Why I Love My Church: Community

Posted on 05.16.07 in Faith and there are 13 comments.

Two weeks ago my church had a volunteer banquet where the church staff honored the volunteers for all their hard work. My husband and I lead a small group and so we were among those in attendance.

It was a fabulous night. They rolled out the red carpet for us.

Literally.

As we arrived at the church there was a long red carpet and the church staff lined up on either side cheering all of us as we walked down the aisle. My children were in heaven. They thought it was SO cool. Frankly, so did I.

There was an awesome band playing. They had great food, fun giveaways, some absolutely hilarious comedy sketches and personal thank you notes for each of us from those in leadership as well as those we lead. We ended the night in a sweet time of worship.

Do you want to know what the best part was, though?

There were over 600 volunteers there...and it was one of two banquets. The other banquet was for the college volunteers and there were several hundred people there as well.

About 1800 people are members of our church, so that means that over half of the people who attend church each Sunday volunteer in some capacity. Wow.

That’s why I love my church - so many people have caught the vision and have taken ownership of it. My pastor likes to say that if you have a problem with something we’re doing or not doing - consider that your invitation to volunteer. 

We don’t pay our worship band or our childcare workers. We depend on the body to serve the body and I think that makes people feel needed and feel as though they have a place and a role and all of that contributes to the wonderful sense of community.

Do you volunteer at your church? Has it made a difference in your overall experience with church?

The Comments:

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Where are that guys eyebrows?  They are missing in this articles picture and in the main blog picture.

That’s really neat. I play piano in with several different worship leaders and teach Sunday School to 6-12 year-olds. My church is very small, but I love it. Everyone does something, so it works.

That sounds wonderful, you do seem to have an amazing church! 

I am currently looking for a church, but have always been involved in childcare or sunday school in some aspect.

I think it’s awesome that so high a percentage of your church voluteers.  That is usually not the case.

I work with the adult education at our church, helping set curiculum, a bit of class management, finding and to some degree training teachers, and of course some teaching.  On the other end of the age spectrum, Mrs. E and I (yes, me) have long been involved with teaching out cradle roll classes (~6-months to 2-years).  I feel that it is really important for these younger kids to see more than just women as their teachers.  And, in the age range we teach, there are often some kids that just don’t open up around women like they do men (and vica versa).  Plus, it helps that I’m like a big teddy bear But, I can tell you that I’ve gotten a number of strange looks from people who see me singing the songs and teaching the class.

I just remember the banquet when I was forced to go as a punk rocker… not the most elegant feeling!  And no red carpet or cheering fans.

And Jimmy, your eye brows are gone, but you still have long-ish hair!

And, I don’t volunteer at my church.  Sorry, I can’t comment on the main reason for the post.

I don’t have much to add here but I like this here series. 

It is the “in” thing to bash churches these days, myself included.  But I will say, Antioch is quite exceptional when it comes to having a servant’s heart. 

I experienced something similar a while back where our Pastor and the other minister staff served us dinner at a banquet.  To my surprise, it was quite moving and illuminating.

In heaven I believe that the greatest will be the one who gets to serve the most. 

Of course everything is turned upsidedown up there I here. 

Sorry,

“I hear”

Jimmy,
You’re funny. And cute.

Bekah.
Seriously. Is there anything you don’t do? You’re like supergirl. You blog, you dance, you work with kids, you teach sunday school, you go to college…

I’m honored you use your free time to read my ramblings.

Kristin,
I do hope you find something soon. When we moved to Houston after we graduated from college we had to go church hunting so I know how frustrating it can be.

Euphrony,
That’s awesome that you work with the kids. I agree that it’s really important for them to have that male influence, especially those who don’t have it at home.

Seth,
“In heaven I believe that the greatest will be the one who gets to serve the most. “

I bet you’re right...although I don’t suppose I’ll be betting in heaven…

I know you’re brother in law went to Antioch, right? Have you ever visited?

Lilia,
I don’t suppose you do “volunteer” at your church, do you? You had me really confused for a minute…

I know this is off-topic, but is there some sort of story, background, history, in-joke or whatever about Jimmy’s eyebrows?

Do tell.

You know what, Hammer, I think it would be much more fun to try and guess the story ourselves.  Personally, I think the missing eyebrows either 1) fell victim to a tragic misuse of Nair by the Small Person, 2) are the result of a rare case of male pattern baldness, or 3) were singed off in a back-yard BBQ as a result of using gasoline to try and start the grill.

Kat, Jimmy - am I close?

None of the above Euphrony - They are just blonde and thin.

Now, Jimmy, we can’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, can we?

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