This week is National Volunteer Week. Volunteers are the lifeblood that makes our Movement what it is. Without you, we wouldn’t get very far! 

Volunteering enriches our lives and the people we serve. I volunteer because I get a kick out of helping people. I love connecting people with other people, and activating them into a ministry (aka volunteering). 

Our local outreach, overseas missions and church services would look very different if it weren’t for volunteers – many of whom go unnoticed. Let’s take a moment to celebrate our volunteers. They may be the ones who take the dirty tea towels home for a wash, run the pre-school playgroup, straighten up all the chairs before a service starts, weed the garden beds in the church grounds, sit and share a cuppa with the lonely or sick, deliver food parcels to those in need, play drums in the band, take meals to the family who just had a baby, host a small group in their home. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Many of us volunteer with no thought of thanks or reward, but a small word of appreciation can go a long way. Find out who does those small or odd things in your church whānau and let them know you are grateful for what they do. Remember to thank those that are ‘on-display’ as well, you may see them in their volunteer capacity a lot, but do they know they are appreciated?

Volunteers will always be needed, so don’t wait to be asked! What’s in your lunchbox? You may only have a few small loaves of bread and fish, but God can multiply your contribution. If you want to help out in some way, talk to someone on your church leadership team, they would love to hear from you.

We also have volunteer opportunities in our Movement, visit Join our team to find out more.

- Ed