A Conversation with Andria Hall
Author of The Walk at Work: Seven Steps to Spiritual Success on the Job

GGBC: First of all, Andria, thanks for writing The Walk at Work. What was the impetus and inspiration for your writing such an important book on a subject that affects both men and women on a daily basis?

AH: God truly gave me this book! I've been working in television as a broadcast journalist for more than twenty years now. Most of my career has been "charmed," but sixteen years into my vocation I landed in the number one market in the country and it nearly killed me spiritually. I was working as the weekend Anchor for a network affiliate and had never experienced office politics at that level. The sabotage, backstabbing and all out assault by the enemy who was desperately trying to steal my confidence and my joy, almost had me defeated. After loosing 25 pounds in five months, and trying to change everything about myself on the outside to please my superiors, I sought the Lord, but He changed me from the inside. It was then that I came to understand that if I called myself a Christian then my walk with God had to also extend to my work. That's when I co-authored my first book, This Far by Faith: How to Put God First in Everyday Living (Doubleday-1998).

Two years after that book came out and three years after leaving television all together, God exalted me in His time and I was asked by the then President of CNN to be the weekend Anchor for Worldview. That's when I came to the spiritually epiphany that my work was my mission field. Many of my colleagues came to me for prayer, and words of encouragement that came from my deep faith in Jesus Christ. After two years of commuting back and forth from New Jersey to Atlanta every week, (by the way I'm married with three children) God allowed me to transition from working for someone else to working for Him. That's when He gave me The Walk at Work: Seven Steps to Spiritual Success on the Job.

GGBC: What I personally fell in love with about The Walk at Work is that is has several distinct components that work together to ensure success in the workplace: It's a small manual for personal growth and reflection, as well as an inspirational journal and devotional. Why was this important to achieve?

AH: I'm so thrilled you love the book. I knew from the outset that if The Walk at Work was going to bear fruit in the life of the reader it had to be more than a book, it had to be more than a website (www.TheWalkatWork.com), it would have to become a way of believing - a shift in one's personal paradigm. I began with the Word, because "In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1)." And the Word of God speaks for itself. Jesus Christ clearly shows us in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek Him first and His righteousness all the other "stuff" of life will work out. This principle became the foundation of the book, the first step, Seek God Your Real CEO. The journaling, the daily devotions, the exercises and action points are essential for personal spiritual growth if the reader truly wants to be spiritually successful. You have to be intentional about your walk with Christ, whether that's at work or at home.

GGBC: In your experience as a journalist what were some of the most challenging aspects of living out your faith in your workplace?

AH: I've told you about the most debilitating time in my professional career, that was my time in NYC, but the most challenging aspect of living out my faith at work was learning how to be the salt and light that God calls us to be. (Scripture) The Holy Spirit had to work with me on that one. At first, I was like the little boy who kept yelling, "The sky is falling. The sky is falling." I felt so grieved by the lack of integrity, values, love, spiritual conviction and maturity of the Christians (and non-Christians) I observed. And the truth of the matter is I was in that number too! Saying one thing, and doing another. Taking on the characteristics of the world when we as believers are supposed to be in the world but not of it. (Scripture)

I had to be taught by the Lord through my own suffering what it meant to desire the character of Christ, and then I had to fight with my own sin nature in order to try to get it. I had to work on myself first through repentance and through the washing of the Word, to begin the process of decreasing so that He would increase in my own walk at work.

GGBC: Do you feel the average person finds it scary to "live out" their faith at work? What would be your advice on managing or overcoming the pressure from (people who don't understand the God you serve) co-workers?

AH: It is scary at first. Faith is scary, but it's like putting one toe in at a time in the cold and icy waters of life. Eventually you become used to walking by faith and not by sight. You'll see that if you stand on the Word every time, God will be there to back you up. It's important in the walk of every believer to get to the point where you truly care more about doing what God said, and then you care about the opinions of others, any exterior circumstances or personal attachments. You have to simply believe God, not just believe in God.

GGBC: I believe one of the key universal issues for employees is finding "satisfaction" and "fulfillment" in the workplace? How can one begin to find both satisfaction and fulfillment where they work?

AH: The first step in finding what I call in the book, "soul satisfaction" is consciously detaching from exterior conditions that make you happy or joyful is a better way to put it, and plugging in to The Source. The joy of the Lord is our strength as the scripture says. One way is to be grateful for everything, especially your salvation! Look around you at work; think about how many people around you don't even know the Lord, Jesus Christ? If that doesn't put your life in perspective, I don't know what will.

GGBC: How can one's faith improve job performance and enhance overall personal effectiveness and excellence?

AH: If your faith is active, and living and sharp then you will walk in with conviction and stand on what is promised in the Word of God. You will work unto God and not unto man. You will have integrity even when those around you have none. You will give respect to those who are in authority over you, not so much because they deserve your respect, but because God says to give it. Does faith improve job performance and enhance effectiveness and professional excellence? You bet!

GGBC: I believe in the power of prayer, Andria. Why is a consistent prayer life the missing link to enjoying meaningful success God's way?

AH: God is interested in every aspect of our lives, especially our lives on the job. He knows that's where we have the greatest opportunity to minister to the hearts and minds of those who are hurting. Unnecessarily though, believers are often the ones who are left most in pain, because we don't use what God has readily given us to be victorious in the 9 - 5 window. Prayer is one of the most precious gifts Christ left the church, along with His Holy Spirit. You want victory? You want true success, and then listen to the apostle James verse 4:6-7. Listen and obey. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

GGBC: Why is reflecting success God's way an important part of The Walk at Work?

AH: It's really quite simple, if we don't represent success God's way, then why would anyone want to know about the God we serve? The way to freedom on the job, and by freedom I mean not being slave to the whims, ups and downs of layoffs, job threats, tyrannical bosses and conniving coworkers is to find out what's important to the only Boss that counts, and then go about pleasing Him on a daily basis. That's what Matthew 6:33 is all about!

GGBC: Could you share with us one of your favorite life verses or another Scripture for thriving in the workplace?

AH: My company is called SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A, Inc., (www.SpeakEasyMedia.com) that in itself is another amazing God story! M.E.D.I.A. is an acronym that stands for Ministering Edifying Divinely Inspiring All...to the glory of God. It is a media and public speaking consulting firm and its foundation, as well as mine is found in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." I want the words of my mouth to always be acceptable to The Savior. I'm not there, but I'm trying. Daily...I'm trying.

GGBC: In closing, could you give us brief tips that we can begin to apply immediately that will encourage us to keep the faith at work as well as spread it others?

AH: These days the simple art of kindness is all but gone. I'm single handedly committed to encouraging others to bring it back. In the book, I talk about this. Imagine the awe, amazement and wonder on the faces of those around you if you actually carried out one of the following suggestions I give in the Walk at Work. These may just be the olive branch that God would have you extend that will allow you to share your faith and the saving, marvelous and unfathomable love that is, Jesus Christ.

• Grab a cup of coffee for someone else in the office when you're out getting yours.
• Instead of throwing away your morning paper on the commute in, offer it to the passenger sitting next to you.
• Pay for lunch for a coworker who is in the cafeteria line behind you...just because.
• Pick up flowers for the cleaning woman at the office to say thanks because she has a thankless job.

GGBC: Andria, GGBC would like to thank you for your time and we wish you continued success and prosperity!

AH: It is my privilege and my joy. Thank you.