how do you serve?

[ice122985]

I got permission from Ashley some time ago, but I never got around to actually posting, so here it is...

Do you guys serve in your church? And if you do, how? I would like to know. I just joined a new church (Central Baptist Church), but it seems all positions are filled.

[Mangafanatic]

Well I serve on our church's Youth Leadership, and I also help keep nursery one Sunday a month.

[termyt]

It depends on what you are willing and able to do. A lot of the jobs aren't very glamorous or fun.

I've never met a youth minister that doesn't need help, even if it's just as a little extra adult help for outings and such.

I personally help out with the youth and I also occasionally run the church's power point presentation (we project song lyrics and sermon points during the main service) when the regular guy can't do it. I usually get a whole five minutes or so of warning when that happens.

I recommend telling your ministers or other church leaders that you are willing to serve and see if they have any odd jobs that need done. If you are faithful with the little things, bigger things will come.

[uc pseudonym]

I have multiple functions in my church that help it operate better. I would hope that this is viewed as merely passing along information, not bragging. Not that there is much to brag about.

For one, I am a servant leader in the youth group council, in charge of the Worship committee. Also, I run Mediashout (the program that runs the screen visuals that go along with the service) with several other tech guys. Occasionally the pastors rope me into doing scripture readings or dramas.

But I would not be too worried about not immediately assisting in your church. Be confident that God will eventually guide you to a position you are best fitted for when it is the proper time.

[Kristal*Klear]

I am sort of active in my Church... (Nat as much as I should be I think) and this is what I do:

I help teach Sunday School

I Teach In Pioneer Clubs

I am involved in our Puppet Ministry

and I teach two Good news Clubs.

Our church, is in a REAL LOW for nursery and sunday school teachers... no one in our church seems to want to take it over....or even just to help out... a lot of it is stuck on my mother and I and a few other people! Be glad that your church has all possistions full!

I have also had the oppertunity to help in Youth Group... that is such a blast! I would get involved in that too.. i see you are my age... so I think you'd like it!

I'll be praying that you find where God wants you to be.

[Mithrandir]

I've found that nearly ALL churches are lacking qualified people in lay ministry. Usually this translates to not having enough nursury workers, or sunday school teachers, etc. I've migrated from that function into worship team. I play guitar (or bass) ever sunday and sing. Sometimes I get roped into drama stuff, but just about ANYONE can do that - and therefor my church tries to get as many people as possible to do it. Sometimes I do some of the songs I've written for offeratory, and I help with sound - along with the occasional building maintenence project.

See, there's LOTS of places to help out. Heck, just stop to pick up any trash you see, and you are helping on the grounds crew without and effort at all. I once heard a pastor ask everyone to pick up one piece of trash each sunday, and we ended up with a REALLY spiffy looking grounds - out of what used to look really chensy.

[Mave]

Only recently, I volunteered to help teach English to international students in my church. Personally I don't think my English is that great. But, if God leads me to that, I'll do my best. ^^

[CDLviking]

Back home I do a lot of sacramental ministry like distibuting Communion, taking it to the home-bound, and preparing teens for confirmation. I also worked in maintainance and at our food kitchen/warehouse for the homeless.

At seminary my main ministry is teaching Catechism classes at the local parish.

[Lehn]

I actually work at my church. You're lookn' at the Assistant Youth Administrator Extraordinaire. Basically, I pull the strings. I'm the one who makes things happen; events, games, bible studies, newletters, ect.

[Spencer]

I used to play guitar at the Wednesday service for the youth, but they replaced me...

[cbwing0]

I feel kind of weird answering this question, since it skirts the line between bragging and simply giving information. Since I go to a different church while I am away at college, I have different duties depending on the time of year:

At school:
1.I lead Bible Studies for the 1st-year students along with the campus ministers.

2.I give rides to church on Sundays.

3.I help setting up events (lots of different stuff, depending on the event)

4.I work concessions at bastketball games to raise money for the youth group.

5.I am the historian for my campus youth group. This basically consists of recording what we do each week, including how many people attended the events, and how I think they could be better in the future.

