 |
Volunteering for Community Services
Ministry Description #12 (AdventSource)
For more than 100 years the Seventh-day Adventist Church has sponsored social work, disaster reliefe and public health services in North America and around the world. It views the church as a servant body. Created for service, Christ's followers serve the Lord in praise, serve one another in love, and serve the world in humilty.
Christ modeled for us the life of service. He "went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed." (Acts 10:38).
Christ identified with the poor and oppressed. "He fed the hungy and healed the sick. By the good he accomplished, by His loving words and kindly deeds, He interpreted the Gospel to men," comments Ellen White. "Christ's work in behalf of man is not finished. It continues today. In like manner His ambassadors are to preach the gospel and to reveal His pitying love for lost and perishing souls. by an unselfish interest in those who need help they are to give a practical demonstration of the truth of the gospel." (Welfare Ministry, pages 56-57)
God calls every man and woman to service. Every believer is called to ministry, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and in baptism ordained for ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12) The church is a kingdom of priests set free to minister for Christ. Our priesthood is to each other within the church and to the world. A community service volunteer is a ministering servant of God.
Duties of a Community Services Volunteer
The program varies from place to place, based on local needs. In about 500 cities and towns across the United States, Canada and Bermuda, Adventist Community Services centers operate. In thousands of other locations ACS projects work out of church basements and borrowed facilities. The work of a community service volunteer might include any of the following activities:
| Adopt a grandparent |
Family finance seminar |
Marriage seminar |
| Adoption Services |
Family life workshop |
Meals on wheels |
| ADRA Voltunteering |
Field trips |
Migrant ministry |
| Advocacy program |
Financial counseling |
Newcomer ministry |
| Alcohol program |
First aid class |
Operation overcoat |
| Baby care class |
Follow-up contacts |
Operation Paintbrush |
| Bible study group |
Food bank/pantry |
Parenting seminar |
| Big brother/sister |
Food distribution |
Pathfinder Club |
| Blind camp |
Foster child care |
Preparing for baby class |
| Blind services |
Foster grandparenting |
Prison ministry |
| Board member |
Free clinic |
Public relations |
| Camping for children |
Fund raising |
Receptionist |
| Child care |
Furniture program |
Refugee ministry |
| Children's story hour |
Grantsmanship |
Runaway shelter |
| Clothing/bedding program |
Grief recovery seminar |
Self-help groups |
| Community Cupboard |
Handicapped services |
Senior citizen group |
| Community surveys |
Health appraisals |
Senior citizen lunches |
| Cooking school |
Health education |
Sewing class |
| Counseling services |
Health screening |
Shoes for little shavers |
| Craft class |
Home nursing |
Smoking cessation program |
| Deaf services |
Home nursing class |
Soup kitchen |
| Disaster response |
Homeless shelter |
Stress seminar |
| Divorce recovery seminar |
Homemaker services |
Suicide prevention |
| Domestic violence program |
Immigration program |
Support group |
| Door-to-door contacts |
Information and referral service |
Tax assistance |
| Drug abuse detox |
Inner city program |
Telephone friend program |
| Drug abuse prevention |
Intake desk |
Transients aid |
| Drug abuse rehabilitation |
Inter-agency liaison |
Transportation assistance |
| Families of prisoners |
Interviewing clients |
Tutoring |
| Family camping |
Job-finding service |
Vacation Bible School |
| Family counseling |
Job training program |
Van ministry |
| Family finance seminar |
Layettes |
Videos, educational |
| Family life workshop |
Legal aid |
Visiting the aged |
| Field trips |
Literacy tutoring |
Visiting the sick |
| Financial counseling |
Literature rack |
Weight control program |
Home | About Us | Arts & Archives | Education | Calendar | Ministries | Links | Bible Study | Media | Bookstore | Contact Us
|
 |
Web
links:
Community Services Online
Community Services Resources
|
|
