National Volunteer Week Recognized

This week many churches, organizations, and individuals are celebrating National Volunteer Week - a week set aside in Canada and the USA to recognize, honor and celebrate the incredible efforts and contributions that volunteers make to various organizations, programs and ministries.

Volunteers are the roots of strong communities and make our countries blossom with many good things. Today, volunteers are involved in more ways than ever before. They govern organizations as board members. They lead rescue efforts when disasters strike. They complete tasks from smartphones while taking the bus to work. They serve in homeless shelters. They start community gardens. Every day, North Americans lend a hand to their neighbors and friends. And many of them don’t realize that in doing so they’re volunteering.

Throughout the Christian Reformed Church, numerous volunteers contribute to its various ministries – in local churches as well as within our denominational programs where they serve on ministry boards, champion the cause for our agencies, help spread the gospel, engage in administrative tasks, translate languages, provide relief efforts when disaster strikes, assist in conference preparations, transport synod representatives, pack boxes, oversee food distribution projects, build churches, promote fair trade coffee, lead and train youth, raise funds to support ministry efforts, etc. The ways that volunteers are engaged in ministry is outstanding and we are grateful for who they are and the gifts they share with us.

Although we always need to recognize the efforts of our volunteers, be sure to celebrate them especially this week and the tremendous impact they have on our denomination. Take some time to show appreciation of their efforts and to speak into their lives with a word of blessing!

 

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kyletaylor/2398480303/