When You Help the Helpers
It was Missions Fair Sunday at our church. I wanted to sign up for something but I didn’t feel qualified for anything.
My husband was excited about a relatively new ministry called PAR (Prepare and Respond). It is a faith-based disaster response group that formed in our north Alabama region after devastating tornadoes ripped through here in 2011.
But I couldn’t use a chainsaw.
How could I be of any help to this group?
Despite misgivings that day, I signed my name anyway for the PAR group. When another set of tornadoes hit close to home not long afterward, I received an email from PAR to help.
What had I gotten myself into?
Read the rest here about “Helping the Helpers”
When we expand our idea of how we can work in a ministry, God may surprise us with opportunities we didn’t see coming.
Will you join me at Do Not Depart for the rest of the story? “Not Gifted for That Ministry? Help the Helpers”
Great advice, Lisa, and it ends up being a relief sometimes to be receiving orders and directions rather than always being the one who has to give them.
Yes, I’d rather someone just tell me what to do in situations that I’m clueless about. 🙂
I felt that way with a children’s ministry we used to be involved in. The one thing I liked about it was that the whole family was involved. So many other ministries had us going in different directions–ok sometimes, but it was nice to do something together. I didn’t really enjoy it, though, and thought I just needed to correct my bad attitude. Then the secretary of the group needed an assistant and asked me. The difference was night and day–like you said, I felt I had found my niche and my whole attitude changes. There are so many ways to help. Sometimes people just need a caring and listening ear.
That’s a great example of what I’m talking about, Barbara. One thing (among many) that I’ve appreciated about our church is they encourage people to try new ministries but not to feel they have to stay there forever if it’s not the right fit. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find our niche.
Thanks for this timely encouragement, Lisa! A willing heart is really the only requirement… ❤️Stopping by from #graceandtruth Blessings to you!