ServiceLink, a program of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), was initiated in Canada in 1995 to fill a need that was being experienced and voiced both by agencies of the CRCNA and by people who wanted to volunteer with those agencies.

The common concern was that if an individual wanted to volunteer in some capacity, but was not necessarily looking for something specific, they had to make a call to someone at each agency. The CRCNA in Canada decided that it needed a “one stop” office, so that a volunteer could call and talk to just one person, and then be placed with the appropriate agency from there. Not only could this office manage volunteer inquiries, but it could also be a central place to manage all of the available volunteer opportunities.

In 2000, ServiceLink expanded into the US, serving the volunteer needs of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the agency of the CRCNA that focuses on development, justice, education, and relief.

ServiceLink has two Program Coordinators, one in Canada and one in the US, as well as administrative assistants. The program is also aided by volunteers serving as ServiceLink Representatives across North America. These ServiceLink Reps are available to provide information on the ServiceLink volunteer program and would be happy to visit churches in their respective Classis.  In Canada there is one ServiceLink Rep for almost every Classis, and in the US there is one for each of three geographic regions.

The program has expanded so that it now has many partners outside of the CRCNA agencies. ServiceLink has made contact with many non-profit Christian organizations that serve both in North America and overseas. These organizations provide ServiceLink with more opportunities to meet the goal of placing a volunteer in an opportunity that uses their God-given gifts.