Countless persons have discovered the joys of volunteering and the subsequent pleasure of doing things that they derive genuine pleasure in being a part of. One of the most significant traits of this movement lies in the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing. One person once said to me after an extensive eat and meet gathering that they would rather clean toilets than just sit and once more hear about what others were doing. If you are among those itching to “do” in light of God’s gifts and abilities given to you, I challenge you to consider those things that allow you to serve in the name of Christ those near you. If some suggestions would be in order, let me share a few thoughts.
Volunteer to serve at a local food kitchen, or to stock shelves for a food pantry, or coordinate purchases for a local food bank assisting others in distributing food to needy families.
Volunteer at a local school to assist students who need extra help with establishing reading skills, or as a volunteer in a classroom that allows you to assist the teacher with any number of classroom activities. With budget crises in schools, assistants are often in short supply.
Volunteer to work with a local scouting organization sponsored by your church.
Work to coordinate with church ministries to enhance rather than detract from church ministries. Engage with church leaders in opportunities to offer scouts opportunity to explore and grow in their faith.
Volunteer to teach a bible study class at a local nursing home as a ministry of your church. Your consistent presence and interest in those who are in a facility would allow you to minister to them in countless ways and to serve as a liason for other church ministry groups.
If your time is limited, but flexible, consider offering your assistance with practical aspects of church ministry often needed at special times of emphasis in the life of the church. Offer special assistance with church history preservation efforts, recording of historical interviews, filing church documents for long term preservation, to name a few.
Church evangelistic efforts may include assisting with special mailings or calling efforts. Bible School always can utilize volunteers with a love for children and a patient spirit to teach and instruct. Church libraries often need those with skills in cataloging new materials and preparing them for circulation. Others can assist with shelving books, assisting with checking out books and even acting as a one person committee to take books to interested readers. Those with interest in assisting those with visual impairment might assist them in initial use of resources from the library for the blind.
Hospital volunteers are often utilized in gift shops, information desks, and flower delivery and mail delivery capacities. Chaplains often appreciate church volunteers offering their time and resources to their ministries.
Those working with foster children and many denominational children’s homes have need of assistance with special projects and coordinating such endeavors for members of your congregation to participate in is a great way to encourage doing by others as well.
Churches often have landscaping needs beyond the routine lawn and hedge cutting. Those who can assist with watering flowers, delittering parking lots, or replacing outdoor lightbulbs can be of great help.
Churches often need help tastefully decorating for special events. Preparing bulletin boards relating to ministry needs and church focus can often make great impacts on the cooperative endeavors of the congregation. Offering educational materials relating to Mission emphases and highlighting special events can go far to encourage others to be a part. Talk with your minister about becoming the “Bulletin Board Designer” if you have skills in that area.
Consider volunteering with a Habitat for Humanity building project. Volunteers often are needed to coordinate and serve meals for workers. Others do carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work as they have abilities. Others simply offer their skills at the level of ability they have to offer. What matters in willingness. What matters is helping others in Jesus’ name. What matters is finding your gifts and using them in service to God and his body, the church.
Yes, there likely are toilets that need cleaning….packages that need wrapping…bible lessons to be taught….conversations that need to be shared…visits that need to be made…prisoners and soldiers that need encouragement and prayer…missionaries that need support and assistance…neighbors who need your time and your Christian witness. Do what you can, where you can, as often as you can….
The blessings of being “doers of the word” and not “hearers only” will be quickly apparent in your life. There is joy in serving others in Jesus’ name. It makes a difference. Remember…do what you do, not for personal praise, but for the glory of God. That is what brings a satisfaction and joy beyond measure.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
When We Last Spoke
Conversations these days are often truncated by the media we use to communicate. Phone conversations often become brief text messages utilizing abbreviations and symbols. General vocabulary in use by newspapers and magazines has continuously been “dumbed down” in this past decade to accommodate the lack of vocabulary understood by the general population of readers. In other words, your grandmother likely could understand more of the words in the encyclopedia than you could. Large percentages of adults now rarely open books, including the bible.
Conversations likewise are stymied by the over utilization of observed media. In other words, we spend our time listening to programmed material, to the neglect of human to human conversation. It is harder than ever for husbands and wives to communicate, not just because he’s from Mars and she’s from Venus.
