Just Serve
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 06/24/2008 at 3:06 PM
This week I'm working at my church's Vacation Bible Camp with sixth graders—29 of them. Together we're learning five truths about God: God is real; Jesus is God's Son; Jesus is the only way; the Bible is God's Word; my actions show what I believe.
Good stuff.
And helping out isn't all that hard. Aside from classroom time, my duties consist of circulating through the stations—games, crafts, missions time—and just talking to and encouraging my kids. Because this is their last year of VBS, the sixth graders are Counselors in Training (CITs). Our mission this week is to serve the teachers and younger children as helpers.
I have had most of these kids in my Sunday school class this past year, which makes my interaction with them this week even more rewarding. Yesterday, I watched as James, one of my more challenging students, worked diligently at the registration table handing out t-shirts. Today, I saw Kendra give her water bottle to a younger child when she didn't know I was watching. And after Andy and Jacob asked me what they could do, they came up with the idea of picking up trash on their own.
I could offer you a lot of good reasons to get involved in your church and serve younger generations. 1. God commands it; 2. Your church needs your help; 3. You could impact lives. But all I really want to tell you is that if you're not serving, you're missing out. It's that simple. The Lord is filling my cup this week, and it's happening while I make bead crosses, listen to memory verses and munch on trail mix. If you think you're too busy to serve, make time. It's worth it.
1. DannieA said the following at 3:10 PM on Jun 24:
ahhhh VBS. I do it every year. It's a lot of fun. Our theme this year is Power lab...we had a leaders meeting last night.
2. Claudia said the following at 7:23 PM on Jun 24:
You are so right and it would sure be great to see more men involved. Lots of the kids are from single, broken homes (at least where I am) and there's just not enough positive male input.
3. Michele said the following at 8:00 PM on Jun 24:
Thank you for posting this!!!
As a Sunday School director at a mid-sized, growing Bible church, I can't tell you how much it helps when people pitch in, even for just a Sunday or two per quarter. Our kids are our most precious gift from the Lord, and it's so, so important that they learn all they can about Him and His love!
Thank you!!
4. Rachael said the following at 8:15 PM on Jun 24:
As a mom of three kids in VBS, and an aunt of a godly, marriageable age niece, may i just offer the additional that I always have my eye out for which young men from her church chose to sacrifice some of their valuable summertime in serving and engaging with my kids. I remind her that a man that actively serves his church's kids is a man that will (potentially) serve her (their) kids.... But besides that, it really is a great way to show the love of Jesus not just to the kids of families that know Him, but the kids of the many families that don't and have their kids there just because it's a welcome break during the long summer.
5. Rachael said the following at 9:35 PM on Jun 24:
Yeah, often "serving" doesn't even really feel like "serving"...it's often fun and/or rewarding!
6. Kirsty said the following at 9:42 PM on Jun 24:
Thanks for that encouragement. You are right, it is a blessing to serve.
7. Rachael said the following at 9:55 PM on Jun 24:
P.S. to my earlier comment:
Here's an article that came out on the ungrind blog: "Serve like you mean it"
It's a good reminder that serving doesn't always involve convenience or comfortability.
While I feel that involvement with church stuff is often fun, I am also aware of areas of my life in which obedience is needed but not my idea of "fun". Ideally "service" should be a 24-7 thing...to some extent... :)
8. Rabenstrange said the following at 10:09 PM on Jun 24:
I totally agree. When we serve God through the church it always benefits us. It often happens in ways we can't immediately see but God uses our service to change us to be more like Jesus.
9. Jacob said the following at 2:20 AM on Jun 25:
I never volunteered for VBS, but I did volunteer as a camp counselor for two months every summer I was in college. Those were some of the best months of my life, largely because of the life of service the staff encouraged each other to live. I learned a lot about patience, trusting in God on a moment-by-moment basis, and how to build up and encourage teenagers.
I'm looking forward to doing more volunteering in the local church setting now that I'm done with college and have joined the ranks of the working world.
10. Joy said the following at 7:11 AM on Jun 25:
I love helping out at VBS! As exhausting as it is, it always teaches me so much about serving. I especially love this year's theme (which is the same at my church as at Suzanne's): the foundations of the Christian faith. What a wonderful thing to teach kids! I highly recommend serving in this way to singles young and old.
11. Sionel said the following at 8:38 AM on Jun 25:
Sometimes I think our serving actually often ends up being more for our benefit than for anything we actually contribute. I am not, in any way shape or form, a people person in my leisure time (all my people energy goes in being a doctor, there's none left over for church!) - but I've been helping out recently at a 'friendship evening' at our church, where we get a mix of church and non-church people. While I hope I can occasionally brighten someone's day there, my guess is that I'll find more than anything it's teaching me to learn to love all sorts of people that I would never usually come in contact with...
That said, that doesn't mean it's easy!
But I think Suzanne is right on the money. Serving always turns out to be worth it, one way or another...often many!
12. yipeng said the following at 8:53 AM on Jun 25:
Amen!
I serve in youth ministry.. and it is HUMBLING.
The bible verse placement is confusing (It's not abt younger generations) :D
13. Ronnica said the following at 9:45 AM on Jun 25:
Working with the children in and through our church, especially the older kids, is by far the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I do in my week. This week we're doing a sports camp, and while my children are challenging, they are a lot of fun and it's a wonderful opportunity to get to talk to them about Christ.
14. Sophia said the following at 11:22 AM on Jun 25:
Outrigger Island!...How about that Suzanne?! I'm Directing that same exact VBS this week! Today's theme focuses on Jesus being the only way to Heaven. Pray that God prepares the hearts of the kids to hear the gospel :)
15. Julia H said the following at 1:15 PM on Jun 25:
In my experience, it is always easier to get a woman to volunteer than a man, and there are usually at least double the number of women volunteers as men. Is this because men are hardwired to be lazy and selfish?
16. Jacob said the following at 2:58 PM on Jun 25:
Julia (#15),
I find your remark "Is this because men are hardwired to be lazy and selfish." to be in very poor taste and demeaning to men. Please consider choosing words that edify and encourage your brothers and do not tear them down.
Regards,
Jacob
17. Julia H said the following at 4:07 PM on Jun 25:
Jacob,
you are right. I am sorry.
I had intended irony in that statement and was referencing the hardwired bit from the article on housework. I can see how it looks pretty mean though.
18. DannieA said the following at 4:09 PM on Jun 25:
anyone doing power lab? Aha!!!!!!!!!
19. Jacob said the following at 5:54 PM on Jun 25:
Julia,
Thanks for the clarification (and for not thinking that we're all truly lazy and selfish).
20. Rachel S said the following at 12:38 AM on Jun 26:
Jacob and Julia,
I just wanted to express how impressed I am at the way you handled your little misunderstanding. You were both very respectful of each other. I wish more people on this blog would follow your examples when they are offended.
Rachel
21. Autumn said the following at 10:16 AM on Jun 26:
I taught the 5th and 6th grade class at my church's VBS this year. It was challenging, but rewarding! I went to VBS every summer when I was a kid and I've taught every year since then. We're a medium-sized country church and it's one of the biggest outreaches we do each year. What a great opportunity!
22. Jeremiah said the following at 11:20 PM on Jun 26:
I've been thinking of doing some type of service lately, maybe i'll take this as a point in the right direction x(0>o)x