World Social Work Day Sheds Light on This Impactful Profession

“So … what are you going to do with that?”

Annika Gerber will graduate from LBC with her MSW in August 2025. Learn about this online program at lbc.edu/msw.

This is a question I have been asked countless times over the past five years after sharing that I am working toward a master’s degree in social work at Lancaster Bible College. The role of a social worker can be easily misunderstood or underestimated, so if you find yourself unsure about what it is that social workers do, please keep reading!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation of social work is growing faster than average at 7%. And yet, it seems that many people still view social workers as “child snatchers,” which could not be further from the truth. The National Association of Social Workers describes the social work job as assisting people “by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems.”

This definition is broad, and for good reason! Social workers are involved in so many areas of life. From hospitals to schools, social workers are an important part of the healing process.

Social workers note three primary levels of practice: macro, mezzo and micro. Each of these levels creates different roles for the social worker to fill.

• At the macro level, social workers are engaging with communities and organizations. This could look like program development, research or even working with local governments to advocate for policies.
• On the mezzo level, social workers are leading group therapy sessions or running community programs.
• Micro-level social workers typically work in one-on-one settings with individuals. This could happen anywhere from a clinical office to schools or even home visits.

Social workers can provide therapy or work in hospitals, ensuring that patients have a safe environment to go home to. They can conduct research or lead a parenting class. The options for a social work career are many.

Although social work is a broad profession, it is important to understand the invisible string that brings these careers all back to social work. Social workers strive to advance human rights through integrity, advocacy and recognizing the inherent worth of every human life.

These three attributes are also examples of how social work can be informed by the Christian faith. For instance, two Bible verses emphasize the importance of serving populations who have faced oppression, such as Proverbs 31:8-9, which says, “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Or Acts 20:35: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

In my own social work journey, my faith in Jesus has provided endurance in the face of burn out and an unrelenting acknowledgement of the inherent dignity possessed by every individual, as I know we are all created in the image of God.

Lancaster Bible College’s bachelor’s and master’s degree social work programs offer space for students to explore how their faith influences their profession, and for that I am grateful!

(Annika Gerber will graduate from Lancaster Bible College’s MSW program in August 2025. She holds a BSW and a BA in Dance from Messiah University, where she graduated with a dual degree in May 2024. After graduating from LBC, Annika plans to work toward her social work license and would like to pursue a career in clinical social work with an interest in dance/movement therapy interventions. When she’s not studying, Annika enjoys baking sourdough treats, embroidery projects and pickleball with family — if the weather is above 65 degrees! Annika resides in Dillsburg, Pa., with her husband, Jonathan.)