Consider the needs we might meet by a reinvestment in human-to-human conversation. Whether by phone or in person, to take advantage of the opportunity to hear one another directly would be a positive step. Newer forms of media connections, with video, may enhance even long distance communication, allowing for some “face to face” time, even with the limits of distance. That fact continues to challenge our generation to find a balance between communication with electronic “filters” and communication that is authentically “present” and allows human contact and engagement of personalities. It is becoming challenging for many people to even have conversations when they have lost the “fine art” of verbal communication. Written communication, via letters and personal notes, is likewise becoming compromised by a preponderance of limited expression.
Facebook, at its best allows individuals to “find” others that they once knew. But overall it is a group conversation of still physically isolated persons. At its worst, it becomes a kind of voyeuristic observation of persons without clear motives or personal investments of time, energy, or relationship. It also can be a dangerous place for children and adolescents with naivety in regard to the threats and dangers of some personalities that might be encountered. The internets new realities of our “observing” being “observed” by technical tracking programs with salespersons seeking markets brings yet another level of contact that aims to exploit rather than relate.
Do you really want to be instant messaging your friend about your interest in buying a car and then to be bombarded automatically by sales information about new vehicles, just because it was a part of your conversation? Do you want to receive an email from the last business where you purchased shoes every month for the next three years? Do your shoes wear out that fast? Do you want to spend your time anonymously relating to a glowing screen, or would you like the opportunity to engage in a person-to-person time of sharing with an individual or group of persons that allows for interactive learning and multiple expressions?
People are hungry for human contact. Isolation has become the norm for too many. Consider the place of the church in building community. It allows us to come together to share in ways that encourage and bless and build up one another in faith and knowledge of God. Such aims are worthy of our best pattern of presenting ourselves in person to be a part of this community of faith. Invest yourself in sharing your thoughts and understanding with others. Give of yourself in the power of your personality to be engaging and welcoming and listening and learning.
Conversations likewise are stymied by the over utilization of observed media. In other words, we spend our time listening to programmed material, to the neglect of human to human conversation. It is harder than ever for husbands and wives to communicate, not just because he’s from Mars and she’s from Venus.
Consider the needs we might meet by a reinvestment in human-to-human conversation. Whether by phone or in person, to take advantage of the opportunity to hear one another directly would be a positive step. Newer forms of media connections, with video, may enhance even long distance communication, allowing for some “face to face” time, even with the limits of distance. That fact continues to challenge our generation to find a balance between communication with electronic “filters” and communication that is authentically “present” and allows human contact and engagement of personalities. It is becoming challenging for many people to even have conversations when they have lost the “fine art” of verbal communication. Written communication, via letters and personal notes, is likewise becoming compromised by a preponderance of limited expression.
Facebook, at its best allows individuals to “find” others that they once knew. But overall it is a group conversation of still physically isolated persons. At its worst, it becomes a kind of voyeuristic observation of persons without clear motives or personal investments of time, energy, or relationship. It also can be a dangerous place for children and adolescents with naivety in regard to the threats and dangers of some personalities that might be encountered. The internets new realities of our “observing” being “observed” by technical tracking programs with salespersons seeking markets brings yet another level of contact that aims to exploit rather than relate.
Do you really want to be instant messaging your friend about your interest in buying a car and then to be bombarded automatically by sales information about new vehicles, just because it was a part of your conversation? Do you want to receive an email from the last business where you purchased shoes every month for the next three years? Do your shoes wear out that fast? Do you want to spend your time anonymously relating to a glowing screen, or would you like the opportunity to engage in a person-to-person time of sharing with an individual or group of persons that allows for interactive learning and multiple expressions?
People are hungry for human contact. Isolation has become the norm for too many. Consider the place of the church in building community. It allows us to come together to share in ways that encourage and bless and build up one another in faith and knowledge of God. Such aims are worthy of our best pattern of presenting ourselves in person to be a part of this community of faith. Invest yourself in sharing your thoughts and understanding with others. Give of yourself in the power of your personality to be engaging and welcoming and listening and learning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)