Places of
Worship
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| First Presbyterian Church
of Peachtree City's Youth Mission Group trip to Mexico photo
courtesy of East Coweta Journal |
Where Would We Be
without Volunteers?
By Shar
Peters
Chances are if a church had no volunteers,
missionaries would not spread the gospel around the world,
shut-ins would not be visited, meals would not be provided
to the less fortunate, special events would not be held
and music would not fill the rafters. Just as it is almost
impossible to imagine a church without music, it is difficult
to imagine a functioning church without its volunteers.
At First Baptist Church of Peachtree
City, volunteers share God's love in many ways and in
many places. Members contribute financially to support
missions all over the world, but many of them prefer to
spread the Word in person, as well.
"In the recent past, our members
were in Africa, China, Canada, Mexico and throughout the
U.S. for projects that lasted from a few weeks to the
entire summer," says Kenneth Brown, Executive Pastor of
First Baptist Church of Peachtree City. "We will be partnering
with other groups to give people even more opportunities
to get personally involved."
For the past several years, First
Baptist Church has helped support the Eagle's Nest Ministry
in Atlanta. "There are people living under bridges in
the city," says Pastor Brown. "Our volunteers take food
and clothing to them and tend to the physical and spiritual
needs of Atlanta's homeless."
Another First Baptist group that
helps local people in need is the Honey Do ministry. The
group of 20 men seeks to help seniors and single mothers
in need of handyman services.
Pastor Brown says, "The church's
ministry is all about volunteers. Our purpose as church
leaders is to equip our volunteers to serve others and
to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way."
He goes on to say that most volunteers
report having felt blessed by their volunteer experience.
"The feedback I get from many volunteers is that they
feel they have received much more than they have given."
"We wouldn't be a church without
our lay people," says Betsy Haas, Associate Pastor of
Peachtree City United Methodist Church. "We are only three
clergy and we are here to assist our congregation. They
are the true ministers of our church."
Pastor Haas relates that their church
also has many volunteer opportunities for all members'
ministry talents. "Each year we distribute to our congregation
a Time and Talent form listing and describing the varied
volunteer opportunities. Then members can choose how they
wish to serve and walk with the Lord."
"Assisting in the church also provides
fellowship and friendship opportunities," Pastor Haas
points out. "And many feel that they are drawn closer
to God through their volunteer experiences."
A volunteer from First Presbyterian
Church of Peachtree City, who asks not to be identified
because he desires no personal recognition, echoes this
feeling. "What I get out of volunteering is difficult
to describe. It is a deep personal satisfaction and a
giving of one's self. It is important to recognize that
you serve God by serving others."
While many volunteer opportunities
through religious organizations involve direct ministry
to others, there are countless other ways churches and
organizations use volunteers whose skills are as diverse
as they are. For example, much of the landscaping around
the new Peachtree City United Methodist Church was a result
of their congregation's digging and planting efforts.
Volunteers from this church also
help to reach out to others through their annual Habitat
for Humanity efforts. Women and men work together in the
stifling Georgia heat and humidity to construct a house
in only a week.
Today's churches reach out to so
many people inside and outside their congregations, that
they need volunteers who wear many different hats and
have a variety of skills. Think about what volunteers
do for a church. You may see a volunteer parking cars,
directing traffic, folding and mailing newsletters, answering
phones, sorting clothing and food donations, delivering
flowers to nursing homes, singing in the choir, visiting
the ill and nursing home residents, working in the nursery
or teaching Sunday school. The opportunities are endless.
