Why Do I Volunteer?

It’s 7 am on Sunday morning and I’m usually found running up and down the stairs trying to light a fire under three sleepy teens and becoming more and more frustrated by the minute.  By 7:15 I still haven’t gotten my first cup of coffee, and as I try again to drag a very unmotivated girl out of her bed, I start to wonder “Why again do I serve?”

If this sounds like you, you have probably had these thoughts on one or two occasions as well.  So I am here to assure you that you are not alone!  But then when I stop and take a breath, I am reminded of all of God’s blessings in my life and that I serve His church as a way of thanking Him for what he has done for me.

When we finally pull up to the church with moments to spare, and I shake a sleepy teenager awake for the umpteenth time, (because the 6-minute drive from home was a good excuse to go back to sleep), my frustration level is usually at the point of boiling over.  So why do I do it?  Why do I put the stress and pressure on myself to be here early and to take my time to volunteer?  Because I am seizing my opportunity to become a little more like Christ.  Giving of myself, and showing love to the others I serve alongside and to every smiling, cherub-like face that walks through the Ekidz doors, draws me closer to God’s heart. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul reminds us; "be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."  I think sometimes it’s easy to believe that serving doesn’t really make a difference, or if I miss this week no one will miss me.  But you are important!  You just might be the one person that God is going to use to impact someone else’s life.  You are not just a volunteer, you are a leader.  You are impacting the lives that you touch.

I have attended Element Church for many years, but until recently I didn’t fully understand the reason why we should volunteer.  Does the church need volunteers to successfully bring God’s message into the hearts and lives of people?  Absolutely!  But that is not why the church wants you to serve.  Volunteering is something that we want for you, not from you.

Wait…Did you catch that?  It is something that we want FOR you, not FROM you.  As you volunteer you are opening your heart up to God.  The act of service gives God a green light to do a work inside of you and to draw you closer to Him.  Volunteering helps us to know that we are wanted, we are valuable, we are important and that we are loved.  We serve a radically generous God and we want to be radically generous people; generous with our time, our service and our gratitude.

So the next time the alarm goes off on Sunday morning and you are tempted to grumble and stay in bed, remember that God is waiting to use you to impact someone’s life and He is calling you to be closer to Him.

If you would like to volunteer at Element Church click here:

If you are not in the Cheyenne area and you are not yet volunteering in your church, I would greatly encourage you to take the next step in your faith and serve God and His people. Contact your church office and they will get you started in the right direction.