Finding
a church home helps us to join together relationally with family, neighbors and
friends. People connect people to any church, not the preaching or the
programs. When we join a church, we can easily assist in any number of ways in
order to reach our community for Christ.
Most
people crave being noticed. They want to know that another human being is
interested in how they are, what they think, and how they feel (Leviticus
19:34; Matt 25:35-40). When we ignore a visitor or a stranger among us, we are
ignoring the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
He
sends people to us every week, and He expects us to show them that we care
about them, and to allow Him to use us to minister to their needs. There are
always several ministries, which are easy to be involved in after we join a
church.
The
First Impression Ministry: such as Door Greeters, Sanctuary Greeters, and
Information-Table Greeters. Also valuable is Security, Parking lot attendants,
and Altar Ministry to pray with people when they come forward at the Invitation
at the end of the service.
Then
we have follow-up ministries with our visitors, such as Telephone &
Visitation Ministry that can fit right into your schedule. Also, we have
Breakthrough Classes that help people to discover their gifts and calling. Of
course, inviting people to join you in your Sunday School Class will give them
Bible training and fellowship.
In
the midst of all of this is the Outreach ministry. This Encourager ministry
also involves home visitation, taking food during times of trauma, phone calls
and sending cards to both visitors and members.
Many
churches also have weekly Prayer Walks in our community that go out to chat
with people they meet during their walks. This enables our neighbors to see our
friendliness, as we encourage them to come sit with us during a service.
The
Kitchen Ministry is another vital place of service. Any time that food is
served at the church, people are needed to make iced tea and coffee, to set up
tables with decorations and enough chairs, to fill the serving tables with
donated food brought by our members, and then to clean up after each time of
fellowship.
Prayer:
Father
God, show us where we can best be a help and a blessing to the congregation which
You encouraged us to join in order to serve. Help us to be a blessing, and to
never spread discord or to gossip about other members or visitors (). Use us to
help people to feel wanted, needed, cared about and special.
Give
us ears to hear the needs that they hint about, but are afraid to actually
admit. Provide us with extra finances in order to help people in our community
that are in need. Lead us in the ministries in which You can best use our gifts
and talents. Help us to live as Godly examples and committed children in Your
family who truly care about those You send our way.
Thought
for the Day:
There
are so many ministries in the church, in which we can serve, in order to help
our congregation to reach our neighbors with the love and nurture that God
gives to us; this will further His Kingdom in the earth and give us the
opportunity to spend eternity with them as well.