At home:
1.I teach Sunday school.

2.I help prepare luncheons (monthly events), as well as baptismal receptions, dinners, etc.

3.I am an usher (usually about once a month).

4.I help out in the nursery (about once every two months or so).

5.I help setting up chairs and tables as needed (usually every week).

Of course I help out with some things at my home church on holidays, but not as much as when I am there for extended periods of time.

My church is starting to have a problem finding Sunday school teachers for all age groups, so I will probably end up teaching a class during summer vacation next year.

[N1NJ4]

i make food for like 90% of the fellowships

[Jaltus-bot]

I wish I served more somewhere. Hopefully once I get into more of a routine with a couple of things, I can find a way. If you could pray about it, that would be great. Right now though, I think I just need to be content with taking care of things that I need to do and trying to find ways of showing love for others, but in time and God willing soon...I would love to do something more!

[Kai Nobuyuki]

I sing in the Youth Praise Team and I'm apart of the Youth Council.

[Ssjjvash]

I work in nursery and I put up the transparencies for Sunday mornings--they are the transparent sheets of paper w/ the words of the songs on it.

I also help my mom with the booktable and occasionally the refreshments we get to have at the end of the service.
I love to help out and stuff. It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something worthwhile.

[Madeline]

God will be my judge.

[Jaltus-bot]

Now that is a good answer, Madeline.

[Htom Sirveaux]

I play guitar with one of our alternating worship teams. In fact, I just came back from practice tonight. I love doing worship. It's just so... spiritually invigorating.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Being a pastor's son, I pretty much help in every area.

[Kat Walker]

In my church, I'm the tall, dark stranger lurking in the back pew.

Well, maybe not that tall. But I am the n00b.

I add that element of "lost outsider coming in" that will give them a chance to show some Christ-ly love and hospitality.

Pray it happens. ^^;

[Jaltus-bot]

I know what you mean. I started going to my chrch this June. Will pray.

[cbwing0]

To those that would like to serve more in their church/youth group, I have a few practical suggestions that might help you.

Assuming that your church doesn't explicity ask for people to help with something, just ask the elders if there is anything that you can do. I bet you will be surprised how much goes on behind the scenes to make a church function . If your church has sign-ups for nursery duty, Sunday school teachers (you don't have to be a Bible scholar to teach children ), etc., get on the list.

Alternatively, you could go about it more informally. When you see someone doing something, and it looks like they need help, just ask, "Can I help?" It doesn't matter if you don't know exactly what you are doing at first, because everyone starts out with no experience.

If there really is nothing that you can do in your church/youth group, then consider yourself blessed that there are already so many people working to make your church what it is.

[ice122985]

God will be my judge.

just for info- that's exactly what my name means.

back to subject: thanks for all the help. To be honest, any form of singing is out of the question- i want to help keep people in, not drive them away. But i am really ok with maintenance and running stuff. Thanks to all of you guys for your input.

[kaji]

I am on the leadership team of our Senior High Youth.
I also rotate with a few others on leading one of our Bible studies.

There is never a shortage of things that people can do. And if it feels that way, then come up with another program that your church doesnt have, and help with that.

-kaji

[ice122985]

i will be honest with you guys...

not that i haven't been in the past, but the point is that i do not have a lot of time to serve besides on Sunday. And this particular church is big on serving on other days the of the week, when i am usually too exhausted to do anything but the bare necessities- study the Bible with my family and eat and sleep.

But hey, right now i am setting the tape recorder so that the sermons of my pastor are recorded for posterity. so i guess that's something...

[uc pseudonym]

Most church's I have seen need technology people fairly badly. True, tape recorders may not be high technology, but you're still playing a somewhat important role.

I think it is honorable that you give the time that you do have. Better than not going to church at all, in any case.

[Danyasaur]

I play drums for my worship team, and I clean the church and do sound somtimes, and help with over heads and stuff, and be a water boy for my dad when he's teaching XD

[Kristal*Klear]

I serve God so much less than I should I know... but I do on other days than just Sunday. I have Good News Clubs On Mondays and fridays, and Pineer Clubs on Tuesday nights.