Serving with Purpose: Hands, Hearts, and Options in Outreach

It's nice to have options. We don't fully realize the importance of having simple choices in life. Coffee or vanilla latte. Fast food or leftovers. Take a vacation or buy a car. Endless possibilities. When our hearts lead us to the thought of volunteerism, a short list of questions and often baffling options pop up.

Trish Hendrick is the dedicated leader of the Outreach program at Restoration Church. In a recent interview, she talked about the possibilities and options for serving Christ, and the programs she oversees that fulfill our calling to be involved—options for reaching out to our community and touching the lives of others in true, life-changing ways.

One of the first volunteer options that Trish brought to mind was the opportunity to volunteer at one of the free weekly dinners served on Fridays by the Fountain Methodist church. This event is open to all and provides a rich social outlet for all who come. She states that the event is attended liberally by seniors. Restoration Church is deeply involved in this ministry and purchases the food for the dinner. Volunteers commit to coming once a month to cook and serve the meals. According to Trish, approximately 40 to 70 people attend the dinner every week.

The heartfelt goal of this ministry is to become the hands of Jesus, and to share our faith in the name of Jesus, Trish explained. One of many inspiring aspects of the ministry is that as volunteers get to know the people they serve, they move into a position where they can share God's love, address important issues that might pop up, and lovingly minister to those who attend the dinner. If, in searching for a way to share your love for Christ, your time constraints prefer a monthly commitment, this may be your perfect match! If you love to cook, that's a bonus! Trish is the coordinator for the Friday dinners, and you can reach her at 509-599-2060.

The Springs Rescue Mission serves meals as well, attended primarily by the homeless. They are seeking volunteers to help serve lunches that the mission provides, and the commitment is, again, once a month. You can reach them at 719-314-2389.

If God has placed a burden on your heart to serve the teens of our community, Trish pointed out the deeply vital impact of the Youth For Christ ministry. This is another ministry lovingly supported by Restoration Church. The local leader for the ministry is Andy LaValley. Andy has selflessly dedicated himself to seeing this ministry thrive, reaching vulnerable youth with the word of Christ. To that end, Andy has been a guest speaker at Restoration Church services to educate the congregation about the goals for Youth For Christ. His office manager and equally dedicated co-worker in this field is Lorie Bayless, who gives an all-consuming offering of service and time to the ministry.

Youth For Christ consists of volunteers who visit incarcerated teens to share the word of Christ. It's so much more than that, however. Volunteers provide a loving, listening ear to teens who feel forgotten and are struggling to understand what inside themselves led to their being locked up. The youth facilities that house these youngsters and where volunteers minister are Zeb Pike and Spring Creek, locally. The ministry dedicates itself to numerous other facilities in other regions. The young people here come from backgrounds of neglect, abuse, social disadvantages, and simply poor decision-making in their teen years. Volunteers are part mentors and part gentle messengers, bringing the word of Christ to these important future citizens of our world. In doing so, they often bring the only hope the incarcerated have ever been exposed to.

If you'd like to be a part of this indispensable ministry, you can contact Andy or Lorie at 719-471-0333. Email them at southerncoyfc@gmail.com or andy@socoyfc.com. For general information, Lorie may be contacted at lorie@socoyfc.com.

Another ministry precious to the hearts of many is the Life Network ministry, which serves to provide crisis pregnancy support. Volunteers are trained at Life Network to become patient advocates and commit to being there one day a week. You can also volunteer at their affiliated thrift store and can donate to the store as well (those making room for the winter take note). Approximately three individuals from Restoration Church are employed there, as well as several volunteers. In your quest to find the right option to channel your volunteer spirit forward, consider this worthy cause. You can reach Life Network at 719-591-2609.

The Foster Parent Support ministry is a deeply worthwhile ministry to give your time to as well. Imagine being a child of any age, thrust into a new environment for any variety of reasons, or an adolescent adjusting to foster care. Imagine, as well, the task set before the actual foster parent of caring for one foster child or multiple children in their home who have unique needs and emotional challenges. The task of fostering children requires the stamina, wisdom, and compassion that only a select group of people in our community possess. Loving, Christ-led volunteers of this ministry are paired with a foster family to help and support all members however they can, says Trish. They step forward to provide a break for the foster parents in more than one way—they might do laundry or provide food when needed, as one example. Most importantly, they build relationships within the home to faithfully serve Christ. If you're interested in volunteering for this ministry, you can reach them at 614-743-3645.

Trish made an important statement that reflects the purpose of having an outreach ministry in the church. Ministries always need people, she says. But what amplifies and encapsulates the spirit of our Outreach Ministry at Restoration Church is this reminder: Trish states, "We show our faith by reaching out in practical ways, we show God's love with people." She goes on to say, "God's blessed through all the ministries."

Trish says that many people have made her own journey easier, and she wants to do the same. She finds inspiration in 1 Corinthians 1:4: "I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

"It's about getting the word out that there are places for volunteers and a need out there," Trish stated.

So many choices, so many options for us to answer the calling of our Heavenly Father. Feed the poor... visit those in prison... bring the children close... and, deeply stated, to love. Ask God to lead you to where your heart will answer the call, and reach out where you, personally, feel you can do the greatest good. You are the disciple of the Outreach Ministry. It's difficult to find a deep enough way to thank Trish for leading such a powerful ministry that profoundly affects so many people. Imagine what we can all do together in God's love.