well Done” for more than a decade. The supervisor could not help but marvel that God had used those two little words to become such a tremendous blessing to his colleague.

There was also a fellowship leader who was passionate about sharing the gospel. Besides actively inviting colleagues to the company’s evangelistic meetings held twice a year, the leader would also share experiences of participating in the church’s short-term mission trips. Later, one colleague resigned. When asked more closely about the reason, he explained that he had been inspired by the leader’s sharing about short-term missions and had sensed God calling him to work that served others. He therefore decided to move to a non-profit organization in order to serve God. The fellowship leader exclaimed, “God’s work did not take place only while I was serving on the short-term mission trip. At a time I never expected, He also used my testimony!”

Business leaders in the workplace make good use of the VUCA framework to assess and manage risks: Vision responds to Volatility; Understanding responds to Uncertainty; Clarity responds to Complexity; and Agility responds to Ambiguity.

“Life without Christ is crisis.” I hope to transform the business world’s ways of responding to VUCA into convictions of faith for Christ’s disciples, as an encouragement to you who are serving in the workplace:

Victor, the victorious King—I believe You hold tomorrow in Your hands (amid volatility);
Unfailing love of the Son, the beloved Son who never leaves or forsakes me—I believe You accompany me on the journey (amid uncertainty);
Creator—I believe You grant me wisdom (amid complexity);
Alpha, the Lord who is the Beginning and the End—I believe You speak to me (amid ambiguity).